Celebrity News

Karen Bass is reacting to A.I.-generated political ads that cast her as The Joker and Spencer Pratt as The Dark Knight ... and she says things are getting too violent for her taste.

The mayor of Los Angeles sat down with CNN's Elex Michaelson -- a former "TMZ Live" guest host -- and responded to some of the striking visuals in the attack ads.

Bass feels the content is "taking on a violent turn" ... and she says it's worrisome because "when your messages are so hateful, or when you demonize people, then you do provoke people who are unstable."

Diana Jenkins is denying Internet rumors she pushed an 18-year-old Hayden Panettiere into bed with a famous naked man ... with a rep telling TMZ she is ready to sue anyone who spreads the lies.

Here's the deal ... after Panettiere detailed her horrific experience on a yacht -- she says a trusted older female friend of hers took her to a room and physically put her in bed with a "very famous" man who was "undressed" in both her new memoir "This Is Me: A Reckoning" and Jay Shetty's "On Purpose" podcast ... and fans have been spreading their theories online about the identity of the man and the woman.

When it comes to the pal -- who Panettiere does not name but says was in the entertainment industry -- fans were quick to throw out Jenkins' name.

Erik Fleming has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for his role in the death of Matthew Perry.

A judge handed down the sentence Wednesday morning at a United States District Court for the Central District of California Courthouse.

The sentencing comes after Fleming pleaded for mercy in a letter obtained by TMZ ... saying he’ll spend the rest of his life trying to make up for contributing to Perry’s death.

Lil Tjay is shedding some light on why he had beef with Offset before the Migos rapper got shot last month ... and as these things often start, it's over money.

Tjay dropped by "The Breakfast Club" on Wednesday ... and said at some point, he was at a casino with Offset -- and broke him off $10,000 because Offset was asking others to float him.

As Tjay tells it ... he later asked Offset when he would pay him back, and the rapper got "all tough" with him -- and then, more insultingly ... showered strippers with cash in front of Tjay.

Rita Ora and Livvy Dunne are sweaty and steamy heading into summer, but who's on total "Baywatch" and who needs to step it up a notch?!

The quesiton here is: Who'd You Rather?!

Donald Gibb battled throat cancer and suffered a heart attack in the weeks leading up to his death last night ... TMZ has learned.

Donald's son, Travis, tells TMZ ... his dad -- best known for playing the lovable brute "Ogre" in the "Revenge of the Nerds" franchise -- was fighting throat cancer at the time of his passing. He says Donald also suffered a heart attack a couple of weeks ago, but ultimately, it was the cancer that took his life.

We're told Donald was a fighter who battled the disease relentlessly, never losing his toughness even as his health declined.

The arrest of "Street Outlaws" star Daddy Dave earlier today has an unusual twist, TMZ has learned ... Dave was caught on video planting a GPS tracking device on someone's vehicle, according to police.

Bath Village Police Chief Donald Lewis tells TMZ ... the street racer -- real name David Comstock -- was arrested Wednesday morning in Upstate New York and booked into the Steuben County jail on two misdemeanors -- stalking and criminal tampering.

Lewis said the trouble began late Tuesday night when the victim called police saying that someone tampered with his vehicle.

Nicole Kidman really knows how to get lost in a piece of art ... in a new video for Christie's auction house, the actress develops an uncanny connection to one of their sculptures.

When she lays eyes on the "Danaïde" sculpture by Constantin Brâncuși, NK starts seeing visions of other famous works of art in a trippy montage.

Next thing you know, the lights are flashing and she's dancing around the sculpture, staring as she twirls around it.

Mauricio Umansky says Lala Kent is a "f***ing liar" for the way she brought up his DM on her podcast.

ICYMI ... the "Vanderpump Rules" alum spilled some tea on her "Untraditionally Lala" podcast last week, saying Kyle Richards' ex slid into her DMs while they were navigating their split.

She said Mauricio asked her to grab a coffee because she talks about him on her podcast ... but Lala said she never opened or responded.

10:08 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Paris Jackson tells TMZ ... "Paris has always been focused on what's best for her family and this ruling is a massive win for them. After years of delay, the Jackson family will finally get the transparency and accountability measures Paris has fought for."

Paris Jackson scored a major win in her battle over money spent by the executors running her late father Michael Jackson's estate -- while the executors also received praise for their work ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, a Los Angeles judge ruled that $625K in bonuses -- paid by executors John Branca and John McClain to third-party law firms -- will have to be returned to the estate.

As TMZ first reported ... last year, Paris raised concerns about certain bonuses paid out to third-party law firms that worked on the estate in 2018. Paris claimed the bonuses were excessive and not approved.

Billionaire businessman Stephen Cloobeck has been arrested on a felony charge of attempting to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness from testifying ... TMZ has learned.

Cloobeck was handcuffed and taken into custody by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies in West Hollywood Tuesday morning ... though he was released a few hours later after posting a $300,000 bond. It's unclear what case Cloobeck's arrest relates to.

Cloobeck is the former CEO of Diamond Resorts International and a prominent Democratic donor who pulled his support for disgraced and now-resigned Congressman Eric Swalwell's suspended campaign for California Governor. The pair are -- or at least, were -- longtime friends ... until Swalwell was accused of sexual assault by several women earlier this year.

Samuel Monroe Jr. showed a glimmer of hope amid his serious health battle ... but TMZ has learned the actor has experienced a severe downturn, as his condition continues to decline.

Samuel's wife Shawna Stewart tells TMZ ... the "Menace II Society" actor is back on life support, in a medically induced coma ... and has required three blood transfusions in a matter of days, as his body is decimated by MRSA pneumonia and meningitis. He's been placed back on dialysis.

The update is a devastating one for his family and friends ... since just a few days ago, Sam seemed to be on the mend ... taken off the ventilator and conscious as his blood pressure stabilized. But the hopeful moment did not last long.

Working with your ex would feel like a real-life "American Horror Story" to most people ... but Emma Roberts and Evan Peters seem to be handling it just fine.

The exes made a rare appearance together onstage at the Disney Upfront event in New York City on Tuesday to promote the new season of Ryan Murphy's flagship show.

They stood side-by-side along with more of the star-studded cast as they graced the stage to announce Paul Anthony Kelly would be joining the ensemble.

Sydney Sweeney is continuing to showcase her romance with Scooter Braun ... this time, sharing a romantic video collage showing them cuddling up and kissing.

Check it out -- the "Euphoria" star posted a PDA-filled compilation on her IG story Tuesday ... and it's full of clips of Scooter wrapping his arms around her and snuggling up to her. The videos appear to be taken during a picturesque beach vacation that took them swimming, dancing, boating, and on romantic walks along the shore.

The video ends with the music exec dipping his much younger girlfriend and going in for a smooch on the lips.

Taylor Swift was giving off major bridal era vibes in NYC on Tuesday as her wedding to Travis Kelce grows closer and closer.

The pop superstar was decked out in a form-fitting white mini dress as she and her friends, including BFF Ashley Avignone, went for dinner at Manhattan's Via Carota restaurant.

Check out the photos ... Taylor looks like she's ready to walk down the aisle in her $398 Retrofête dress as she makes her way inside the West Village eatery with Ashley just steps behind. Taylor also sported black Gucci high heels with a Dior bag slung over her shoulder.

Hayden Panettiere's ex Brian Hickerson says he still dreams about a future with the actress ... admitting he would even marry her, despite their rocky past.

Hickerson sat down with TMZ's Charlie Neff ahead of Hayden's upcoming memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning" ... and got surprisingly emotional when the conversation turned to the former couple's relationship.

When Charlie asked if he ever thinks about marrying the former "Nashville" actress one day, Brian didn’t hold back ... "Yeah, of course."