Controversial S#!T

Kevin Durant's mom tells TMZ Sports she loves LeBron James and Magic Johnson, which can only mean one thing ...

Wanda Durant loves LeBron and Magic. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Of course, Lakers fans are gonna love this clip ... K.D. is a free agent this summer and some are hoping he'll end up with the King in L.A.

We asked Wanda if she thought the 2 superstars will link up and wreck the West together ... and SHE DOES NOT SAY NO.

"My son has been in the NBA now for 11 years, so he's wise enough to make the decision that's best for him. I trust that."

There's more Laker love in the clip too ... Wanda gushes about Magic and his wife, Cookie -- which could be a whole lotta nothin' ... but, could also be a whole lotta somethin'.

There you have it. K.D.'s free agency mystery solved. You're welcome.

Stanley the Giraffe is standing tall and doing perfectly okay ... contrary to reports the famous exotic animal was harmed during the devastating California wildfires. But, not everyone's buying it.

A rep at Malibu Wine Safaris tells TMZ ... Stanley was moved out of his enclosure just after midnight Friday to a stable away from the fires. The move paid off big-time because the fires reached the property early Saturday morning.

Contrary to rumors ... Stanley's eyelashes were not burned.

Whitney Cummings posted a pic showing how close the fire came to Stanley's enclosure ... but we're told the fire never penetrated Stanley's safe area. BTW, a news chopper spotted Stanley Monday morning doing okay.

The comedian has spent the weekend blasting Malibu Wine Safaris, claiming it never moved Stanley out of its enclosure. In lengthy posts on Instagram, Whitney said she even found an injured pig not being looked after.

What's more ... a rep for PETA tells TMZ the org's demanding authorities investigate reports that at least some of the animals may be unaccounted for and check their condition. Lisa Lange, a senior veep with PETA, says, "It is unconscionable for any facility that keeps animals under lock and key not to have an emergency plan that allows for their immediate evacuation when one is called for."

The rep for Malibu Wine tells us the owner met with Whitney on the property and she visited the site twice to see for herself. For her part, Whitney says she's been getting conflicting information on the safari's evacuation plans. The rep tells us it followed all proper protocols.

Jimmy Butler was personally greeted by his new Sixers GM, Elton Brand, and a private jet on his way outta Minnesota on Monday ... and TMZ Sports has the pics!!

The ex-Timberwolves forward was just shipped to Philadelphia in a blockbuster trade that sent Dario Saric and Robert Covington to Minnesota ... and Brand clearly couldn't wait to meet his newest superstar.

The Sixers are in Miami to play the Heat Monday night ... but we're told the guys are going straight to Philly. Butler's expected to suit up for the Sixers on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic.

It's Brand's first huge trade in his new position as general manager after his own 17-year NBA career ... and judging by the pics, he's happy with the results.

Conservative talk show host Ben Shapiro says Pete Davidson's apology to Dan Crenshaw was the best political moment he's seen in years ... because it shows a level of civility that has been forgotten in America.

We got Ben Sunday at LAX, and he praised the apology skit to the skies, saying it's a shining light of how liberals and conservatives can disagree but treat each other with a level of civility.

Fact is ... it was an amazing moment on 'SNL,' with Pete apologizing and then the Congressman-elect coming at him with some hilarious jokes. Dan waded in treacherous waters by raising the super sensitive subject of Ariana Grande -- so funny.

The one controversial thing ... when Dan said rather than telling veterans, "Thank you for your service," he said people should say, "Never forget." That's a phrase that has been used to remember the Holocaust.

Pete Davidson addressed his controversy head-on last night by apologizing to Dan Crenshaw in person and on 'SNL.'

The war veteran and Republican politician appeared Weekend Update with Pete Davidson where Pete sincerely apologized to Dan, and Dan accepted, but not before giving Pete a taste of his own medicine. The icing on the cake is when Dan's phone rings, you have to hear the ringtone.

When the jokes settled, Dan used the moment to urge Americans to come together and forgive. A touching moment during these super-divisive times.

Chuck D thinks Tekashi69 should find younger and wiser friends, because Kanye West ain't doing the trick.

We got the Public Enemy MC at LAX on Friday and asked his thoughts on the drive-by shooting on the set of Tekashi's music vid with Yeezy ... and Chuck straight up tells 6ix9ine to choose better friends, because, apparently, Ye ain't helping.

"We got the guy who can make the blind see and the cripples walk in LaMelo Ball"

Yeah, that's a REAL quote from LaMelo Ball's new high school basketball coach, Jermaine Jackson -- who says he's so excited about the young player, it's like Magic Johnson all over again.

LaMelo, along with Jackson and LaVar Ball, just hosted a media event at the Spire Academy in Ohio where the 17-year-old will play this season ... and they're HYPED UP!

"Like Magic Johnson said in the '80s, don’t look down because you might miss something," Jackson said about Ball ... "It’s showtime baby!"

LaVar added this message to the Ohio media -- "Since LeBron left, I brought you a Ball boy."

Don't worry, LaMelo has a plan after he finishes his senior year -- he wants to play college ball.

In fact, Ball told the media he's already got some schools in mind -- including North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan State ... according to WKYC's Ben Axelrod.

"We got the guy who can make the blind see and the cripples walk in LaMelo Ball"

LaVar also told the media he thinks LaMelo is the most famous high school basketball player of all time -- even more famous than Bron was -- because James was virtually unknown overseas.

Ball is expected to make his Ohio high school debut in the next few days.

Michelle Obama seethed with anger at Donald Trump, saying his false claims about President Obama's birthright could have caused a "kook" to shoot her family.

Michelle's book, "Becoming," is about to be released, and she is extremely candid about her marriage, saying 20 years ago she felt "broken" after suffering a miscarriage. She says they had to do IVF to conceive their 2 daughters.

On the subject of Donald Trump ... Michelle expressed rage, particularly Trump's baseless birther allegation that Barack was not born in the U.S. She says it was absolutely meant to stir up bigotry and xenophobia, "deliberately meant to stir up the wingnuts and kooks."

She goes on ... "What if someone with an unstable mind loaded a gun and drove to Washington? What if that person went looking for our girls? Donald Trump, with his loud and reckless innuendos, was putting my family's safety at risk. And for this, I'd never forgive him."

As for the "Access Hollywood" video, Michelle says when she heard Trump brag about assaulting women ... her "body buzzed with fury."

She also can't believe so many women voted for a "misogynist" after all Trump has said.

And, this is interesting ... she's very open how she and Barack received marriage counseling. She says she has a "phenomenal marriage" and "we work on our marriage. And we get help with our marriage when we need it."

George Lopez will have to answer for allegedly getting handsy with a fan who trolled him with a Trump joke and a camera in his face, 'cause he's been charged with a crime ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us George will have to appear in court next month on a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly roughing up a guy who tried filming him at a Hooters in October ... as the comedian was leaving the restaurant.

We broke the story ... George grabbed the back of the young man's neck ... a guy who had previously asked to take a pic with the comedian. The guy jabbed George with a Trump joke, and then all hell broke loose as George was on his way out.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, cops tracked George down the next day at a golf course and asked for his side of the story. Basically, George told cops he didn't want to be filmed, and that's why he tried grabbing the guy's phone away.

George also told cops he believes the guy was trying to bait him by lying in wait at the front door and by throwing out "MAGA" jokes, knowing George is vehemently anti-Trump.

1:05 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, April has received at least 2 serious threats. The first one came in September ... someone emailed her and said, "Your not black. Your a loser with a big mouth that need slapped. If I ever see you, you're slap is coming. Go eat more s***."

The other came last month. April got a letter from a guy who claimed to be an ex-Army Ranger. He said, "I know who you are; what you look like; where you work; where you live, and what you drive ... so I think I'll pay you a visit soon. Trust me -- it will be the worst day of your life!"

April Ryan has security to protect her from the crazies who might actually view her as an "enemy of the people" ... after a series of verbal attacks by President Donald Trump.

April appeared Thursday on "TMZ Live," and we asked if she was receiving death threats after Trump rudely told her to sit down when she tried asking a question about voter suppression. It's the latest Trump attack against the American Urban Radio Networks Correspondent.

April didn't want to talk about specific threats, but made it clear she has a security team in place, which seems to be a reality of life for White House Correspondents who raise the President's ire.

Ryan made it clear ... she doesn't live in fear and will not back down ... but she's clearly taking precautions.

Congressman Gerry Connolly says CNN White House Correspondent Jim Acosta was set up by Donald Trump ... set up to humiliate him during Wednesday's news conference.

We got Connolly in D.C. Thursday and he seemed certain, there was a script behind the move by an intern to grab the mic Acosta was holding after the fiery exchange with the Prez.

Trump went full bore on Acosta, telling him he was a terrible person and unfit to cover The White House. By the way, Acosta's been covering 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for the last 5 years.

While ripping into Acosta, Trump accused him of being extremely rude to Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. There's no denying Sarah and Jim have gone to battle several times during press briefings -- with the fireworks frequently going off live on the web and TV.

11:30 AM PT -- The CEO, along with the President of FOX News, released a joint statement, saying, "The incident that took place at Tucker's home last night was reprehensible. The violent threats and intimidation tactics toward him and his family are completely unacceptable."

The statement continues, "We as a nation have become far too intolerant of different points of view. Recent events across our country clearly highlight the need for a more civil, respectful, and inclusive national conversation. Those of us in the media and in politics bear a special obligation to all Americans, to find common ground."

FOX News Channel's Tucker Carlson's home came under siege Wednesday night while he was at work, as his wife was left alone to fend for herself.

Tucker's wife, Susie, called cops around 6:30 PM ET to report a mob that had formed outside the Carlson home in D.C. Several people in the crowd started banging on the front door.

According to a police report, obtained by TMZ, the mob was chanting loudly with a bullhorn. Susie retreated to a rear room in the house and dialed 911. When police arrived, cops say they found around 20 people who had sprayed an anarchy symbol on the driveway.

Video obtained from outside the home shows the group chanting, "Racist scum bag, leave town." The group has reportedly been identified as an Antifa-affiliated group called Smash Racism DC.

Aside from the anarchy symbol, cops say they also found multiple signs posted on cars in Tucker's driveway and the front door that made reference to his political affiliation -- Republican.

Tucker was not home at the time of the incident ... it's unclear if his and Susie's 4 children were home. He recently said he avoids eating out because he doesn't want people confronting him.

We've seen quite a lot of that lately within the GOP ... from Mitch McConnell to Senator Cruz, and others.

Beto O'Rourke is steeped in politics, but that doesn't mean he has to be politically correct, because he dropped the F-bomb during his concession speech and it may actually work to his benefit down the line.

Beto fired up the crowd during his concession speech and boasted his campaign wasn't contaminated by political action committees. A lot of times, politicians try to sound off-the-cuff but it's actually very, very studied ... in his case, if he planned to drop the F-bomb you coulda fooled us.

He may be down, but he ain't out ... there's a groundswell to make him the guy to challenge Trump in 2020.

Russell Crowe is pulling a Christian Bale ... fully immersing himself in his role as late Fox News chief Roger Ailes, and doing such a great job at it, you'd never recognize him on the street.

Crowe was seen shooting Tuesday in NYC for the upcoming limited TV series, "The Loudest Voice in the Room." As you can see, Crowe's makeup team is on point ... perfectly transforming him into the controversial media mogul, who died in 2017 after taking a serious fall.

The change reminds us of what Bale did to play former Veep Dick Cheney.

Ailes is a hot commodity in Hollywood. There's also a feature film about him in production which stars Charlize Theron as Ailes' nemesis, Megyn Kelly.

John Lithgow is playing Ailes in that movie, but we haven't seen him in full makeup yet.

Jon Gott -- the dude who chugged a full beer in the end zone after a touchdown in a CFL game last Friday -- says he played the rest of the night with a solid buzz ... and loved it!!!

You've seen the clip by now ... the Ottawa Redblacks OL ran straight to his girlfriend after his squad scored a TD late in the 3rd quarter -- and slammed some suds in epic fashion.

Well, Gott tells TMZ Sports all that booze had some consequences ... and he played the rest of the game a little tipsy!!!

"You're playing on an empty stomach and you crush a beer, yeah, I felt it a little," Jon says.

"But, you know what? I just kept going along. It kind of made me feel a little looser on the field!"

Of course ... there were other consequences for the chug -- the CFL didn't fine Gott, but it made a brand-new rule banning the celebration from the game forever.

As for the beer Jon drank ... the 33-year-old tells us the brewers were so excited he chose to slam their product -- they're sending him some goodies!!

But ... don't expect an encore performance from Jon when the playoffs begin later this month -- he says his TD celebrations began and ended with that beer can last weekend.

Paul Rodriguez -- one of the original Latin Kings of Comedy -- says he's sticking his neck out on this one, but is willing to take the heat ... he's a fan of Donald Trump, although he's had it up to here with his antics.

We got Paul Monday at LAX and asked if he felt his jokes needed to reflect the political climate with Trump openly attacking the Hispanic community ... especially the caravan of migrants heading toward the southern border.

Surprisingly, Paul says no. In fact, he tells us he's actually a Republican ... and mostly backs DT, aside from some harsh language. Check out his explanation on what policies of Trump's he supports and why -- it's pretty enlightening.

Speaking of which ... Paul's got some thoughts on that too, saying we live in a time where one "bad" opinion puts you up on the cross faster than you can say ...