Controversial S#!T

12/25 -- 21 Savage has also apologized ... saying, "the Jewish people I know are very wise with [their] money so that's why I said we been gettin Jewish money. I never thought anyone would take offense. I'm sorry if I offended everybody. Never my intention. I love all people."

LeBron James busted out a big "Sleecha" to Jewish people on Sunday -- after posting a photo on Instagram with the caption, "Getting that Jewish money."

Long story short, LeBron says he thought it was a "compliment" to Jews.

James was actually quoting a lyric from the 21 Savage rap song "ASMR" -- but there was a backlash online from people who felt someone as famous and powerful as LeBron shouldn't be pushing old Anti-Semitic stereotypes.

"Apologies, for sure, if I offended anyone," James told ESPN ... "That's not why I chose to share that lyric. I always [post lyrics]. That's what I do. I ride in my car, I listen to great music, and that was the byproduct of it."

"So, I actually thought it was a compliment, and obviously it wasn't through the lens of a lot of people. My apologies. It definitely was not the intent, obviously, to hurt anybody."

Despite LeBron's intent, there have been hundreds of books and articles written over the years about why the "Jews and Money" stereotype is a dangerous one.

Quite simply, it's been used a rallying cry to fuel anti-Semitism for hundreds of years.

Once again, UFC superstar Jon Jones is apologizing for a failed drug test -- claiming the steroid found in his system this week was not consumed with the intention to cheat.

"I just wanted to take the time out to apologize to the fans for what is going on," Jones said in a video posted Sunday night ... "It's a situation that's completely out of my control."

In case you didn't know ... officials found traces of the steroid Turinabol while testing Jones for his upcoming fight against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232 on Dec. 29.

But, officials from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have essentially said the traces found in JJ's system were TINY -- and likely leftovers from when he tested positive in 2017.

Still, the Nevada State Athletic Commission would not let Jones fight in Vegas -- but he got the green light in California ... so, Dana White and the UFC relocated the event to L.A.

Some people (including UFC fighters) are furious -- claiming they already made plans, bought tickets, hotel rooms, airplane tickets, etc.

In his video, Jones acknowledges the situation is messed up but claims he didn't take any PEDs and never intended for this to happen.

"This is a situation that is completely out of my control ... but I still will man up and apologize for this happening."

"I realize there's a lot of people who lost out in the situation ... people came from Sweden, people came from Brazil ... I feel your frustration."

Jones says he's trying to make things right -- and has paid for hotel rooms and airplane tickets for some people -- but insists, "This is not a mistake I made."

The dude who etched 2 swastikas on Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has got legal issues this XMAS, because he's been busted.

Jose Ortega has been to Trump's star twice in 4 days, both times bending down, drawing swastikas and taking off.

Despite being caught on video 4 days ago, cops were unable to locate him. But, Ortega showed up Sunday night, bent down and repeated. This time, a passerby happened to see him, called the cops, followed him a few blocks where cops mete up with Ortega and arrested him.

Ortega admitted to both taggings. In addition to being arrested for vandalism, he was booked on 2 outstanding traffic warrants.

The guy who poured fake blood on Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame says he was working for PETA when he did the deed ... but now he's been canned.

We spoke to PETA's now-former senior campaign specialist, Matt Bruce, who was caught on camera earlier this week pouring red dyed corn syrup on the Trump star ... which had just been vandalized earlier that day by another guy who'd also been caught on tape.

It was a shocking image to say the least, especially since the previous vandalism from hours earlier featured swastikas.

Matt tells us here was there with PETA members protesting Forever 21 for their use of wool. Toward the end of the protest, Matt says he wanted to send a message by pouring some fake blood on the star ... an act he says PETA has done in other instances many times over.

According to him, pouring the blood here couldn't be more on brand ... and, ultimately, it was a harmless political statement. Well ... he says PETA didn't see it that way.

Shortly after, Matt tells us he got a call from a PETA HR rep and the VP, who told him it was his last day. He says he's mostly disappointed by the firing, but not shocked. Matt asserts that PETA doesn't want any heat from the Trump administration, and that's why they cut him loose.

Wayne Brady thinks Louis C.K. using the n-word in front of some comics -- including Chris Rock -- is as unacceptable now as it was then ... but he's wringing everyone's neck here.

We got the "Whose Line Is It Anyway"' alum Sunday at LAX and asked for his thoughts on a 2011 HBO clip of Louis chatting with Chris, Jerry Seinfeld and Ricky Gervais ... and, at one point, dropping the n-word when CR calls him the "blackest white guy" he knows.

The clip resurfaced Saturday and went viral, with lots of criticism aimed at Chris for co-signing Louis and Ricky hurling the word back and forth in front of a very uncomfortable Jerry, who lots of folks are seeing as the hero in this scenario for speaking out against it.

Wayne isn't as conciliatory. He tells us Louis shouldn't have said it, Chris shouldn't have allowed it, and Ricky definitely shouldn't have chimed in with so much glee. He also says Seinfeld isn't a saint for his mild protest ... calling him more tactical than anything. Ouch ...

It's a harsh rebuke for sure, but Wayne makes valid points. What's weird is that Louis has been using the n-word in his stand-up for years, and this clip has been in circulation for a while.

Louis C.K., Ricky Gervais and Chris Rock hurled around the n-word during a TV chat back in 2011 ... and it's getting a lot of criticism now -- the question, what about then?

The conversation aired as part of an HBO special called "Talking Funny." Chris Rock calls Louis C.K., "The blackest white guy I know," which unleashes Louis, who asks, "You say I'm a n*****?"

There's a discussion of using the n-word in comedy.

Jerry Seinfeld does not use the word, and says he never has.

The group then discusses the use of the term in comedy and in public vs. private life. Seinfeld chimes in, "I don't think he can do that." On the other hand, Louis C.K. says he and Gervais use the word in private.

Al Sharpton says video of high school wrestler Andrew Johnson getting his dreadlocks cut before a match is "outrageous," and shows a tremendous bias against minorities in high school sports.

The Rev. ain't buying the argument that the ref was simply enforcing the rules -- and accuses Alan Maloney of having a "bias" against black people.

But, Sharpton also believes the hair rule itself it ridiculous -- saying, "I think that it clearly discriminates against people that have a certain cultural bend, and come from a certain identity and racial background."

Sharpton compares the situation to discrimination cases where black employees had been told to get rid of dreadlocks and cornrows to comply with workplace standards.

Michael B. Jordan really doesn't want to believe Travis Scott's joining Maroon 5 for the Super Bowl 53 Halftime Show ... because he thinks it goes against what Trav should be standing for.

Much like Al Sharpton -- who flat out called Scott a hypocrite when we talked to him -- Jordan implies Travis is betraying the boycott against the NFL for how it's treated Colin Kaepernick and its handling of the kneeling controversy.

MBJ says, "We're still trying to stand behind something right now," and suggests by taking the Super Bowl gig ... the rapper's setting the cause back.

Danny Trejo's got a big problem with Donald Trump's master plan to build a big beautiful wall along America's southern border ... he doesn't think it will work.

We got the "Machete" star at Los Angeles Mission Friday helping serve food to the homeless, and asked for his take on the President's demand for border wall funding and the government shutdown.

Danny tells us Trump's wall plan is futile, because no matter how high it is ... he's not accounting for how far below ground it needs to go. The actor also suggests POTUS has delusions of grandeur ... and just wants his name on something rivaling China's famous landmark.

Trejo's not against more border security, though ... he just believes there are much smarter ways to use funding for it.

BTW, Trump revealed an interesting potential design for his border wall Friday ... it definitely doesn't address Danny's concerns.

Logan Paul hates everything about the wrestling story out of New Jersey, where a white referee forced a black high school wrestler to cut his dreadlocks before his match ... and says that ref should be out of a job for good.

We asked the YouTube star for his thoughts on the incident as he leaving The Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills Friday, and he summed it up pretty good, saying ... "That's f***ed!"

Paul was a stud wrestler himself back in H.S., and tells us he was never asked to cut his hair, so he thinks it's ridiculous Andrew Johnson was put in that position ... and feels badly for him.

As we reported ... NJ state athletic officials are investigating the ref, Alan Maloney, and he will not be working any matches while they do so. Maloney had previously been disciplined for making a racist comment in 2016, and obviously many believe what he did to Johnson was racially motivated.

Al Sharpton is calling out Travis Scott for agreeing to perform at the Super Bowl ... in fact, he's calling him a hypocrite.

We got the Reverend Friday in a rainy NYC, and he couldn't be stronger ... he says Travis is betraying the NFL boycott by drawing people to the game by his presence with Maroon 5 during the halftime show.

Sharpton feels strongly that people need to turn their backs on the NFL for what they did to Colin Kaepernick and others who expressed themselves by taking a knee to protest injustice.

The white referee who ordered a black high school wrestler to either cut his hair or forfeit the match is now being investigated by NJ state athletic officials, TMZ Sports has learned.

And, while the investigation is active, sources tell us the referee will NOT be working any matches.

The incident involves Buena Regional High School athlete Andrew Johnson -- who was seen on video getting his dreadlocks chopped off before a match this week.

In the footage, Johnson looks distraught. People are furious, claiming the ultimatum was racially motivated since the ref, Alan Maloney, has previously been disciplined for making a racist comment in 2016.

The way it's being explained to us ... Maloney has not been formally suspended or disciplined for the Johnson incident, but officials feel it's best to keep him off the mat while they gather information.

A source connected to Maloney tells us his position is that he was merely enforcing a rule about hair maintenance -- and insists race was not a factor.

Meanwhile, we spoke with a rep for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association -- which oversees high school sports in NJ -- a who gave us the following statement.

"The NJSIAA has been in direct contact with school officials and is now awaiting official incident reports. A report also has been requested from the referee involved. In addition – and as per its formal sportsmanship policy – the NJSIAA has provided initial information to the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights and will continue to send updates as they become available."

"At this point, the NJSIAA is working to determine the exact nature of the incident and whether an infraction occurred."

"As a precautionary measure, given the degree of attention being focused on this matter, the NJSIAA will recommend to chapter officials that the referee in question not be assigned to any event until this matter has been reviewed more thoroughly in order to avoid potential distractions for the competing wrestlers."

LeBron James railed on the NFL, saying the owners are a bunch of white guys who treat their players with extreme disrespect.

LeBron made the comments on his HBO show, "The Shop," contrasting the football league with the NBA. James said, "In the NFL they got a bunch of old white men owning teams and they got that slave mentality ... and it's a little like, 'This is my team. You do what the f*** I tell y'all to do. Or we get rid of y'all.'"

The Lakers star is clearly referring in part to Colin Kaepernick allegedly getting blackballed by NFL owners who were outraged by the kneeling movement the QB triggered.

DC Young Fly says he's down with Maroon 5 and Travis Scott performing at halftime of the Super Bowl ... but he still feels the NFL made a huge mistake by passing over Atlanta rappers.

The 'Wild 'N Out' star isn't going full Jay-Z -- trying to talk Travis out of performing -- but he supports Colin Kaepernick and thinks the NFL is slapping ATL in the face by snubbing its hip-hop scene ... and he warns a TON of people are gonna raise hell when the big game comes to town.

We broke the story ... the "SICKO MODE" rapper will join M5 at the big show. Travis' new gig is drawing praise and scorn.

DC makes it clear his beef is not with Travis ... he suggests two music icons should join the show and ease tensions in Hotlanta. Hint: think gospel.

UFC star Aljamain Sterling says the haircut incident with high school wrestler Andrew Johnson is "so f*cked up" ... but he was so impressed with the kid, he wants to train him personally.

"It's so messed up on so many levels," Sterling tells TMZ Sports ... "I felt bad."

Sterling says he's spent a lot of time coaching high school wrestling and has NEVER seen a situation where an athlete was forced to cut his hair.

In fact, Sterling says if he was the coach that day, he would have pulled his team out of the gym in protest and forfeited the rest of the match.

"We're not gonna stand for no sh*t like this," Sterling says.

The good news ... Sterling trains with other huge UFC stars like Al Iaquinta and Chris Weidman with the Serra-Longo fight team in Long Island, NY -- not too far from Johnson's high school in New Jersey.

UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley is FIRED UP over the high school wrestling ref who made a black kid cut his dreadlocks before a match ... and he's calling for NJ officials to FIRE HIS ASS.

Before dominating the UFC, Tyron was an All-American wrestler at the Univ. of Missouri ... and before that, he was a FORCE in the high school wrestling community.

Tyron tells TMZ Sports ... the ref, Alan Maloney, should have been fired years ago when he reportedly made a racist comment to an African-American man back in 2016.

Woodley's bigger issue is he's sick of people with a history of racist behavior being allowed to have positions of authority. And, that includes police officers.

As for the recent incident with high school wrestler Andrew Johnson, Tyron thinks the way the high school wrestling community handles hair maintenance ... specifically with black athletes ... is ridiculous.