Controversial S#!T

Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber are firing back at Tekashi 6ix9ine's claim that she and/or their team illicitly bought their way to #1 this week.

AG took to IG Monday with a celebratory post, highlighting her and Bieb's single, "Stuck with U," which landed at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list ... beating out Doja Cat's popular "Say So" as well as 6ix9ine's new single, "GOOBA," which came in third.

She said she wanted to thank her fans for getting her there, but also took a good minute addressing 6ix9ine's allegations from just a few hours earlier that she, Biebs and people working for them allegedly maxed out 6 credit cards to purchase 30,000 units at the last minute to secure their spot at #1. Ariana calls BS.

She insists the reason "Stuck with U" moved the way it did is because more people actually purchased their song instead of streamed it, which counts for more units than streaming and explains why it surged to the top. Ariana goes on to say she and Bieber have longtime ride or die fans -- and they're credited with the bump. Nothing more.

She continued with all artists should be grateful and honored by the opportunity to be heard at all, and to work in the biz. She sent love to everyone in the top 10 ... "even number 3."

BTW, Bieber took up for their hit track ... pointing out Billboard rules only allow for 4 units to be purchased per credit card -- so, he's saying Tekashi's allegation couldn't be true.

And, as for Tekashi only calling out Ariana? Justin says, "If you gonna say her name make sure you say mine because it's our song."

Michael Phelps says he idolized Michael Jordan growing up and tried to act just like him ... right down to being an "asshole" to his teammates.

But, Phelps says it was all in the pursuit of greatness -- and guess what, IT WORKED OUT!

"To put it quite blunt, everyone saying he was an asshole," Phelps said to Yahoo Sports ... "But I would say the same thing about myself."

"I was an asshole when I was training because I wanted to help everybody make sure they had the same exact chances I had."

Phelps added, "We're all in there working together as a team even though it's an individual sport. We want the best for each other so I'm gonna challenge them and I'm gonna make sure that they're getting stress in practice that they're gonna face in a meet."

It worked out pretty well for Phelps ... who became the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 total medals (including 23 gold).

"That was the guy I wanted to be," Phelps said of Michael Jordan ... "I wanted to do in so many ways what he did in the sport of basketball."

Chuck E. Cheese appears to go by a new name on Grubhub -- but don't worry, nothing shady's going on ... according to the company, anyway.

The well-known pizza chain franchise has an offshoot brand it's using on the food delivery app, which goes by Pasqually's Pizza & Wings. It's got a completely new logo that doesn't make any reference to its OG roots. There's no mention of Chuck being at the helm either -- despite there being hundreds of locations across the U.S.

It's a bit strange, as all the Pasqually's Pizza joints on Grubhub reroute back to an actual Chuck E. Cheese location when you punch in the address. So, what gives???

Chuck E. Cheese says it recently launched Pasqually as its own thing within the CEC empire, and it's meant to be a premium pizza with a different makeup than their usual kid-friendly pies you might see at a birthday party or something.

CEC adds, "Pasqually’s Pizza & Wings’ recipes use fresh, homemade pizza dough, just like Chuck E. Cheese, but it is a different pizza that features a thicker crust and extra sauce, giving consumers a more flavorful, more premium pizza experience. While Pasqually’s Pizza & Wings recipes are currently only available for delivery, select items might be added to the Chuck E. Cheese menu in the future." Got it? Good.

As for why they wanted to intro this new pizza brand from its own pizza brand, the jury's out. Some have speculated it might have something to do with bad pub they've recently received ... a la YouTuber Shane Dawson. But, that's a rabbit hole we won't go down.

In any case ... this could be seen as kinda crappy for other Pasqually pizza joints, like the mom and pop shop in Philly that bears a very similar name. Sure enough, Chuck E. Cheese's new Pasqually's restaurant has a location there in town too. So, there ya go.

Pick your Pasqually's grub wisely, folks.

Pat Sajak would like to solve a puzzle ... of why people who can't work or are struggling financially are being told to stay home by media folks who are gainfully employed.

The legendary "Wheel of Fortune" host seems to be siding with out-of-work Americans who have been protesting state shutdowns ... and who've also garnered the support of President Trump.

Sajak took to Twitter -- yes, Pat's a serious tweeter -- to let his opinion be known about the continuous stay-at-home orders to stop the spread of COVID-19.

He said ... "When a disc jockey or a talk show host or a journalist who is being paid to work from his or her home tells people who can’t work, pay bills or pay their rent or mortgage to “Stay home and be careful because we’re all in this together, it’s okay to question the premise."

It's unclear what Sajak believes the answer to the question is ... he might need to buy a vowel or two.

Regardless, Pat's take suggests he's all for reopening the country despite the growing death toll, and it comes on the heels of protests breaking out all across the country.

"Reopen America Now" demonstrators have shown up in major cities in Ohio, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island and California in the past month ... and a Long Island protest even caught the attention of the Prez.

Of course, it is understandable why so many people are upset ... as of last week, more than 36 million people in the U.S. have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. It's also resulted in nearly 90,000 deaths in 2 months' time.

No, you can not have sex with the female plastic dolls in the crowd at FC Seoul soccer games.

Sorry.

Still, the club is apologizing to fans anyway ... expressing "sincere remorse" after allegations they put sex dolls in the bleachers Sunday for a game at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Here's the deal ... with no live fans allowed at games because of COVID-19, the South Korean soccer club put plastic butts in the seats instead as a funny way to make things look normal.

The team had contacted a company called Dalkom to get the dolls -- and since Dalkom also makes sex dolls, some fans thought the mannequins in the stands were plastic sex workers.

It's also worth noting that ALL of the mannequins in the stands were female.

But, FC Seoul claims the dolls are not actually bangable -- they're just normal, regular fashion mannequins ... and they've apologized for the controversy in the first place.

Unclear if the club will bring the non-sex dolls back for future games.

Hannah Brown is apologizing to her fans for using the n-word on social media, and then trying to play it off like she didn't say it at all.

The 'Bachelorette' star took to Instagram Sunday and issued a full mea culpa for the viral moment that started making the rounds over the weekend -- which showed her singing a song, in the company of family, and dropping the n-word as she recited lyrics, something she seemed to acknowledge was wholly inappropriate and cringe-worthy in the moment.

Later in the day, Hannah was back on IG Live and noticed people calling her out for it, but she didn't seem ready to cop to it right then and there. She tried playing dumb and being coy about it, with another woman next to her suggesting it might've been her brother.

It definitely wasn't though, and Hannah finally admitted her mistake, writing on IG ... "I owe you all a major apology. There is no excuse and I will not justify what I said. I have read your messages and seen the hurt I have caused. I own it all. I am terribly sorry and know that whether in public or private, this language is unacceptable. I promise to do better."

A lesson learned ... people are always watching, and are more than willing to speak up when they hear/see something wrong. Especially during quarantine.

Two Kansas City cops now face criminal charges in the alleged assault against a transgender woman ... this as video of the incident has surfaced.

It happened a year ago this month, but the video has just been released.

A woman near a beauty supply store recorded the confrontation. You see one of the officers knee the woman in her face and ribs. At one point her face is slammed into the concrete.

She apparently got into a dispute inside the store, and police responded to several 911 calls, one placed by the transgender woman. The cops in question claimed she was resisting, which is why they used force. She was arrested for disorderly conduct, trespassing and resisting arrest, along with drug paraphernalia possession.

The P.D. investigated and concluded the cops did nothing improper ... this according to the police union. Prosecutors then brought the case to the grand jury because they were stymied ... saying the police department was not cooperating with its investigation by turning over key documents. Prosecutors took the case to the grand jury, which indicted the 2 cops on assault charges. Both officers are now on desk duty.

The woman has since died after being shot and killed in an unrelated incident.

The case has caused tension in the city ... the woman is African-American and the officers are white. The lawyer for the woman's family, David Smith, says the case was botched by police and he's calling for the resignation of the Police Chief, adding, "You don't treat this woman like a piece of trash because you think she's a freak."

An E.R. doctor, who goes by Dr. Bill, is irate that the federal government is spending millions of dollars on Blue Angels flyovers while medical workers have to wear painters masks and the hungry go without food ... and he says it's all to make President Trump look good.

Dr. Bill didn't say where he works, but he's pissed at the flyovers by the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds, which salute health care workers in various cities.

The doc says it costs $450k for one Blue Angels flyover and another $450k for the Thunderbirds. The Air Force and Navy pilots have been buzzing various cities, drawing big crowds from below, but Dr. Bill says it's a shameful waste of money.

He holds up a painters mask with contempt, noting they don't provide nearly the protection of the scarcer N-95 masks. He's also ticked off some of the essential services that could be funded in lieu of flyovers.

Is UFC star Henry Cejudo -- a 33-year-old champion in his prime -- actually retiring?!

The answer is a big hell no ... if you listen to his friend and manager -- Ali Abdelaziz -- who tells TMZ Sports there's no way he can see Triple C hangin' up his gloves.

"Do I think Henry's gonna retire? Absolutely not. I don't think Henry's gonna retire."

Remember, Cejudo TKO'd Dominick Cruz -- considered the greatest bantamweight of all-time -- at the end of the 2nd round at UFC 249 last weekend. During his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Cejudo announced he was retiring from the sport.

But, Abdelaziz says a lot of fighters have the urge to walk away right after going to war in the Octagon ... but that quickly fades.

"Khabib, every time he fights, 'I think I'm done,'" Ali says ... "2 weeks later, 'Who you think I should fight next?' Because these guys are at their prime. Henry's coming into his prime. How you gonna retire in your prime?"

Matter of fact, Ali believes Cejudo will not only fight again ... but it'll happen sometime over the next 3-4 months.

"Henry has everybody on their knees right now. I don't think he's gonna retire. You're gonna see him fight by the summer."

Question is, who will Cejudo take on next?

Triple C and boxer Ryan Garcia recently beefed online, and T.J. Dillashaw -- who comes off his drug suspension early next year -- has been crystal clear in his desire to avenge his Jan. 2019 loss to Cejudo.

But, Ali says that ain't happening ... ever.

"Henry will never fight T.J. I don't think any clean athlete should ever fight T.J. Dillashaw. The man cheated for a long time."

Abdelaziz continued ... "If you cheated this long, you think you're gonna come back and get a title shot? It doesn't even make sense."

"Henry for sure will never fight him. I know that for sure. Cause he beat the man while he was on the juice. Why's he gonna fight him?

Fat Joe had an eye-opening story for Ashanti that almost saw one of her biggest hits go to Jennifer Lopez ... at the would-be behest of Ja Rule and Irv Gotti.

Joe was talking to Ashanti on Instagram Live this week, and recounted an interesting tale about a time he says Ja and Irv called him up in the dead of night and told him to come to the studio. Once there, FJ says they showed him the remixed version of his song "What's Luv?" with Ashanti singing on it ... but told him they wanted to get J Lo on instead.

He goes on to say that Irv and Ja tried pitching him on a Latino angle with himself, Ja and J Lo on the final cut for representation. Joe's Puerto Rican, Jen is too.

Luckily for Ashanti -- who seems seriously stunned at the revelation -- Joe lobbied to keep her on, 'cause he said she sounded amazing on it. Audiences clearly agreed in the end ... Ashanti was kept on as the primary female singer in the remix, and the song went on to peak at No. 2 on the Hot 100 Billboard chart, and stayed on for nearly 20 weeks.

As for Ashanti, she says she never knew this ... and seemed a little pissed at either Ja or Irv (or possibly both) by saying, "He stayed pulling records or trying to pull records from me." Joe tries calming her down by telling her not to go there, but too late ... Ashanti did.

The duo went on to talk about a number of hits Ashanti had on the charts at the time, including one J Lo song she's credited with helping write, "Ain't It Funny" ... the Murder remix, anyway. People online are saying Ashanti doesn't get her due for her pen prowess.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar claims he did NOT pull out a gun and rob people at a Florida cookout this week ... and claims he's got 5 witnesses who will back up his story.

Dunbar's attorney Michael Grieco tells TMZ Sports ... 5 witnesses came to his office Friday morning and signed sworn affidavits insisting Dunbar was NOT involved in the May 13 incident.

"My client is innocent," Greico tells us ... "Never been arrested before. This is a man who's never been in handcuffs, never been in trouble. He didn't do anything wrong. He's completely innocent."

As we previously reported, Dunbar -- along with NY Giants player Deandre Baker -- are accused of taking more than $7,000 in cash and several pricey watches at gunpoint during a party gone wrong.

The Miramar Police Dept. says multiple witnesses saw both men ordering partygoers to turn over their valuables while Baker barked orders.

Officials say there were conflicting statements from witnesses as to whether Dunbar was also brandishing a gun.

Law enforcement says Baker ordered a 3rd man -- who was wearing a red mask -- to shoot someone at the party, but the masked man did not do it.

The police report suggests Baker was the shot caller -- and Dunbar was an accomplice.

But, Greico tells us his client is 100% innocent -- and he's accusing police of "celebrating" the fact they've got high profile suspects in their sights.

"They did a virtual touchdown dance on Twitter," Greico told us ... "They tagged the Giants and the Seahawks in a tweet. One of the most unprofessional things I've ever seen."

Greico is also upset officials are ordering his client to surrender in person -- which could put him at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When asked if his client would surrender, Greico told us he's trying to work with law enforcement to try and get them to withdraw the warrant ... but insists he's not helping his client hide from cops.

"I'm not holding him up anywhere."

Both Dunbar and Baker are facing multiple felony charges and if convicted, they both face serious prison time.

Ravens rookie J.K. Dobbins says he's well aware of the stigma associated with wearing #27 in Baltimore after the Ray Rice incident ... but chose the number to honor his dad and create his own legacy.

"Ray Rice was an amazing player. People make mistakes," Dobbins said on Instagram Live. "But, I wear that number for myself because I want to set a legacy for my own self in that number."

Dobbins says he picked the number to honor his late father, Lawrence, who wore #27 as a star running back at La Grange H.S. in Texas.

Lawrence tragically passed away of a stroke when J.K. was just 15 years old, according to the Ravens.

FYI -- Rice wore #27 with the Ravens from 2008-2013 ... and became the 2nd-leading rusher in team history.

Of course, #27 has been avoided in Baltimore since Rice's domestic violence incident with then-fiancee Janay Palmer in 2014.

Rice was indefinitely suspended by the NFL for the incident ... and never saw the field again.

But, Dobbins is focused on his own career ... and is ready to begin a new history for the number.

Van Jones says while America's now coping with a pandemic, black America's been battling epidemic violence, poverty and disease long before coronavirus came along.

The Reform Alliance CEO was on "TMZ Live" Friday to talk about his CNN special, "The Color of Covid" -- and he didn't mince words when describing the challenges facing many minority communities.

Van says there's always been an epidemic of death in neighborhoods of color. He says, "You’re worried about invisible bullets from the virus? We've been dodging real bullets the whole time." He says that mentality explains the recent massive crowds gathered for parties in Atlanta and Chicago.

Black and Latino communities also face different health risks as the nation reopens, due to underlying health problems that have gone unchecked for years. As Van, and many doctors, point out ... hypertension, heart disease and diabetes immediately put you in the at-risk category for COVID-19. Of course, staying home only creates economic hardship.

Van says the federal government needs a better battle plan, one that offers better medical AND economic stimuli to people of color.

Golf superstar Rory McIlroy says he's been REJECTING opportunities to play with President Trump "out of choice" ... claiming he doesn't agree with "anything" POTUS has been saying recently.

Remember, Rory and The Donald played a round of golf at Trump International in Florida together back in 2017 ... a move he defended as not "an endorsement nor a political statement of any kind."

While Rory praised Trump for being "charismatic" and "nice" on 'The McKellar' podcast this week ... he admits he will not hit the links with him again, despite several opportunities.

"Most people that he came across that day he was cordial to, he was nice and personable," McIlroy says. "That was my only interaction with him the day I had with him."

"But, that doesn’t mean that I agree with everything -- or in fact, anything -- that he says."

McIlroy then went IN on his former golf buddy for his handling of the coronavirus ... saying he's using the pandemic for his own political gain.

"We’re in the midst of something that’s pretty serious right now and the fact that he’s trying to politicize it and make it a campaign rally and say we’re administering the most tests in the world like it is a contest -- there’s something that just is terrible," McIlroy says.

"It’s not the way a leader should act. There’s a sort of diplomacy that you need to have, and I don’t think he’s showing that ... especially in these times."

Rory -- the #1-ranked golfer in the world -- says he wouldn't golf with Trump again if he had the chance ... but admits he probably won't get another opportunity.

"I don’t know if he’d want to play with me again after what I just said. But no, I wouldn't."

The TikTok star who's getting destroyed for his asinine subway prank says he's sorry, but much like his cereal stunt ... the apology misses the mark.

As we reported ... the TikTok prankster, @fckjoshy, dumped a large plastic bin full of Fruity Pebbles and milk on the floor of a NYC subway train Wednesday. The powerfully unfunny move was rightfully condemned by people online, the city's transit agency ... and we learned the NYPD is investigating too.

So, Fckjoshy posted a video Thursday in an apparent attempt to own up to his mistake and apologize to the MTA, essential workers and everyone else he affected with his prank ... but people aren't really buying it.

He claims he thought the stunt would be something to make people laugh and bring joy during the COVID-19 pandemic, but instead he was "way off the mark" and "went over the line."

Joshy goes on to call himself a "f***ing idiot," "public enemy #1" and says he wishes people could slap him. Alright, that part of the apology he nailed.

He also read 50 hate-filled comments -- in a pretty a dispassionate way -- and insisted he's taking them all to heart. Maybe he is, but it sure didn't sound like it.