Controversial S#!T

Dennis Rodman says he's going to put his dictator diplomacy to good use soon in an attempt to free Brittney Griner, who's currently jailed in Russia.

The ex-NBA star told NBC News this weekend that he's planning on jetting off this week, adding that he got "permission" to head over there and "help that girl" in a would-be prisoner swap. Unclear if Rodman is serious or not ... but his track record suggests he could be.

As we all know ... DR has visited North Korea a lot over the years and built a relationship with Kim Jong Un. Rodman has always insisted his connections in N. Korea have helped U.S. diplomatic efforts -- including the release of an American prisoner, Kenneth Bae.

Of course, he also tagged along with then-President Donald Trump for a 2018 trip to the communist country. That said, his actual influence has always gotten a raised eyebrow.

There isn't much more to the NBC interview -- which sounds like it was fast and on the move, as there's no video or anything beyond text quotes -- other than Rodman suggesting that he's also familiar with Vladimir Putin, adding that he knows the leader "well."

As NBC and other outlets have noted ... Rodman doesn't actually need permission to head to Russia right now -- and there's no word yet on whether this is a U.S.-sanctioned effort.

The feds have advised Americans not to travel to Russia at the moment -- and they're already actively working on securing BG's release -- but we suppose we'll see if DR actually touches down in the near future to do something that isn't already happening. BTW, he was in town in D.C. this weekend for an event ... so maybe geopolitics were top of mind for him.

The ex-girlfriend of Daren Kagasoff, star of "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," has obtained a temporary restraining order against the actor ... this after she claimed he threatened to leak nude pictures of her online and allegedly sent some to her parents.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Breanna Trupiano claims they split last July after Daren allegedly "threw a lit cigarette in my hair and told me he was going to kill me."

Breanna claims their issues didn't stop after the breakup ... she says he "stalked [her] work and apartment for 7 months" until she filed a police report.

She says he left her alone for a few months but claims he started to harass her again when she posted a pic of her new boyfriend on Instagram.

She claims the actor made fake IG accounts and threatened to post her nudes online ... she also says he used burner numbers to send pics to her parents.

Breanna says she's now afraid to go outside her home or post about her love life on social media ... worrying, "I'm scared of what he may do next."

The actor's required to stay 100 yards away from her and isn't allowed to make any contact.

Holden Caulfield is a whiny little brat who's more of a punk than he is a literary hero ... this according to Jahkara Smith, who's got one helluva hot take that's got Twitter fired up.

The "NOS4A2" star posted a video this week that analyzes the lead character from J.D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" -- honing in on one scene in particular, where she says HC got what he deserved ... and that the kid actually sucks if you look at him big picture.

Jahkara explains Holden has idealistic views of women, but when it comes to getting busy, he's not actually up for it -- evidenced by an encounter with a prostitute, which he ends up paying for. JS POV ... serves him right, as he was wasting that working woman's time.

She goes on to suggest that he's actually the blueprint of a modern-day school shooter ... because as soon as he gets roughed up, he has visions of killing the hooker/pimp.

There's a lot more to her book review, so watch for yourself -- but let's just say, a handful on the bird app aren't taking too kindly to her analysis of what's considered an American classic. We'll spare you all the tweets, but basically ... some argue she's being simplistic in her breakdown of the character, and dissecting him without some much-needed context.

For starters, people are in her mentions defending Holden ... saying that he's obviously a troubled youth who's dealing with major trauma (death of brother) and likely sexual abuse.

Unclear if Jahkara processed that, but in any case ... she seems to think the novel just isn't all that it's made out to be. In fact, there are a decent amount of folks who actually agree with her -- saying the premise of this teen trying to preserve innocence is ... kinda lame.

The book has fallen under a lot of scrutiny in recent years -- with a lot of people claiming 'Catcher' is problematic at its core. That might be true ... under a 21st-century lens, that is. Remember, this thing was published in the '50s ... a very different time in America.

Gary Busey is facing criminal charges out of New Jersey after cops claim he made inappropriate contact with people, among other things.

The actor was hit with four charges Friday by the Cherry Hill Police Department -- two counts of criminal sexual contact, one count of criminal attempt/criminal sexual contact and one count of harassment.

Cops say this stems from a report of a sex offense during the weekend of August 12-14 at the Doubletree Hotel. They describe more than one incident that people reported during the Monster Mania Convention -- for which he was booked to appear -- but the details of any alleged acts are unclear at this point. CHPD didn't go into detail about what was reported.

There's no doubt Gary was in attendance for this thing BTW -- he took multiple photos with fans throughout the three days. Just check his tagged section on IG, and you'll see 'em all.

Unclear if Busey is still in town or not, or what the process will look like to have to answer for these charges in Jersey if he has, in fact, left the state. He, of course, lives in California ... and it doesn't sound like he was arrested there on the spot last week.

We've reached out to Gary's reps ... so far, no word back. TMZ has also reached out to Cherry Hill PD for more info on what this is all about -- but they haven't responded yet.

Johnny Depp has played many roles, but never a Moonman ... and that's all going to change at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards with a planned surprise appearance from the movie star.

VMA production sources tell TMZ ... Depp's been in talks with show producers to dress up as the network's famous Moonman -- recently dubbed the Moonperson -- and show face at some point during the award show's broadcast on August 28.

Depp's won 5 MTV Movie Awards over the years, including Best Male Performance, Best Villain, Global Superstar and the Generation Award in 2012.

The surprise appearance comes on the heels of both the recent announcement of Johnny's return to film as well as his new deal with Dior. TMZ broke the story, the brand signed Depp to a multi-year, 7-figure extension to continue to be the face of the Sauvage fragrance line.

Bill Maher has a warning ... online shopping is taking a not-so-hidden toll on America ... and he makes a case that going OG shopping is better for your head and the planet.

The "Real Time" host went scorched earth on people who like to order 9 pairs of pants to find the one that fits just right ... only to return the other 8. Those boxes go somewhere ... yep, landfills, oceans ... not good.

The visual tells the story ... buy a small item, it comes in a big box. Buy 3 items ... you get 3 big boxes. When you add it up, it's kind of an environmental disaster.

And, then there's the human toll ... Americans don't leave their homes like they used to because it's easier to push a button than to start a car and drive to a mall. Thing is ... Americans have become way more isolated, and it's taking a mental toll, because we are social creatures who increasingly have stopped socializing.

Thing is ... Kanye West may have figured all of this out with his latest creation at Gap stores ... the containers in which you find his designs have attracted customers ... people who might otherwise just sit on their sofa and order away.

Vanessa Bryant just talked about Kobe Bryant, Gianna, the crash and the photos that officials took of their bodies while on the stand -- and she was overcome with emotion while trying to explain how awful it all has truly been for her.

Using a handkerchief to wipe away tears after nearly every sentence -- Vanessa said she first learned of the crash after an assistant informed her of it at her home. She said L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva was the one who eventually told her there were no survivors.

Vanessa said on the stand that she begged him to secure the area, as she was concerned about paparazzi. She testified he didn't tell her at the time that his deputies had photographed her family members' bodies.

She later said she learned of the graphic photos through the Los Angeles Times report -- and, while speaking through sobs, she said it gutted her.

"I felt like I wanted to run down the block and scream," she said in the courtroom. "I can’t escape my body. I can't escape what I feel."

She added that she was "blindsided, devastated, hurt and betrayed" to know that authorities had snapped pics at the scene.

"I trusted them," she said. "I trusted them to not do these things."

Vanessa told the courtroom one of the most disturbing things to her was that because of where Gianna was located at the crash scene, she believed officials had to have moved the 13-year-old's body in order to photograph it.

"They took advantage that Daddy couldn't protect her," she said. "He was at the morgue."

Vanessa testified that if the photos ever got out, and if she were to somehow see them, it'd rip her apart.

"I don't ever want to see my babies in that way," she said, explaining to the courtroom that she lives in constant fear that the photos could surface. "Nobody should ever have to see their family in that way."

As we reported, Vanessa arrived at the courtroom earlier Friday morning in a black dress, black coat and dark sunglasses. She wore a "Mama" necklace -- and appeared to be confident, flashing a smile on her way into the L.A. building.

The 40-year-old is suing L.A. County officials after learning deputies had taken and shared graphic photos from the wreckage scene.

Alec Baldwin says Donald Trump incited his January 6th mob to murder him ... by falsely claiming the actor intentionally fired the shot that killed the cinematographer on the "Rust" set.

Baldwin told CNN Trump's comment -- that "He [Baldwin] probably shot her [Halyna Hutchins] on purpose" was itself a trigger for his mob to put a target on his head.

As Baldwin put it, "Here was Trump who instructed people to commit acts of violence and he was pointing the finger at me and saying I was responsible for the death."

Baldwin had lots to say ... CNN says the interview lasted 2 hours, although only a small portion has been aired. He reportedly said the stress from the shooting has "taken years off my life," adding, "If I didn't have my wife, I don't know where I would be right now ... If I didn't have her, I probably would have quit, retired, gone off, you know sold everything I owned, got a house in the middle of nowhere and just you know did find something else to do, sell real estate."

Baldwin also says he hired a P.I. and got recon that he almost certainly would not be prosecuted, nor does he think anyone else will be as well. He does, however, lay the blame squarely at the feet of Chief Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and Assistant Director Dave Halls, for allowing him to handle a gun with live ammo. Baldwin didn't know the gun was loaded with a live round and says it was their responsibility to check it.

Halls' lawyer says Baldwin is trying to deflect blame, saying "Baldwin is pointing the finger at others because the evidence is pointing at him."

Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin might be a party animal, but it's all drug-free ... so says the PM herself who says she can prove it!

The 36-year-old PM dropped the news she took a drug test Friday. She said he's expecting the results sometime next week.

As we reported, the PM found herself in hot water after a video leaked of her going hard at a party with other musicians, TV stars, and fellow politicians. The vid was posted on a private IG Account ... and it caused quite the stir.

Finnish Member of Parliament Mikko Kärnä called her out on her party animal behavior ... insisting that she take a drug test. The PM said she was drinking but never took drugs. BTW, she said she was not drinking heavily.

Marin said, "Everyone needs a fun and relaxed evening," adding "I have danced, sung, celebrated, done legal things."

In Friday's conference, she said, "I did nothing illegal ... even in my teenage years I have not used any kind of drugs."

"Love Is Blind" star Shake Chatterjee tells us he will NOT be on the 'After the Alter' episode ... blasting the reality show as a failed experiment seeking to exploit contestants.

Shake tells TMZ ... he's pissed at how he was portrayed on the hit Netflix reality dating series, and he told producers he wanted nothing to do with the franchise, despite being begged to come back for one last hurrah.

The experience clearly left a bad taste in Shake's mouth ... and he's ripping the hosts, Nick and Vanessa Lachey, for not staying neutral in his case, questioning their motives and explaining why he passed on participating in the upcoming "Love Is Blind: After the Alter."

In "Love Is Blind," contestants date in pods, conversing through speakers while unable to see their date. In order to meet in person, two contestants must first get engaged.

Shake lets it all out ... telling us he sees the Netflix series as a "failed experiment" primed for a downfall. The guy says it's not how people should find love, and he practices what he preaches, because he met his girlfriend, Emily Wilson in real life. They now live together in Miami and are recording season 2 of the "Life is Blurry Podcast" together as co-hosts.

Jason Oppenheim is NOT stressing about Christine Quinn leaving "Selling Sunset" ... he says there are no hard feelings and has "zero concerns" about how her exit will affect the show.

We got Jason leaving Equinox Thursday and he was chill about Christine's departure ... at least on the surface.

Jason says he has no doubt that the current cast members will hold it down for season 6 and 7 ... but he was a little cagey about who's gonna stir the pot now that the villain has left the building.

He slyly explained there are 2 new women on 6 and 7, but wouldn't characterize them as villains ... only that they created an "interesting dynamic." He says there's a natural drama that evolved and he insists these are the best seasons of the run.

TMZ broke the story ... Christine and the producers came to a mutual decision that she'd leave the show. As we reported, she's signed with IMG Models.

Christine ruffled lots of feathers prior to her exit. She skipped the show's reunion after claiming she had COVID ... that turned out to be super sketchy, because she was seen shooting a commercial for a video game around the same time.

Jason insists there's no beef between him and Christine and he's even sent her a few texts to compliment her on all her fashion projects.

Deshaun Watson out ... Jimmy Garoppolo in?!

If Michael Lombardi was still the general manager in Cleveland ... he tells TMZ Sports that's exactly the move he'd make following Watson's newly announced 11-game suspension.

Lombardi, who was the GM in Berea, Ohio for one season back in 2013, said because of the new length of Watson's ban ... he isn't sure the QB will be ready for game action for at least a few weeks after his suspension concludes.

So, he tells us his solution to the problem is simple -- go trade for Jimmy G.

"I know this is a little bit of a disruption," Lombardi said, "but you can go get Garoppolo and save your season."

Browns execs say the move isn't happening -- they're content to have Jacoby Brissett fill in for Watson for the next few months -- but Lombardi clearly believes that's a mistake.

"The offense being run in Cleveland is the same terminology as the offense in San Francisco," Lombardi said. "Garoppolo could walk into Cleveland tomorrow, and within about a week he would be able to execute their offense."

With Garoppolo set to become a free agent at the end of the year -- Lombardi described the move as a "no-lose situation."

"Look," he said, "this notion that Deshaun is just going to come back in Week 12 and all of the sudden magically score, throw four touchdown passes and dominate the NFL, that's unrealistic. That's not even remotely accurate."

Three men have been charged in connection with the killing of James "Whitey" Bulger, one of America's most notorious mobsters, nearly 4 years after he was beaten to death in federal prison.

The U.S. Attorney's office charged Fotios "Freddy" Geas, Paul "Pauly" J. DeCologero, and Sean McKinnon with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder Thursday in connection with Bulger's killing back in 2018 at the U.S. Penitentiary Hazleton in Bruceton Mills, WV.

Geas and DeCologero are accused of hitting Bulger multiple times in the head, causing his death -- they've also been charged with aiding and abetting first-degree murder and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

McKinnon faces a separate charge for making false statements to a federal agent.

As we reported, Bulger was beaten with a lock in a sock, away from security cameras, until he was unconscious -- the alleged perps also attempted to gouge out his eyes with some type of shiv, but were unsuccessful.

LA County Fire Dept. supervisors knew the holding of graphic Kobe Bryant crash pictures could be problematic for them ... according to an LACFD official, who testified on Thursday that one of his bosses referred to the photos as "plutonium," while urging everyone to delete them.

Sky Cornell, who worked in the LACFD for public information officer Anthony Joseph "Tony" Imbrenda at the time of the January 2020 crash, made the revelation while on the stand in court.

Cornell said Imbrenda had received graphic photos from just after the wreck, and he had later seen the pics on the supervisor's phone while at an awards ceremony a couple weeks after the tragedy.

Cornell, though, said when it became public that officials had been in possession of the photos and had been sharing them, his superiors told him and others to get rid of them ASAP.

In his testimony, Cornell said one official sent an email saying, "just a reminder folks, there are no secrets! One way or another people get exposed."

Cornell added in the testimony that his boss, Imbrenda, told him, "that stuff is plutonium. If you have any, you should get rid of them."

Cornell was also asked about the awards ceremony where Imbrenda was accused of showing pictures to others ... and he admitted in court that that setting wasn't appropriate.

Meanwhile, Arlin Kahan, another LACFD official, also testified during trial proceedings on Thursday -- and informed the courtroom that he was the one who initially took photos at the crash scene and sent them to Imbrenda. Kahan alleged his objective was not to take pics of human remains -- but, rather, just document the scene. He claimed the practice was useful earlier on in his career during a wildfire case, and he had intended to delete them once the investigation was closed.

As we reported, Vanessa Bryant is suing LA County officials -- claiming they caused her severe emotional distress by taking personal pics of the bodies of Kobe and Gianna at the L.A. crash scene.

One of the biggest women's organizations in the country is furious over Deshaun Watson's 11-game suspension and fine ... telling TMZ Sports the new punishment simply isn't sufficient.

The National Organization For Women (N.O.W.) has been closely following the Watson case for weeks ... previously telling us the 6-game suspension former Judge Sue L. Robinson handed down was "insulting, and dangerous."

The NFL appealed Robinson's decision ... and on Thursday, the league reached a settlement with Watson -- an 11-game ban and $5 million fine (which will be combined with the league and Browns' contribution to women's charities) ... and requiring the QB to attend professional evaluations, and a treatment program.

Despite the longer punishment, N.O.W. president Christian Nunes says the suspension is still "nowhere near enough," ... nor is the fine, considering Watson's massive $230 million salary.

"That $5 million represents 2.1739% of Watson’s new $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns," Nunes tells us, "which was negotiated after more than two dozen women had accused the star athlete of sexual misconduct."

"What is the point of a $5 million fine to Deshaun Watson -- or to the NFL, which made an estimated $9.8 billion during the 2021 season, and more than $15 billion the season before?"

Nunes added ... "Women need more than empty words and half-measures. The culture of toxic masculinity within the NFL must change -- NOW. Deshaun Watson’s career and wealth won’t be damaged by this decision—unlike the dozens of women he has irreparably harmed."

"No, this isn’t good enough."

Recently-leaked videos show Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin having the time of her life ... and now politicians are calling on her to take a drug test, claiming her wild behavior is a major red flag.

The clips show the 36-year-old PM partying with Finnish musicians, TV stars, and fellow politicians -- it was found on an unknown, private Instagram account.

Finnish Member of Parliament Mikko Kärnä went after her when the video leaked ... calling on her to take a drug test -- and to put the results on display for all to see.

The Prime Minister addressed the blowup Thursday during a press conference, saying she was drinking, but never took drugs ... she's got no problem taking a test, but adds "I also think it's quite special that something like this is required."

She claims she knew she was being filmed, but had hoped the clips would remain private -- admitting it "feels bad" that it's out there now.

Marin, who's been called "the coolest Prime Minister in the world" by Bild, a publication company in Germany, has been in hot water before for having a good time.