Dana White Zuck Vs. Musk 'Probably' Dunzo
The highly-anticipated Mark Zuckerberg vs. Elon Musk fight is all but cooked ... 'cause Dana White says the billionaire brawl is "probably" never going to happen.
The UFC honcho -- who got involved in negotiations after the two tech nerds agreed to take their beef to the cage -- was pessimistic when asked Thursday about whether the potential matchup would actually happen ... pretty much killing all hope of seeing the bout come to fruition.
“I never say never, but probably not," Dana told Charly Arnolt on "OutKick The Morning."
The fight would have undoubtedly been massive ... and there were even talks of hosting it at the Roman Colosseum.
Of course, Zuck said he was moving on from Musk last month ... claiming the Tesla CEO is all talk, no action, and never serious about duking it out in an MMA fight.
What REALLY happened at Burning Man?! @Charlyontv takes us inside all of the muddy chaos on #OutKickTheMorning. Tune in NOW!https://t.co/7rc8JkOzFB
— OutKick (@Outkick) September 7, 2023 @Outkick
The hype has fizzled out since then ... as the two sides have calmed down their social media trash talk. Zuck said he's now focused on taking a REAL opponent -- and he's been training his ass off with some of the biggest names in UFC.
While it's a major bummer, White says the real losers in the situation are the charities that would've benefited from the event, as it would have raised a ton of money for good causes.
"Let me tell you who would win in that fight -- would be whatever charities were picked to donate the money to," White added. "They would be the absolute winners because I think that thing would do a billion dollars in revenue, and they wanted 90% of the money to go to charity."
"So, it would have been the biggest charity event ever held in history, especially for one night. It would have helped a lot of people."
What a shame.
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Blueface's Mom Clarifies 'Cousins' Remark ... Blasts Chrisean Over Baby's Birth
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Blueface and Chrisean Rock probably aren't cousins after all -- so says his mother in a much-needed clarification -- but she's got plenty of other beefs with the mother of her new grandson.
We talked to Karlissa Saffold Wednesday in L.A. and asked what she meant by claiming Blue and Chrisean might be related. As she explains, there are Dorseys in her extended fam, and once she learned Chrisean's mother has that same maiden name ... she thought there could be a blood connection.
However, after some more research, Karlissa says she no longer believes her son and Chrisean are actually cuzzos ... although, she'd still like a DNA test done, just in case.
With that family tree crisis averted ... we asked her about how the birth went down -- namely, the fact Blueface was partying in Miami, and not with Chrisean for the delivery.
That got him a lot of heat online, many called him rude and insensitive, but Karlissa defends her son ... accusing Chrisean of bolting to Maryland to give birth without giving Blue a heads up. She says Blueface is a great dad, and most certainly wanted to be there to bring his latest child into the world.
Karlissa has more barbs for Chrisean here too, including how she came up with the baby boy's name.
We should also note, Karlissa's got her own family reality show in the works with Blueface, his siblings and Karlissa herself called "CixoT" ... and you gotta imagine they'll bring up Chrisean in the mix.
Mom is squarely in Blueface's corner -- despite some ugly history -- and it doesn't sound like a big, happy family Thanksgiving dinner with Chrisean is in the future.
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Bill Maher Newsom Needs to Step Up, Help End Showbiz Strikes!!!
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Bill Maher is wondering why California's Governor is standing on the sidelines during Hollywood's economy-crushing labor disputes, and he's calling on Gavin Newsom to help hammer out a deal.
The 'Real Time' host joined us on "TMZ Live" and we asked him about the strike that's put his, and every other TV host's, staffs out of work for months now. Bill says this should be Gov. Newsom's time to shine by getting both sides in a room to find a quicker path to ending the work stoppage.
He also pointed out the obvious -- showbiz is one of California's biggest industries, so Gov. Newsom absolutely has a vested interest in fixing it.
Now, Bill says he is supportive of the writers -- hell, he IS one, and says he's not shooting his show out of solidarity -- but he also tells us some of the union demands get under his skin ... and lays out exactly why.
The HBO host also has strong thoughts on what's going on at college campuses around the country ... explaining why he's not surprised Harvard was just ranked the worst school for free speech.
Bill says it's part of an ever-growing echo chamber of sorts, calling it an extension of what has been playing out at corporate media outlets for decades, but he's got some solutions.
As always, Bill is equal parts funny, practical and blunt, and he's got a lot to say before he heads out to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for a series of standup shows on Sept. 15-16 and Nov. 3-4.
Catch our full interview with Bill on Thursday's "TMZ Live."
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Julio Urias Bobblehead Night Scrapped ... After Pitcher's Arrest
Tens of thousands of mini Julio Uriases will NOT be handed out to Dodger fans in a few weeks -- the team has elected to scrap its bobblehead promotion following the star pitcher's domestic violence arrest.
Julio Urias Allegedly Pushed Woman Into Fence Before Domestic Violence Arrest
The Dodgers announced the move just minutes after the ace was placed on administrative leave Wednesday ... as the league investigates allegations he got physical with a woman at the LAFC vs. Inter Miami game Sunday night.
Sept. 21's game against the San Francisco Giants was slated to honor Urias' participation in the World Baseball Classic this past offseason ... with the collectibles showing him in a throwing motion in a Team Mexico jersey.
L.A. said in a statement the team will now hand out "select premium bobbleheads" to the first 30,000 fans at the ballpark instead of the Urias giveaways.
It's not the first time the Dodgers have elected to go a different route with a player promotion amid controversy ... the team did the same thing after sexual assault allegations were made against Trevor Bauer in 2021.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed Urias' arrest with reporters Tuesday night ... saying, "I was shocked. Everyone was. It is just an extremely unfortunate circumstance for everyone."
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Drake & The Weeknd AI Track Not Grammy Eligible CEO Clarifies Earlier Remarks!!!
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- 3.3K shares
10:57 AM PT -- 9/8 -- The Recording Academy's Harvey Mason Jr. is clarifying his remarks after initially praising the infamous Drake and The Weeknd AI creation "Heart on My Sleeve" ... now stating the song is NOT eligible for a Grammy.
Mason made a PSA on Friday, emphatically nixing "HOMS" from Grammy contention because the vocals weren't legally authorized for use by the artist or the label.
The New York Times quoted Mason earlier in the week declaring the bot music Grammy eligible due to it being written by a human ... but the universal backlash was swift, and apparently so is the backpedaling!!!
Drake and The Weeknd already don't rock with the Grammys, so the possibility of their unauthorized AI collaboration winning an award likely won't mend any fences.
Still, that's the scenario Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. is floating when it comes to the controversial "Heart on My Sleeve" -- the AI-generated track that surfaced in April featuring faux vocals from the Canadian megastars, but convincing enough to be a hit.
Ghostwriter -- the anonymous human creator behind the track -- submitted it for both Song of The Year and Best Rap Song for the 66th Grammy Awards next year.
Mason tells the New York Times he was impressed with "Heart on My Sleeve" as it opened up possibilities for their business and declared it suitable for nomination ... "As far as the creative side, it's absolutely eligible because it was written by a human."
If Ghostwriter earned just a nomination, it could spearhead the next evolution of artists: human songwriters who use other people's artificially-generated voices!
Drake and Weeknd's record label Universal Music Group doesn't share Mason's enthusiasm. When the track was released, the label had it pulled from DSPs ... leaving it to lurk in the internet's dark recesses. This Grammy development offers the song, and others like it, a new light.
The Weeknd and Drake have been boycotting the Grammys for years, going as far as to withdraw nominations and refuse to submit heir own music.
it’s been awhile… can’t kill a ghost @trvisXX x @21savage out now pic.twitter.com/LsoisHThS5
— ghostwriter (@ghostwriter977) September 6, 2023 @ghostwriter977
On the other hand, Ghostwriter isn't letting up off the digital throttle in the wake of his new career strides.
He released a new AI concoction Wednesday titled "Whiplash," featuring CPU-generated soundalikes for Travis Scott and 21 Savage -- 2 more artists to piss off, but also another possible path to the Grammys!!!
For more viral news, tune in to the TMZ Verified Podcast. Dropping every Thursday on all podcast platforms.
Originally Published -- 9/6 12:20 AM PT
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LeBron James Spotted In Saudi Arabia ... Weeks After Joking He'd Play There
Perhaps LeBron James wasn't kidding when he said he'd play in Saudi Arabia if the bag was big enough ... 'cause the King was spotted in the country, just weeks after he made the comment on social media.
Bron was in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, earlier this week. The exact reason for the trip is unclear, but James was seen hanging out in a gymnasium with a banner that said "Welcome to Arabia" and "Ministry of Sport."
🚨🚨
— Saudi Basketball (@KSAbasket) September 5, 2023 @KSAbasket
من تواجد ليبرون جيمس في مدينة الرياض اليوم 🔥 https://t.co/seAO6oE0oq pic.twitter.com/SxIoxdomoI
LeBron was invited to watch a match between Saudi prospects at the AZM Academy, according to an online report.
So, while Lakers fans shouldn't worry (for now, at least) ... it doesn't seem impossible that James could play in Saudi for a massive amount of money after his NBA career is over.
🚨🚨
— Saudi Basketball (@KSAbasket) September 5, 2023 @KSAbasket
LeBron James in Riyadh 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WnpUEetyym
In July, the Lakers superstar used a Tom Hanks' Forrest Gump GIF to show how fast he'd go to the Middle Eastern company if he got Kylian Mbappe-type money (the French soccer superstar got a staggering $776 million offer to play for Al-Hilal, but turned the money down).
Many fans perceived LBJ's tweet as a joke, but ... maybe not.
LeBron's not alone. We talked to Giannis Antetokounmpo a few weeks ago about the same subject ... and the Milwaukee Bucks superstar told us he'd be down to suit up in Saudi if the cash was right.
Just James visiting the country will likely be enough to spark a debate ... considering Saudi Arabia's history of human rights violations.
Despite the controversy, Saudi Arabia, with their enormous wealth, has lured some of the world's biggest athletes to their country, including Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo. Golfers like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, among others, also bolted for Saudi.
Money talks!
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Maryland Cop Suspended After Hookup Vid ... Wife Drags Him, Too!!!
The Maryland police officer who was spotted kissing a woman, and then getting into the back of a patrol car with her, has been suspended ... and his wife is slamming both of them.
The Prince George's County Police Department said late Tuesday -- not long after the video clip went viral -- it was aware of the video, and immediately launched an investigation. An update hours later said the officer had been suspended.
The officer in question is Francesco Marlett, according to CBS News Baltimore ... and a woman named Paula Marlett -- who says she's Francesco's wife -- has been goin' off on him and the other woman.
She wrote on Facebook ... "There goes my husband and his Mistress," and told someone in the comments she's "Not doing OK" -- partly because the video "constantly pops up on my f***ing newsfeed and I have to constantly re-watch it over and over again."
Paula later thanked folks for the well-wishes during a "very tough time" for her and her kids ... before going off a bit more.
BTW, there was another video that made the rounds online, allegedly showing another Prince George County cruiser in the same area ... with a woman hopping into that one, too. It's still unclear who the people are in this video, though.
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Jake Paul Dillon Danis Is A 'Puppet' ... Lining Logan's Pockets With Trash Talk
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Jake Paul says Dillon Danis is doing exactly what Logan expected by spewing nonstop trash talk leading up to their boxing match ... telling TMZ Sports lines have been crossed, but at the end of the day -- it's only making his brother richer.
The Problem Child joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs on FS1) ... and he got into all things boxing, Betr ... and, of course, Logan's current arch nemesis.
In case you've been hiding under a rock, Danis has been unloading on Logan and his fiancée, Nina Agdal, on social media ... posting hundreds of pictures of the model with her previous boyfriends and other random men in an attempt to embarrass his opponent.
Many critics are going after Danis for bringing an innocent bystander into the prefight antics ... and while Jake agrees the former Bellator MMA fighter has sometimes gone too far, Logan is ultimately winning.
"My brother could've fought anybody, and he picks this kid who he knows is gonna make the fight massive," Jake said. "And right now, everybody wants to see the fight because of the things that are being said."
"So, all of that, all the pay-per-views are going directly into my brother's pocket, and that's why Dillon was picked. At the end of the day, Dillon's a puppet."
As for Paul's boomin' Betr business, he also talked about its new fantasy vertical, Betr Picks ... which is here just in time for NFL Week 1.
Jake explained Betr -- which also just launched in Virginia -- is way more than just a money-making opportunity for him ... as he's truly passionate about putting together the best possible user experience.
"Our goal is to make the product the best in the space, and the fans are the ones who are really gonna win here."
There's more -- Jake said Nate Diaz officially turned down his $10 million offer to fight in MMA ... and gives his idea as to why the former UFC star won't meet him in the cage.
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Poopy Plane Video Shows Diarrhea Aftermath 💩-Stained Aisles Er'where
We're finally getting a first look at the Delta flight that was covered in crap mid-air -- and based on this footage ... it looks like a helluva mess.
A video surfaced Tuesday on Twitter that purports to show what was left behind after a passenger experienced explosive diarrhea Friday on a plane that was going from Atlanta to Barcelona -- and which had to turn around and land back in America to deal with it.
The clip -- posted by a user that goes by "Xansby Swanson" -- shows somebody walking down an aisle of the airplane ... recording from their phone as they're exiting/deplaning.
Indeed, they capture all the disgusting doo-doo that was left behind on the floor ... and it looks like quite a long trail of liquid feces -- which the cabin crew attempted to cover up with paper towels. Unfortunately, they didn't have enough coverage to hide this carnage.
Pretty much how Ned explained. Haven’t laughed harder than his phone call to me at midnight to explain why he was still in America. He said it was the funniest thing he’s ever experienced.
— Xansby Swanson (@arbyswehavethe2) September 5, 2023 @arbyswehavethe2
This Twitter user says his little brother was on this plane, and he explains what went down this way ... "Pretty much how Ned explained. Haven’t laughed harder than his phone call to me at midnight to explain why he was still in America. He said it was the funniest thing he’s ever experienced."
While it certainly looks like a nightmare for anyone who may have been sitting anywhere near that disaster zone -- it sounds like it provided some laughs for folks watching from afar.
Of course, the Delta people themselves certainly took it seriously enough to turn around STAT and get everyone the hell out of there immediately ... in fact, the Air Traffic Control audio reveals they were characterizing this as a biohazard in the making.
Unfortunately for everyone involved ... this poor bastard's runs beat 'em to the runway.
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Prince George County, MD Cop Kisses Young Woman Goes Into Patrol Car w/ Her Too?!?
A uniformed police officer in Maryland was caught allegedly making out with a young woman in broad daylight, and seemingly on the job -- only to go into his cruiser with her shortly thereafter.
The video is absolutely wild, and it's going viral for good reason. The footage -- which was posted on TikTok Monday -- shows a Prince George's County cop with his arms wrapped around a female in the parking lot of a park ... where other people are out and about.
They appear to be engaged in an intimate moment, which was only punctuated by the fact that the two of them then proceed to hop into the back of his marked vehicle ... closing the door behind them. On its face, it sure looks like something inappropriate is going down.
Obviously, this is causing a stir for a lot of reasons. Namely, it seems to be showing an officer of the law engaged in unbecoming conduct -- especially if he's working a shift.
BTW, there's a 2nd clip that appears to show yet another Prince George's County cruiser pulled up/parked at the park too ... and another young woman is seen running in and out of the vehicle, although the officer doesn't show up in that one. No word if it's the same guy.
PGPD Executive Command is aware of a video circulating on social media with one of our officers. As soon as we became aware earlier today, we opened an investigation to determine the circumstances. Additional information will be released once investigated and confirmed.
— PGPDNEWS (@PGPDNews) September 5, 2023 @PGPDNews
The Prince George's County Police Department says it's aware of this first video, and that it's investigating.
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Blueface's Mom Says Chrisean is Actually His Cousin
Blueface's mother has made a bombshell claim -- suggesting her son and his new baby mama, Chrisean Rock, are actually related ... although it's hard to tell exactly how.
The rapper's mom, Karlissa Saffold, made the allegation on social media over the weekend -- not long after Chrisean gave birth to her and Blueface's newborn baby boy. She says Blueface and Chrisean could possibly be cousins -- in fact, she totally believes it.
Check out her rationale for yourself ... Karlissa seems to believe there's a bloodline connection in the surname of Chrisean's own mother -- which is apparently Dorsey. Karlissa says there are Dorseys in her own family as well ... but doesn't explain who has that last name in her family. Obviously, she doesn't have that last name ... nor does Blue himself.
Again, we have no idea who the "Dorsey" in her brood is ... but Karlissa insists all Dorseys are connected, and that they all act the way Chrisean does -- with strong personalities, etc.
Clearly, this isn't exactly science ... it's literally just a theory Karlissa's floating, without much hard evidence to back it up -- let alone a proper explanation ... and yet, it's disturbing.
She half-jokingly says they need to have the baby's DNA tested to find out for sure ... but it sounds like she's already convinced. In her mind, her son did some inbreeding in the family.
It's worth noting ... Blueface doesn't have the best relationship with his mother. They infamously fought a few years ago ... when he booted her and his sister from his home.
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Spain Women's Soccer Coach Jorge Vilda Fired ... Amid Rubiales Kiss Controversy
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Ready to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026? Start planning your viewing schedule on FOX One now. Start your free trial today.
Jorge Vilda led his team to a World Cup title just over two weeks ago, but Spain's soccer coach is out of a job today ... as fallout from the Luis Rubiales kiss incident continues.
42-year-old Vilda was fired by the Spanish soccer federation on Tuesday, days after the coach applauded Rubiales for refusing to resign ... despite mounting pressure from within the country, and around the world.
Prior to getting the ax, Vilda -- who is an ally of Rubiales -- was the lone remaining member of the staff that beat England in the World Cup final on August 20 in Australia.
All of the other coaches, 11 in total, resigned in a show of support for Jenni Hermoso, who was kissed by Spain's soccer president during the postgame celebration following the championship-clinching game.
Of course, Rubiales was suspended by FIFA for 90 days ... as officials within Spain continue to investigate the incident.
It's hard to imagine a scenario where Rubiales returns ... the entire team has vowed not to play unless he is forced out.
As for Vilda, who took over control of the women's team in 2015, his tenure at the helm wasn't without controversy.
He barely survived a player-led revolt in September 2022, when many on his team accused the coach of treating them poorly, and demanded better working conditions. Vilda kept his job, but many of the unhappy players opted not to return for the World Cup.
Vilda has not yet addressed his firing.
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Antonio Brown Threatened To Get Gun During Spat ... Former Players Claim
Antonio Brown's tenure as the owner of the National Arena League's Albany Empire was apparently much worse than previously imagined ... with two former players claiming the former NFL superstar threatened to pull a gun on them in a heated exchange.
Dwayne Hollis and Darius Prince detailed the confrontation in an interview with ESPN ... saying the whole incident was sparked by a social media tribute to former teammate Mo Ruffins, who died last year.
The post was quickly deleted from the Empire's account without explanation ... so when Hollis and Prince ran into AB at a local cigar lounge, they wanted answers.
3/2/23
The players allege Brown -- who was still fresh off buying his part of the team at the time -- got pissed over their approach, and told his assistant, Ryan Larkin, to go out to his car to get his weapon.
"AB looked at Ryan and was like, 'Hey, man, you still got the AR in the car? Go get it,'" Prince told the outlet. "Then I was like, I'm not going to allow this dude to walk out of here after you just threatened us."
Prince says cooler heads eventually prevailed and they were able to have a conversation ... but made it clear the threat rubbed him the wrong way.
It's no secret -- AB essentially ran the Empire into the ground in a matter of months, with former players and staffers accusing him of being a nightmare to work with ... eventually leading to the team getting booted from the league.
Brown has yet to address the allegations ... but given his history of social media activity, a response may come soon.
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US Open Fan Allegedly Screams 'Famous Hitler Phrase' ... Ejected From Zverev Match
A US Open fan was booted from his seat early Tuesday morning ... after tennis star Alexander Zverev insisted the guy screamed "the most famous Hitler phrase there is" right in the middle of a match.
The incident happened during Zverev's grueling clash with Jannik Sinner at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York ... when just before Zverev went to serve, a fan allegedly yelled out, "Deutschland über alles" -- words associated with Hitler's Nazi regime.
Immediately after the patron had finished shouting, Zverev turned to the chair ump and told him the comment was "unacceptable."
Alexander Zverev entend un encouragement néo-nazi et va immédiatement alerter l'arbitre : "Il vient juste de dire la phrase d'Hitler la plus célèbre. Ce n'est pas acceptable. Incroyable."
— Tennis Legend (@TennisLegende) September 5, 2023 @TennisLegende
La personne sera dégagée du court. Bravo. 👏pic.twitter.com/lqhd3KXCF8
"This is unbelievable," he added.
The US Open official then turned toward the crowd and demanded to know who yelled the remark. Several moments later, the alleged shouter was ID'ed and ejected from the venue.
Security was looking for a fan who yelled during the Jannik Sinner & Alexander Zverev match.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 5, 2023 @TheTennisLetter
Zverev said he yelled "the most famous Hitler phrase.”
Security looked for the person for at least 10 minutes.
They escorted a fan out & the crowd cheered as they left. pic.twitter.com/QDClUPqPwu
"A disparaging remark was directed toward Alexander Zverev," a United States Tennis Association spokesman said in a statement following the incident. "The fan was identified and escorted from the stadium."
Zverev would go on to win the match despite the scene ... and afterward, he expressed his disappointment over the whole interaction.
I asked Alexander Zverev what that fan said.
— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (IG:twdbk3) (@sluggahjells) September 5, 2023 @sluggahjells
"He started signing the anthem of Hitler, back in the day. It was a bit too much. I think he was getting involved in the match too much. Me being German & not really proud of that history, it's not really a great thing to do." #usopen pic.twitter.com/HIwkAhdLSg
"I love when fans are loud," said the 26-year-old, who will face Carlos Alcaraz next in the US Open's quarterfinals. "I love when fans are emotional. But I think me being German and not really proud of that history, it's not really a great thing to do, and I think him sitting in one of the front rows, I think a lot of people heard it. So if I just don't react, I think it's bad from my side."
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Vlad to Kim Jong-Un Hey Bud, Send Over Some Weapons!!! Leaders Set to Meet: Report
Vladimir Putin is apparently set to meet with Kim Jong-Un in the near future, and he wants to talk about teaming up for the Ukraine war ... which is definitely a terrible update.
The NYT reports that the North Korean leader and Russia's president are supposed to have a face-to-face sometime later this month ... and that it'd be Kim who travels to Russia for the sit-down. As far as what they'll be discussing -- the Times says it's all about weapons.
Apparently, Putin and co. are in need some of major reinforcements amid the ongoing war -- specifically, artillery shells and anti-tank missiles ... which he believes N. Korea can supply.
In exchange ... the NYT says Kim is seeking newer satellite tech and nuke-powered subs, as well as food for his people. Nothing's guaranteed, but it sounds like N. Korea is certainly open to the talks and seriously committed to discussing the possibility, at the very least.
Obviously, this is bad news in general ... as it appears Putin wants to form an alliance of sorts with Kim Jong-Un, with both nations being adversaries of the U.S./the West at large.
There's two takeaways from this -- one, Putin/Russia are low on firepower and seem to be out of allies/resources, so they're going to the isolated N. Korean state for backup. Second, it seems to prove that America's funds to Ukraine are helping Zelensky fight off Russia.
It remains to be seen how America will respond to this latest development.
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Woody Allen Calls Cancel Culture 'Silly' ... Considers Retirement at 87
Woody Allen says he doesn't consider himself "canceled" after allegations of sexual abuse made by his adoptive daughter -- but he does say he might hang it up in the movie biz.
The famed, controversial filmmaker is at the Venice Film Festival, where he's debuting his latest project -- "Coup de chance" -- and while there ... he did a wide-ranging interview with Variety, in which he addressed a number of topics including the issue of cancel culture.
“I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY” - #CoupDeChance director Woody Allen talks about his good fortune in life during a press conference at the Venice International Film Festival (@la_Biennale) pic.twitter.com/lz58KCFQCS
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) September 4, 2023 @APEntertainment
The interviewer asks him if he feels like he's been canceled, and here's how he replied... "I feel if you’re going to be canceled, this is the culture to be canceled by. I just find that all so silly. I don’t think about it. I don’t know what it means to be canceled. I know that over the years everything has been the same for me."
Woody adds, "I make my movies. What has changed is the presentation of the films. You know, I work and it’s the same routine for me. I write the script, raise the money, make the film, shoot it, edit it, it comes out. The difference is not is not from cancel culture. The difference is the way they present the films. It’s that that’s the big change."
Of course, what he fails to mention is that his movies these days, by and large, aren't getting major distribution here in the States -- so, on that front, he has been kinda canceled.
Now, on the issue of what Dylan Farrow has alleged about him -- detailed in an HBO doc that Woody labeled as fiction -- he basically brushed it off here in this interview once again ... pointing out it had been thoroughly investigated at the time, and nothing came of it.
He adds, "The fact that it lingers on always makes me think that maybe people like the idea that it lingers on. You know, maybe there’s something appealing to people. But why?"
That whole saga was very much so on people's minds at Venice ... evidenced in the fact that protesters showed up to denounce Woody's presence and the screening of his French film. Nonetheless, it's getting screened right now -- with WA front and center and tuxed up.
A group of apparent protesters walk by Woody Allen’s #CoupDeChance premiere. pic.twitter.com/0d4TSfG5Ov
— Variety (@Variety) September 4, 2023 @Variety
Anyway, there's more Woody addresses in this sit-down ... including the prospect of retiring, something he'd floated about a year ago -- only to walk it back.
Now, he sounds a bit more serious about it -- explaining, "I have so many ideas for films that I would be tempted to do it, if it was easy to finance But beyond that, I don’t know if I have the same verve to go out and spend a lot of time raising money."
"Coup de chance" is Woody's 50th film ... but it was made in France, and it remains to be seen if the guy has much of a future in debuting American films to a wider audience here.
The debate over his legacy rages on.