Controversial S#!T

Phylicia Rashad has FINALLY done an about-face on her Bill Cosby sentiments from this week -- issuing a formal apology to Howard U students ... and deleting the tweet in question.

The former actress -- who is now Dean of the HBCU's Fine Arts College -- sent a letter to Howard U students Friday, which flat-out said she was sorry for her controversial remark ... this in the wake of Cosby having his conviction overturned, and being released from prison.

In the letter, which has been making the rounds online, Phylicia writes, in part, "This week, I tweeted a statement that caused so much hurt in so many people -- both broadly and inside the Howard community. I offer my most sincere apology. I have since removed that upsetting tweet."

She goes on ... "My remarks were in no way directed towards survivors of sexual assault. I vehemently oppose sexual violence, find no excuse for such behavior, and I know that Howard University has a zero-tolerance policy toward interpersonal violence."

PR continued by saying that she intends to undergo training to reinforce HU protocol and practices as it relates to all this -- and also asked the HU community for its forgiveness, promising to do a lot of listening and learning so she can become a stronger ally to sexual assault survivors and anyone else who's suffered at the hands of an abuser.

You'll recall ... Phylicia was ecstatic at the news of Cosby's case being thrown out, initially writing ... "FINALLY!!! A terrible wrong is being righted - a miscarriage of justice is corrected!" She faced immediate backlash for her comment, following up by saying her tweet wasn't aimed at sexual assault survivors ... but she kept the Cosby tweet up nonetheless, which simply didn't square. Even after HU admonished her formally, she still left the tweet up.

Looks like someone higher up finally got in her ear and told her the truth -- which is, you can't openly support Cosby and sexual assault survivors at the same time. So, pick one ...

Sara Haines says "The View" should replace Meghan McCain with someone who shares her views ... i.e. another conservative.

We got "The View" cohost leaving Thursday's taping in NYC just moments after Meghan announced she's leaving the show after 4 seasons. Sara, who BTW has great fashion taste, tells us it's her hope the show adds another panelist who brings diverse opinions.

She says the reason is simple ... despite the name of the show in the singular ... it's best when it represents different views, although Meghan was the lone, conservative wolf.

What's more ... Sara says the so-called bad blood between Meghan and the other cohosts is not why she's bouncing. Simply put ... Sara says the pandemic made Meghan re-assess what matters to her right now ... and it's being in D.C. full time with her baby girl. Production sources tell TMZ ... the arguments that became super personal did take their toll on her.

Bill Cosby needs to keep a class shirt from a Pennsylvania high school he briefly attended in the back of his closet ... so says the graduating class' president, who is super pissed.

Here's the deal ... Cosby busted out a Central High School class of 1997 shirt for a Wednesday press conference in front of his home, after he was set free from prison following an overturned conviction.

The wardrobe choice caught the eye of Dan Taraborrelli, the class president for Central's 1997 class, who tells TMZ ... the class was not happy to see Cosby wearing their shirt and they don't want him wearing it again.

As you can see, the shirt Cosby wore has names from the entire 1997 class listed on the back ... and Dan says the class is being very vocal about wanting no association or affiliation with the comedian.

Dan says only about 150 of these class shirts were made, and he doesn't remember Cosby wearing it in the past. He's puzzled why Cosby put it on for the press conference.

Cosby briefly attended Central High School in Philadelphia and was put in the school's Hall of Fame despite not graduating ... but he was eventually removed from the HOF in 2015 by the school's alumni association, before he was criminally charged.

Dan says he may have given Cosby the shirt way back in 1997, when BC spoke to the graduating class at an awards assembly recognizing student achievements. He says they spoke in the principal's office, and if he did give Cosby the shirt, he regrets it now.

The Federation for International Competitions in Water Sports has turned thumbs down on a swim cap that swimmers with Afro or natural hair could use to compete in the games.

Soul Cap, a Black-owned company that manufacturers swimming caps, created the headgear but the Federation ruled, to its "best knowledge, the athletes competing at the International events never used, neither require to use caps of such size and configuration," adding the caps deviate from "the nature form of the head."

The Federations decisions are followed by the International Olympic Committee.

Soul Cap shot back, "We hoped to further our work for diversity in swimming by having our swim caps certified for competition, so swimmers at any level don't have to choose between the sport they love and their hair."

The British influencer who underwent 18 surgeries to look like BTS singer Park Jimin says the K-pop band isn't their reason for identifying as Korean ... it's the country as a whole.

Oli London, who identifies as non-binary and changed their name to Jimin, tells TMZ ... they became transracial after falling in love with Korean culture while living in the Asian nation, and their BTS obsession is a physical inspiration that led to a load of plastic surgery.

While Oli tells us they worship Jimin the BTS singer like a god and aspire to be like him in every single detail, their transition is really more about a love for everything that makes up Korea ... the food, the people and the lifestyle.

As you know ... the influencer is identifying as Korean after going under the knife a whopping 18 times for a variety of plastic surgeries, including loads of work on their eyes, nose and jaw.

Oli says the transition started long before their first plastic surgery ... and they say Rachel Dolezal provided the inspiration to come forward with their truth.

TMZ broke the story ... Rachel, a white woman who infamously identifies as Black, is embracing Oli's choice to identify as Korean.

Track star Sha'Carri Richardson took responsibility for taking to weed which is a violation of Olympic rules, but goes on to say she did it after suffering emotional trauma.

Sha'Carri appeared on "Today" Friday and said squarely, "I want to take responsibility for my actions, I know what I did. I know what I'm supposed to do, [what] I'm allowed not to do and I still made that decision."

She then asked for a little understanding ..."Don't judge me because I am human."

Richardson came in first in the 100-meter race last month at the U.S. Track and Field Trials, but she later tested positive for marijuana and was stripped of her win and it's now unclear if she'll be barred from participating in the Tokyo Olympics.  She was a favorite to win, which would be the first U.S. gold medal for the event since 1996.

As for why she crossed the line and used weed, she explained the day she did a reporter came up just before the trials and told her her mom had died.

A reporter had told her her biological mother had died right before the trials.

Finally .... it looks like the black family whose descendants were terrorized by the KKK and screwed over by L.A. County will be getting their land back.

There's now a detailed plan to restore ownership rights to the Bruce family, whose land was taken out from under them in 1929. L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn has been leading the charge, declaring, "I am committed to getting this done and setting an example for governments nationwide for how we can begin to right the historic injustices committed against African Americans in this country."

ICYMI ... back in 1912 Charles and Willa Bruce bought a parcel of land in Manhattan Beach for $1,225. They bought some adjacent lots and then turned the properties into a beach resort for Black families ... something that didn't exist along the shores of L.A. County.

The resort didn't sit well with some racist white residents, who harassed the members and vandalized the property. The KKK got involved and terrorized resort members.

The government was right behind the racists and used its power of eminent domain to condemn the property in 1929, claiming they needed it to build a park. And, that was the end of the resort and the Bruce family lost the property.

The land actually sat vacant for decades ... finally, in 1960, the County realized it had a legal problem, because the whole park-plan looked like a ruse, so they turned the area into a park.

In a hollow gesture, in 2006 the County renamed the area "Bruce's Beach" to somehow appease the Bruce family.

Well, now -- thanks largely to Supervisor Hahn -- there's a plan in place to return the land to the Bruce family.  The plan was released earlier in the week and requires the County to assess the property value, figure out who's entitled to the land and restore it to them.  The County also has to figure out where to put the lifeguard station that's sitting on the property.

The L.A. Dodgers are planning to start Trevor Bauer as scheduled on Sunday ... this despite the star pitcher being accused of violently choking and punching a woman during two recent sexual encounters.

Team manager Dave Roberts just made the announcement Thursday ... explaining to reporters MLB has advised him and the Dodgers to play Bauer while a league investigation into the allegations moves forward.

"It's actually out of our hands," Roberts said. "Regardless of what direction the organization wanted to do, it's something that -- this is what has to happen. And so it's out of everyone's hands."

Roberts continued, "I'm in the position of following the lead of Major League Baseball."

"Their recommendation was for us to use our scheduled Sunday starter and to move forward and have him start that game Sunday."

It's a surprising take from MLB, Roberts and the Dodgers ... considering the allegations against Bauer are highly disturbing.

Bauer and his camp have strongly denied the allegations ... claiming the encounters were entirely consensual and that the pitcher's accuser actually enthusiastically encouraged the rough sex.

In fact, Bauer and his reps say the Dodger has text message proof that the woman was elated by being choked and had even asked Bauer to "gimme all the pain."

In court docs filed this week, a woman claims that during hookups with Bauer in California in April and May ... the 30-year-old Cy Young winner strangled her unconscious and had anal sex with her while she was out.

The woman also stated Bauer punched her in the head and face ... leaving her bloodied, scratched and black and blue.

Police say they are currently investigating it all.

Howard University says it stands with survivors of sexual assault, but it's also standing by Phylicia Rashad following her controversial tweet about Bill Cosby ... which it acknowledges "lacked sensitivity."

As we reported, Rashad -- who was recently named Dean of Howard's College of Fine Arts -- responded to Cosby's stunning prison release Wednesday by saying, "FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!"

Her comment swiftly drew backlash and outrage, and although she followed up by saying she fully supports sexual assault survivors ... she did not apologize or back down from her support of Cosby.

Howard University seems to be okay with that, while also distancing itself from her comments. A University rep tells TMZ ... "Personal positions of University leadership do not reflect Howard University’s policies."

Howard U. says "Survivors of sexual assault will always be our priority," adding ... "We will continue to advocate for survivors fully and support their right to be heard. Howard will stand with survivors and challenge systems that would deny them justice."

As for Rashad, the school says "her initial tweet lacked sensitivity towards survivors of sexual assault." That's it for admonishment ... at least so far.

Rachel Dolezal has no problem with Oli London's decision to identify as Korean after having surgeries to look Asian, but her bigger point is live and let live ... something that didn't happen to her.

We talked to Rachel about what Oli calls "coming out as transracial" ... asking her on "TMZ Live" how it landed for her when Oli said they felt trapped in a white man's body.

Check out her response -- it's a very interesting take from someone who's been through the wringer for making a very similar claim. Remember, Rachel is a white woman who infamously identifies as Black.

The long and short of her answer here is ... doesn't society have bigger fish to fry than someone -- whether it be her or Oli -- claiming to be transracial? Specifically, she says our time would be better served stamping out institutional racism.

Rachel also makes a distinction between cultural appropriation, and just being true to oneself. For her, the difference lies in one's intentions. You can see our full interview with Rachel on Thursday's "TMZ Live" (check local listings).

While she doesn't feel she's owed an apology, Rachel says she just wants to be treated with kindness and compassion, instead of being mocked and ridiculed for the choice she's made ... and, clearly, continues to make 6 years after her story blew up.

Interestingly enough ... Oli, who now goes by Jimin -- after the BTS singer they attempted to emulate through surgery -- has a bit of a different take on the Dolezal comparison.

Caitlyn Jenner -- one of the greatest U.S. Olympians EVER -- is furious with Gwen Berry for her anthem protest ... calling the hammer thrower's actions straight-up "disgusting."

The reality TV star broke it all down to Eric Bolling on Newsmax TV on Wednesday ... explaining she could not believe Berry turned her back on "The Star Spangled Banner" after finishing in 3rd place at last weekend's 2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials in Eugene, OR.

"Honestly," Jenner said, "it's disgusting."

Berry -- a very vocal athlete in the fight for social justice in America -- was so pissed when the anthem played at her podium ceremony ... she did everything she could to express her dismay with the song.

The 31-year-old turned away from the flag, held up a T-shirt that read "Activist Athlete" ... and said afterward she thought officials were setting her up just to see how she'd react.

Jenner -- who's now gunning to be California's next governor -- says the whole scene was B.S. ... explaining she believes Berry should've acted differently.

"I don't like political statements on the podium," Jenner said. "We shouldn't do that. This is the greatest gathering of people and countries in the world."

"Over 200 countries will be at the Olympic Games -- there's 150-something countries in the U.N. and it has such potential for good. Don't destroy it."

Jenner went on to say she doesn't believe Berry will have the opportunity to have similar protests at the Olympics later this summer ... saying she believes Berry just isn't that good of an athlete.

"To be honest with you, we don't have a worry in the world that she'll be on the podium there, because she got third there," Jenner said.

"The other two girls ahead of her are so much better, and there's other ones around the world in the hammer throw. So I think that was kind of her last hurrah."

The woman who allegedly caused a massive pileup during the first stage of the Tour de France has reportedly been found and arrested ... ending a 3-day search for the spectator.

As we previously reported, a woman stepped onto the road and held a cardboard sign towards the TV cameras as the pack of riders approached on Saturday ... and made contact with German rider Tony Martin.

The hit caused a chain reaction ... with dozens of other riders crashing behind him as a result.

The spectator immediately fled the scene ... and French authorities launched a search for her, as well as a call for witnesses.

According to local reports, law enforcement believe they have found the woman responsible for starting the pileup ... and took her into custody in Landerneau on Wednesday.

FYI -- officials believe the woman caused "unintentional injuries by manifestly deliberate violation of an obligation of safety or prudence."

She is reportedly facing a fine for the incident ... and there could be further legal ramifications if a rider who was forced to retire from the race decides to file a complaint.

The Tour de France has been impacted by several major crashes since Saturday ... and it got to a point where the riders had to stage a protest in hopes of finding a middle ground with race organizers.

Bill Cosby's surprising release from prison means he's free to live his life again, and -- according to one expert in the booking industry -- free to cash in on showing his face in public again.

TMZ spoke with a major player in the booking biz who tells us ... even though the market will be very limited for Cosby, he believes the disgraced comedian will eventually be able to bank $10-15k per public appearance -- and possibly up to $20k for speaking engagements.

Our booking source points to O.J. Simpson as a precedent, saying that despite what he was accused of and found liable for -- killing 2 people -- he still made cash for events afterward. Same will be true for Cosby, according to our source.

Of course, it's not likely to happen right away, but the feeling is there will be a certain demographic of people -- likely older fans who loved "The Cosby Show" -- who are either willing to forgive, or truly believed Cosby was innocent all along.

We're told these people, along with organizations sympathetic to the man once known as "America's Dad," might be willing to shell out dough to see and hear from him.

Not everyone's enthusiastic, though -- Darren Prince of Prince Marketing Group tells us there's no way he'd book someone like Cosby, for any reason. He tells us the guy is just off-limits ... he needs to take some serious steps toward retribution and rehabbing his image ... things he's refused to do, up to this point.

As we reported ... Cosby was released from prison Wednesday after Pennsylvania's high court overturned his sexual assault conviction.

Britney Spears's lawyer asked the judge in her conservatorship case to boot her father Jamie Spears as the conservator of her estate, but a judge just shot that down and says Jamie stays -- at least for now.

Britney's lawyer, Sam Ingham, actually asked the court to suspend Jamie from conservatorship duties back in November and the judge denied the request back then. We're told Ingham wanted Jamie replaced by Bessemer Trust, which would have become the sole conservator of her estate, but the judge wasn't having it.

Ingham, for whatever reason, just let things sit for months -- he was supposed to file certain papers for Bessemer's new role to take effect. Finally -- just recently -- Ingham filed legal docs that Bessemer be made co-conservator. The judge just approved that, but also said Jamie will stay as co-conservator himself. The judge also reiterated that Ingham's request to suspend Jamie was denied.

It's important to note, the judge signed this order keeping Jamie in place AFTER Britney's testimony last week.

As you know, Britney wants Jamie out entirely, so it's pretty clear her lawyer will file another motion to remove Jamie.

By the way, everyone has been assuming Bessemer has been acting as co-conservator of Britney's estate for months, but turns out that's not the case. Actually, Bessemer still isn't a co-conservator -- certain documents must still be filed before the judge's order takes effect.

Bottom line ... Jamie has been and continues to be the sole conservator of Britney's estate.

Allen Weisselberg -- the chief financial officer for The Trump Organization -- has surrendered to authorities in NY to face criminal tax evasion charges.

Weisselberg turned himself in Thursday morning ... though we're told his team has not received a copy of the indictment so they're not sure about the charges.

The indictment will be unsealed in NY State Supreme Court later in the day when Weisselberg and lawyers for the org appear in court.

The charges stem from unpaid taxes on perks that include bonuses, cars and school tuition for Trump Organization execs. Weisselberg is the first top exec to be indicted in a long-running probe by the Manhattan D.A.'s Office and NY Attorney General. The Trump org will also be charged, though no members of the Trump family are expected to face charges.

Weisselberg's lawyer has made it clear up to this point ... he will not cooperate with prosecutors, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the end game here is not Weisselberg. The D.A. has set his sights on Donald Trump for years now, and it's pretty clear his end game is to get Trump's longtime accountant to flip on him

Weisselberg has worked for Trump since the 1980s and has a treasure trove of knowledge about the business ... something that could be problematic for the Trump family.

Jamie Spears has fired back at his daughter's allegations he has taken away her freedom and even her right to marry ... he says that all falls on his successor.

Jamie filed legal docs claiming he has not had ANY involvement in Britney's personal conservatorship -- meaning making personal decisions on behalf of Britney -- for nearly 2 years.

Furthermore, he says he hasn't even spoken to his daughter in a long time because "he has been cut off from communicating with her."

Jamie lays any blame for the restrictive rules on the current personal conservator, Jodi Montgomery. He says when Britney's lawyer filed docs to appoint Montgomery, he claimed at the time Britney did not have the mental capacity to make decisions about her medical treatment and therefore it was left to the conservator of her person -- now Jodi Montgomery. Jamie says bluntly, the court never found she was unable to consent to medical treatment and the court never made such an order.

The upshot -- Jamie claims it was Britney's own lawyer, Sam Ingham, who has been seeking to take away his client's right to make medical decisions on her behalf and vest those decisions solely in Montgomery's hands.

According to the legal docs, "Ms. Montgomery has been fully in charge of Ms. Spears' day-to-day personal care and medical treatment, and Ms. Montgomery has made all decisions related to those matters."

Furthermore, Jamie says if Britney has been restricted from marrying or having a baby, it's on Jodi Montgomery, not him. In fact, Jamie says he consented to Britney's marriage when she got engaged to Jason Trawick in 2011 ... but, as you know, they broke up in 2013 before tying the knot.

In another document, Jamie's lawyer says, "Mr. Spears believes it is important for the integrity of the conservatorship proceedings and in the best interests of Ms. Spears for the Court to order an investigation into the issues and claims raised by [Britney] at the June 23, 2021 status hearing."

Jamie's lawyer goes on ... "Either the allegations will be shown to be true, in which case corrective action must be taken, or they will be shown to be false, in which case the conservatorship can continue its course."

The lawyer says, "It is not acceptable for Conservators or the Court to do nothing in response to Ms. Spears' testimony."