Controversial S#!T

Russell Brand wants you to know he’s still alive … even though people on social media seemed to think he kicked it.

The source of the confusion? Conservative podcaster and former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino shared a pic of himself on a podcast with Russell.

And he captioned it … “There won’t be another. One of the saddest days of my life. He was just different. And everyone who knew him, knew it. May God rest your soul.”

Here’s the thing … He wasn’t talking about Russell. He was talking about Charlie Kirk -- who's also in the photo.

But since Russell was front and center, death rumors started flying.

The actor decided to clear things up, replying on X … “I actually feel quite well. Not suicidal, FYI.”

Russell’s health may be fine, but he’s recently been charged with two new counts of rape and sexual assault charges ... on top of the other five he was already facing.

Kathie Lee Gifford is asking the LGBTQ community to simmer down when it comes to the letters in its title ... but she doesn't want you to think she's being judgmental!

In an interview with Tomi Lahren, Gifford weighed in on the community's identifying letters, saying, "I don't even know how many letters there are now. They've really got to stop with that. We know what you mean, you know?"

She continued ... "I'm not telling anybody how to live their life. I never have. I just know what Jesus said -- 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' Love God first."

Misty Copeland is pushing back on Timothée Chalamet's controversial comments that "no one cares about” ballet and opera ... saying the centuries-old art forms paved the way for actors like him.

The famed ballerina addressed the actor's remarks during a recent panel discussion ... acknowledging opera and ballet aren't part of pop culture in the same way movies are -- but adding that "doesn't mean it doesn't have enduring relevance in culture."

Copeland says it's "often mistaken when something is popular that it's meaningful or more impactful," pointing out that opera and ballet have been around for more than 400 years.

After losing her job at HGTV for saying the N-word on camera, Nicole Curtis went on "The Breakfast Club" Tuesday only to receive even more backlash.

ICYMI ... a behind-the-scenes clip of the former "Rehab Addict" host blurting out "fart n****r" in a moment of frustration went viral and led to her firing.

In her 'Breakfast Club' discussion over the incident, Nicole tried to explain the gaffe by saying that she often uses terms like "fart digger" and "fart knocker," seeming to imply that she just accidentally combined the two.

Quentin Tarantino is making it crystal clear how he really feels about Rosanna Arquette criticizing his filmmaking ... and, turns out, he's got a few criticisms for her, too.

Tarantino slammed Rosanna for a "lack of class, no less honor” after she recently called him out for using the N-word in his films.

QT fired back Monday in a statement to Deadline, writing ... "I hope the publicity you’re getting from 132 different media outlets writing your name and printing your picture was worth disrespecting me and a film I remember quite clearly you were thrilled to be a part of?”

ICYMI ... the actress -- who had a minor role in Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" -- slammed the director while chatting with The Sunday Times, calling him "racist and creepy."

Rosanna tore into the filmmaker -- and the industry -- for letting him get away with using the slur, saying ... "I cannot stand that he has been given a hall pass."

This isn't the first time Tarantino has defended using the N-word in his movies.

Back in 2022 he went on “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace” and told critics to not even bother watching his films, saying ... "If you have a problem with my movies then they aren’t the movies to go see."

In recent years, QT has been taking heat from a bunch of stars.

Remember ... "The Office" alum Zach Woods ripped into him after the director absolutely trashed actors Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, and Matthew Lillard.

And in 2024, George Clooney was also beefing with Tarantino ... telling him to "f*** off" when the filmmaker called him washed up.

Jenna Dewan is a huge fan of opera and ballet, but she's coming to Timothée Chalamet's defense after his seemingly disparaging comments about the creative genres.

ICYMI ... Chalamet has been catching a ton of heat online for a viral clip where he described ballet and opera as something "no one cares about" anymore.

While Jenna adores both artforms, she suggested to us that people don't have to go after Chalamet quite so hard.

Veteran political strategist James Carville stopped by "TMZ Live" Monday after his controversial 12-minute takedown of Donald Trump over the weekend ... and he told us, he doesn't regret a thing.

ICYMI ... in a video for Politicon posted Saturday, Carville went on a rant, calling Trump a "fat f***," and he proudly proclaimed he's afflicted with "Trump Derangement Syndrome" -- an illness he said doesn't need a cure.

"I don't want to get better. I want to get worse," Carville said in the tirade. "I want to hate him more."

Timothée Chalamet’s opera and ballet hot take didn’t just leap onto the stage out of nowhere ... it turns out he’s been trying to make this pointe for years, as a resurfaced clip shows.

A fan video from 2019 shows the actor making a similar comment while promoting “The King” ... telling a crowd he feels centuries-old forms of artistic expression -- like opera and ballet -- are "dying art forms."

It’s a short clip, so the full context isn’t crystal clear ... but it looks like TC was reflecting on his career path when he casually slipped in the comment -- and seven years later, he’s basically doubled down, sparking fresh backlash.

Madonna's daughter, Lourdes Leon, ripped a page straight out of her mom's fashion playbook, sporting an outfit that showed off her most intimate parts.

As you can see from the photos, Lourdes is decked out in a sheer black dress while exiting her hotel to attend Sunday's Ottolinger show during Paris Fashion Week. Underneath her dress, she wore a pair of black panties, but no bra.

Paparazzi immediately flocked to her, snapping photos of her eye-popping ensemble, which could have easily been plucked from the wardrobe of her pop star mom.

Doja Cat is joining the chorus of people slamming Timothée Chalamet over his controversial comments about opera and ballet.

The hip hop star posted a TikTok Sunday addressing the issue ... kicking things off by pointing out opera and ballet are 400 and 500 years old, respectively. She then mispronounced Timothée's name before saying he "had the nerve" to tell cameras that nobody cares about the art forms anymore.

Doja also said she's "pretty sure" if someone went to an opera house today it would be completely packed -- with audiences sitting silently during the performance because "they have so much respect" for the genre, which is "very beautiful.”

Timothée Chalamet is getting heat for some ugly remarks he made about the opera & ballet industry -- and he's even pissed off perhaps the most famous opera house in the world!

The Metropolitan Opera in NYC on Friday shared a TikTok video showing hardworking crew members inside the famed opera house -- everyone from costumers to composers, set designers, stagehands, musicians, and more.

A message appeared on screen that read ... "All respect to the opera (and ballet) people out there." This was accompanied by a caption for the clip directly addressing the actor ... "This one's for you, Timothée Chalamet… 👀"

Blueface is driving home the point he's NOT the biological dad of two-year-old Chrisean Jr. -- the son of his on-again, off-again girlfriend Chrisean Rock.

The rapper posted a message on X Thursday night, insisting "Jr is not my biological son RIP to his father Ronnie." Blueface didn't reveal who exactly Ronnie is ... but Chrisean had an ex named Karon “Ronny Doe” Cann, who passed away in 2025.

In the X post, Blueface said he didn't want to be discredited by being labeled an absent father, especially when he's already very present in the lives of his 2 other children, he claims.

Killer Mike is going to bat for Atlanta’s most famous strip club -- firing back at critics of the Atlanta Hawks’ controversial Magic City promotion … and he’s not mincing words.

The Atlanta rapper and activist weighed in on the debate surrounding the team’s “Magic City Monday” theme night -- and made it clear to TMZ Sports that outsiders should mind their business when it comes to ATL culture.

“So you come to Atlanta … and they say they like the girls and the chicken wings, and the city doesn't have a problem with it, shut the f*** up,” Mike said.

He even took a swipe at NBA players who have criticized the idea.

Andrew and Tristan Tate want Elon Musk's social media platform to give up the names of accounts they claim have been harassing and defaming them online ... so they're going to court to try to unmask some John and Jane Does.

Here's the deal ... the Tate Brothers sued a bunch of anonymous X users for defamation over X posts they didn't like ... the lawsuit was dismissed, but now the Tates want a court to force X to reveal the identities of the accounts they sued.

Andrew and Tristan say the X users engaged in a conspiracy to not only defame them, but also to ruin them financially, reputationally and emotionally through constant and routine allegedly defamatory posts on X -- the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale went from celebrating her Unrivaled championship to posing for a mugshot -- the hooper was arrested after allegedly punching a security guard at a Miami nightclub on Thursday.

TMZ Sports obtained the complaint ... officers were notified of a physical altercation that broke out inside E11EVEN. When approaching the rear exit of the club, the officer stated a large crowd was being escorted out by security.

The officer made contact with the alleged victim ... who claimed he was attempting to escort 29-year-old Ogunbowale out of the club due to an unrelated altercation -- when she punched him in the face with a closed fist, causing him to fall to the ground.

The Atlanta Hawks’ controversial “Magic City Monday” is getting support from a man who knows the club -- and the wings -- better than most: former NBA star Lou Williams.

The former Hawks guard famously got busted visiting the legendary strip club during the NBA’s COVID bubble in 2020 … and now the three-time Sixth Man of the Year is weighing in on the team’s controversial plan to celebrate the iconic ATL spot at an upcoming game.

Not everyone is thrilled about the NBA franchise linking up with the famed gentlemen’s club -- but Lou tells TMZ Sports disagreements are part of the deal.