Controversial S#!T

A new Netflix doc has made people believe that TikTok star Miranda Derrick is in a cult -- but she's calling BS ... and putting out a totally different narrative, suggesting she's just fine.

Miranda hopped online Tuesday to clap back at claims made in 'Dancing for the Devil' -- which characterizes her and others involved with 7M Films as brainwashed sheep that are beholden to an alleged cult leader ... but Miranda says that's simply not the case.

In a short clip on her IG Story Tuesday, Miranda first thanked everyone for their support since the 3-part doc dropped last week ... and then teased a lengthy written statement in the following slides, saying she couldn't spill all the tea due to legal reasons.

Chris Colfer says he was warned not to come out as gay while on "Glee" -- even though he played an openly gay character -- because it'd ruin his career ... but he didn't listen.

The actor went on "The View" Tuesday where he reflected on his time on the hit show from the 2010s -- on which he played Kurt, who was gay ... obviously mirroring CC's real-life sexual identity.

At the time, however, Colfer says he wasn't out just yet ... and goes on to say people around were encouraging him to keep his orientation a secret -- warning he could torpedo his career.

Everything seems to be A-OK with Pat McAfee and Caitlin Clark following his controversial "white bitch" comment -- the ESPN personality said Tuesday the WNBA star has accepted his apology for the remark.

The former NFL player said on the "Pat McAfee Show" he reached out to Clark and the Indiana Fever as soon as he realized he had set the internet on fire with his statement.

He said a short time after he extended the olive branch, the team messaged him back and said they were "all good."

A man who attended a recent comic convention in China wore a Kobe Bryant helicopter crash costume to the event ... and, as you can imagine, it's sparked a ton of outrage here in the States.

The unidentified person created the crass and offensive ensemble for the festival in Hangzhou ... using plastic bottles, cardboard and a No. 24 Bryant Lakers uniform for the piece. He also capped it off with a Kobe Bryant mask.

Somehow, as he walked through the venue with it all strapped to his person ... other attendees seemed OK with it.

The-Dream is facing a number of troubling allegations -- including sexual battery, abuse and trafficking -- in a new lawsuit from a woman who claims she was his former protégé.

The artist -- who is best known for writing music for Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Mariah Carey, not to mention his own music -- is being sued by Chanaaz Mangroe, who claims the producer lured her into a relationship with false promises of launching her singing career but ended up subjecting her to "violent sexual acts and vicious psychological torture."

Per the docs, obtained by TMZ, Mangroe -- who says she was raised in the Netherlands -- was thrilled when The-Dream offered to sponsor the extension of her work visa in 2014 ... allowing her to further grow her career in the U.S.

Michael Richards is making a comeback of sorts -- releasing a new book, and in the same breath, reflecting on his n-word rant ... saying he's a better person nearly 20 years later.

The ex-"Seinfeld" star has just released a memoir called "Entrances and Exits," and he's doing the media rounds right now -- popping up on "Today" Tuesday for a chat with Hoda Kotb, who addressed the elephant in the room ... namely, his infamous meltdown from 2006.

We broke the story at the time ... Richards dropped the n-word multiple times at the Laugh Factory while tearing into a Black audience member heckling him and losing his cool.

Jason Kelce's recent -- maybe serious, maybe not -- revelation he doesn't wash his feet left one soap maker grossed out ... but she does say he's on the right track in one regard.

Here's the smelly deal ... the ex-NFL'er claimed on social that he never washes his feet and people shouldn't trust the "diabolical liars" at "big soap." Now, maybe he was for real... or maybe he was joshing, but in any case ... his remarks caught a lot of people's attention.

Count Cynthia Jennings among those folks ... she's the owner of Sweet Harvest Farms -- a manufacturer of organic, natural soap -- and tells TMZ she sure as hell hopes JK is just messin' ... 'cause not washing your feet is not just plain nasty – but dangerous. She explains why in our interview, but says JK can be helped.

1:21 PM PT -- Pat McAfee is addressing the criticism ... saying he shouldn't have used the phrase when describing Caitlin Clark -- and he personally sent her an apology for his mistake.

"No matter the context.. even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening," PM said on X. "I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe."

He added ... "My intentions when saying it were complimentary just like the entire segment but, a lot of folks are saying that it certainly wasn’t at all. That’s 100% on me and for that I apologize."

X -- previously known as Twitter -- has tweaked its rules ... now, formally allowing NSFW content to be posted on the site, even though it's low-key always been on there.

People have been sharing explicit porn on Elon Musk's social media platform for a while now since there were no rules against it. But, over the weekend, the site officially announced X-rated content is now allowed -- but with a few caveats.

According to their updated Adult Content Policy, X states, "You may share consensually produced and distributed adult nudity or sexual behavior, provided it's properly labeled and not prominently displayed."

Adele may have prematurely gone off on a fan at her Las Vegas show for perceived homophobic remarks ... at least that's what people are saying in light of this new footage.

ICYMI ... the singer popped off in a profanity-laced rant after one attendee at her Vegas residency seemingly shouted, "Pride sucks." Adele was quick to defend the LGTBQ+ month of celebration ... telling the concertgoer to stay silent if they had nothing nice to say.

However, new footage from the concert shows the attendee actually may have said something far less antagonistic. Check it out ... Adele is chatting with the crowd about her unconventional work week when someone seems to shout out ... "Work sucks."

Alex Jones bawled his eyes out this weekend -- and in the same breath, he let out a scream straight from his bowels, all while claiming his show is on the verge of a shutdown.

Check it out ... Alex was doing an impromptu "Infowars" broadcast this weekend -- where he alleged the feds were attempting to raid and confiscate his studio in Austin, TX ... 'cause a day earlier, he said he learned cops were gonna padlock the door and kick him out.

Unclear where he's getting this info or what might be behind all this, but in any case ... he was airing out his frustrations on the show, with both a war cry and a full-blown sob fest.

Brandon McManus -- a former Super Bowl champion who signed a big free-agent deal with Washington in March -- has just been cut by the Commanders ... following allegations he sexually assaulted two flight attendants last year.

The women made the claims against the 32-year-old kicker in a lawsuit that was filed in Duval County, Fla. last month.

Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II said that while they were working on a Sept. 28, 2023 United Kingdom-bound flight privately booked by the Jacksonville Jaguars ... McManus, who played for the Jags at the time, became inappropriate with them.

Richard Dreyfuss' transphobic rant was seemingly premeditated -- 'cause the guy was at a store right before he hit the stage and was trying on dresses ... and we got the video.

TMZ has obtained surveillance footage from the end of May ... showing Richard being helped by a number of staffers at Worthy Girl Consignment in Beverly, MA -- where he later got onstage and made a number of controversial remarks, including against trans folks.

As you can see -- the employees are seen helping the Oscar winner as he tries on 5 different looks ... smiling and laughing with those in the store before finally picking one.

Jay Leno is railing against the light punishment for most perps caught stealing catalytic converters as the L.A. crime wave is turning deadly ... specifically with the recent murder of "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor.

The stand-up comic and renowned car guru tells TMZ ... it's outrageous the penalty for ripping off converters -- usually a $1,000 fine amounting to just a misdemeanor charge -- isn’t vastly harsher.

JL adds ... The slap on the wrist most thieves receive -- if they even get nabbed -- is the reason they're so brazen.

Angel Reese has been fined by the WNBA after the Chicago Sky's game against the Indiana Fever ... but, it's not for what most fans might think.

The league announced a fine for the rookie for skipping media obligations postgame ... dinging her $1,000 for not making herself available to reporters. They've also fined the Sky $5k.

Of course, Angel clearly applauded a cheap shot foul her teammate Chennedy Carter hit Clark with during the game Saturday, and some may have thought the league would reprimand her for that ... but, so far, that's not the case.

Katy Perry knows how to switch things up ... she has turned Kansas City Chief's Kicker Harrison Butker into a butt-kicker in support of women's and LGBTQ+ rights!

Katy posted an extreme edit of Butker's Benedictine College commencement speech, where he essentially said a woman's place is in the home and the movement for LGBTQ+ rights was downright dangerous.

You gotta listen to Katy's version ... Harrison sounds like AOC!