Controversial S#!T

Dominique Dawes says the drama surrounding Jordan Chiles' bronze medal is "unfortunate" ... but she tells TMZ Sports she's sure the saga will show off the gymnast's true championship mettle.

The Olympic legend, of course, knows a thing or two about what Chiles is experiencing ... as she was once part of a similar ordeal a couple decades ago.

You might recall ... at the 2000 Games in Sydney, she and USA gymnastics placed fourth in the team competition -- but some 10 years later, the Americans were named rightful winners of the bronze medal after officials declared Team China had an underage competitor.

Volleyball star Steven van de Velde -- a convicted child rapist -- broke down in tears during his first interview since his controversial inclusion in this month's Olympics ... and he admitted he nearly quit over the backlash he received.

The 30-year-old Netherlands athlete -- who was jailed in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old girl when he was 19 -- had dodged media throughout his time in Paris ... but on Tuesday, he faced microphones, and got emotional.

He explained to reporters that the consistent boos and jeers he received while competing in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower at the Games affected him ... and he had moments where he wanted to pull out.

Tyler, The Creator knows his opinion on today's hip hop will ruffle some feathers ... but he can't hold his tongue -- he says a ton of today's rappers aren't pushing out good music.

All these TikTok MCs keep making "meme" records!!!

The Grammy-winning rap star revealed his thoughts on an upcoming episode of Mav Carter's "The Mavericks" podcast, where he complained about the lack of quality control in the music industry and the media covering it.

Katy Perry is in the crosshairs of the Spanish government for kicking up some sand ... that happens to be on an environmentally fragile beach.

Spain's taking issue with Katy's music vid for her new single "Lifetimes" ... which she filmed on the Balearic islands, and one scene where she's dancing and sitting on some sand dunes is reportedly catching the government's watchful eye.

The regional government's Department of the Environment is investigating, claiming the production company behind her music video was NOT authorized to film there ... according to multiple reports out of Spain.

Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles was just handed a devastating blow in her bid to keep her bronze medal ... the governing body overseeing the controversy says their hands are tied, new evidence be damned!

It's the latest turn in the saga involving USA and Romanian Gymnastics ... who are in the midst of a feud over the rightful owner of the bronze medal in the floor competition, which took place a week ago on August 5.

Unfortunately for Chiles, the Court of Arbitration for Sports says their hands are tied.

MLB star Jarren Duran was caught on a hot mic calling a heckler an anti-gay slur on Sunday ... and after receiving backlash for hours, the outfielder issued a mea culpa, apologizing for his "truly horrific" language.

The 27-year-old Red Sox player let the f-word fly when he stepped into the batter's box during the sixth inning of Boston's blowout loss to Houston.

You can hear in audio from the game's broadcast ... as a man in the Fenway Park stands chirped him about needing "a tennis racket" while at the dish -- he fired back by calling the guy a "f***ing f****t."

George Floyd’s ex, Roxie Washington, is backing Kamala Harris’ VP pick, telling TMZ ... she's not buying the backlash against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for the 2020 BLM riots over George's murder.

Roxie says she doesn't really get why there's so much hate against Walz regarding the civil unrest that erupted back then, because she doesn't get what he was supposed to do about it.

Instead, her anger's directed at Mayor Jacob Frey ... as she believes it was his job to protect the city.

Olympic boxer Imane Khelif has had it up to HERE with bullying regarding her sex, and her lawyer is now ready to kick ass.

Her lawyer has filed a complaint with Paris prosecutors, claiming the Algerian boxer is the victim of aggravated cyber harassment. The lawyer calls the attacks "misogynist, racist and sexist."

The Algerian athlete took home the gold in the women’s welterweight division Friday ... after facing controversy earlier in the competition when questions about her sex arose online.

The verdict is in on the fate of Jordan Chiles' bronze medal ... and it ain't good.

The International Olympic Committee ruled the U.S. gymnast would have to give back the third-place medal she won in the floor competition during the Paris Olympic Games – and it will now be bestowed on her Romanian counterpart, Ana Barbosu.

As you may know, the whole controversy began last Monday ... Chiles scored a 13.666 in the women's floor exercise, landing her fifth in the competition.

Tim Blake Nelson's taking film legend Martin Scorsese to task ... saying he respects the famed director -- but, that doesn't mean he thinks he's right about Marvel.

The actor -- who played a small role in the 2008's "The Incredible Hulk" -- spoke with Variety about the seminal cinematic universe Scorsese just can't stand ... saying he believes it's cinema.

Nelson says he believes Marvel movies meet the threshold because they transport the viewers back to their youth ... allowing the audience to lose themselves in the flick.

Donald Trump's name-calling is apparently getting aggressive in private ... 'cause a new report claims he's calling his presidential opponent a brutal name behind close doors.

The New York Times published a piece today diving behind the scenes of the Trump campaign over the last few weeks ... and, in it, the Times details what they call the "foul mood" Trump's been in over the last few weeks.

Among other alleged angry actions and remarks ... NYT says two anonymous sources claim he's called Kamala Harris a "bitch" multiple times -- and, he's reportedly attacking her at donor events too.

Jordan Chiles may have to give back one of her Olympic medals ... 'cause a review board says a challenge to her score shouldn't have been allowed.

Here's the deal ... during Monday's women's floor exercise, Chiles was originally awarded a score of 13.666 -- placing her fifth, just off the podium.

While at first deflated, her coaches demanded a difficulty review ... which the judges granted. After looking at the routine, they increased her score by one-tenth of a point -- putting her in third.

Diddy's ex-girlfriend Yung Miami is speaking up about their relationship for the first time ... and she says he never got physical with her, unlike Cassie.

The City Girls rapper broke her silence on Diddy in Thursday's season two debut of her award-winning "Caresha Please" series, opening up about her experience with the embattled Bad Boy Records founder.

Yung Miami says there were no instances of domestic violence with Diddy and their relationship was mutually beneficial to their respective careers. She says she went in wanting to pick his brain on being a mogul and sounds pleased with the results.

Lil Pump is cashing in all his chips on Donald Trump's presidency ... the Florida rapper says if Kamala Harris is elected, he's fleeing the country.

Pump labeled KH as a "stupid ass bitch" to his IG followers on Thursday and swore on his father's grave he was serious about defecting from the United States if she becomes the next President.

He didn't specify exactly where his immigration plans would land him, but his parents hail from Colombia ... maybe they'll accept him with open arms?!?

Ben Stiller wishes he was Black, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz kick off their campaign and Lionel Messi has a mess at home ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Babcock react to Ben's racial joke about Jewish guys wanting to be Black.

Kanye West is blaming it on the booze ... saying he was under the influence when he fired off those antisemitic statements in '22 that got him seriously canceled.

The rapper dropped this bombshell on Candace Owens' podcast -- which was filmed in 2022 but just released Wednesday ... saying in his words, "You wanna know what alcohol I had inside me? Hennessy."

Ye acknowledged Hennessy turns people "gray" -- and brought out his demons real quick -- which he says is what happened in this case.