Coronavirus

DJ Khaled's entry into the All In Challenge features 2 things near and dear to his heart -- jet skis and letting loose in Miami.

The superstar DJ and producer has accepted Michael Rubin's challenge to join his brainchild -- the celeb-driven fundraiser to help feed people in need during the coronavirus pandemic -- by offering up a personal package he says will be "off the chain."

Khaled fans can enter now for a chance to ride jet skis with him, and after all the excitement ... grab dinner at his favorite spot in Miami. The package includes airfare and a 2-night hotel stay for the lucky winner.

As you may know, a growing number of star actors, athletes, musicians and TV and Internet personalities -- from Leonardo DiCaprio and Kim Kardashian to Drake and Tom Brady -- are "all in" ... and seem to be upping the ante with their commitments to the cause.

DJ Khaled says it's not a competition though -- it's more about offering a personal experience -- which for him, is all about getting wild on the water ... safely, of course.

Khaled also gives mad props to Rubin for orchestrating the hugely successful fundraiser and going out of his way to help others. So far, the All In Challenge has raised over $23 MILLION for relief efforts.

BTW -- jet-skiing hopefuls can enter the Khaled sweepstakes for just 10 bucks for 10 entries. Good luck!

Forget the thirst trap -- this packed house party in Chicago featuring a stripper is more like a potential coronavirus trap with all the guests blatantly ignoring quarantine guidelines.

It turns out there was even more reckless behavior going down in Chi-Town over the weekend -- this party seemed to have several dozen guests swarming around a stripper wearing a top, but nothing down below. The partygoers, packed in shoulder-to-shoulder, made it rain on her and even got a little handsy.

That might be great for her bottom line, but not so great for health. The video shows no one was thinking a thing about COVID-19, face coverings or maintaining six feet between each other.

This is clearly a trend -- as we reported, another Windy City house party had more than 1,000 guests... even as the city struggles to flatten the curve, and combat the disproportionate COVID-19 mortality rate in the black community.

As we reported ... Chi-Town officials slapped the owner with fines, and cited her for disorderly conduct -- namely, violating the state's stay-at-home orders.

Meanwhile, the stripper party had the potential to get even bigger. A woman who appears to be the homeowner was on video -- live on Facebook, mind you -- inviting anyone watching to come through.

The L.A. Lakers are giving back $4.6 million in federal loan money aimed to help small businesses affected by COVID-19, the team announced.

The Lakers confirmed they applied for -- and received -- $4.6 mil in loans under the Payroll Protection Program. CNBC is reporting the Lakers are the ONLY team in the NBA that applied for the loans.

But, the team says it's had second thoughts after learning federal funds earmarked for the program were running super low.

"The Lakers qualified for and received a loan under the Payroll Protection Program," the team told CNBC.

"However, once we found out the funds from the program had been depleted, we repaid the loan so that financial support would be directed to those most in need."

"The Lakers remain completely committed to supporting both our employees and our community."

The Lakers' payroll is reportedly more than $122 MILLION -- so, it ain't exactly a cheap franchise to operate. However, Forbes recently valued the team at $4.4 BILLION.

Of course, the NBA was the first major pro sports league to suspend play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bad news for ex-UFC champ Cain Velasquez ... he's been released from his WWE contract as part of a cost-slashing effort due to COVID-19.

The former UFC heavyweight champ first signed with WWE back in October 2019 -- and the company had high hopes for Cain -- posting on WWE.com that he signed a "multi-year deal."

But, Velasquez hasn't really had a presence in the WWE universe since he was destroyed by Brock Lesnar at the Crown Jewel event on Oct. 31, 2019, in Saudi Arabia.

Now, with Vince McMahon's company looking to cut costs due to the coronavirus pandemic, Wrestling Observer Radio's Dave Meltzer says WWE has released the 37-year-old from his contract.

As we previously reported, WWE announced a massive cost-saving plan earlier this month hoping to keep the company afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic ... which includes slashing top executive salaries and furloughing part of its staff.

Velasquez has shown potential as a pro wrestler -- hopefully, this isn't the end of his journey.

It's disgusting, inhumane, unsafe and a breeding ground for disease ... yes, another wet market, but this one's not in NYC ... it's in the San Francisco Bay area.

The footage was shot at two different wet/live animal markets -- one in San Fran and another across the Bay in Oakland. Both markets are currently open and fully operational, killing and selling the chickens, rabbits and meat in the same location -- with what seems to be hardly any regulation.

In the clip, you see children walking around and getting very close to the chickens and rabbits CRAMMED in cages. Workers pull the fowl out of the cages for slaughter, and some aren't even wearing gloves. Later in the video, you see severed chicken legs and beaks strewn about the floor ... frankly, it's disgusting and unsanitary.

As we reported ... wet markets are also up and running in New York City, so this is a coast-to-coast issue amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic. The scene in the Bay Area looks very similar to the one in NYC.

And, of course, the footage is reminiscent of the wet markets in China, where some scientists believe the pandemic started. Sure, some reports suggest bats are at the center of the outbreak, but still ... exposing live animals to people in markets like this is NOT healthy.

Masks ... so hot right now, so make sure you get one that makes ya look good out there in the middle of a global pandemic.

That's what a trendy menswear store in West Hollywood seems to be suggesting with its display of mannequin men sporting face coverings in the front window of the shop.

Check it out ... all the plastic models at Klein Epstein & Parker are wearing fashionable face masks that appear to have been made out of stylish pocket squares or a similar material.

So, it begs the question ... is this the next new accessory, whether it's required where you live or not?

As we reported ... cities in California, New York, Maryland and others are now requiring citizens to wear masks or face coverings out in public at essential businesses.

Even dogs and cats are getting in on the action to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

2 Chainz is looking out for his community ... by feeding the homeless instead of reopening his Atlanta restaurants for dine-in service.

The Atlanta rapper fed about 120 homeless people Monday, the day he was originally slated to reopen his 2 food joints, Escobar Restaurant and Tapas, for table service.

2 Chainz and his business partner, Snoop Dillard, distributed free meals outside their downtown Atlanta location ... and folks in need practiced social distancing while waiting for the free grub, standing six feet apart in line.

On the menu -- butter garlic chicken pasta and water. Snoop also hopped in a car and drove around the neighborhood, handing out free meals to people living on the streets.

As we reported ... 2 Chainz and Snoop were planning to reopen their restaurants Monday with Georgia lifting many of the state's coronavirus restrictions, but they reversed course after more consideration.

The restaurants are still open for take-out service, which is way safer than dining out.

Donnie Wahlberg says he had to pull the ol' Jedi mind trick to get his bro, Mark Walhberg in a new NKOTB music video, but turns he's in really good company!!!

Donnie joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" to download us on New Kids On The Block's new single, "House Party." He says it was easy to nab Boyz II Men, Big Freedia, Naughty By Nature and Jordin Sparks for cameos -- they all go way back -- but Mark was a different story.

Donnie says Mark's not trying to rekindle any thoughts of his Marky Mark persona -- so, he admitted playing a little sneaky trick to get him on cam. Well played, DW!!!

Hey, all proceeds from the song are going to COVID-19 relief via No Kid Hungry, which provides food to children who rely on schools for meals. So, it's all good Marky Mark.

Ya gotta see the video ... Carrie Underwood also makes a cameo, as does Donnie's wife, Jenny McCarthy.

Another major American college is being sued by students claiming they're not getting their money's worth with the campus shutdown, and this time it's all about the U.

The University of Miami's been hit with a new class-action suit filed by an architecture major who claims in legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- that she, and all others enrolled at the school, "lost the benefit of the education for which they paid" due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The student says in-person classes haven't been held since March 17, and claims online learning options offered "are subpar in practically every aspect, from the lack of facilities, materials, and access to faculty."

She says online classes are especially ineffective for an architecture student like herself because she's "unable to participate in model making" and "unable to receive in-person feedback from instructors."

The student says in addition to tuition, she and others have also paid miscellaneous fees -- a student center fee, a wellness center fee, an activity fee, an athletic fee, and a health and counsel center fee -- but they can't get the full benefit.

According to the docs, the student understands the university can claim it had no choice but to cancel in-person classes over COVID-19 concerns, but she says the school "nevertheless has improperly retained funds for services it is not providing."

In short, she wants a refund of any spring tuition money for which she and her peers didn't get the full bang. So, to speak.

Michael Rubin -- who created the now-viral All In Challenge -- thinks Tom Brady's about to draw a 7-figure donation to the cause, and says that's still a bargain for one lucky, rich fan!!!

The 76ers partner came on ''TMZ Live'' Monday with updates on some of the big ticket Challenge auctions closing this week -- including G.O.A.T.s like TB12, Magic Johnson and Meek Mill.

While Michael is thrilled the All In Challenge has already raised $20 million, he's hoping to reach $100 mil in donations to feed families during the pandemic. He said what Brady's offering alone will most likely pull in a bid over $1 million when the auction closes Tuesday night.

The Brady winner will go to a game, meet Tom, go out to dinner or a workout with him ... plus, he'll even give you his game-worn Tampa Bay gear. Michael says that alone could earn back a lot of your money.

As for Meek, he's auctioning off his Phantom whip ... and Magic's offering a one-on-one game of H.O.R.S.E. plus all the in-game Lakers perks at Staples Center. Long story short -- these auctions are worth their weight in gold ... and all the cash is for a great cause.

Michael says they've already distributed $10 mil to 4 COVID-19 food charities -- but they've got a lot more to go.

"I hope both of you get the coronavirus! I hope you both die a long, painful death!"

A woman went nuclear on students playing football in a closed park Thursday in New Jersey -- wishing death upon them -- and school officials are now investigating over reports the woman is a high school math teacher.

The woman screaming at the kids has been identified by The Trentonian as Nicole Griggs, a math instructor at Steinert High School.

The paper cites multiple sources who confirmed her identity -- and public records which show she lives right next to the park where the incident went down.

The video is crazy ... the woman tells the kids they could be arrested for breaking the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders ... and when one of the students asked, "Wait, can we go over there?” she melted down.

"Park's closed," the woman can be heard yelling. "The whole area. Get it through your thick head. You are the reason we are in this situation. You are the problem, not the solution."

The woman continued, "Go ahead keep recording. Who are you going to show it to? Post me on social media. You’re the idiot doing the wrong thing. I’m just trying to save your ass and save your life. But, die. Okay?!"

The superintendent at Griggs' school district, Scott Rocco, told The Trentonian they have launched a probe into the video and promised to "address the issue immediately."

We reached out to Griggs for comment -- so far, no word back.

Post Malone certainly entertained us with his Nirvana tribute performance ... but the live streamed show also raised serious funds for coronavirus relief.

If ya missed it on Friday ... Posty sang and played guitar à la Kurt Cobain during a 15-song, 80-minute set that included classics like "About a Girl," "Heart-Shaped Box" and "Come As You Are."

He was joined by 3 socially-distanced musicians in other rooms of his Salt Lake City home -- blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, bassist Brian Lee and guitarist Nick Mack.

We're told the makeshift tribute band raised $1 million in the first hour of the virtual concert alone, but that number's since climbed to a whopping total of nearly $4.3 million and counting.

Fans can still donate on the YouTube page of the performance, and all proceeds go to the United Nations Foundation's Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund for The World Health Organization.

BTW -- Post's performance got rave reviews from some very important people, as well. Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselić said, "I don't think these fellows can play any better. They are on fire!!!!" while adding that he was "holding emotions back the whole show."

Courtney Love also gave her stamp of approval with an emphatic "GOOSEBUMPS! F*** YES." on Instagram. She told Malone to celebrate afterward with a margarita.