MTS says her late mother woulda been so proud -- she was a huge fan of Bey's. Meg also talks about the first time her and her mom met Beyonce, and the story is pretty cool.
Queen Bey's teamed up with the rapper for a savage remix of the song, which has blown up, especially on TikTok, during the coronavirus pandemic. Beyonce even name-checks TikTok in one of her verses.
The "Savage" remix is a pretty big deal -- it's B's first new music since her "Lion King" companion album last summer -- and fans have quickly taken notice.
The music video's already racked up nearly half a million views on YouTube just a little over an hour after premiering.
Meg's stoked on the collab too, saying ... "I'm literally crying ... being from HOUSTON MF TEXAS this sh** means EVERYTHING to me !!!!" Both artists hail from H-Town.
The Beyonce remix will also help battle COVID-19. The women are donating their share of proceeds to benefit Bread Of Life COVID-19 Relief efforts in their hometown.
The Baseball Hall of Fame has voted unanimously to postpone Derek Jeter's induction to 2021 ... not exactly the "unanimous vote" he was hoping for.
Of course, the New York Yankees legend -- along with big-hitters Larry Walker, Marvin Miller and Ted Simmons -- were all set to be honored in Cooperstown as the Class of 2020 on July 26.
But ... COVID-19 screwed it all up!
Given the global coronavirus pandemic, the Hall's Board of Directors took a vote -- and ultimately agreed it was best to push the festivities to 2021 to steer clear of any potential safety risks.
"Our Board of Directors has voted unanimously to cancel 2020 Induction Weekend, due to health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic," HOF officials said in a statement.
A spokesperson says the HOF is "disappointed" but the decision was made in the best interest of everyone involved.
"We care deeply about every single person who visits Cooperstown."
Instead, the 2020 class will be inducted alongside the 2021 class next year ... and Larry Walker has already come out in support of the move.
"I fully understand and agree with the Board’s decision," Walker says. "It is most important to do the right thing for everybody involved, and that means not putting any participants in jeopardy, whether Hall of Famers or visitors."
"I realize how serious this situation has become and how many lives have been lost."
NFL commish Roger Goodell has volunteered to reduce his salary to $0.00 during the coronavirus pandemic ... which is HUGE considering the guy makes up to $40 MILLION a year.
Goodell went to the NFL's compensation committee within the past month and expressed interest in forgoing his salary, according to Andrew Beaton.
Of course, Goodell is BY FAR the highest-paid sports league commissioner ... with the NBA's Adam Silver and MLB's Rob Manfred making somewhere near $10 million a year, according to reports.
FYI -- Goodell's base salary is reportedly around $20 million ... but can double with incentives.
The commish ain't the only one taking a pay cut ... some of the league's other top execs are taking between 5-20% salary decreases, according to Seth Wickersham.
Goodell's pay reduction started this month ... but does NOT reflect the league's plans for the 2020 season -- AKA, there's still hope for a season.
Costco is making some big changes in the face of the coronavirus pandemic ... the superstore is requiring anyone walking through its doors to cover their faces.
The new nationwide change goes into effect Monday, and the rules require all members, guests and employees to wear masks or face coverings that cover the mouth and nose at all times while inside the superstore.
Costco says members who do not cover their faces will not be permitted inside its stores. However, the company says the mask policy does not apply to children younger than 2 or people who are unable to wear a mask or face covering due to medical conditions.
Seems many Costco members are already wearing masks ... as you can see at this Costco in Washington D.C. Wednesday, most shoppers are wearing masks and face coverings inside the superstore.
10:47 AM PT -- A famous epidemiologist -- who's on the mend after having coronavirus -- tells TMZ that whatever political or social downside there might be to speaking out and closing down wet markets operating in the states must bow down to the upside ... saving lives.
We spoke to Dr. Michael Saag Wednesday on 'TMZ Live' -- a guy who's renowned for his work in the studies of HIV and AIDS -- and he made it very clear that public health should trump any offense that any group of people -- ethnic or otherwise -- might take if politicians start making moves to regulate, if not fully close, the live animal butcher shops and slaughterhouses we've been highlighting this week ... where animals or hoarded, killed and sold to customers in one place, under incredibly unsanitary conditions.
UPDATE
Dr. Saag says he understands how this might be the norm for certain folks, but when we told him different politicians we've talked to about this seem hesitant to take action ... DS said he gets that too, 'cause they don't wanna come off as xenophobic and upset their constituency and look bad. It's a fine line to walk -- but Saag says the problem is clear.
UPDATE
In his eyes, respecting culture -- something we take pride in here in America -- MUST take a back seat when the public's well-being is at stake, as it is with these U.S.-based wet markets.
UPDATE
Dr. Saag also explains what's on the line here, as he knows first-hand what it's like having COVID-19. Watch ... he says it's nothing like he's ever battled before, and no one wants it if they can help it.
It's becoming more clear by the day that wet markets are NOT just a China problem -- it's an American problem too ... just take a look at these latest clips from Texas and California.
TMZ has gotten a hold of even more graphic videos of two different live animal shops in TX and CA -- where people pick out the animal, have it slaughtered on the spot and then sold to them right then and there -- and you see the mixed-in livestock runs the gamut.
There are pigs in pens, goats and sheep hoarded together ... and, of course, as we've seen in New York and elsewhere -- chicken and rabbits cooped up in cages -- all in the same area within earshot of each other, and all getting butchered.
Ya got pigs hanging from hooks out in the open, chicken beaks, feathers and guts all over the floor and in an exposed trash can -- this while customers (including kids) come in and browse the freezer for whatever cuts of meat they want. It's downright dirty and gross.
As we've been told by the experts, these one-stop-shop slaughterhouses/storefronts can be breeding grounds for disease -- including new viruses, like COVID-19, which supposedly got started at a wet market in China.
We already know of lawmakers in Cali and New York working to get these things shut down, but it's pretty apparent there needs to be federal legislation rolled out to address this. Can't call the kettle black when we're swimming in the freakin' pot.
Eminem is cleaning out his closet to help out during the global pandemic ... parting ways with an EXTREMELY rare and expensive pair of his Jordan 4s for COVID-19 relief.
The Rap God announced the gesture Wednesday ... saying he had an extra pair of his highly coveted Jordan 4 Retro "Carhartt x Eminem" kicks lying around ... so he teamed up with shoe auction site StockX to raise money for the good cause.
So ... what makes these shoes so damn expensive?? Back in 2015, Em and the Jumpman made just 10 (TEN!!!) pairs available for bidding on eBay, with proceeds going to the Marshall Mathers Foundation.
Ever since, only a few pairs have made it to family and friends ... but for the most part, normies have a snowball's chance in hell of getting their hands on them.
In fact, the pairs that have made it to resale are going for INSANE numbers ... ranging from $20-$28k on StockX.
To make Em's gesture even sweeter, he's throwing in a vintage "Detroit Slim" shirt on top of the Js ... with the proceeds for the combo going to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Each ticket for the auction is worth $10 ... which is a helluva lot cheaper than $20k, but ya gotta have luck on your side.
Golfers in Florida are back on the tee box ... several courses in the state reopened Wednesday -- and people are flocking in droves to the fairways with masks on!!
Parks in Palm Beach County have eased up lockdown rules as the state shows improvement amid the coronavirus pandemic ... and it didn't take long for residents to get their hacks in.
Check out photos from courses in the Miami area just minutes after they opened back up ... a TON of golfers came out to play -- but it's clear, restrictions are still in place.
Staffers sprayed down range balls with disinfectant and wore gloves ... many people kept at least 6 feet from each other ... and nearly everyone had some sort of face covering.
As for the demand to play ... one course official in the area told the Palm Beach Post this week, "I don't think there has been a moment when the phone hasn't had three lines coming in."
More courses in the state are expected to open up next week -- but remember, PLEASE BE SAFE!!!
Elon Musk has been way off with his coronavirus predictions from the start, but now he's doubling down with his asinine thoughts ... by urging the U.S. to reopen and be "free" again.
The Tesla honcho just tweeted to his 33 million followers, "FREE AMERICA NOW" ... following a couple other tweets encouraging states to ease pandemic lockdown restrictions, despite health experts' warnings that doing so could lead to a spike in deaths.
Musk -- who on March 19 tweeted about COVID-19, "Based on current trends, probably close to zero new cases in US too by end of April" -- has been one of the loudest cynics of stay-at-home orders and has referred to the pandemic as overblown panic several times ... despite nearly 60,000 deaths in the U.S. in a relatively short time.
Now he seems to be joining the chorus of naysayers like Tucker Carlson -- who declared on his show Monday night that the coronavirus is "just not that deadly" and shutdowns don't really work -- who want to ignore the serious dangers of COVID-19 and get back to normal.
Truth is, it's just not that easy -- or safe, or smart -- and Elon's suggestion is dumbfounding.
However, as we've reported, he's not alone -- there are a lot of Americans who are quitting quarantine to head to beaches or attend parties ... and it feels like things are coming apart at the seams.
Musk clearly doesn't believe it's a big deal -- he just wants Americans to have their freedom back ... whatever that means.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been a true hero in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, which is why it's especially stunning he's being sued over something that did NOT happen at his daily briefings.
A group of deaf New York residents, along with the Disability Rights New York group, are suing Governor Cuomo claiming NY is the only state that has never provided televised in-frame ASL interpretation during COVID-19 briefings. The DRNY says it's received a large number of complaints about it.
The org claims it reached out to Cuomo's office on March 27 requesting a live sign language interpreter but the office provided it only through an online broadcast on the Governor's website. The suit claims Cuomo's office also responded saying it provides closed captioning for televised broadcasts.
But, the suit claims closed captioning is not provided on all TV channels broadcasting the briefings. They also claim closed captioning frequently contains errors and omissions.
Cuomo's office directed folks to the governor's website, but the suit says not all deaf residents have internet access. The DRNY says it's made no progress with the governor and have also filed a complaint with the Justice Department.
The residents and DRNY are suing for an order forcing the governor to provide a live sign language interpreter on his daily TV briefings.
We've reached out to Cuomo's office for comment, so far no word back.
The biggest All In Challenge auction items -- so far, anyway -- have been claimed, and Tom Brady's got an $800k date with one lucky fan!!!
A handful of AIC auctions closed Tuesday night, including the biggest experiences with superstars like TB12, Magic Johnson, Peyton Manning and Meek Mill. All 4 raked in just under $1.9 million.
Peyton's golf and dinner deal ended up closing at a whopping $525k bid, with some lucky son of a gun walking away with it. Meek's 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom car ended up pulling $320k itself, and Magic Johnson's H.O.R.S.E. game and Lakers experience went for $220k.
The item that blew everyone else outta the water, though, was the G.O.A.T. of football himself. ... Brady's in-game and hangout experience closed out at a cool $800k ... no change. Just a reminder -- Tom's deal includes incredible seats at an upcoming Tampa Bay game, getting on the field with him and then grabbing dinner or working out afterward.
All that dough is going toward a great cause ... feeding hungry families during the pandemic. The All in Challenge has now pulled in more than $24 million, and its founder, 76ers partner Michael Rubin, has already distributed $10 mil to the food charities.
Did you know ... there are 103 bowling alleys in the State of Georgia?
Did you also know ... most of them are staying CLOSED despite a special order from the Governor allowing them to operate?!
It's true ... and most of the alleys that ARE up and running are getting so few customers, they're struggling to turn a profit.
We called every single B.A. in GA -- and this is what we found.
-- Only 25 alleys in the state are confirmed up and running.
-- Every active alley has social distancing protocols. Most are screening staffers (taking temperatures at the door, etc.) before they can go to work. A few alleys are also screening customers. Almost every alley is spacing out lanes between groups.
-- Several alleys are requiring customers to book lanes in advance and taking payment over the phone to reduce person-to-person interaction.
-- Wondering about bowling shoes?! Most places are having customers request rental shoes over the phone so staff can have them ready when the bowlers arrive. When they're done, the shoes are disinfected by staffers wearing PPE.
Despite the protocols, several staffers from multiple alleys echoed the same point ... business is EXTREMELY slow.
One staffer told us, "It's not profitable, but we're hanging in there."
Some lanes say they're getting customers from other states. Some have said they're catering to frontline medical workers looking to blow off steam, which makes it worth it to keep the doors open.
Karlene Welty of Calhoun Bowling Center says her staff is working their tails off keeping the place safe and clean -- and they're making just enough money to pay their staff, which is why they're staying in business.
The bottom line is this ... if you thought people were going to hit the alleys in droves just because they can, you thought wrong.
And, from what we're gathering, most places are still determining if it's even worth the risk to keep the lanes open until the pandemic is over.
4:07 PM PT -- We just spoke with Drew -- who explained why he was so excited to honor Capt. Moore!!
UPDATE
"That guy is such an inspiration. You talk about heroes?! We play heroes on TV. That man has been a hero his whole life. He never stopped being a hero!"
This. Is. AWESOME!!!
WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre is showing major love for a real-life hero on his 100th birthday ... honoring Captain Tom Moore with his very own championship belt!!
Of course, Capt. Tom -- who served as an officer for the British Army in WWII -- went viral earlier this month when he set out to raise 1,000 pounds for the National Health Service by doing laps around his garden.
Turns out, Capt. Tom raised WAY more than that ... raking in a whopping 29.2 MILLION pounds (over $36 mil!!) for COVID-19 relief.
Drew -- fresh off his HUGE WrestleMania36 win over Brock Lesnar -- decided to show thanks for Cap's contributions throughout his life by sending a super bad-ass commemorative belt for his 100th birthday!!
"As WWE Champion it is my honor, on behalf of @WWE, to celebrate the 100th birthday and extraordinary achievements of @CaptainTomMoore with a personalized WWE title," the Scottish superstar said.
"Happy birthday sir, and thank you. #WalkWithTom #CaptainTomMoore."
On top of the awesome belt, Tom has received thousands of cards for his big day, which goes down on April 30th.
The governor of North Carolina says he's working like crazy with NASCAR and health officials to keep the Coca-Cola 600 Memorial Weekend race on schedule as planned next month ... but without fans in the stands.
Gov. Roy Cooper announced the plan to keep the May 24 race as scheduled ... saying the state has been in contact with NASCAR and the Charlotte Motor Speedway to come up with the safest possible social distancing protocol.
"We believe that unless health conditions go down, we believe we can hold the Coca-Cola 600," Cooper said on Tuesday ... adding NASCAR will make a statement on the decision later this week.
The state of North Carolina has extended the stay-at-home order through May 8 ... but Cooper deemed pro race team shops "essential businesses" to allow them to prepare for the future.
NASCAR has postponed all events since March 13 ... and if this can somehow happen, fans will be VERY happy.
2:30 PM PT -- Pence just explained why he flouted the Mayo Clinic's mask policy saying, "As Vice President of the United States I'm tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus. He added, "And since I don't have the coronavirus, I thought it'd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible health care personnel, and look them in the eye and say thank you."
UPDATE
OK, boomer.
Vice President Mike Pence thinks the rules don't apply to him -- he's brazenly ignoring Mayo Clinic policy by not wearing a face covering, even though everyone else is.
Here's the deal ... the VP toured the renowned Minnesota hospital with a large group Tuesday and decided he'd pass on wearing a mask. The medical facility says, as policy, everyone needs to cover their face to guard against transmission of COVID-19.
Everyone around Pence adhered to the policy, so he stood out like a sore thumb. Keep in mind, this is the guy President Trump pegged to run the coronavirus task force. So, it's bad optics, potentially dangerous ... and just rude to his hosts.
The Mayo Clinic even tweeted that it told Pence about the policy mandating all patients, visitors and staff wear face coverings or masks BEFORE the tour of the grounds. That tweet has since been deleted.
While Pence and POTUS have refused to wear masks ... both sides of Congress are following the CDC's guidelines to wear masks when entering essential businesses and health care facilities.
We reached out to Pence's office for comment, but this seems like a move even TV's bumbling "Veep" wouldn't pull.
Doctors in Germany are demanding more personal protective equipment -- to safely fight COVID-19 -- and their plight's getting attention, 'cause they got naked.
These Berlin docs are in ... their birthday suits for a campaign called Blanke Bedenken, which translates to blank/naked concerns. They kept it PG-13, you don't see any of their privates as they posed in unique ways to cover up a bit.
Their message comes across clearly ... they're in need of more gear -- like face masks, gloves and gowns. It's a plea we've heard from doctors, nurses and EMTs here in the U.S. for more than a month. The German doctors say without the critically-needed PPE, they might as well be bare naked on the frontlines.
Even some of the masks they wore in the pics are makeshift, homemade jobs. One of the docs has a sign that reads (in German), "I learned to sew wounds. Why do I now need to know how to sew masks?"
Germany's been credited for managing the pandemic fairly well, with under 200,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and less than 6,000 deaths. That doesn't necessarily mean their doctors have it easy, though.
What do we want? PPE! What should we get?? Dressed ... and also PPE!!!
Folks in New Jersey crowded together to watch an aerial salute to first responders, but some people just don't get it ... because they're not social distancing and not wearing masks!!!
Check out the scene Tuesday at J. Owen Grundy Park in Jersey City for the special flyover ... you can see lots of people standing super close together without covering their faces, while also ignoring signs saying the promenade is closed.
Police were on hand, but folks who were there tell us cops weren't writing any tickets.
The crowds gathered to watch 12 aircraft from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds soar through the skies above the Hudson River ... a 40-minute salute to the brave men and women battling COVID-19 on the front lines.
It's kinda ironic though ... the joint demonstration is supposed to honor essential workers and first responders, but huddling together and not wearing a mask is the perfect way to NOT honor the heroes fighting the virus.
Some folks were wearing masks and keeping their distance, but not everyone ... and that's an issue.
The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds have another flyover later today over Trenton and Philadelphia ... so hopefully, folks there salute first responders the right way.
