Coronavirus

Celeb chef Michael Chiarello's marriage is cooked -- he's filed for divorce -- and says the pandemic's making it impossible to meet his spousal support obligations.

The chef, known for appearing on "The Next Iron Chef" and hosting Food Network's 'Easy Entertaining,' filed to divorce Eileen Marie Gordon back in September 2019. It hasn't been finalized, but he says he's been paying informal spousal support of about $6,500 per month.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Michael wants that number reduced because the coronavirus has forced him to close all of his restaurants ... and his income is suffering.

Michael says his wife's also been affected by the pandemic. He paid her a compliment, saying ... "Just as the current pandemic has impacted me, the market for Eileen’s skills is temporarily affected by the closing of the economy. As the economy reopens, the market for her skills should be good. She is very smart and is a savvy senior-level marketer.”

Michael and Eileen have been married since July 12, 2003 -- and according to docs, their date of separation is TBD. Michael's asking for sole legal and physical custody of their 13-year-old son.

He's also asking the court to postpone a hearing about their financial issues, due to the pandemic.

Coronavirus and divorce ... 2 bad tastes no chef can make palatable!

Fourth of July events in America will be few and far between as cities and states have called off big celebrations and fireworks displays, but for U.S. embassies all over the world ... it's party on.

TMZ did some digging, and we've learned at least 5 embassies have dropped some serious cash to celebrate July 4 ... despite renewed COVID-19 shutdowns here in the states.

According to federal procurement docs ... the U.S. Embassy in Madrid spent $67,551 on "mapping services for 4th of July celebration," while Hong Kong has an expense of nearly $50k for "Independence Day reception 2020."

The Hanoi embassy paid $35,496 on a venue rental, while Bangkok dropped $31,356 on a July 4 party ... and Uruguay shelled out $12,871 toward fireworks and permits.

Some U.S. Embassies are going a different route by throwing virtual parties due to the pandemic ... including Berlin, Mexico City and Managua.

As you may know, cities across the country -- from Boston and Chicago to Seattle and L.A. -- have canceled Fourth of July events and fireworks shows to keep crowds from gathering as coronavirus cases are rising again.

Jimmie Johnson -- one of NASCAR's biggest stars -- is out of the Brickyard 400 this weekend after testing positive for coronavirus.

The 7-time Cup Series champ says the situation is "extremely disappointing," but that his first priority is "the health and safety of my loved ones and my teammates."

Jimmie is reportedly asymptomatic, but was tested Friday morning after learning his wife tested positive. NASCAR says he won't be eligible to return until he has 2 negative tests at least 24 hours apart, is cleared by his own physician, and of course ... remains symptom-free.

Johnson was set to start Sunday's race in 4th position, and was gunning for his 5th win at the Brickyard ... matching his former teammate, Jeff Gordon.

Jimmie missing the race might also make it difficult for him to make the cut for the NASCAR playoffs -- and a shot at one last title run -- especially if he misses more.

The late scratch also stops Johnson's amazing consecutive race streak -- he's started every single Cup Series race since 2002's Daytona 500.

DaBaby's set to fire up a nightclub crowd on the Fourth of July, but he and his team insist safety precautions are in place.

The rapper's performing at the 4th of July Bash at Cosmopolitan Premier Lounge in Decatur, GA Saturday night, but due to coronavirus concerns ... it won't be the usual packed house.

MyDjDre, the coordinator of the event, tells TMZ ... the venue is only allowing 40 percent of the max capacity of 4,000 into the club.

We're told they'll be enforcing a No mask, No entry rule for attendees, and faces must be covered the whole time. There will also be temperature checks and health screening questions at the door.

As for DaBaby ... he's only going to be allowed 3 people on stage with him -- not a full entourage -- and they'll all enter the stage from a parking lot entrance to avoid contact with the crowd.

We're told, most of the tables and standing area at the CPL are sectioned off, as well ... so people can socially distance without little problem.

The following night, July 5, the club welcomes Moneybagg Yo and Blac Youngsta to keep the holiday weekend going ... and we're told the same guidelines will be in place.

Hopefully, it goers better than the Chase Rice concert last weekend in Tennessee. As you'll recall ... the country singer's show was also set at 40 percent capacity, but coronavirus safety was thrown out the window once guests got inside as they rushed the stage.

BTW -- the 3 rappers set to perform this weekend will be doing it for a good cause. The promoter, Jonathan Hart, tells us at least 20 percent of the concert proceeds will go to the Athlete Youth Success Institute, an Atlanta non-profit that helps underprivileged kids learn how to play tennis. Hart is also the President of the AYSI

Folks in South Carolina are flocking to the sand in Myrtle Beach for the holiday weekend, throwing social distancing and stay-at-home advice to the wind ... the wind blowin' the COVID.

Check it out ... the beach is packed as Fourth of July weekend kicks off, and people don't seem to be physically distancing ... in or out of the water.

As for face masks ... hard to tell if people are covering up, but with beachgoers setting up shop right next to others as far as the eye can see, ya gotta think they aren't taking that precaution either.

Of course, SC is one of the 40 U.S. states where coronavirus cases are on the rise.

Several other major cities and states across the country have gone back to shutdown mode to slow the spread, but it looks like Myrtle Beach ain't about that.

Khabib Nurmagomedov's dad, Abdulmanap, has died from COVID-19 complications.

Abdulmanap was battling the virus for months but ultimately succumbed to it.

Khabib says his dad was struggling with COVID as far back as May, saying of his dad ... "He's in the hospital now, he's in very serious condition" after undergoing several surgeries.

His dad had a serious heart condition that required surgery a year earlier, putting him at risk for a bad outcome with COVID.

Khabib's dad was his longtime coach and a critical member of his team. And, his dad was incredibly successful as his son rose to the top of the UFC heap ... beating Conor McGregor.

Khabib's family has been devastated by coronavirus ... he says more than 20 of his relatives have tested positive.

Abdulmanap was 57.

RIP

America's top doc in the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has some sage words of advice for those who wanna get outta dodge for the long Fourth of July weekend.

We got Dr. Tony on Capitol Hill -- where he was masked and on the move -- and asked what factors make a vacation safe ... and unsafe.

Fauci, as always, makes solid points. It depends on where you live and the COVID rate of infection. Makes sense, because if you live in a spike state and you and your family have been out and about, then maybe think twice about leaving.

The good doc also says you have to look at where you want to go ... what's the level of infection. And, of course, no matter what, masks folks ... and social distancing.

The face mask controversy is officially everywhere, because even nudist resorts are requiring guests to cover up -- a decision that's chapping some bare asses.

Now, while most nude resort visitors are taking the one piece of clothing rule in stride, there are some naked naysayers shouting down the face mask. Among their gripes ... mask tan lines, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Solair Recreation League, a clothing-free resort in Connecticut, says it prides itself on a "no tan lines" motto, so it's been a difficult adjustment, and some guests have complained.

But, let's get to the bottom line here ... as posed by the Cypress Cove Nudist Resort in Kissimmee, FL -- "If you’re wearing a face mask, are you really nude?"

Apparently, that's a big hangup for many, who feel it's their right to be completely in the buff if they are at a nudist resort, and there should be no exceptions. You get the point ... face mask face-offs are brewing at nude joints.

Let's hope they don't end with the kind of madness we've already seen around the country -- no one wants to see broken bottles and nudists rolling around in a fight. Right? Okay, maybe that's just us.

Still, most guests are complying for the greater good, and even better news -- their naked bods are getting a greater dose of vitamin D than most ... which scientists have said helps ya fight COVID.

Vanilla Ice is offering fans a warning -- come see my concert at your own risk, cuz it could cost you your life, but the local health department's going even further ... saying stay away from his show.

The "Ice Ice Baby" rapper is set to perform Friday night at Emerald Point Bar & Grill in the popular tourist spot of Lake Travis ... 30 minutes outside of downtown Austin. The concert's being dubbed The Independence Day Throwback Beach Party at a multi-tier outdoor venue that can host as many as 5,000 fans -- but due to social distancing, they're only selling 2,500 tickets.

Fans wanting to buy tix are hit with a warning: “Important notice re COVID-19: Please note any interaction with the general public poses an elevated risk of being exposed to COVID-19 and we cannot guarantee that you will not be exposed while in attendance at the event. The event organizer is solely responsible for the health and safety of this event. We encourage you to follow the organizer’s safety policies, as well as local laws and restrictions.”

That warning isn't cutting it with the Travis County Health Dept. ... whose spokesperson, Jen Samp, tells TMZ ... "This is not wise regardless of who is performing at any gathering right now. The best way to be nostalgic is by protecting your parents and grandparents and staying home."

The "nostalgic line" is a clear shot at Ice's IG post promoting the concert.

The rapper posted this video over the weekend showing packed concertgoers. He captioned the video, "I can’t wait to get back to this. The 90s were the best. We didn’t have coronavirus, or cell phones, or computers. We had 5.0‘s, blockbuster, Beavis and Butthead, Wayne’s world, Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. And Mortal Kombat is still better than fortnight but we got out of the house, We danced, we invented house parties in the 90s. The last of the great decades."

Samp isn't getting sucked in by all that '90s talk. She's flat-out saying, "Don't go to this concert. If you do go to the concert or anywhere else publicly, wear a mask and socially distance, have sanitizer in your pocket and wash your hands every time you arrive at a new place."

She added the fact people will be drinking booze, means they'll be less aware of their actions ... like touching their faces and forgetting to wash hands.

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott's recently ordered all bars closed and capped restaurant capacity to 50 percent. The order comes on the heels of the state hitting a new record of cases ... with 8,076 reported Wednesday. Hospitalizations have also reached dangerous levels.

Emerald Point Bar & Grill -- which, BTW, is hosting other music acts the entire weekend -- remains open because technically it's considered a restaurant.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's gonna like this ... all operating gyms in Los Angeles County are now requiring members to wear face coverings and gloves AT ALL TIMES on the property.

Gyms across the city were forced to alert members of the new rules after an announcement by the L.A. County Dept of Public Health Wednesday. Members will now have to wear masks and use gloves as soon as they step foot inside the gym, including while working out.

It's a huge change ... previously, most gyms in L.A. -- including Equinox -- did NOT require members to wear masks or gloves while overexerting themselves with weights and cardio ... which is crazy, because that's when COVID can most effectively spread.

Equinox members got an email Wednesday night announcing the change ... which came just a day after a scathing undercover report by local news about the lack of masks worn by members ... a report which included trainers who said they were scared to death to go inside the gym.

TMZ broke the story ... Arnold refused to go inside his favorite gym -- Gold's in Venice -- just last month when he learned face coverings weren't required.

Workouts just got even sweatier -- and, hopefully, safer.