Dating

Nicki Minaj won't be single for long if she gets on the horn with her ex-fiance and producer, Safaree Samuels ... who's open to rekindling things, and also throwing major shade at Meek Mill.

Nicki's ex thinks it's about time she dropped the Philly rapper because their relationship was always a better look for Meek than her ... according to a rep for Safaree.

The rep tells us Safaree thinks Meek did zilch to boost Nicki's career. Case in point, she didn't release a single new album during nearly 2 years of dating him. Or, as Janet would put it: what has Meek done for you lately?

If this sounds like a swoop in progress, there's a good reason. We're told Safaree never stopped loving Nicki, and is ready and willing to reopen communication ... if she is too.

Of course, their breakup was kinda nasty ... so it's interesting Safaree would come to her defense. Each publicly accused the other of cheating, and he even dropped several breakup raps.

Olive branch extended?

Hailey Baldwin is blocking NBA star Chandler Parsons' shot ... or at least rumors he's taking a shot at dating her.

Sources close to Hailey tell us ... she's been friends with Chandler for a long time, but just isn't into him like that. They were spotted together in November for Hailey's birthday, sparking the rumors, but we're told it was just a meal between pals.

As for Chandler hooking up with Kendall Jenner -- our sources say that's also just a friendly thing ... at least for now. He knows her through Hailey.

#friendzone

76ers stud Joel Embiid wants to be an NBA All-Star for the best reason ever ... because he thinks landing the honor will bring him closer to the experience of a lifetime ... a date with Rihanna.

Here's the story ... Embiid has been trying to drum up All-Star votes from fans saying he needs the All-Star tag to have a shot with a famous mystery "crush" he's been chasing for years.

He's tweeted about the mystery girl and even referenced her during a post-game interview last week ... but never mentioned her by name.

Well now, our Embiid sources are telling us the girl in question is definitely RiRi ... who he's had a crush on FOREVER.

In fact, when Embiid was first drafted into the league, he shot his shot with the singer on Twitter -- but he claims she shot him down ... insisting she told him to "come back when you're a All Star."

Fast forward to right now and guess what ... Embiid is one of the best young players in the league -- averaging 19 points and 8 rebounds a game ... meaning he's definitely in All-Star territory.

If he gets enough votes, he makes the team ... if he makes the team we'll see if Rihanna is a woman of her word. After all, a deal's a deal, right?

Britney Spears has really found herself a keeper ... a man willing to hold her purse without a hint of shame.

Britney and her new bf, Sam Asghari, went out for dinner together at Nobu in Malibu ... and he handled her handbag with pride as they left.

No wonder she's all smiles these days.

It's clear Kris Jenner wants to keep Tristan Thompson around -- because she SMOTHERED Khloe's NBA star boyfriend in expensive Christmas gifts ... and he was all about it!

Jennifer Lopez and Drake are sharing tongue these days ...

Jennifer rocked new custom Timberland boots during late Christmas shopping in Bev Hills ... with her famous moniker taking up prime real estate.

It's interesting she's decided to wear them only days after we reported J Lo and Drake -- a noted Timberland fanatic -- have been spending quality time together.

#SignsSignsEverywhereASign

Britney Spears' new BF, Sam Asghari, has a type -- he's notorious for hooking up with pop stars while shooting music videos ... or so says the last one he bagged.

We got Sam's ex, Mayra Veronica -- a big Latin pop singer -- out in Bev Hills, and it seems she had no idea he was hooking up with Brit.

Sam and Mayra dated in 2015 after meeting on the set of one of her videos. In other words, the same story as Britney and Sam meeting on the set of her "Slumber Party" video.

Mayra didn't hold back her opinion on the new couple, and might have thrown un poquito shade at Sam.

Larsa Pippen is still dedicated to making sure everyone -- including her estranged husband, Scottie -- remembers that she's still crazy, silly fine ... and she's using some bikini pics to prove it.

Scottie's ex and (maybe) Future's current was down on the beach in Miami (sorry, Chicago) in a hot, hot bikini showing off the gifts that God and (maybe) science gave her.

Bella Thorne and Charlie Puth were not meant to last ... mostly because she's allegedly still dating Tyler Posey.

Charlie is now publicly apologizing to Tyler and breaking it off with Bella, saying ... "I'm just removing myself from this." Charlie says Bella told him she was not with Posey anymore, but he found out otherwise.

He also tweeted, "I don't know Tyler personally, but I know he shouldn't be treated this way."

Bella and Charlie were spotted packing on the PDA earlier this week. It looked weird to a lot of fans who thought she was still with Tyler. Seems like they were right.

10:50 AM PT -- Bella just clapped back to the rumors, saying, "Ty and I have been broken up for like two weeks and charlie and I ARENT DATING we are friends. That article was written forever ago."

Jennifer Lopez's ex-hubby was stunned at our news ... J Lo and Drake are on the road to hooking up.

We broke the news to Cris Judd at The Grove in L.A. Tuesday, and he was legitimately surprised. Check out the vid ... it doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement.

As for Cris ... he's long since moved on since their 2002 divorce. He's remarried with a kid.

One thing's for sure -- if J Lo and Drake make any music together ... Cris probably won't listen.

#NoToDraLo

Dennis Quaid is moving on with a woman who's half his age, smokin' hot and shares a name with the big man in the red suit.

Her name is Santa Auzina, and they did dinner at El Compadre in L.A. Tuesday night. They were first spotted together in July shortly after Quaid's wife filed for divorce.

Quaid wasn't too talkative when we asked about his pal, Donald Trump, but doesn't really matter when your gf is a babe.

BTW ... She's 30 and he's 62.

Drake and Jennifer Lopez have been spending a lot of time together lately, and sources who are around both of them tell us it's only a matter of time ...

Drake rented out Delilah restaurant in WeHo Monday night, and J Lo was his guest. We're told 20 others joined the party as the restaurant was shut down to the public.

As for what's going on ... we know Drake and J Lo are working on a music project together, and he's been to 2 of her Vegas shows recently. One source, who should know, says so far it's not what you would assume but it's pretty clearly going in that direction.

Britney Spears has herself a guy who's not just really easy on the eyes ... he's a gentleman too.

Britney and Sam Asghari did dinner together at Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ in L.A. on Saturday, and her laugh and smile say it all -- she's having a good time with this one.

Brit's "Slumber Party" music vid co-star posted a pic of the couple doing sushi last month, but when he quickly deleted the post ... we wondered if it was anything serious.

Our Spears sources confirm what these photos show -- it is. Serious, that is.

Not a ton of guys out there who look like Sam, and also open car doors for a lady. #GetitBrit

Meghan Markle won't spend the holidays with her handsome prince across the pond but she's still got a reason to smile.

The "Suits" star spent a week with Prince Harry in London. Harry's spending XMAS with his grandma -- aka The Queen at the Sandringham Estate in England.

Bella Thorne and Charlie Puth don't need no stinking mistletoe to pack on the PDA -- they were all over each other in Miami.

They've been flirting heavily on social media for months, and finally decided to go public Sunday on the beach. Looks like tops were optional, but those latex knee-highs on Bella should be required.

Apparently nannies are just too irresistible, because Tarek El Moussa is the latest to get the bug.

We've learned Tarek hooked up with 23-year-old Alyssa Logan, who was taking care of Tarek and Christina's 2 kids and also performing assistant chores.

It's not scandalous like Ben Affleck, Jude Law or Gavin Rossdale. We've learned Tarek and Alyssa began dating in Sept., 4 months after he and Christina separated.

Sources connected with Tarek and Christina tell us ... when Tarek began having feelings for Alyssa, he was warned NOT to date her while she was still an employee. So he essentially canned her, which cleared the way for a romantic relationship.

The video (above) shows Tarek and Alyssa at a Florida Georgia Line concert back in October. Sadly, it didn't last. They broke up later that month.

As we reported, we're told there's still a chance Tarek and Christina will get back together, but we wouldn't put money on it.