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1:33 PM PT -- TMZ Sports obtained court docs explaining the allegations ... and they're graphic and disturbing.

The accuser is a male family member who claims Wetteland engaged in oral sex with him on 3 separate occasions between 2004 and 2006 ... while he was a young child.

Wetteland has been booked for 1st degree felony continuous sex abuse of a child -- and if convicted, he faces up to LIFE in prison.

John Wetteland -- the former closer for the New York Yankees -- was arrested in Denton County, Texas on Monday on suspicion of child sex abuse ... official records show.

Details surrounding the alleged incident are unclear -- but the charge specifies that the alleged victim is under the age of 14.

The 52-year-old right-hander was booked and posed for a mug shot. He was later released on $25,000 bond.

We're reaching out to law enforcement to find out more.

Wetteland was a star back in the day -- he was the MVP of the 1996 World Series, helping his Yankee squad defeat the Atlanta Braves. He posted all 4 saves for the Yanks during that series.

He was also a 3-time All Star during his 12-year MLB career ... during which he played for the Dodgers, Rangers and Expos.

During his Yankees career, Mariano Rivera was his set-up guy.

He later went on to serve as a bullpen coach for the Washington Nationals.

Story developing ...

NFL fans planning on going to the Super Bowl in Atlanta have no reason to fear -- the security there's going to be as strong as ever ... government shutdown be damned.

According to law enforcement sources ... the FBI had a meeting with city and state officials Tuesday to lock down the final details of the overall security plan for SB 53 -- which will be held February 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

We're told the Atlanta PD is the lead law enforcement agency responsible for safety at the event, but -- like at prior Super Bowls -- it will team up with FBI agents and the Department of Homeland Security to make it happen.

FBI Specialist Kevin Rowson tells us the agency's role is twofold -- it coordinates the collection and dissemination of all operational intelligence ... but it also steps up to take over in the case of an act of terrorism or if any crime rises to a federal level.

In the past, the FBI's role in security has included conducting the background checks for ALL of the event day staff who will be credentialed ... including security guards, food vendors, media and volunteers. That can mean as many as 30,000 individuals.

Rowson says ... "Our plans for the Super Bowl security have not changed despite the shutdown."

DHS Press Secretary Tyler Q. Houlton adds, "The Department takes the security of high risk events like the Super Bowl extremely seriously ... the current lapse in government funding will have no effect on our commitment to assuring a safe and secure event."

ATL PD's Public Affairs Director agrees, telling us ... "We’re confident our federal law enforcement partners will continue to assist us every step of the way and anticipate no impact from the shutdown."

As you'll recall ... security for last year's SB in Minneapolis resembled a militarized zone, with armed police officers and Humvees on the scene.

1:53 PM PT -- We've obtained an extended version from Kanye's service on Sunday, and he never mentions R. Kelly. In fact, Kanye keeps the conversation almost entirely about himself and his experiences in 2018. Our sources say Kanye's quote about documentaries was nothing but bad timing.

11:39 AM PT -- Kim is shutting down everyone who believes Kanye's supporting R. Kelly, saying, "I want to make it very clear, he is not condoning anyone’s actions or unacceptable disgusting behavior. My husband’s words are being taken out of context due to timing."

Kanye West says it's still okay to play R. Kelly or Michael Jackson's music -- or so it seemed after Kanye's Sunday service, but Kim Kardashian says that's not what her husband meant to say.

Kanye seemed to refer to Kelly and MJ Sunday when he said, "They want art from the artist. But, anytime they do anything erratic, they just gonna pull up the full documentaries on him."

"And then, they gonna come with the Michael documentary. We can enjoy all their music all we want."

As you know, R. Kelly has come under intense scrutiny following the Lifetime docuseries, "Surviving R. Kelly." The #MuteRKelly movement is in full swing and some artists have pulled their Kelly collabs off streaming services.

Kanye seems to be comparing Kelly's situation to the new documentary making allegations of sexual abuse by MJ.

Ye went on to say if we start removing artistic works ... "let's go ahead and take da Vinci out The Louvre. Let's take down all the art."

Even though it sure sounds like it, Kim says Kanye wasn't going there. She says, "Kanye was speaking about his own experience of everyone quick to say they are cancelling him because of differences in opinion & not being perfect. The analogies were in context to his own experiences, not defending anyone else."

R. Kelly came face-to-face with cops in Chicago after an anonymous caller claimed the singer was holding two women hostage.

The Cook County State Attorney's Office got a tip Friday that Kelly was at his Trump Tower residence with the women ... and he was holding them against their will. We're told cops raced to the property and made contact with R. Kelly and the women.

Our sources say 5 officers came to the home and ordered Kelly into the other room while they questioned the women. According to Chicago PD, both women said they were at the residence voluntarily and nothing untoward was going on. Police then left without incident.

We're told the 2 women were Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary, both of whom have maintained they were with R. Kelly voluntarily, despite their parents' strong claims they were the victims of brainwashing.

TMZ broke the story ... cops were called to a Chicago club Thursday morning after a tip was called in that Kelly was at the club partying and there was a warrant out for his arrest. Officers spoke with Kelly -- determined there was no warrant -- and let the singer continue to party.

Aretha Franklin's riches weren't getting much R-E-S-P-E-C-T, allegedly, before she died last August -- cops are on the hunt for someone who stole from her.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, police in Michigan are conducting an investigation into the theft of Aretha's assets before she died.

Law enforcement sources tell us the criminal probe involves someone inappropriately using her funds. We're told a report was filed last June, but it's unclear exactly how much money's gone missing.

As you know ... Aretha's finances have been under the microscope following her death. The IRS is hounding her estate, claiming she owes more than $6.3 mil in back taxes. And, she's being dogged over legal bills.

We're guessing this isn't what Aretha had in mind when she famously sang, "I'm about to give you all of my money."

Jeff Bezos was having a relationship with former "So You Think You Can Dance" host Lauren Sanchez, and according to the National Enquirer, that's what ended his marriage.

Sources closely connected with Lauren and her estranged husband, William Morris Endeavor mega-agent Patrick Whitesell, tell TMZ Lauren was indeed "seeing" Bezos in the later part of 2018. The sources add Sanchez and Whitesell separated last summer and are in the process of divorcing, and her relationship with Bezos did not begin until after her separation.

Same goes for Bezos. We're told he and MacKenzie were also separated when he and Lauren started hooking up.

We're told both Patrick and MacKenzie have known about the relationship for months.

Our sources add, Jeff and MacKenzie have known Lauren and Patrick as good friends for 10 years. Lauren and Patrick have a home in the Seattle area -- where Jeff and MacKenzie live -- and they spend a lot of time there, especially in the summer.

Lauren is an accomplished pilot of helicopters and planes, and a lot of time in the air up there. She owns a helicopter and production company.

And sources tell us, the relationship between Sanchez, who also hosted "Extra," is not "fleeting." It is still going on strong.

Why are so many people smiling at "Mean" Gene Okerlund's memorial event in Florida on Wednesday??? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MEAN GENE WOULDA WANTED!!

Tons of wrestling stars from years past -- from Diamond Dallas Page to one of the Nasty Boys -- gathered in Sarasota, FL to honor the late wrestling announcer.

Gene's wife Jeanne -- along with their children -- was at the event where friends and family members told stories about the greatest WWE voice of all time.

Among the guests ... The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell), Brian Knobbs (of the Nasty Boys), Greg Gagne, Dave Hero and former WWE ref Mike White.

WWE execs Kevin Dunn and Kerwin Silfies were also in attendance.

We spoke with DDP who tells us everyone had a great time honoring the late, great "Mean" Gene -- who's widely regarded as one of the nicest guys in the history of the biz.

Okerlund passed away on January 2. He was 76.

R. Kelly is being criminally investigated in Georgia -- and it's all because of Lifetime's docuseries ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the case tell us the Fulton County District Attorney's Office has opened an investigation into allegations made against the singer in "Surviving R. Kelly." We're told the probe was launched over the past few days as a direct result of what 'Surviving' depicted.

We're told investigators have been reaching out to several survivors featured in the TV project. We have confirmed investigators reached out to Asante McGee, one of the women who allegedly escaped R. Kelly's home.

The attorney for Joycelyn Savage's family was contacted by Chief Investigator Cynthia Nwokocha and has been fully cooperating.

We're told investigators have been asking for contact information from others who have lived in Kelly's former Atlanta home or have direct knowledge of what happened in the home.

We're told investigators were flooded with calls once the docuseries aired.

The D.A. is not commenting.

'Love & Hip Hop' star Tommie Lee has been indicted on multiple child abuse charges -- and the details of the alleged assault on her kid are horrific.

According to the indictment filed by the state of Georgia -- and obtained by TMZ -- Tommie Lee went to her young daughter's middle school this past October and allegedly disrupted the class, slapped her daughter on the hands with her purse strap, slapped her across the face, dragged her down the hall by her hair ... and threw her into a metal locker.

Tommie faces 7 charges in the indictment, and 3 of 'em are felonies. The rest are misdemeanors. If she's convicted on all seven ... prosecutors tell us Tommie could be locked up for up to 54 years.

We broke the story ... Tommie was arrested twice in connection to this case -- once for the alleged assault, and again less than 24 hours later for violating a court order to stay away from her kid ... whom we're told she went to see less than 3 hours after being released from jail.

She's been in and out of jail (and back again) repeatedly over the past couple years now -- all while appearing on "Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta." Tommie reportedly said she'd be quitting the show.

Makes sense ... she's got bigger fish to fry right now.

Boxing star Adrien Broner has a busy Monday -- he's got dates in TWO courtrooms in TWO states to face TWO separate allegations of sexual misconduct, TMZ Sports has learned.

... and it's all going down just TWO weeks before his mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao.

Here's the deal ... Broner was arrested back in February in Atlanta for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at a local shopping mall. Cops say he groped her against her will.

Just 4 months later, Broner was arrested again in Cleveland for allegedly throwing himself on top of a woman at a nightclub and forcing her to kiss him. He's facing multiple felony counts including gross sexual imposition and abduction.

As fate would have it ... both cases have been scheduled for January 7 -- and since he can't be in two places at once, he's gotta decide which hearing he wants to attend.

We've learned Broner is planning on sending a lawyer in his place to Ohio -- where he's not required to attend the hearing in person.

Does that mean he'll be in Atlanta instead? Broner has a habit of blowing off court cases ... so, no one really knows where he'll be.

Adrien is facing 5 separate charges for the two incidents ... and if he's convicted on all counts -- he could go to jail for NINE years.

The craziest part of the story -- Broner also has a court date in Florida on Jan. 23 stemming from his arrest for failure to appear in court earlier this month for traffic violations.

Diamond Dallas Page took a 475-pound man -- and nearly cut him in half -- helping the guy shed 200 POUNDS ... with some help from comic Bert Kreischer.

It's an unbelievable story ... Bert -- who famously performs without a shirt -- has been on a health kick and posted a story on his social media about Vance Hinds, an obese man who wanted help losing weight.

The pro wrestling legend stepped up and reached out to the 475-pound man ... offering to coach him through his patented DDP Yoga program -- the same program that Jake "The Snake" Roberts credits with saving his life.

The results ... AMAZING.

After 365 days, Hinds dropped 198 pounds ... and he documented the entire journey on video.

DDP tells TMZ Sports he couldn't be more proud of the guy -- but the work ain't done yet. Hinds says he's gunning to drop another 100 POUNDS with Page's help.

Of course, Page is super confident he can hit the goal weight -- and if you know anything about DDP, dude doesn't ever fail.

Beyonce thrilled fans by finally revealing the dress she wore when she and Jay-Z renewed their vows, but the biggest surprise is she went discount for the gown! Well ... a Beyonce discount, anyway.

TMZ's learned she paid a little more than $10k for her gorgeous white Thelma gown by designer Galia Lahav -- $10,300 to be exact. A lot of money for most of us, for sure, but pennies for a queen.

We're told her stylist went to Lahav's flagship store in April 2018 to purchase the dress, and the designer was made aware the gown MIGHT be used for the couple's 10-year anniversary vow renewal ... but it wasn't a sure thing.

So, it came as a surprise to Galia -- just like everyone else -- when Beyonce shared a split-second shot of the dress at the couple's vow renewal ceremony in her 2018 video recap.

We're told Beyonce's style team has worked with Lahav in the past and bought other items from the store, but this was the first time she was seen wearing the brand.

12:17 PM PT -- So, maybe it wasn't such a flub after all ... a rep for Coachella just got back to us and says "Gucci Gang" is, in fact, correct ... and now the photo of Gucci Mane has been replaced with one to include Lil Pump and Smokepurpp. Looks like something new for festival goers.

Gucci Mane, meet Gucci Gang -- the name he'll apparently be performing under at Coachella this year ... according to Coachella promoters, anyway.

There's a major typo on Coachella's website right now, which calls the Atlanta rapper "Gang" instead of "Mane." The error, which was published in the lineup announcement Wednesday night and hasn't been fixed yet, threw a lot of music fans for a loop -- namely, having them wonder ... who the hell is Gucci Gang???

At first, people thought it might be a new rap group featuring Lil Pump -- ya know, 'cause of his song "Gucci Gang" -- but when GM's image was attached to the name in a more detailed breakdown of the lineup, it became clear someone just screwed up.

Unless, of course, there's something like an undeclared name change going on ... but we seriously doubt it.

We reached out to Coachella and Gucci ... neither's gotten back to us yet.

Originally Published -- 7:15 AM PST

"Mean" Gene Okerlund was seriously injured during a nasty fall back in December ... triggering a rapid decline in his health that ultimately led to his death, his son tells TMZ Sports.

We spoke with Todd Okerlund who says Okerlund suffered multiple broken ribs during the fall at his Florida home and was treated at a hospital in Sarasota.

Todd says Okerlund had been in frail health for a while but the fall clearly made things much worse.

Just 4 days before his death, Gene was admitted to a nursing home .... but he began to have trouble breathing and was rushed to a hospital on Wednesday where he ultimately passed away with his wife, Jeanne, by his side.

Todd tells us ... the family has been touched by all of the support for his father. Todd also says Gene LOVED his career and would have done it for free.

"Mean" Gene is a WWE Hall of Famer who was a key part of the company's success -- with legendary interviews with Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, "Macho Man" Randy Savage and more.

Vince McMahon also issued a statement on Okerlund ... saying, "It was impossible not to crack a smile whenever 'Mean' Gene Okerlund entered a room. He was the voice behind so many of WWE’s most iconic and entertaining moments, and the WWE family will miss him immensely."

Gene was 76.

R.I.P.

One half of Rae Sremmurd got into a street fight in New Zealand that ended with someone getting stabbed and rushed to the hospital.

Slim Jxmmi and other members of the hip-hop duo's crew were reportedly walking in downtown Auckland Thursday afternoon when the brawl broke out. It allegedly started over someone recording video of the group.

In this video, you can see Slim on the ground wrestling with several people -- one of whom seems to be a woman -- while fists fly in the background. There's one huge guy, possibly a bodyguard, throwing haymakers.

Witnesses say they heard a bottle break in the skirmish and saw someone wielding it as a weapon. Jxmmi was seen afterward talking to police with blood on his body, and one person was reportedly taken to the Auckland City Hospital with stab wounds.

It's unclear who that person was or who did the stabbing, and there's no sign of Swae Lee in the altercation.

Derrick Henry got his O-linemen the ultimate "thank you for blocking for me" present this week ... CUSTOM DIAMOND CHAINS, BABY!!!

The former Heisman Trophy winner ran all over the Jaguars a couple weeks ago ... trouncing Jacksonville for 238 rushing yards AND four touchdowns.

In fact ... dude had 99-yard run in the game that sent the NFL world into a frenzy!!!!

Henry's yards were the most-ever in Titans history ... and his 4 scores tied the franchise mark -- so, as a thank you to his O-line for blocking for him ... he got them some sick drip this week.

We're told Henry got the chains -- which feature a gold 238 -- for all five of the O-linemen who started for the team during the Week 14 romp.