James Cromwell Joins NYC Animal Activists Pours Fake Blood in Front of Louis V

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James Cromwell was back on the frontlines for animal rights this weekend -- taking the fight to Louis Vuitton in the Big Apple ... and showing them they had blood on their hands.

The actor/activist was one of the notable faces among a massive group of protests Saturday who descended upon the Louis V flagship store in SoHo ... where barricades had been set up, and where folks were loudly chanting through megaphones -- complete with signage.

Check out this video we obtained ... you can see that James went past the barricade and was right up on the sidewalk, facing off with what one can presume would be management.

Somewhat dramatically ... he pours some red liquid onto the sidewalk and points it out to Louis Vuitton -- echoing what the protesters behind are shouting. Earlier, he made an impassioned speech in support of veganism -- and laying out what they were there for.

Of course, this has to do with the use of real fur -- something LVMH has been accused of using to this day. As for James ... he's been in this animal rights world for a long time.

And yes, he's still going.

Jimmy Buffett Dead at 76 Suffered From Skin Cancer

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UPDATE

8:57 AM PT -- Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Jimmy was diagnosed with skin cancer 4 years ago that turned into lymphoma, and we're told that was the cause of death. As one close friend put it, "He lived his life in the sun, literally and figuratively." Jimmy began receiving hospice care last Monday and there was an outpouring of love from friends and family. We're told a week ago Sir Paul McCartney came to Jimmy's house and sang to Jimmy's family.

Pour out a margarita for Jimmy Buffett, the legendary musician is dead.

The "Margaritaville" singer died Saturday surrounded by his friends, family, music and dogs, according to an announcement posted on his website.

The statement read ... "He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many."

We're told Jimmy had been sick for a while, and he was recently receiving hospice care.

As we reported ... Jimmy was forced to cancel a May show in South Carolina after being hospitalized at the last minute for an issue requiring "immediate attention."

The idol of all parrot heads everywhere, Jimmy was also forced to cancel a ton of gigs in 2022 because of health issues and a different hospital stay. He played Jazz Fest in New Orleans in May 2022 but had not been on stage a lot since.

In addition to "Margaritaville," Jimmy's been cranking out hits since the 1970s with classic tunes like "Come Monday," "Cheeseburger in Paradise," "Volcano," "A Pirate Looks at Forty," "Fins," "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" and "Why Don't We Get Drunk" ... just to name a few.

JB also collaborated with Alan Jackson for another huge hit folks love listening to when they pour a drink ... "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere."

Jimmy's brand reached way beyond music and his huge concert following ... he was also the face of the hotel and restaurant chain Margaritaville, and he even turned the experience into a cruise line.

Jimmy was 76.

RIP

Originally Published -- 1:32 AM PT

Burning Man 2023 Rained Out in the Desert ... Attendees Stuck in Mud

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It's pouring rain in the Nevada desert right now, which means Burning Man participants are stuck in a whole lot of mud ... and that the whole thing is kinda on pause.

The annual festival -- where folks make a pilgrimage to the middle of nowhere for music, activities and fun in the sun -- was met with a downpour heading into the weekend ... the last few days to enjoy Burning Man, which now looks to be all but ruined.

Check out these pics -- obtained by TMZ -- showing off the aftermath of a monsoon that came down in Black Rock Desert (where BM is being hosted this year). It's a sloppy mess.

As you can see, there are campers and vehicles parked all around ... but they all seem to be somewhat sunken into the ground on account of the mud that's formed after the rainfall, which had gotten started the night before and trickled into Saturday itself.

The rest of the landscape certainly doesn't look Burning Man-friendly -- and there isn't really a soul in sight either ... normally, everyone would be out and about enjoying themselves.

No word on how long this rain-out sitch will carry on, but people on the ground tell us attendees feel quite trapped right now ... as the rain and mud have made moving around virtually impossible. and folks have been instructed to stay put until the conditions subside.

The worst part - this might be the reality for another day or 2, as it's expected to continue raining -- at least according to some forecasts. TBH, this sounds like an utter nightmare.

Here's hoping the Sun God comes to these free spirits' rescue ... Burning Man's almost over.

For more viral news, tune in to the TMZ Verified Podcast. Dropping every Thursday on all podcast platforms.

Eagles' Kenneth Gainwell Cops Travis Scott-Inspired Cleats ... For Week 1 Game

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Kenneth Gainwell's feet are going to be looking out of this (Astro)world when the Eagles take the field next week ... 'cause the tailback just copped some awesome Travis Scott-inspired cleats for Philadelphia's opener!!

TMZ Sports has learned the footballer reached out to cleat master Rodney Jackson to get some heat for the Birds' Week 1 game against the Patriots ... asking for some spikes that resembled the exclusive Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG Olive F&F pair that pays homage to Scott's new album, "Utopia."

Of course, Jackson -- who's been in the custom cleats business since 2015 -- didn't take long to deliver the goods ... whipping up an amazing pair in about three and a half weeks.

You can see the spikes look exactly like the AJ1 x Travis Scotts ... all the way down to the "Utopia" branding on the back -- and Jackson said he was super happy with how they came out.

"I wanted to capture every detail of the shoe and the right leather texture," Jackson tells us.

Gainwell -- a former fifth-round pick out of Memphis -- will have a big opportunity to show them off against New England ... he's expected to be a workhorse for Philly following the departure of last year's starter, Miles Sanders.

It's lit!!!

Mobb Deep's Havoc I Could've Died Filming 'Shook Ones Pt. II' Vid!!!

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Mobb Deep's hit "Shook Ones Pt. II" has stood the test of time for nearly 30 years but the iconic record could've had a tragic legacy ... according to Havoc, who's revealing he survived a near-fatal fight when they shot the music video.

The Surviving Mobb Deep member recalled the wild moment for Vevo's "Footnotes" channel -- he says he got into a fight with a guy from the neighborhood who felt like he wasn't getting enough screen time in the video.

Hav says they started fighting and fell into a puddle, only for one of the camera crew's lights to fall into the water and drastically increase chances they'd be electrocuted.

Mobb Deep hail from the Queensbridge projects in Queens, N.Y. -- an historically rough place, which they detail in much of their catalog, but thankfully cooler heads prevailed.

Havoc tells TMZ Hip Hop ... he settled things up with the guy he was squabbling with, and they still remain friends to this day!!!

The song went on to be dubbed an all-time classic, earning placements in multiple video games and most infamously, the closing scene from Eminem's "8 Mile" film.

Sometimes the bros just gotta hug it out!!!

Surfer Andrew Sherlock Mills Claims Board Stolen, Nailed To Tree In Racist Act ... Cops Investigating

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A Black surfer in Florida says several of his white counterparts stole his board and nailed it to a tree in a racist act ... and the allegations are so disturbing, cops tell TMZ Sports they're now investigating the matter.

The surfer's name is Andrew Sherlock Mills ... and on Tuesday, he explained in a social media post that the incident went down last weekend in Jupiter.

He claimed that when he turned his back after riding in the ocean waters, his board was nabbed and then pinned high up on a nearby palm tree.

"This is how real the racism and hate is in Jupiter, Florida," Mills wrote in an Instagram post. "They can't stand to see a Black man in their waters. I was told I'm not welcome. Stole my board when I turned my back and they did this. Said it was a message. They nailed it to the tree like a lynching."

Mills said he did not call cops ... and instead, "took the board down, stayed and surfed the whole day with a small board to show face."

"A few locals that were there were apologizing and agreed it was wrong," Mills added. "They did said, after what happened, I'm welcome to surf their waters freely and no one will bother me. I'm just going to leave it in God's hands."

We reached out to the Jupiter Police Dept. for comment on the situation ... and a spokesperson told us officers were made aware of the claims through social media and have since launched a probe.

So far, no suspects have been named ... and no arrests have been made.

Jalen Ramsey Honors Faith With New Tattoos ... Huge Torso Piece

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Jalen Ramsey might be down after suffering a serious knee injury this offseason, but his faith clearly hasn't waned ... 'cause the Dolphins star just got a huge, new torso tattoo to honor his belief in his religion.

Andres Ortega and his Onder Ink team -- Abrianna, Allan, Sarahi and Gerardo -- flew down to Miami this week to put the tats on the cornerback ... while he continues to recover from meniscus surgery.

The new ink features several religious components -- including a bible with a sword, fruit, and a lamb.

There's also a lion, a warrior and a toy soldier -- items Ortega says Ramsey wanted to represent his role as a protector.

In total, the artwork took about eight hours to complete ... and Ortega tells TMZ Sports the football player ended up super happy with the finished product.

In fact, Ortega says Ramsey's looking for him to come back soon to tattoo a couple other things on the final bit of open space on his stomach.

As for the 28-year-old's injured knee -- Ortega tells us Ramsey seems to be recovering just fine ... and he was in great spirits throughout the process.

Dana White Posts Video Of Man Kicking Front Door ... Suspect In Custody

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BREAKIN' IT DOWN

A suspect is behind bars after attempting to knock down the door of Dana White's home in Maine ... and now, the UFC honcho is thanking fans for helping track down the guy.

White, 54, posted the footage of the incident to Instagram on Monday ... showing a man violently kicking his front door repeatedly.

In the clip, you can see the guy almost fall on his ass after losing his balance during the kicks (let's say he's no Israel Adesanya) ... and he ran off once he realized there was a security camera right in front of his face.

"This f***face just tried to kick my front door in Levant, Maine," White said in a photo of the alleged suspect.

"I will [give] 2500 dollars to the first person to let the police know who he is."

It must've worked ... 'cause the Penobscot Sheriff's Office told us a suspect is in custody and that "everybody is safe."

White -- who bought the UFC in 2001 -- thanked law enforcement for their fast response after the arrest was made.

"Appreciate u guys," White said, "Thanks for everyone that called and helped."

Viral Grandpa Recreates Celeb Looks, Poses ... A-Listers Hittin' Him Up!

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This grandfather is lookin' his best and achieving celebrity status while he's at it ... because he's gained quite the following remaking iconic looks from a bunch of A-listers.

77-year-old Alojz Abram has garnered 1.7M followers on Instagram through the page of his grandson, Jannik Diefenbach, and fans are convinced gramps -- who emigrated from Slovenia to Germany more than 55 years ago -- is drowning in some serious drip.

Alojz and his grandson have made some near-perfect replicas of fashion choices by the likes of Kanye West, Kylie Jenner, and even Bernie Sanders' viral inauguration look from 2021.

The fashionable duo tells TMZ ... they've been doing these popular pics since Christmas 2016, and the followers started rolling in not long after that. We're told they pick and choose between celebs they're both into, as well as whoever's big at the moment.

Jannik does a lot of the research and prep -- finding the outfits and the right poses to recreate -- but it all goes to Grandpa for final approval.

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Jannik says they've gotten DMs from celebs as their online presence continues to grow, and even got an invite to the DIOR x Travis Scott show at Paris Fashion Week ... which they say was their "favorite show ever."

So, if ya ever thought folks don't look great with age ... think again! 🔥

Nicki Minaj Swatting Suspect Revealed Warrant Out for Arrest

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Nicki Minaj is declaring victory after falling victim to a swatting prank ... cops have an arrest warrant out for the suspect allegedly behind the calls

The rapper went on social media Wednesday and called out a woman named Stephanie Bell, who Nicki is accusing of making swatting calls to her San Fernando Valley home.

Nicki says ... "Stephanie Bell. A warrant is in the system. Great detective work. So grateful. The DA filed one count for the swatting call and one for the false report to DCFS. To God be the glory."

Law enforcement sources confirm to us Bell's facing two charges of deliberately reporting a false emergency ... and there's a warrant out for her arrest.

TMZ broke the story ... cops say Nicki was the victim of a swatting prank back in June when a caller falsely claimed Nicki's child was being abused and her house was up in flames, resulting in a police response.

In another post, Nicki says ... "To the woman who made those swatting calls to my home… #WasItWorthItDumbo ?"

Aaron Donald's Wife Gets Own Version Of SB LVI Ring ... Hoping To Start New WAG Trend!!!

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ONE FOR THE LADIES

Aaron Donald's wife just got her own version of a Super Bowl LVI championship ring ... and the bling commemorating her hubby's 2022 title is so sweet -- TMZ Sports has learned the jeweler is now hoping it starts a new trend among wives and girlfriends of pro athletes.

Erica Donald hit up celeb icemaker Moe Diamonds last year with the idea that she should have a piece similar to Aaron's -- after the Rams superstar got his for beating Joe Burrow and the Bengals in February 2022.

Moe says he was hoping it'd come out so nice, it'd start a new WAGs fashion statement. And, after he delivered it to her, he seems pretty sure it'll stick.

Moe says the ring is filled with VS-VVS diamonds, yellow and blue sapphires matching Rams colors ... and it also has an F-color marquise center diamond that looks just like a football.

The iced-out item also features Donald's initials, his No. 99 jersey number, the letters SBLVI, and palm trees to represent Los Angeles.

Moe added that the bling holds approximately 3 carats of diamonds -- and has been appraised at $17,000!

Moe -- who's made several pieces for the Donalds over the years -- said he's pretty confident this could now spark a movement amongst champion WAGs going forward.

"I created a lady's Super Bowl ring," Moe said. "Aaron Donald's wife was the first person to receive it for the Super Bowl the Rams won."

"We are working on making it a trend for the wives/girlfriends to get a ring."

Lord knows the women definitely deserve it!

Blueface Some Dude Stabbed Me!!! Gym Confrontation Captured on Camera

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THE ALLEGED INCIDENT
Instagram / @bluefasebabyy

Blueface is nursing fresh wounds suffered in the boxing gym when a guy whipped out a knife and stabbed him during an altercation that started on video.

The rapper, and pretty successful amateur boxer, was training Wednesday morning at a gym in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley when the attacker came into the gym. Security footage posted on Blue's IG shows the trainer, David Kaminsky, trying to get in between the man and Blueface.

It appears there was an argument about something, and Blueface decided he was through talking and hit the guy with several punches -- but then he appears to take something out of his pocket and charge back at Blueface ... the video cuts off before the stabbing.

Kaminsky tells TMZ Hip Hop ... things got heated quickly because the unknown attacker immediately started barking, "I'm gonna kill you" to Blueface as soon as he charged into the gym.

He tells us the guy stabbed Blueface in the leg, and then fled. Witnesses say the guy was in a black Tesla Model S and had a Rottweiler with him.

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Blueface's injuries don't seem life-threatening -- paramedics did show up on scene -- but he says he won't be able to compete in a boxing match he had scheduled for October 14.

Story developing ...

City Girls Wait, Which Project Is Our 1st Album???

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The City Girls are at odds over which project should be considered their debut album ... a shocking yet not-all-that-surprising revelation once you hear all the details.

Caresha and JT were both tasked by Complex to pick the greatest hip hop album of all time and naturally picked their own projects ... but when JT referred to "Girl Code" as their debut project, Caresha argued that its predecessor, "Period," was their inaugural album.

Here's where it gets tricky ... both projects were released through their longtime label, Quality Control, 6 months apart in 2018 with "Period" arriving first.

However, Quality Control billed "Period" a mixtape when it dropped, so technically JT is correct. Record labels tend to use the mixtape tag to test the waters for a project, which means there's little consequence if it fails.

A rep for QC tells TMZ Hip Hop the label officially recognizes "Girl Code" -- complete with City Girls' Billboard-debuting singles "Twerk" and "Act Up" -- as their first project, so that's that.

If we're gonna get even more technical, one could argue the City Girls' never had a proper debut, at least as far as rollout goes.

"Girl Code" was released while JT was in prison for credit card fraud, and its follow-up, 2020's "City On Lock," leaked prematurely in summer 2020, forcing the duo to piecemeal the project and promote it as it was.

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Album labels aside, City Girls will be dropping their next single, "Face Down," on Friday.

Drake's Son Draws 'For All The Dogs' Album Cover Art

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Drake is preparing to unleash the "Dogs" ... the theme around his upcoming eighth studio album.

Drake shared the cover art for the album on Monday, hand-drawn by his 5-year-old son Adonis ... a ghoulish-looking white dog with glowing red eyes.

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If Adonis' vision is to be realized through the music, then Drake will be a lyrical Cujo on the project ... having recently barked up Childish Gambino's tree for his previous disses.

He's also been posing as dogs known for their bites ... wearing Doberman Pinscher and Bulldog masks to create buzz around the album.

Drake still has several tour dates left with 21 Savage and Sexyy Red ... and it looks like the set list will become even bigger with the new music!!!

Gunplay Arrested For Battery, Child Abuse ... Wife Divorcing Him!!!

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MMG rapper Gunplay landed in jail after his wife told cops he pressed a rifle against her chest and threatened her.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, cops in Miami arrested the longtime Rick Ross associate on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and child abuse. His wife, Vonshae Taylor-Morales, claims he pointed an AK-47 at her while she was carrying their 6-month-old daughter.

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Vonshae told officers she and Gunplay went out to dinner and when they came home, he was "highly intoxicated and playing a game on his Xbox" extremely loudly.

She told officers when she asked him to keep the noise down, Gunplay became violent and began throwing glass liquor bottles and cups in her direction ... forcing her to cover the baby with a blanket to prevent glass from injuring her.

Afterward, she claims Gunplay then picked up an AK-47 rifle and pressed it against her chest while she held the baby, allegedly threatening ... "I will blow your shit back." Vonshae says she tried to escape, but Gunplay blocked her exit and attempted to grab the baby by her head and neck.

Vonshae stated she began screaming for help, which she says prompted Gunplay to exit the apartment and also yell for help. She says she picked up the rifle, and stashed it in her luggage for everyone's safety and then fled.

She call out Gunplay Sunday on IG, and announced she was filing for divorce after one year of marriage.

When officers arrived on the scene, they say Gunplay denied all the allegations, but was still arrested and booked on the charges.

The Florida rapper recently celebrated his 44th birthday last month ... where he displayed extreme fits of rage after the club DJ spun a couple of 50 Cent songs, causing him to flip out and throw trash cans.

Gunplay has since deleted all his social media handles.

Sam Asghari Files For Divorce From Britney Spears

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Sam Asghari has wasted no time after TMZ broke the story he and Britney separated ... he has filed for divorce from his wife of 14 months, Britney Spears.

Sam cited the usual "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for ending the marriage.

He is asking for spousal support and attorneys fees ... but on the issue of finances, there's something way more interesting.

Sam's lawyer, Neal Hersh, is making rumblings that Sam will contest the prenup. TMZ broke the story way back when ... Britney had him sign a prenup and it maintains her assets as separate property.

The docs say, "[Sam] has yet to determine the full nature and extent of the separate property assets and obligations of each party."

And there's more ... "There are various items of community and quasi-community assets and debts, the full nature and extent of which are unknown to [Sam] at this time."

It's highly unlikely the prenup would be declared invalid by a judge, but the reality is ... it's not about going to court.  As one source with direct knowledge told TMZ, Britney will write a check to Sam and that will be the end of it.

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TMZ INVESTIGATES

Sam lists the date of separation as July 28, 2023. ET first reported the divorce filing.

TMZ broke the story ... Sam separated from Britney after they got into a blowout argument where he alleged she had cheated on him. We're told the argument was "nuclear."