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Lisa Vanderpump's not getting into the middle of the contract negotiations going on between Raquel Leviss and Bravo ... at least not publicly.

We got Lisa at TomTom Restaurant & Bar in West Hollywood, and we asked her where things stand between Raquel and the network ... and the whole conversation played out in front of the TMZ Celebrity Tour!!!

Lisa was very chatty about the final days of her flagship eatery, Pump Restaurant Lounge, but she playfully tried to leave once our photog asked her about Raquel's contract discussions and 'VPR' filming a new season.

TMZ broke the story ... Raquel and Bravo recently started negotiating her new deal, but the clock is ticking because "Vanderpump Rules" is already filming the new season, fresh off her cheating scandal with Tom Sandoval.

While Lisa is mum on dollar demands and contract details, she says a return date is squarely up to Raquel, who we've been told is getting close to leaving the mental health facility she's called home for more than 2 months.

Lisa says it's also going to be up to the other 'VPR' stars on how they welcome Raquel back into the fold after the Scandoval ... pointing out, they clearly all do their own thing already and don't necessarily listen to her.

Rakim Allah's perfectly OK with Outkast being considered the best rap group that ever lived ... he's the type of legend perfectly comfortable in his own skin.

Hip Hop's original G.O.A.T. chopped it up with TMZ Hip Hop on the streets of NYC Friday ... and we got his thoughts on his placement in Billboard's latest argument starter, their greatest rap group list.

Eric B. and Rakim came in at a solid #7 while Outkast ranked as the top dogs, and he's not tripping.

Rakim tells us while he could always make an argument for a higher ranking, he acknowledges Big Boi and Andre 3000 wooed fans by thinking outside of the box and their placement is well-deserved.

The Long Island-bred MC lyrically dominated the 1980s with forward-thinking punchlines and is currently an important part of virtually every 50th-anniversary hip hop celebration taking place this year.

He just shot a hip hop tribute with Sprite where they lined up him up next to new school stars in Latto and GloRilla, and the veteran Nas!!!

Outkast producer Sleepy Brown recently named the best album from the "best group" to be "Aquemini" the last time we spoke to him.

Gabriel Iglesias' private jet touched down on a North Carolina runway, but it ran out of runway ... and went 100 yards into a grass field.

Gabriel was flying to North Carolina Friday for a gig at Harrah's Cherokee Event Center. We're told weather was really bad and the pilot apparently overshot the spot where the wheels were supposed to touch down.

He tells TMZ after they touched down the reverse thrusters somehow failed, and the plane continued down the runway at a high rate of speed, going into the grass for the length of a football field.

The comedian says as the plane was on final approach there was horrible turbulence ... he says it was so bad he hit his head on the ceiling of the plane.

Everyone was safe -- 6 passengers, 2 pilots and 2 chihuahuas, but it was terrifying. Gabriel says, "As we were going down we were picturing a scene from 'Almost Famous' where everyone felt they were going to die. We all told each other, 'We love you!' thinking it was the end."

And get this ... as they were traveling on the grass, blades of the grass were hitting the window. Gabriel said, "It looked like someone was cutting the grass. It was crazy!"

Stephen King is the undisputed king of horror ... but his fictional storylines turned into a real-life nightmare at his home in Maine, with the author as the central character.

The fabled novelist of classics like "Pet Sematary" and "The Shining" got an uninvited visitor to his Bangor, Maine home Thursday, when a deer impaled itself on his spiked fence in front of his gothic mansion.

TMZ obtained a photo of the white-tailed fawn draped over the sharp spikes in the center of the wrought iron fence. The spikes drove into the midsection of the helpless animal whose legs were half inside and half outside King's property.

A rep for the Bangor PD tells us ... the one-year-old buck apparently tried to jump over the fence, but it was too high. The deer then attempted to maneuver through the middle portion of the metal barrier, but, unfortunately, the poor thing got skewered.

Unclear if King was home at the time ... but we know he didn't call cops. A woman driving by spotted the injured deer and dialed 911.

Police responded and put the deer out of its misery, shooting it. Per state law, officers are authorized to kill any wild animal they deem to be in distress.

It appears the house is a vacation home for Stephen and his wife. It gets its share of tourists who come by to gawk at the mansion.

We reached out to King's rep for comment ... so far no word back.

This will blow your mind -- an official from the government of Italy contacted Mark Zuckerberg about staging a UFC fight against Elon Musk at the most legendary battleground in the world ... Rome's Colosseum ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... the Minister of Culture reached out to Zuckerberg a few days ago about staging what could be the biggest fight in the history of the world in the most fabled fight theater in history.

Our sources say both Elon and Mark would love for the fight to go down at the Colosseum.

We're told Zuckerberg's people passed on the message to UFC Prez Dana White, whose people contacted the Minister.

As for the venue itself -- one of the 7 Wonders of the World -- there have not been large events held inside the nearly 2,000-year-old amphitheater in hundreds of years, and only a few hundred spectators can be seated in temporary seating within the theater.

Sir Paul McCartney performed inside the Colosseum in 2003 for an exclusive charity show before 400 people who paid up to $1,500 -- but other than that, all other concerts have been held just outside the structure.

It's unclear where a Musk vs. Zuck fight would go down -- inside or outside.

Multiple sources with direct knowledge tell us if you're gonna bet on whether this fight goes down ... wager that it's happening. We're told both Musk and Zuck are "all in," and have been negotiating with Dana about the details of a fight daily ... multiple times each day for more than a week.

The biggest obstacle is height and weight disparity, although both men have no issue with it. The question ... if the fight were to go down in Vegas -- which was the goal until the Colosseum offer surfaced -- the Nevada Athletic Commission would have to sign off. Given that Zuck is 5'7" and weighs 145, and Elon towers over him at 6'2" and weighs 230, it's a little problematic. Nevertheless, this would be an exhibition fight, so the rules might bend.

Now that Italy is interested, it opens up so many more possibilities.

Originally Published -- 6/29 9:39 PM PT

"Vanderpump Rules" is already shooting Season 11, but the person who is the centerpiece of all the drama -- Raquel Leviss -- just began negotiating with Bravo this week, and there are complications in sealing the deal ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Bravo, production and Raquel's team began talking about a new contract just 3 days ago. We don't know the specifics of what was discussed, but it's standard operating procedure in the entertainment biz to make salary item #1.

Whatever terms they have already discussed, it appears none were deal-breakers, because the negotiations are continuing.

Now the problems.

Our sources say Bravo did not want to even begin negotiations while Raquel was getting treatment in the mental health facility she's called home for more than 2 months.

The reality -- if Bravo jumps the gun, makes a deal and brings her back too early, they could face legal peril if she backslides.

So, you ask ... why did they begin negotiating THIS week? The answer -- because our sources say, Raquel will leave the facility "soon." That gives production the green light to start the negotiations.

Now here's the practical problem ... the longer 'VPR' rolls cameras, the harder it's gonna be to integrate Raquel into the storylines. No one wants to pressure her to come back too early, but they want a show with lots of drama. A source connected to the show tells us ... production is ready when she is ready.

Stay tuned ...

Lamar Odom is worried for Bam Margera ... worried he's keeping bad company.

As we first reported ... Bam was detoxing in San Diego earlier this month with Lamar's help, but he left early, and given Bam's track record, Lamar is concerned.

Lamar clearly thinks Bam is hanging with the wrong crowd, saying, "Who you surround yourself with is critical. We are the company we keep."

Bam actually stayed with Lamar last weekend after leaving the detox center, but he bounced and Odom thinks that's more than problematic.

Lamar thinks there's a card his friends and family can play that could get Bam's attention ... namely his ability to see is son, Phoenix.

Remember, Bam threatened to smoke crack until he died if he couldn't see his kid, so that could be a pressure point that works.

Lamar says he's going to try and track Bam down and encourage him to go to rehab at the Odom Recovery Group.

Legendary musician John Fogerty has put his stunning Westlake Village home on the market -- but any fortunate son would have to cough up $20 million.

John's 18,600-square-foot home sits on 22 acres in the Hidden Valley gated community and has breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains and nearby Pacific Ocean.

He's put a $19,995,000 price tag on it, and it comes with some cool features -- not 1, but 2 recording studios, a home theater, and a wine wall.

There's also some great landscaping, a courtyard, and the obligatory pool.

The Creedence Clearwater Revival founder and lead singer bought the place a decade ago, spending just shy of $9M. We're told his wife Julie completely rebuilt, redesigned and reimagined it to become the stellar property it is today.

Roy Jones Jr. is one of the best boxers ever, but the legendary fighter is stepping back in the ring with an opponent like never before, massive bodybuilder and social media star NDO Champ!

54-year-old RJJ and 39-year-old NDO Champ -- who is 250 lbs. of solid muscle -- are fighting Friday night in the Metaverse (more on that later).

NDO Champ, government name Robert Wilmote, is an IFBB Pro bodybuilder who has over one million followers on Instagram ... and has gone viral a bunch of times. There's a good chance you've seen NDO's videos online.

Much different than Roy's typical opponents ... which he concedes.

"It's much different than I'm used to. It's kind of like Godzilla versus King Kong. You know, King Kong being the gorilla, that's what he kind of reminds me of with all the muscles and he's such a big dark figure," Jones Jr. said.

But, RJJ has a strategy to deal with his powerful foe ... "be smart enough not to run into the foolishness." The "foolishness" being a big power punch.

As for how he sees the fight going, Jones Jr. says he'll win ... it's just a matter of whether it's by knockout or not.

"Depends how good of a punch he can take. He can't take good punch then he goes to sleep. All depends on what happens. I don't know, I've never been in the ring with him. I've never seen him box. There's no film on him. That's what makes it so different."

Roy continued ... "You don't know what he's bringing. You don't know if he's gonna be a Mike Tyson puncher or a guy with a lot of muscle that can't punch at all."

Champ, as you may expect, sees things playing out a bit differently.

"Listen, we don't train to lose. We don't train to come in there and play. If that's the case, I'll go back doin' something else, you feel me. No disrespect, I salute the OG, but it's wartime."

NDO continued ... "I'm not coming in there to congratulate you on all our successes, nah, you shouldn't have gotten in this ring with this man. You shouldn't have gotten in the ring with me. I'm a born stone killer!"

Tom Sandoval is out this week shooting his TV show ... but it's NOT "Vanderpump Rules!"

Multiple sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Sandoval has been in New Zealand shooting Season 2 of FOX's "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test."

As brutal as social media has been to Tom in the wake of Scandavol, it's nothing like what he's enduring in the bitter New Zealand cold. A group of diverse celebs try to survive brutal conditions and impossible challenges. A team of ex-Special Forces members put the celebs through their paces, until they give up or fail, one by one.

Season 1, which debuted earlier this year, became the top-rated unscripted series of 2022-2023.

Season 11 of "VDP Rules" started shooting Wednesday, but Tom was MIA. He's expected to start shooting when he returns. And he thinks New Zealand was tough!!!

BTW ... Sandoval's not the only one who participated in a competition show ... Tom Schwartz competed on another FOX show, "Stars on Mars."

Dr. Michael Eric Dyson's is livid six justices have upended affirmative action in this country, saying Black people are getting screwed all over again.

The Vanderbilt University professor joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and ... excoriated Chief Justice John Robert's and the 5 justices who joined him, ruling affirmative action violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.

Dr. Dyson argues Black people have always been denied opportunities in America, specifically because of their race, so there's no way to right that wrong without taking race into consideration.

The impact of the SCOTUS decision is seismic ... private and public universities can no longer consider race as a factor in admissions. Many supporters of affirmative action fear white and Asian students will now be significantly favored in higher education, at the expense of other minority groups. The decision will clearly have repercussions in the workplace.

Madonna is not out of the woods after being hospitalized for a serious bacterial infection ... we're told she's still bedridden and people around her think she's in no shape to kick off her world tour.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Madonna's been vomiting uncontrollably since being discharged from the hospital, and the infection is still wreaking havoc on her body.

We're told Madonna is still too sick to even get out of her bed at her New York City apartment ... where she's been recovering since Wednesday night, when she was released from the hospital following a multiday stay in the ICU.

When Madonna was taken to the hospital Saturday with a serious bacterial infection, we're told she was metaphorically "kicking and screaming" ... protesting the decision to send her there.

Our source say Madonna's assistant was with her when she collapsed last Saturday, and that's when the uncontrollable vomiting began.

As we previously reported ... Madonna was dealing with a fever for more than a month leading up to her hospitalization, keeping it a secret from everyone. We're told she was afraid if she sought medical care, it might jeopardize the tour, which she's been working so hard to prepare for and posting behind the scenes shots of. The delay made the infection far worse.

Madonna's longtime manager Guy Oseary is already hinting her upcoming tour will be delayed -- her first concert was scheduled for July 15 -- but we're told no final decision has been made by her manager or agent.

For her part, our sources say Madonna wants the tour to go on as planned ... but everyone close to her is advising she press pause and allow her body to recover.

Gwendolyn Osborne is applauding Vanna White for holding out for a bigger slice of the TV game show pie ... telling us the "Wheel of Fortune" staple deserves way more money.

The former "Price Is Right" model joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and we asked about Vanna's salary demand -- at least half of the salary Pat Sajak gets -- $7.5M.

Gwendolyn is fully on board, saying Vanna deserves it, and in the process, she's helping lots of other women.

But, then we asked, what if Sony says final offer -- $4.5M -- should Vanna take it or walk? Watch the wheels turn in Gwendolyn's head.

TMZ broke the story ... Vanna has made $3 million a year for the last 18 years, without a single raise, and wants a big payday when Ryan Seacrest comes aboard as the new host.

Madonna battled a low-grade fever for a month before her body could no longer take it, collapsing and needing serious medical care ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ, Madonna mostly ignored her symptoms and never got checked out by a doctor because she was laser focused on rehearsing for her upcoming tour ... working her butt off to get ready to perform.

Our sources confirm the Page Six report Madonna collapsed before she was rushed to the hospital Saturday, where she ended up spending days in the intensive care unit. We're told her doctors believe the unreported fever was a sign of the infection, which worsened because it was left untreated.

While our sources say Madonna is doing better and is expected to recover from the non-life-threatening illness ... there's still concern for the "Vogue" singer.

We're told Madonna's doctors, and those around her, are worried she's going to go against doctor's orders and push to start her world tour ASAP ... even though she's going to be required to rest up and recover for a while.

Our sources feel Madonna is going to want to get back to work too soon and go on tour, which could cause more health issues. We've confirmed Madonna is back home after being released from the hospital ... she was discharged Wednesday night and is recovering at her New York City residence.

Madonna's longtime talent manager Guy Oseary says her health is improving, but we're told the infection is more serious than is being let on and it got worse because of her nonstop work schedule.

Kevin Costner says his estranged wife is living in outer space thinking she's entitled to $248,000 a month in child support, because some of her alleged "expenses" include her own plastic surgery ... according to court docs filed by Kevin.

Kevin's forensic accountant says in the new divorce docs, the expenses Christine Baumgartner uses to justify a quarter-mil a month are outrageous. One of the expenses Christine lists includes more than $100,000 in cosmetic surgery -- her own. There's also thousands of dollars in boutique shopping, huge ATM withdrawals and other expenses Kevin's people say have nothing to do with child support.

A lot of what Christine lists as expenses are on credit card bills ... including her own attorney's fees.

And, Costner's accountant says there are one-time expenses that have nothing to do with child support, such as construction loans.

According to the docs, Kevin has been paying all the expenses for the kids, and will continue to do so. He says the reasonable amount -- the amount he is currently paying ... $51,940 a month.

As we reported, Christine has now agreed to leave the family house and get a place of her own by the end of August. His lawyer, Laura Wasser, will appear in court on July 5 to make sure Christine is ordered out by the end of August, if not before. At that hearing, we're told Christine will contest the validity of the prenup, and Wasser will argue it's rock solid.

Vanna White has got Sony spinning these days because she won't continue on "Wheel of Fortune" unless she makes at least half of what Pat Sajak has been making ... sources tell TMZ.

Sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations say Vanna is clear -- she's the cohost of the long-running show, so the pay disparity between her and Pat needs to be squarely addressed. Point of fact ... they're introduced this way on 'Wheel' -- "Here are the stars of our show, Pat Sajak and Vanna White."

So they're introduced as equals, but their salaries are anything but. We've confirmed Vanna's salary -- $3 million a year. And get this -- we've confirmed that's what she's made for the last 18 YEARS. She has not gotten a single pay increase in all that time.

Pat reportedly makes around $15 million a year. Vanna isn't asking for that, but we're told her lawyer, Bryan Freedman, is demanding half the amount Pat makes.

One source connected to Vanna put it this way ... "After 41 years as a model employee and more the face of that show than him [Pat], asking for 50% of what he makes seems like a no-brainer."

Sony, we're told, is not on board, at least not yet. One source with direct knowledge described the negotiations as "very difficult."

Our sources also say Vanna feels like the issue is bigger than her. As one source says, "She feels like it's a statement for all women."

We're told Vanna wants to stay on the show, but if she doesn't get what she believes is "a minimum of what is fair," that's a real possibility.

Sony may be in a tough spot here because Vanna provides continuity when Ryan Seacrest takes over for Pat a year from September. It's pretty clear ... they don't want to lose Pat and Vanna at the same time.

We covered it all on the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.