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'Star Wars' fans are standing by, just like their favorite rebel pilots -- 'cause a big ticket item from the franchise is hitting the auction block ... but, you'll need a whole bunch of Galactic Credits to pick up this one.

A rebel pilot helmet used during the filming of 'The Empire Strikes Back' has been added to the Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction in Los Angeles, taking place in September.

Propstore -- a trusted name in the memorabilia game -- is selling this custom-made helmet used during the Rebel Alliance's battle against the Empire on the ice planet Hoth.

George Santos says there's a lot of bad hombres behind bars who want to rough him up for one reason or another ... and he's again turning up the pressure on the Federal Bureau of Prisons to keep him safe.

The former New York Congressman joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and we asked him about his warning to the BOP -- that there will be hell to pay if he's brutalized behind bars.

George is set to begin a 7-year sentence this summer and he tells us there's a big target on his back for a number of reasons ... namely, his sexuality and his Congressional activity.

Joaquin Phoenix sure wasn't laughing Monday after his car was stolen from his L.A.-area home ... but "The Joker" star could have the last chuckle 'cause we're told police are now working the case.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... the famous actor was not at his house Monday afternoon when his 2022 Volvo SUV -- parked just outside -- was stolen.

Brandi Glanville's a 'Real Housewives' star with real friends in the porn industry ... which is how she linked up with Alexis Texas for their steamy photo shoot.

The reality star and actress tells TMZ ... Alexis was in town for business and asked Brandi to hop on her podcast "Private Talk with Alexis Texas."

The two hit it off ... and, they even realized they know the same people in the adult film world. Brandi's pretty non-judgmental about that kinda thing -- the parents of her son's best friend are actually in the industry too.

Sebastian Stan fans can rest easy ... the star isn't having a Britney Spears-level meltdown -- 'cause he only shaved his head for a role.

We caught up with the actor in West Los Angeles Wednesday ... and, we had to ask him about his new bald head since ladies loved his luscious locks.

Stan tells us he shaved it all off for a new role, though he didn't go into detail on what that role might be. However, he's clear -- this isn't a midlife crisis ... at least, not yet, he jokes.

Kanye West is gearing up to sue his former dentist ... claiming he suffered injuries and financial damages due to alleged reckless administration of nitrous oxide.

The rapper's legal team -- headed by Andrew Cherkasky -- sent a notice of intention to sue to Dr. Thomas P. Connelly, who they say became Ye's dentist in early 2024.

Ye's team claims that while he was under Connelly's care, the dentist "engaged in numerous inappropriate and dangerous practices that were far outside the bounds of any legitimate medical purpose or standard of care."

Kesha’s not calling it a relationship just yet -- telling us the guy she’s been cozying up to for about a year to is more of a "for fun" situation … and, she means the X-rated kind!

TMZ caught up with Kesha at LAX strolling alongside health-tech entrepreneur Michael Gilvary -- and while she looked a little red-faced at first, she didn’t hold back for long … telling us flat-out they’re not dating, she's just using him for some good ol’ fashioned sex.

You gotta see the whole exchange -- Kesha's spilling the tea, while Michael plays the silent, slightly awkward, shy sidekick.

Jeff Sperbeck, John Elway's longtime agent and friend, has died at 62 years old, officials announced on Wednesday.

Sperbeck's time of death was listed as 1:10 AM.

As we previously reported, Jeff was on life support following Saturday's accident ... where he suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling off a golf cart that Elway was driving.

We're told Elway, Sperbeck, their wives, and John's son were on their way back from a post-Stagecoach party around 7 PM on April 26 ... when Jeff fell off the back of the cart, hitting his head on the ground, and suffering a traumatic brain injury.

George Santos is warning the Bureau of Prisons ... predicting an "international nightmare" if he's brutalized behind bars during an upcoming prison stint.

The former New York congressman tells TMZ ... if anything bad happens to him in federal prison, the BOP is going to have a problem on their hands.

Santos warns ... if his bodily autonomy is violated, it's going to be bad for the BOP. He imagines his attorney releasing a statement about him being brutalized or sexually assaulted in prison ... something he doesn't think the BOP wants to deal with.

It's Ana de Armas' birthday Wednesday, and she appears to be celebrating with her new rumored boo Tom Cruise ... the pair were spotted landing in London yesterday in a helicopter piloted by the 'Mission: Impossible' daredevil himself.

The dynamic duo was all smiles as they were deposited on a helipad Tuesday, and Ana had her two pooches with her along for the ride. She looked sporty-casual in shorty-shorts, a hoodie and sneakers, rocking classic black shades.

Check out the video ... her action-hero possible paramour was clad in classic dark colors, wearing a navy T-shirt accentuating his muscular arms, dark jeans, and black boots, carrying a black backpack.

President Trump is selling a meme coin and making a nice profit from a contest offering big buyers a chance to have dinner with him -- but that doesn't mean the White House is for sale ... at least according to Michael Knowles.

The Daily Wire host joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and we asked him about Trump's unprecedented use of cryptocurrency ... and he defended POTUS.

Trump's offering 220 people a chance to have dinner with him at one of his golf clubs ... as long as they buy a bunch of his meme coins ... and while the Prez and his allies are reportedly raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result, Michael doesn't see an issue.

Track & Field's full of stars like Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin ... but there may be no better story than part-time Walmart employee and hurdler Dylan Beard, who's manning the meat slicer while chasing his dream!

TMZ Sports spoke to 26-year-old Beard just days before the Grand Slam Track event in Miami -- going down May 2-4 in South Florida -- and his story is awesome.

"I started working at Walmart in October 2023 just to get funds to be able to compete on a professional level in Track and Field. Funds for traveling, treatments, massages, and pretty much everything like that," Beard told us, explaining his motivation behind taking the gig.

Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, the youth soccer coach charged with murdering a California teenager, is so dangerous to young men that he needs to be taken off the streets -- that’s what the alleged victim's lawyer is saying.

Luis Carrillo was at an L.A. courthouse for Mario's arraignment Wednesday, where Luis straight-up told us Mario deserves life behind bars at the very least ... and he thinks the D.A. might even push for the death penalty -- but if they do, that decision would ultimately be up to the jury.

Catch the clip, because Luis doesn't hold back. He calls Mario a cold-blooded killer and breaks it down, saying he had no business being in a job where he was around young boys in the first place.

4/30 10:47 AM PT -- Jeff Sperbeck passed away at 1:10 AM on Wednesday, officials tell TMZ Sports.

4/29 5:40 PM PT -- We've now confirmed Elway was indeed behind the wheel of the golf cart.

NFL legend John Elway was right in the middle of the golf cart accident that left his longtime friend on life support, and he might have been driving ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Law enforcement and other sources tell us Elway was on the golf cart Saturday evening in La Quinta, California when Jeff Sperbeck -- John's business partner and former agent -- fell off the back of the moving vehicle, rolled and hit his head on asphalt ... suffering a traumatic injury.

John, Jeff and their wives had been at the Stagecoach music festival earlier in the day in nearby Indio, and were leaving a post-party when the accident happened.

Omarosa is letting bygones be bygones when it comes to Wendy Williams ... because despite a prior beef, she wants to see the former talk show host freed from her guardianship.

We got Omarosa leaving St. Felix in Hollywood and our photog asked her about Wendy's bid for freedom.

Omarosa says she supports Wendy getting out from the guardianship and being free to live life on her own terms ... which is kinda interesting, given the history between these two.

Chris Pontius says he's gotten up close and personal with silverback gorillas before ... and, if he were a bettin' man, he's putting his money on one gorilla to take down 100 dudes.

We caught up with the "Jackass" star Tuesday afternoon ... and, we asked him the question consuming the internet right now -- could 100 men defeat a full-grown gorilla in combat ... or would the primate go ape on the legion of guys?

Pontius says he and Steve-O went into the jungles of Rwanda for their show "Wildboyz" back in the day ... and, they got to observe a group of wild gorillas in close quarters -- and he thinks one gorilla could beat down a group of 100 guys.