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Taylor Swift is tipping her hat to the late, great George Michael on her upcoming album "The Life of a Showgirl" with a track called "Father Figure" -- and the icon’s former partner says George would’ve totally approved of it.

Kenny Goss -- George’s partner of 13 years -- tells TMZ George would be proud of the tribute, which isn't a straight sample, but an interpolation ... meaning you’ll hear the melody of his '87 classic woven into Taylor’s track.

Kenny tells us George never met Taylor, but he’s pretty sure the icon would’ve been a fan -- and would’ve appreciated someone of her caliber taking an interest in his work.

Dorit Kemsley broke bread with her estranged husband for the first time since she pulled the plug on their marriage ... and while the divorce is still moving forward, the chemistry clearly isn't dead.

TMZ obtained video of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star and PK out in Sherman Oaks in L.A. Tuesday night, sharing a quiet dinner at a Japanese restaurant. Witnesses tell us the two looked relaxed and in great spirits -- marking their first one-on-one outing since Dorit filed for divorce in April.

Sources close to the exes tell TMZ ... their split is making its slow crawl through the courts, but they still have plenty of love and passion for one another, thanks to their kids and commitment to coparenting.

Flint, Michigan rappers Rio Da Yung OG & YN Jay are among today's generational leaders of horniest hip hop tunes around, so naturally, they abide by an entirely unconventional set of relationship rules!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Rio at his "F.L.I.N.T. (Feeling Like I'm Not Through)" album release party in Hollywood on Wednesday night with YN Jay AKA "The Coochie Man" in tow ... he's on the project a couple times too!!!

We ask Rio about his lead single "Sneaky B" that's racked up millions of plays on Spotify and YouTube. Rio tells us he's too slick to let cheating go undetected but admits he needs some spice in his life, so he'd rather be suspicious than bored!!!

Sean "Diddy" Combs is on a heater, at least when it comes to tackling the mountain of lawsuits he's facing ... and now former "Making The Band" singer Sara Rivers is finding out firsthand what kind of roll he's on.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, a judge just threw out the claims Sara made against Diddy and the other defendants in her lawsuit. They were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be filed again, although one is still up in the air.

Among the claims dismissed ... racketeering, assault and battery, forced labor, sexual harassment and false imprisonment.

As for the one outstanding claim, the judge wrote the "determination of whether to dismiss, with or without prejudice, Count 15 (the Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act claim) ... is hereby stayed pending" a ruling from an appellate court.

Ken Biberaj ain't giving up his name for anyone ... even toy giant Mattel, who he says is overextending its reach in order to monopolize the "Ken" moniker.

We spoke with Biberaj -- who hosts the "Coffee with Ken" podcast -- on "TMZ Live," and we asked him about his current beef with Mattel ... which he says kicked off when he tried to patent the name of his show.

Biberaj says they were preliminarily approved for the trademark ... before Mattel came out of nowhere and objected to Ken and his team for registering the show because they believed anything "Ken" belongs to them. Of course, the most famous Ken in existence has to be the Ken doll -- Barbie's man, who was introduced by Mattel in 1961.

Angela White -- formerly known as Blac Chyna -- is nearly three years sober and living a whole new life, and she's spilling on how it's transformed her world, from motherhood to career moves ... all with a new movie out soon!

We caught up with Angela Thursday on "TMZ Live" ... where she laid it all out -- crediting her baptism and faith for sparking self-reflection and healing -- and revealing her new 30-day challenge to inspire others on the same path.

Check out the full video -- Angela said her problem was binge drinking, not "everyday" boozing, but she says it's a form of alcoholism, nonetheless ... and one many people don't realize exists.

Jussie Smollett is trying to make a Hollywood comeback, but the hate crime hoax will always hang over his head if he doesn't come clean about what really happened ... at least according to the attorney for the brothers who say Jussie hired them to stage the 2019 attack.

Gloria Rodriguez reps Abel and Ola Osundairo -- the Nigerian brothers who claim Jussie hired them to beat him up on a freezing cold night in Chicago -- tells TMZ ... Smollett is making his comeback attempt harder on himself and wasting his talent by not being honest.

ICYMI ... Jussie recently told Variety the real "villains" in his alleged attack are the Chicago Police Department and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He also told the outlet he was sticking to his original story that two MAGA hat-wearing Trump supporters in masks attacked him, doused him with bleach, put a noose around his neck and shouted racist and homophobic slurs.

J. Cole's longtime Dreamville artist Cozz wants fans to know the label isn't going anywhere -- his labelmate JID just happened to misspeak!!!

Cozz tells TMZ Hip Hop the Dreamville distribution deal that Cole signed with Interscope back in 2014 simply expired, it didn't get sold off ... the brand is still alive and well!!!

JID was a recent guest on "The Joe Budden Podcast," where he framed things like Dreamville was being dissolved and liquidated like laundry detergent.

The Source Awards and the magazine's founder, Dave Mays, wants his ex-biz partner Benzino to pipe down in taking credit for things he didn't create -- like his claim he started up Dave's brand!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Dave after he and Benzino exchanged words on social media this week ... Benzino openly blamed Fat Joe for being a big part of the reason the BET Hip Hop Awards got iced, and labeled his hosting skills pure caca!!!

Dave doesn't think it's Joe's fault -- he points out several issues within BET's production and culture prowess. He may be White -- but he's no outsider!!!

David Geffen is firing back at his estranged husband ... he says the guy's claims that Geffen promised to financially support him for life are bogus and a textbook shakedown attempt.

The billionaire just responded to a lawsuit filed by his estranged husband, David Andrew Armstrong (AKA Donovan Michaels) ... and Geffen flat out denies ever making assurances to take care of Armstrong financially for the rest of his life.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Geffen says Armstrong's claims are ludicrous and part of a contrived attempt to humiliate Geffen in public and extract a financial settlement.

3:48 PM PT -- Bri Stern's lawyer Tony Buzbee tells TMZ ... "As expected, Andrew Tate filed a counterclaim against Brianna Stern. This follows the lawsuit Ms. Stern filed against Tate in March for violent sexual assault. The tone of Mr. Tate’s counterclaim isn’t a surprise. He has openly proclaimed himself a woman-hater. He had the audacity to tweet: 'Literally everything females say is r******d.' Tate brags about how he treats women. This is a quote from him: 'Slap, slap, grab choke, shut up b*tch, sex.' When they were together, Tate told Ms. Stern 'If you don’t start being good, . . . I will f***ing rape you. Because that’s what you deserve.'

"He also told her 'if you ever f*** with me, I will f***ing kill you. I mean it. I will kill you.' Tate’s delusion is that he’s so important that he’s above the law. He isn’t. His counterclaim is junk and will be dismissed. More importantly, I can’t wait to get him in front of a Los Angeles jury.  He will finally be held accountable for his years of his outrageous and harmful conduct. Although Tate has attempted to scrub his social media, unfortunately for him, we have it all. Tate is nothing more than a big mouthed bully, but this time he picked the wrong person. Ms. Stern won’t be bullied."

Andrew Tate is going on the legal offensive against his ex-girlfriend Bri Stern ... he's now countersuing her, claiming she defamed him with what he says are fabricated allegations of sexual assault and abuse.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Andrew claims Bri orchestrated a deliberate smear campaign against him based on false claims that he choked her during sex despite telling him to stop.

Andrew claims Bri spread the false allegations in the media and online ... and he says she was out for profit, fame, and the destruction of his reputation.

Rraow, rraow, rraow ... Busta Rhymes is having yet another renaissance year in his storied career -- a Hollywood Star, a hit movie, and he's coming out with his 12th album!!!

Our photog, Charlie Cotton -- host of the "Big Down Under" podcast -- caught up with the lyrical Dungeon Dragon at LAX this week and got his thoughts on just that, the magical lure of dragons!!!

Busta first channeled his inner Smaug on A Tribe Called Quest's classic cut "Scenario" back in '92, but tells us he got the inspiration from watching Bruce Lee kung-fu flicks as a kid ... a big difference in foundation compared to today's hip hop music!!!

Anthony Mackie was playing Captain Smooch on the streets of London -- caught locking lips with a mystery woman who looked very pleased with her assignment!

TMZ got the pics -- and let’s just say the "Captain America: Brave New World" star was in full smooth-operator mode in Notting Hill Tuesday ... getting handsy and swapping spit in a steamy embrace with the blonde babe.

The PDA-packed makeout sesh was a two-person show -- zero cares given. At one point, the Hollywood hunk even copped a smooth handful of her dress as they really went for it!

Kim and Khloe Kardashian are stepping in on a real-life mystery -- TMZ has learned they called Amy Bradley’s family to help track her down.

Sources tell TMZ Kim and Khloe personally called Amy’s mom, Iva, last Thursday -- chatting for about an hour as Iva filled them in on the case and where things stand now.

ICYDK, Amy’s family reached out after Kim posted about the new Netflix doc "Amy Bradley Is Missing" -- and we’re told Kim and Khloe were especially intrigued by the detail about an IP address in Barbados that kept checking the Amy Bradley Is Missing website.

Wendy Williams' lawyer is challenging the alleged test results that reportedly prove she has dementia and aphasia ... insisting those spreading the claim are acting out of self-interest.

Joe Tacopina tells TMZ ... Wendy's leaked medical diagnosis is "false" -- and, it's "being spread by a party with a vested interest in keeping Wendy trapped under this excessive and restrictive guardianship."

He adds the leaking of the alleged diagnosis is a total violation of Wendy's rights as a human being.

Sylvester Stallone says Hulk Hogan knew he was destined to take over the world as the face of wrestling ... and things really clicked for him once he starred in "Rocky III."

In "TMZ Presents: The Real Hulk Hogan," Sly looks back on a young Hulk who was just finding his footing in Hollywood way back in 1982 when they started filming the franchise's third installment.

Sly says from the jump, he could tell Hulk had a certain glow and a light to him ... or as Stallone says, "Certain people just have it."