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A push from "Heated Rivalry" helped a real-life hockey player share his truth about his sexuality ... and now he hopes to be a source of inspiration, too.

After tuning in to the hit show about rivals-turned-lovers, Minnesota native Jesse Kortuem decided to pen his coming-out story earlier this month ... and it’s turning into a mission bigger than the sport.

We caught up with Kortuem in NYC on Wednesday to see how his message is being received.

8:15 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Lyft tells TMZ ... “We understand how distressing this situation is for the rider involved, and we take reports like this seriously. Lyft is in contact with the rider and we have permanently removed the driver from the platform."

Lyft continued ... "Using Lyft rides to transport or deliver unaccompanied goods is not permitted and violates our Terms of Service. In cases involving alleged misuse of the platform, Lyft has established processes to assist law enforcement, including helping them obtain relevant records and conducting internal investigations as appropriate."

"Euphoria" star Alanna Ubach says a Lyft driver told her he would deliver a package for her, and she took him at his word ... but he never showed up at the destination -- and she tells us she had over $1,000 cash inside.

Alanna tells TMZ ... this week, a Lyft driver in Hollywood promised her the ride-share app handles package delivery, so she sent him off with a parcel containing a bunch of money wrapped up in paper towels and tape ... but after that, she says, he ghosted her.

The actress says on the app, it looked like the driver got near the final destination, and then turned his phone off ... and the person expecting the package waited outside for 45 minutes after the scheduled drop-off, to no avail.

It was a high-stakes day at TMZ, when Harvey challenged UFC honcho Dana White to a high-stakes game of Blackjack.

Dana was here to promote Saturday's UFC 324 -- the first fight on Paramount+ -- featuring Gaethje vs. Pimblett.

Dana agreed to play the game that has made him a legend at Vegas casinos ... and it turned into a nail-biting contest of the expert vs. the novice. Harvey's decisions made it clear ... he didn't know what the hell he was doing.

Johnny Depp is getting his name dragged into the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni drama ... and it's all because of some newly revealed text messages fired off by Ryan Reynolds.

New legal docs obtained by TMZ feature texts between Ryan and his talent agent, Warren Zavala ... and they're chatting about Lively and Baldoni's PR strategies when Ryan name-drops Depp.

The exchange, from August 2024, goes like this ... Zavala says of Baldoni, "It's this guys incredible ego. It feels like he's laying a trap if her truth surfaces, while promoting a narrative digitally."

Ryan replies, "Yeah. But honestly, someone is just gonna tell a journalist the real deal and it's gonna blow up in his face."

We’re living in the era where one little clip can flip your entire life ... and Daymond John came through TMZ to break down how viral fame really hits, especially after that now-famous Dr. Pepper jingle lady.

Catch "TMZ Live" Thursday... 'cause the "Shark Tank" star breaks down the ultimate power of social media story -- user @romeosshow uploaded a 10-second TikTok clip after being inspired in a dream, and that went hugely viral ... and Dr. Pepper turned it into their official National Championship jingle. Insane.

Daymond drops some wild stats too -- saying we touch our phones hundreds of times a day -- and explains how social media is basically a giant testing lab, for people chasing fame and for brands hunting their next breakout star.

The convo even lit a fire under our own Harvey -- who took his own shot at viral glory ... with a jingle about diarrhea. Yes, really.

Dr. Terry Dubrow has been sued by a former patient who claims he caused severe bleeding in her that required two additional surgeries, after using a non-FDA approved mesh material for a breast augmentation he performed on her ... all the way back in 2014.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, the woman says the famous doc stuffed her chest with unsafe, non-FDA approved SERI Surgical Scaffold mesh ... which a subsequent doctor says resulted in a hematoma in her right breast and required 2 surgeries to fix.

The plaintiff not only alleges she suffered physical injuries, but said she lost out on money because she could not work ... and had to shell out cash for the corrective surgeries. She is seeking reimbursement of her medial expenses and wants money for any future corrective procedures she may need ... in addition to damages for lost income.

Justin Baldoni's defense lawyer isn't ruling out a settlement possibility in Blake Lively's lawsuit against his client ... telling us his team is always focused on a positive overall outcome.

Bryan Freedman stopped to talk with us outside a Manhattan courthouse Thursday -- after a hearing in the case -- and he told us he thought the hearing went well for Baldoni.

We then asked if his client would consider a settlement ... and Freedman doesn't shoot it down -- though he does admit he can't say definitively one way or another.

David and Victoria Beckham are not fearful, or devastated, over son Brooklyn Beckham's prenuptial agreement with wife Nicola Peltz, despite reports suggesting otherwise ... cause TMZ has learned the narrative couldn't be further from the truth.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the Beckhams are not worried, afraid, or losing any sleep over Brooklyn's prenup. We're told it's the complete opposite ... both families were always supportive of a prenup, and no one involved views it as controversial, controlling, or alarming in any way.

The reports, first pushed by a UK tabloid, painted a dramatic picture claiming David and Victoria believe Brooklyn has been "absorbed" into the Peltz family, alienated from his own, and financially vulnerable if the marriage ends. One source even alleged Brooklyn was "being held captive" ... a claim our sources flat-out call ridiculous.

David Harbour and Lily Allen are officially closing the door on their Brooklyn chapter ... 'cause TMZ has learned the estranged couple has found a buyer for their NYC townhouse following their very public -- and very ugly -- breakup.

Sources with knowledge of the sale tell TMZ ... the former couple closed on the property for $7 million, after it went into contract earlier this week. The home was originally listed for $8 million back in October, before the price was slashed to $7.3 million in January, and now, it's finally off their hands.

The place isn't just any brownstone. The late 19th century 5-bedroom, 4-bath Carroll Gardens townhouse sits on one of the most sought-after blocks in the neighborhood. The 4-level home was purchased by the couple in 2021 for $3.35 million, then completely reimagined with AD100 designer Billy Cotton and architect Ben Bischoff of MADE.

But the timing of the sale is impossible to ignore. Harbour and Allen's breakup has been extremely messy, and Lily's new album, "West End Girl," appears to pull zero punches. The title track is reportedly all about this very townhouse, turning their one-time dream home into a symbol of everything that went wrong.

Brett Favre is keeping it real about life with Parkinson’s ... and the Hall of Famer isn’t backing down for a second.

No. 4 tells TMZ Sports he’s “progressed a little faster” than he hoped, but stresses everyone’s journey is different. Some symptoms have crept in -- but nothing that’s alarming.

His approach? Grind, exercise and chase every clinical trial possible.

“That’s all I can do,” said Favre, who announced his diagnosis in September 2024. “Now way in hell am I giving up.”

President Donald Trump is damaging the United States in the eyes of the international community, but it goes so much deeper than that ... so says actor Boris Kodjoe.

We caught up with the star at LAX Wednesday ... and we asked him what he thinks of the current state of American politics. Kodjoe's originally from Germany but came to the United States in the '90s -- so, he's got a unique perspective on the political system.

You can listen to all of the specifics for yourself ... but, basically, Kodjoe's concerned. He calls recent decisions by the Trump administration "sad" and "disturbing" -- and advocates for a return to compassion.

Angie Katsanevas is taking her Real Housewives spotlight straight to Capitol Hill ... 'cause TMZ has learned she'll testify before Congress on supporting franchise businesses tied to her expanding salon franchises.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star will be testifying on behalf of the International Franchise Association Thursday, speaking from firsthand experience as a business owner whose hair salon brand -- Lunatic Fringe -- has now grown to 9 franchise locations nationwide.

We're told Angie plans to advocate strongly for franchisees, whom she views as a living example of the American Dream, especially for women and immigrants ... a message that's deeply personal for her. Angie's parents immigrated from Greece, and our sources say she sees franchising as a pathway to ownership, independence, and generational opportunity.

Danielle Brooks is about to be up at the crack of dawn announcing those Oscar nominations ... and she’s already got some very strong opinions on who’s about to clean up!

We caught up with the actress at LAX Wednesday, and she made it clear her pick to dominate this year is "Sinners" ... saying she thinks the film could have its own "Moonlight" moment with a surprise Best Picture win.

You gotta catch the full clip ... Danielle goes hard for "Sinners," but she also name-checks another major contender that’s high on her list too.

Keegan-Michael Key is proud his comedy sketches with Jordan Peele are standing the test of time ... and he wants to reunite for more funny bits.

We got the "Key & Peele" star Wednesday at LAX and our photog asked him if he'd ever want to get the band back together with Peele to film new content.

Key says he loved working with Peele and he's open to getting back in the comedy lab and ... if it ever happens ... they would go back to their bread and butter -- sketches about the human condition that everyone can relate to.

"High School Musical" was a slam dunk hit for Disney 20 years ago, but not for Bart Johnson -- who played Coach Bolton -- because he tells TMZ the movie f***** up his career at first!

It may be hard to believe, but Johnson tells us his acting career took a turn for the worse despite his skyrocketing fame as Zac Efron's on-screen dad and East High's head basketball coach in 'HSM.'

Check out our clip ... Bart tells TMZ he was "put out to pasture" for being a dad in a Disney movie, and it took a whole decade to get his career back on track.

William Shatner didn’t put anyone in harm’s way while crunching on a bowl of cereal behind the wheel ... 'cause as it turns out, the whole thing was part of a bran-new Super Bowl commercial.

The "Star Trek" legend tells TMZ ... he’s starring in an upcoming Kellogg’s Super Bowl ad, and during the two-day shoot, there was a moment when a photographer asked him to take some publicity stills in a few different locations.

At one point, the photog suggested Shatner pose behind the wheel while eating a bowl of flakes ... and Shatner says he thought it was one of the silliest photos he’s ever taken.