Champion boxer Xander Zayas was handpicked by Bad Bunny for his role in the Super Bowl halftime show ... a part that was originally intended to be played by male models!
That's what the 23-0 fighter told TMZ Sports after he was spotted on the field in his boxing trunks and gloves during Benito's routine at Levi's Stadium on Sunday.
Boxing makes an appearance at the Half Time Show from the Super Bowl.
Bad Bunny really brought out Xander Zayas and Emiliano Vargas shadow boxing. 🥊🐰💪 pic.twitter.com/mX1AsghMWC
Zayas revealed that Bad Bunny was initially going to have a pair of models act as boxers, but called an audible, reaching out to his undefeated boxer friend personally, and offering him a chance to grace the big stage.
Nearly two weeks after Lakers forward Jaxson Hayesshoved Washington Wizards mascot G-Wiz during pregame introductions ... TMZ Sportshas learned that the person behind the mask has lawyered up -- and has selected the attorney that represented Sofia Jamorain her domestic violence lawsuit against Hayes.
Waukeen McCoytold us that he is now representing the person Hayes decked when the Lakers were in town for a showdown with Washington on January 30.
Jaxson Hayes shoved Wizards mascot, G-Wiz, in pre-game introductions
We've seen activity for the first time in the Bitcoin account listed in the first ransom note which was sent to us here at TMZ, and also to 2 TV stations in Tucson. For various reasons, we are not going to reveal the amount, but the activity happened in the last 25 minutes.
Potentially big development in the Nancy Guthrie abduction ... our law enforcement sources say whoever kidnapped her from her Arizona home is also from the Tucson area.
Multiple sources involved in the investigation tell TMZ ... the operating theory is that the ransom notes were written by the kidnapper, and those notes provide clues on where the abductor lives.
TMZ has focused for several days on the alleged kidnapper's choice of media outlets to receive the letters. The first letter was sent to 2 Tucson TV stations and TMZ. The second letter was sent to only one of the Tucson stations.
Our law enforcement sources believe the person who wrote the ransom note was very familiar with the local stations ... so much so that it leads them to believe the Tucson area is the abductor's home.
Britney Spears just signed a massive new music deal ... one that sells her rights to her extensive music catalog ... TMZ has learned.
According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Britney sold her ownership share of her catalog to Primary Wave, a music publisher.
It's unclear how much Britney was paid for the music ... the exact dollar amount is not in the documents, but our sources described the agreement as a "landmark deal" in the ballpark of the $200-million deal Justin Bieber signed when he sold his music.
Teddy Riley is ridin' hard for Chris Brown-- telling TMZ there’s nothing shady about Breezy's comment on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance and, in his book, he did nothing wrong!
We caught up with Teddy in NYC Tuesday, and he straight-up co-signed Chris’ IG post -- "I think it’s safe to say … they need me!" -- agreeing Brown absolutely belonged on that iconic stage.
Watch the clip, 'cause Teddy makes one thing clear: he’s not anti-BB. He gives the performance its flowers. But -- and it’s a big but -- he says when it comes to events like the Super Bowl, ratings matter.
The new cast of "Vanderpump Rules" completely took over "TMZ After Dark," led by breakout stars VenusandNatalie, who made passengers feel like they were on an actual episode of the show!
The duo took us back to the early, raunchy days of 'Vanderpump.' And with DJ Nyla DJing the bus, the energy was high from the start as Venus and Natalie jumped right in -- dancing, hyping up the crowd, and setting the vibe for the night.
The first stop was the Rainbow Bar & Grill, where party girl Natalie was already familiar with the manager and staff, and the pair handed out the bar's signature “Woohoo” shots, cheers-ing to the wild night ahead.
The night continued at Saddle Ranch, where the manager welcomed the group with unlimited chicken (original and buffalo) and famous pink gummy shots, followed by Venus riding the mechanical bull and nearly making it through the full ride before being thrown off in an epic fall.
Looks like Andy Dick may finally be pumping the brakes after his terrifying overdose ... 'cause he was spotted looking healthy and happy during a bike ride around L.A.
TMZ obtained this clip of Andy not long after wrapping up a 50-day rehab stint -- he was cruising through the L.A. streets Tuesday morning, putting his health first with a spot of cardio.
Andy appeared upbeat and relaxed, chatting it up with a buddy as they rode through a quiet residential neighborhood ... a pretty stark contrast from where we last saw him.
Justina Emmanwori’s Super Bowl learning curve is officially complete -- ’cause the proud mom says she went from barely knowing what a touchdown was … to fully embracing the game after watching her son help deliver a championship.
Fresh off the Seahawks’ win over the Patriots, the mother of rookie safety Nick Emmanworicouldn’t hold back her emotions when TMZ Sports caught up with her postgame … admitting she entered as a total newbie but left the night feeling deeply connected to the game and the team.
“I am so proud,” she told us. “Before, I said I don’t know anything about football -- touchdown, yay! But now, it’s big. I know what football is all about.”
Elizabeth Warren doesn't need to track her step count or run a stopwatch on her 40-yard dash to know she's the fastest Senator ... and she may very well be right, because our photog had a tough time keeping up with her.
We got the Democratic Senator from Massachusetts in the underground tunnel system under the Capitol and she made our camera man Charlie Cotton work hard to go step-for-step.
Liz was on her way to the Senate for a speech about ICE funding when we chopped it up with her about a ton of topics ... including footwear.
Bad Bunny used the Super Bowl stage to tell a story about his culture -- and his crew says the message was loud and clear!
TMZ Sports caught up with members of the global superstar’s cast at LAX on Monday after their big halftime performance ... and they say their focus wasn’t just about putting on a show, it was about putting Puerto Rican culture front and center on the world’s biggest stage.
"I was blown away myself," one of his backup dancers, Chris, told us.
"I feel like it’s such a monumental moment culturally. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and everything they did culturally, I feel like they tapped in perfectly."
Farrah Abraham got a very quick lesson in Civics 101 after we fact-checked her early jump into politics ... so while she waits a couple more years to run for mayor of Austin, Texas, she’s back to breaking the internet, not the ballots!
The former "Teen Mom" star let these photos do the heavy lifting during a sizzling poolside shoot at L.A.'s Fenix Hotel Hollywood on Sunday ... rocking a teeny-tiny pink bikini that put her surgically enhanced assets on full display.
Even though she was soaking up the California sun, Farrah didn’t forget her roots -- stepping out in leopard-print cowboy boots, just in case anyone needed a reminder she’s a Texas girl at heart ... political dreams and all.
Tracy Scroggins, who spent all 10 seasons of his career as a member of the Detroit Lions, has died at 56 years old, TMZ Sports has learned.
"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Tracy Scroggins," the Scroggins family said in a statement sent to us.
"Tracy was a devoted father, cherished family member, and loyal friend whose life was marked by remarkable strength and perseverance. While many knew him for his career as a professional football player in the NFL, those closest to him knew him as a kind-hearted and generous man who cared deeply for his family and friends."
Catherine O'Hara passed away from a blood clot in the lungs ... TMZ has learned.
The L.A. County Department of Public Health released the actress' death certificate Monday, which lists her cause of death … O'Hara's immediate cause of death is listed as pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer as the underlying cause.
The death certificate says she was cremated and her remains were given to her husband, Robert "Bo" Welch.
We broke the story ... O'Hara passed away at the end of January, two sources with direct knowledge told us at the time. She had been rushed to the hospital in serious condition. She was reported by dispatch personnel as having trouble breathing.
The TMZ Comedy Crawl returned Friday night and did not disappoint!
The rolling comedy experience was back in full swing with returning host Mateen Stewart, who brought along a surprise co-host -- Slink Johnson, AKA "Black Jesus" ... the duo had the entire bus laughing nonstop as they bounced between some of L.A.'s top comedy venues.
The night kicked off with complimentary drinks at The Improv, rolled into a VIP show with Dane Cook at the Laugh Factory, and wrapped with a full-blown group celebration at The Comedy Store ... complete with a classic group photo to close things out.
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Passengers came from all walks of life, but by the end of the crawl, it felt like one big crew. Stewart and Johnson weren’t just performing ... they were joking, hanging out, and genuinely bonding with guests throughout the night, creating a rare kind of celebrity interaction you don’t usually get -- even in Hollywood.
Alix Earle and Tom Brady party linkups may be turning into a legit connection … ’cause we're told the two are suddenly giving off some serious chemistry.
Sources familiar with the situation tell us the influencer, 25, and retired quarterback, 48, have, of course, hung out in the same circles before … but things took a noticeable turn this past weekend when they both hit San Francisco for Super Bowl festivities.
The two were spotted dancing and chatting together at an invite-only pre–Super Bowl party -- and we’re told the pair exchanged contact info for the first time during the trip.
Blake Garrett -- best known for his role in "How to Eat Fried Worms" -- has died at age 33 ... TMZ has learned.
Blake's mom, Carol Garrett, tells TMZ ... the former child star passed away Sunday. She says the family is still awaiting the autopsy results from the medical examiner to determine an official cause of death.
She tells us Blake went to the emergency room last week in Oklahoma after experiencing intense pain and was later diagnosed with shingles. Carol adds Blake may have self-medicated to cope with the pain from the viral infection, and she believes his death could have been a tragic accident.
