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Tom Sandoval's back in his all-too-familiar villain role ... he's under fire from fans and castmates for interacting with a captive tiger, and PETA is schooling him on why it's bad for big cats.

The animal rights organization fired off a letter to the "Vanderpump Rules" star after footage emerged showing him inside an animal enclosure at Tiger World Thailand, where a tiger put its massive front paws on Tom's shoulders.

In the letter, obtained by TMZ, PETA scolds Tom for the photo op ... explaining, "When popular folks like you pose with wild animals, people are moved to support pay-to-play animal experiences, for which big-cat cubs are torn away from their mothers prematurely and denied their freedom as well as anything remotely natural and important to them."

More specifically, PETA's also schooling Tom on tigers ... it says wild tigers avoid humans and are naturally solitary and reclusive, adding, "Any human interaction with big cats poses dangers for both humans and the felines, and captive big cats have attacked and killed their captors and visitors."

While Tom walked away from the visit physically unscathed ... he's taking heat online from fans and his 'VPR' cast members, Lala Kent and James Kennedy.

A Seahawks fan says Marshawn Lynch turned into Beastmode outside of a Seattle bar over the weekend ... smashing his phone during an altercation.

The Hawks supporter's name is Jose Lozano ... and he tells TMZ Sports the incident all happened in front of Xtadium in downtown Seattle on Sunday at around 1:30 AM.

Lozano says he tried to get a pic with Lynch inside of the bar earlier in the night -- but was denied by the Seahawks legend's friends ... who told him straight up, "No pictures."

However, when Lozano spotted Lynch outside of the establishment a short time later, he made one final attempt to get the former Seattle tailback to stop for a photo before he called it a night.

In video from the scene, you can see Lozano approach Lynch -- who's wearing a Beastmode sweatshirt -- and yell, "Marshawn! Beastmode! Let me a take a --."

Suddenly, though, Lynch appears to lunge at Lozano's phone -- before the footage cuts out.

Lozano tells us once the camera stopped rolling, Lynch grabbed his phone and screamed, "Y'all mother f***ers are weird," before he busted up the device with his hands. Eventually, Lozano said he was able to get the phone back just prior to Lynch leaving the area.

Lozano tells us he didn't realize his phone -- an iPhone 14 that he purchased just a few months ago -- was broken until several minutes had passed, but he said he has no intentions of going to police now over the incident because he's such a huge fan ... although he did say he wished Lynch hadn't been so "rude."

This, of course, is not the first time Marshawn has been accused of swiping at fans' phones ... back in 2017, he smacked a phone from a man's hands while out at LAX.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard siendo libre hará más bien que mal para los que sufren de síndrome de Munchausen por poderes, al menos así lo dice una organización centrada en el raro trastorno de comportamiento.

Un representante de Apoyo Munchausen -la única organización sin fines de lucro dedicada a ayudar a las víctimas y a las familias afectadas por Munchausen por poderes- le dice a TMZ que desean que Gypsy mejore y que tenga paz después de todo lo que pasó a muy temprana edad.

Y añaden: "Aunque no aprobamos sus acciones con respecto a su participación en el asesinato de su madre, ella ha cumplido su condena y tiene todo el derecho a compartir su experiencia. Sin duda esto arrojará luz sobre esta forma poco conocida de abuso a los millones de personas que han quedado cautivadas por su historia".

Continúan diciéndonos que el Munchausen por poderes es en realidad mucho más común de lo que la gente cree, y dicen que la popularidad de Gypsy conducirá a que miles de personas compartan sus propias historias de supervivencia, obviamente un resultado positivo.

Algunos de estos casos menos conocidos están cubiertos en el podcast de la fundadora de Munchausen Support, Andrea Dunlop, "Nadie debería creerme", y la organizacón dice que es probable que más salgan a la superficie ahora que Gypsy está de vuelta en el exterior y lista para compartir su historia con la condición.

En pocas palabras, sí, Gypsy hizo algo malo, pero ahora que ha pagado su deuda con la sociedad, su visibilidad puede ser de gran ayuda para otras personas.

Angus Mitchell, the only child of world-famous hairstylist Paul Mitchell, has died ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us they got a call just after 6 AM Wednesday to Angus' home in Honolulu for a male who appeared to have drowned in a pool. We're told Angus was pronounced dead at the scene. At this time, there's no official cause of death.

Angus had spent Tuesday night with friends at his home, sharing a video of himself enjoying Hawaiian music with others.

Angus is the co-owner of John Paul Mitchell Systems, which was founded by his father back in 1980. He inherited his dad's stake in JPMS and its schools after his dad's death from pancreatic cancer in 1989.

Angus went to school for hairstyling, but once said most of what he learned came from his pops -- he worked in Hawaii for a number of years before opening the Angus Mitchell Salon in Beverly Hills in 2010.

Apart from traveling the world on behalf of JPMS, Angus also made a name for himself as an educator ... as well as a model and spokesman for MITCH -- a men's line under the JPMS brand.

He married Michelle Raab on the island back in 2010, and remarried twice ... once with Sian, whom he shares 8-year-old Dylan with, and his current wife, Mara.

Hairstyling was in Angus' blood from the beginning -- although he once admitted the path he ended up going down as a career was "one of the more difficult" ones he chose.

Angus took home multiple awards over the years -- including #1 Platform Artist by Be magazine, a whole day named after him in Beverly Hills, and 3 awards on behalf of the Alternative Hair Show, which raises money for leukemia research.

Angus was 53.

Angus Mitchell, el único hijo del mundialmente famoso estilista Paul Mitchell, ha muerto ... TMZ ha averiguado.

Fuentes policiales nos dicen que recibieron una llamada justo después de las 6 de la mañana del miércoles en la casa de Angus en Honolulu, por un hombre que parecía haberse ahogado en una piscina. Nos que dicen Angus fue declarado muerto en la escena. Por el momento, no hay causa oficial de muerte.

Angus había pasado la noche del martes con amigos en su casa, incluso había compartido un video suyo disfrutando de la música hawaiana con los demás.

Angus es copropietario de John Paul Mitchell Systems, fundada por su padre en 1980. Heredó la participación de su padre en JPMS y sus escuelas tras su muerte en 1989, a causa de un cáncer de páncreas.

Angus fue a la escuela de peluquería, pero una vez dijo que la mayor parte de lo que aprendió provino de su padre. Trabajó en Hawái durante varios años antes de abrir el Angus Mitchell Salon en Beverly Hills en 2010.

Además de viajar por el mundo en nombre de JPMS, Angus también se hizo un nombre como educador, modelo y portavoz de MITCH, una línea masculina bajo la marca JPMS.

Se casó con Michelle Raab en la isla en 2010 y se volvió a casar dos veces, una con Sian, con quien comparte a Dylan, de 8 años, y con su actual esposa, Mara.

La peluquería estaba en la sangre de Angus, aunque una vez admitió que el camino que terminó eligiendo como carrera fue "uno de los más difíciles".

Angus se llevó a casa múltiples premios a lo largo de los años, incluyendo Artista #1 de Plataforma por la revista Be, un día entero con su nombre en Beverly Hills y 3 premios en nombre del Alternative Hair Show, que recauda dinero para la investigación de la leucemia.

Angus tenía 53 años.

Desde las secuelas de su divorcio a suspirar por sus hijos, Britney Spears tiene un montón de cosas en su mente en este momento, pero su carrera musical na es uno de ellas.

Fuentes con conocimiento directo le dicen a TMZ que los informes recientes de que Britney está en la primera etapa de su 10 º álbum de estudio no son ciertos... y la música es la última de sus preocupaciones en este momento.

También nos dicen que los campos de Charli XCX y Julia Michaels no se están comunicando con el equipo de Britney ... a pesar de los medios de comunicación que afirman que habían sido aprovechados para escribir canciones para el hitmaker "Womanizer".

Un regreso musical no puede ser su prioridad en este momento, pero nuestras fuentes nos dicen que ella podría cambiar de opinión en el futuro.

La música de Britney tuvo un impulso últimamente cuando trató de liberarse de los grilletes de su tutela

Sus esfuerzos dieron frutos, pero fue a expensas de la relación con su padre, Jamie Spears. Sin embargo, la cantante se ha mostrado habierta a una reconciliación, sobre todo después de la noticia de que le amputaron la pierna.

The video of Ian Ziering brawling with a group of bikers in Hollywood tells the whole story -- at least according to one of the bikers who tells TMZ ... the whole incident was completely unprovoked by the motor crew.

We spoke to 2 men Wednesday on "TMZ Live" who sometimes ride with the 605 Minibike Gang, but are not members of the gang. They say Ian went from 0 to 100 all on his own, without any altercation prior to the video we've seen.

The 2 riders here go by Roy and Nocturnal. Nocturnal is the guy who was there on Sunday, and even recorded the video shot from behind Ian's SUV.

Nocturnal insists the group's first encounter with Ian was right there on Hollywood Blvd when the video starts.

He says 2 of his fellow minibikers were doing a legal lane split, and Ian purposely tried to prevent them from getting in front of his car ... even though they had every right to do so.

They say it appears Ian didn't like that ... and go on to allege he hopped out of his car to start a physical fight all on his own. If there was any incidental contact -- Nocturnal and Roy insist it was Ian's own doing ... and that he was the one who invited an ugly clash.

Nocturnal and Roy say they don't know why Ian might've escalated things the way he did -- especially with his young daughter right there with him -- but they theorize he was having a really bad day ... and let out his frustrations on the bikers.

As we first reported, LAPD is investigating the incident for felony vandalism -- for the bashing of Ian's windshield with a helmet -- and misdemeanor battery for the fight.

El video de Ian Ziering peleando con un grupo de motociclistas en Hollywood cuenta toda la historia, al menos de acuerdo con uno de los motociclistas, quien dice a TMZ que todo el incidente fue completamente no provocado por parte del grupo de ciclistas.

Hablamos con 2 hombres el miércoles en "TMZ Live" que a veces andan con el grupo 605 Minibike Gang, pero no son miembros. Ellos dicen que Ian fue de 0 a 100 por su propia cuenta, sin un altercado previo del video que hemos visto.

Los dos pilotos con los que hablamos van por Roy y Nocturnal. Nocturnal es el tipo que estuvo allí el domingo e incluso grabó el video tomado desde detrás del todoterreno de Ian.

Nocturnal insiste en que el primer encuentro del grupo con Ian se produjo justo en Hollywood Blvd cuando comienza el video.

Dice que 2 de sus compañeros del grupo de ciclistas estaban haciendo una maniobra de carril legal e Ian trató a propósito de evitar que se pusieran delante de su carro, a pesar de que tenían todo el derecho a hacerlo.

Parece que Ian no le gustó eso, dicen ellos y dicen que luego saltó de su carro para iniciar una pelea física por su cuenta. Si hubo algún contacto incidental, Nocturnal y Roy insisten en que fue cosa de Ian y que él fue quien dio pie a un enfrentamiento feo.

Nocturnal y Roy dicen que no saben por qué Ian podría haber escalado las cosas de la manera que lo hizo, especialmente con su hija pequeña allí, pero sugieren que estaba teniendo un día muy malo y que descargó sus frustraciones en los propios ciclistas.

Como informamos, la policía de Los Ángeles está investigando el incidente por delito grave de vandalismo -por el golpe en el parabrisas de Ian- y delito menor de agresión por la pelea.

El juego de rol para móvil de Kim Kardashian está cerrando sus puertas virtuales, marcando el final de la aplicación casi una década después de que se puso en marcha.

Kim le dice a TMZ: "Estoy muy agradecida desde el fondo de mi corazón con todos los que han amado y jugado Kim Kardashian Hollywood los últimos 10 años. Este viaje ha significado mucho para mí, pero me he dado cuenta de que es hora de concentrar mi energía en otras pasiones. Quiero dar las gracias al equipo de Glu y a las muchas personas que han trabajado entre bastidores para que esto fuera un éxito. Estaré siempre inspirada por esta comunidad que hemos construido juntos".

Por cierto, la gente que entra en el juego de Kim y Glu Mobile, "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood", se encuentra ahora con una alerta sobre el próximo cierre del juego, diciendole a los jugadores que el juego "ya no ofrece compras dentro de la aplicación y ha sido retirado de las tiendas de aplicaciones".

Así es, ni siquiera puedes comprar el juego si estás interesado, porque ha desaparecido por completo de las tiendas de aplicaciones de Apple y Android.

Por suerte, el aviso dice que los jugadores pueden seguir utilizando las funciones del juego hasta el 8 de abril: "después de eso el juego será inaccesible. Gracias por apoyar Kim Kardashian: Hollywood". También tiene un temporizador de cuenta atrás, lo que lleva al cierre.

Para aquellos que no lo saben, Kim y Glu se asociaron para lanzar el juego de 2014 que llevó a los jugadores a un viaje al estrellato de la lista vip, con el objetivo de ganar fans haciendo cosas como actuar, modelar, hacer apariciones en clubes y citas.

También tenía una moneda en el juego llamada K-estrellas, que ayudaría a los jugadores a progresar. La aplicación hizo $1.6 millones solo 5 días después de su lanzamiento el 27 de junio, a pesar de terminar con algunas críticas mixtas.

Nigel Lythgoe is in the crosshairs of an investigation by the studio that produces his long-running show "So You Think You Can Dance" ... with his job possibly hanging in the balance.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the embattled EP of the hit reality competition show is at the center of an internal probe being conducted by Sony Pictures Television -- which co-produces 'SYTYCD' under its subsidiary 19 Entertainment, alongside Dick Clark Productions.

We're told Sony's looking into recent claims of sexual assault and harassment made against Nigel -- who created 'So You Think' with Simon Fuller, and has served as an executive producer since its inception, not to mention a consistent judge until he stepped away in '22.

Of course, what Sony's investigating here is Paula Abdul's allegations -- which she made in an explosive lawsuit ... claiming she'd been sexually assaulted by Lythgoe twice, once in the early 2000s during her 'Idol' stint and again in the 2010s while she judged on 'SYTYCD.'

Remember, as it pertains to the latter allegation -- which is what Sony's concerned with here -- she alleged Lythgoe invited her to his pad to discuss work opportunities ... only to allegedly pounce on her in an attempt to kiss her. PA also claimed Lythgoe groped one of her assistants during her time on the dance show.

Lythgoe denies Paula's claims, saying they're "deeply offensive" to everything he stands for and totally false.

Our sources say that while Sony digs into this matter, no decision has been made on whether Nigel will be allowed to stay on as an EP. It also remains to be seen if he'll serve as a judge -- this despite the fact he was announced to return to his chair last month for Season 18 ... which will start airing in March. He wasn't a judge during this past season.

Kim Kardashian's mobile roleplaying game is closing its virtual doors ... marking the end of the app nearly a decade after it went live.

Kim tells TMZ, "I'm so grateful from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has loved and played Kim Kardashian: Hollywood in the past 10 years. This journey has meant so much to me but I’ve realized that it’s time to focus that energy into other passions. I want to thank the Glu team and the many people behind the scenes who have worked diligently on making it a success. I will be forever inspired by this community that we built together."

BTW, folks logging on to Kim and Glu Mobile's game, "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood," have now been met with an alert about the game's upcoming shutdown -- telling players the game "no longer offers in-app purchases and has been removed from app stores."

That's right, ya can't even go get the game for yourself if you're now interested, because it's completely vanished from Apple and Android's app stores.

Luckily, the notice says gamers can continue to use the game's features until April 8 ... "after which the game will become inaccessible. Thank you for supporting Kim Kardashian: Hollywood!" It's also got a countdown timer, leading to the shutdown.

For those unaware, KK and Glu teamed up to release the 2014 game which took players on a journey to A-list stardom ... with the goal of gaining fans by doing things like acting, modeling, making club appearances, and dating.

It also had an in-game currency called K-stars that would help players progress -- and the app made $1.6 million just 5 days after its June 27 release, despite ending up with some mixed reviews.

Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny may have called it quits on their relationship before the end of 2023, but they rang in 2024 together with a crew of close pals ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us the two remain close -- despite their recent breakup -- and have a group of mutual friends. The crew -- including Justin and Hailey Bieber -- were all vacationing together near Barbados, taking in New Year's Eve festivities.

In fact, in a clip of NYE fireworks posted by one of Kendall's pals, you hear Bad Bunny in the background wish everyone, "Feliz Año Nuevo!"

While the recent reunion may raise some eyebrows, we're told the two aren't officially back together, not yet at least, we're told the trip happened because of mutual friends ... there's nothing romantic.

It was a whirlwind romance for Kendall and the music superstar, spotted back in February leaving a double date with Justin and Hailey. Things heated up a month later when they were seen sharing a kiss and hug after sushi with her sis, Kylie Jenner.

In April, TMZ obtained photos of the two on a solo horseback riding date ... indicating things had gotten really serious between the two.

By the middle of the year, they were officially official -- cuddling up together at a Drake show, sitting front row at the Gucci show, doing a Gucci campaign together and hitting up the 'SNL' after-party following BB's gig on the show.

However, come late October, fans started to notice the two hadn't been spotted together in a while and questioned if things had fallen apart.

Fast forward to last month, and news broke of the couple's reported split.

T.I. y su esposa Tiny Harris están siendo acusados de drogar a una mujer que conocieron en un club nocturno y de luego llevarla a su hotel para hacer un trío, según la demanda que la mujer ha presentado contra la pareja.

La demandante, que se ha presentado como Jane Doe, dice que estaba alistada en la Fuerza Aérea de Estados Unidos y estacionada en Los Ángeles alrededor del 2005, cuando ella y un amigo fueron a una fiesta en la casa de Coolio y se reunieron con un tipo que se hizo llamar "Caviar". Según alegan, este tipo trabajó para T.I. y Tiny.

En la demanda obtenida por TMZ, la demandante dice que T.I. y Tiny no se presentaron en la fiesta, pero "Caviar" le dijo que estarían en un club nocturno de Los Ángeles la noche siguiente y ahí es cuando todos se reunieron en la sección VIP.

La mujer dice que pidió 2 Amaretto sours por su cuenta, y que luego Tiny supuestamente le dio otra bebida que nunca probó, pero que ella y su amiga sí compartieron.

Cuando T.I. decidió marcharse del club, la mujer afirma que le pidió a Tiny irse con ellos. Su amiga se iría con "Caviar", quien le dijo que todos iban al mismo sitio.

Pero eso no es lo que pasó, al parecer ... En la demanda, la mujer dice que otras dos mujeres que no conocía se metieron en un SUV con Tiny, T.I. y ella, y los 5 terminaron en una habitación de hotel. Pero Tiny echó a las otras dos mujeres, porque una de ellas estaba coqueteando demasiado con T.I.

Una vez que se quedaron los tres solos, ella alega que Tiny la llevó al baño, donde le quitó la ropa y luego T.I. se unió a ellos desnudo y todos se metieron en la ducha.

Después, afirma que empezó a sentirse aturdida y muy mareada, y T.I. le dijo que se fuera a la cama. Mientras él veía algo de porno, ella afirma que él le pasó un aceite y le exigió que le diera un masaje. Finalmente, Tiny se unió a ellos y supuestamente inmovilizó a la mujer boca abajo y empezó a frotar y machacar su cuerpo desnudo sobre el demandante.

Mientras esto ocurría, la demandante alega que T.I. le penetró la vagina con el dedo del pie, y ella le dijo "no" mientras intentaba apartarle. Según la demanda, él se levantó y dijo que iba a buscar un preservativo. Ella se fue al baño a vomitar. Afirma que T.I. se rio burlonamente de ella y le dijo: "¿Estás bien? Parece que estás en último lugar".

Poco después, dice que se desmayó hasta la mañana siguiente, cuando un guardia de seguridad la despertó. Ella afirma que su "vagina estaba muy adolorida", sentía picazón y ardor, pero el guardia de seguridad le dijo que se tenía que ir y la acompañó a la salida mientras T.I. y Tiny todavía estaban dormidos en la cama.

La mujer ha demandado a los Harris por agresión sexual, asalto, negligencia y detención ilegal.

Por cierto, dice que presenta la demanda ahora debido a la Ley de Responsabilidad por Abuso Sexual y Encubrimiento de California, que abrió una ventana de un año para la reactivación de las reclamaciones cuando el estatuto de limitaciones de otro modo habría corrido.

7:52 AM PT -- T.I. and Tiny Harris tell TMZ ... "On the heels of positivity, negativity always rears its ugly head. This plaintiff has been threatening to file this lawsuit for THREE years. For THREE years, we have emphatically and categorically denied these allegations. For THREE years we have maintained our innocence and refused to pay these extortionate demands for things we didn't do. For THREE years, we've maintained the same position while the claims in this story have changed time and time again. Our position is clear... We are innocent of these fake claims, we will not be shaken down, and we look forward to our day in court."

T.I. and his wife Tiny Harris are accused of drugging a woman they met in a nightclub, and then taking her to their hotel for a threesome ... according to the lawsuit the woman's now filed against the couple.

The plaintiff, who's filed as a Jane Doe, says she was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and stationed in L.A. in or around 2005 when she and a friend went to a party at Coolio's home and met a guy who went by "Caviar" ... who, they allege, worked for T.I. and Tiny.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, the plaintiff says T.I. and Tiny no-showed at the party, but "Caviar" told her they would be at an L.A. nightclub the next night, and that's when they all met ... in the VIP section.

The woman says she ordered 2 Amaretto sours on her own, before Tiny allegedly handed her another drink ... one from which she never saw Tiny sip, and which the woman also shared with her friend.

When T.I. decided to leave the club, the woman claims he asked her to ride with Tiny and him ... while her friend would ride with "Caviar," who said they were all going to the same place.

But, that's not how it played out, allegedly ... in the suit, the woman says 2 other women she didn't know got in an SUV with Tiny, T.I. and herself, and all 5 of them ended up in a hotel room -- but Tiny kicked out the other 2 women, because one was flirting too much with T.I.

Once it was just the 3 of them ... she alleges Tiny took her into the bathroom, where she took off both of their clothes and then a naked T.I. joined them and they all got in the shower.

Afterward, she claims she was starting to feel lightheaded and extremely dizzy, and T.I. told her to go to the bed. While he watched some porn, she alleges he handed her massage oil and demanded she give him a rub down. Eventually, Tiny joined them and allegedly pinned the woman on her stomach and began rubbing and grinding her naked body on the plaintiff.

While that was happening, she alleges T.I. penetrated her vagina with his toe, and she told him "no" as she tried to push him away. According to the suit, he got up and said he was going to get a condom -- but the plaintiff says she went to the bathroom to vomit. She claims T.I. mockingly laughed at her and said, "Are you alright? Looks like you in last place."

Shortly thereafter, she says she passed out until the next morning, when a security guard woke her up. She claims her "vagina was in serious pain" -- itching and burning -- but the security guard told she had to go, and escorted her out while T.I. and Tiny were still asleep in the bed.

She is suing the Harrises for sexual battery, assault, negligence and false imprisonment.

BTW, the plaintiff says she's filing the suit now due to California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act ... which opened a year-long window for the revival of claims where the statute of limitations would have otherwise run.

A lawyer for T.I. and Tiny tells TMZ ... "Not only are the claims bogus, but they missed the deadline to file the lawsuit."

Dave Chappelle hizo algunos chistes sobre personas con discapacidad en su nuevo especial de comedia y uno de sus objetivos, Madison Cawthorn, dice que fue un honor.

El ex congresista le dice a TMZ que le encantó ser asado por Dave, y las bromas sobre estar confinado a una silla de ruedas son justas porque es una figura pública.

En el nuevo especial de Netflix de Dave "The Dreamer", bromea sobre una vez que conoció al ex representante de Carolina del Norte, diciendo: "Quería que me viera hacer algo que él no podía hacer... así que me fui."

Madison, que quedó parcialmente paralizado en un accidente automovilístico en 2014, dice que la broma de Dave es parte de vivir en una sociedad libre.

La discapacidad no fue el único tema que Dave tocó, también se refirió a un momento memorable del único mandato de Madison en el Congreso, Cawthorn afirmó que había sido invitado a una orgía en Washington.

Madison dice que la broma de las fiestas sexuales de Dave no le molestó tampoco, y él es muy consciente de antemano que Dave estaría apuntando a él en el especial, recibiendo un aviso de algunos de sus amigos que vieron el set de Dave en Nashville.

De hecho, Madison nos dice que Dave es su cómico favorito y fue a uno de los shows de Dave en Tampa, que estaba siendo filmado por el equipo de Netflix, para que pudiera escuchar las bromas por sí mismo.

Madison dice que Dave estaba impresionado de verlo en el público, con el comediante invitándolo detrás del escenario después del show, presentando a Madison a su familia y dándole algunas bebidas.

En los créditos del especial de Dave, incluso hay imágenes de Madison riendo en la audiencia y los dos posaron para una foto juntos después del set.

Dave Chappelle takes aim at people with disabilities in his new comedy special ... and one of his targets, Madison Cawthorn, says it's kosher ... and funny!!!

The former Congressman tells TMZ ... he loved being roasted by Dave, and the jokes about him being confined to a wheelchair were fair game because he's a public figure.

In Dave's new Netflix special 'The Dreamer,' he jokes about a time he met the former Rep. from North Carolina, saying ... "I just walked away. I wanted him to see me do something he couldn’t do. I skipped."

Madison, who was partially paralyzed in a 2014 car crash, says Dave's joke is all part of living in a free society.

MC's disability wasn't the only topic Dave touched on ... he also referenced a memorable moment from Madison's single term in Congress ... Cawthorn infamously claimed he had been invited to an orgy in Washington.

Madison says Dave's sex parties joke didn't bother him either ... and he was well aware ahead of time Dave would be taking aim at him in the special, getting a heads up from some of his buddies who caught Dave's set in Nashville.

In fact, Madison tells us DC is his favorite comic ... and he went to one of Dave's shows in Tampa, which was being filmed by the Netflix crew, so he could hear the jokes for himself.

Madison says Dave was floored to see him in the audience, with the comedian inviting him backstage after the show ... introducing Madison to his family and giving him some drinks.

In the credits of Dave's special, there's even footage of Madison laughing in the audience ... and the two posed for a photo together after the set.