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Jay Leno is railing against the light punishment for most perps caught stealing catalytic converters as the L.A. crime wave is turning deadly ... specifically with the recent murder of "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor.

The stand-up comic and renowned car guru tells TMZ ... it's outrageous the penalty for ripping off converters -- usually a $1,000 fine amounting to just a misdemeanor charge -- isn’t vastly harsher.

JL adds ... The slap on the wrist most thieves receive -- if they even get nabbed -- is the reason they're so brazen.

Frank Martin's hoping more people keep doubting him ahead of his fight against Gervonta "Tank" Davis ... telling TMZ Sports he uses the criticism as "fuel" -- and can't wait to shock the world!!

The WBA Lightweight World Title fight is slated for June 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas ... and Martin (18-0 w/ 12 KOs) says he feels confident to get in the ring with one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.

"I got a lot of things that him, the world, a lot of people may not expect that I got," Martin told us this week.

Glen Powell had a strong reaction to a rough cut of "Hidden Figures," but an editor for the Oscar-nominated movie is saying his story doesn't add up.

Peter Teschner tells TMZ ... there were several screenings of the historical drama during the editing process ... but he doesn't remember a screening where music was missing. According to Peter, they always had music in the film for screenings ... including original songs by Pharrell Williams, as well as a temp score.

This directly contradicts Glen's claim, which he made on the "Therapuss with Jake Shane" podcast a couple weeks ago.

Justin Timberlake's always looking out for his fans ... slamming the brakes on his show in Texas to point out one who seemingly needed medical assistance.

The singer-songwriter hit the stage at the Moody Center -- an arena at the University of Texas at Austin -- Saturday night ... and, during his show, he stopped and shouted for the house lights to come up.

Check out the video of the incident ... Justin apologizes to the crowd for pausing the show before pointing at a fan he says is about five rows from the stage who desperately needs assistance.

"MILF Manor" star Kelle Mortensen is following in the footsteps of some of Hollywood's hottest moms ... but even she can't rival the likes of Kris Jenner.

TMZ caught up with the reality star in Los Angeles, where we asked who she'd consider the MILF GOAT.

According to Kelle, she respects the KarJenner matriarch as a MILF idol ... noting Kris' daughter, Kim Kardashian,  as well -- since she's a hot mama in her own right.

Acclaimed cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema disagrees with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos' stance that movies can be fully appreciated on a streamer/phone in the same way as on the big screen.

ICYMI, Ted faced online ridicule for saying his son watched the 1962 classic "Lawrence of Arabia" on his phone, and also singled out last year's "Oppenheimer," for which Hoyte won an Oscar, as a film that would be equally enjoyed away from the big screen.

Hoyte makes it clear to TMZ ... while he has no ill will toward Ted, he believes a pocket-sized screen doesn't hold a candle to the traditional theatrical experience.

Look out, future athletes -- WNBA star Brittney Griner says her baby on the way will 100% be involved in sports ... telling TMZ Sports it's a no-brainer!!

The Phoenix Mercury center has been a basketball star her whole life ... from recording 52 dunks her high school senior year to winning a title at Baylor in 2012 and earning a WNBA championship two years later.

Now that Griner and her wife, Cherelle, announced they're expanding their family ... we had to ask if the kiddo will follow in her footsteps and grow up with a ball in his hands.

Josh Gibson is now officially Major League Baseball's all-time batting average leader ... and Albert Pujols couldn't be happier about it -- telling TMZ Sports the MLB's decision to integrate Gibson's Negro Leagues numbers into its record book is "a great thing for baseball."

Rob Manfred's org. made the decision to absorb the legend's stats -- as well as everyone else's who played in the Negro Leagues from 1920-1948 -- on Wednesday ... and Pujols praised the move when we got him out at LAX a day later.

He told us it was the "perfect time" for Manfred and co. to recognize the greats -- saying it showed big respect for those who performed during that era.

LaMelo Ball just added another whip to his collection that'll make ya jealous ... TMZ Sports has learned the NBA star copped a custom Tesla Cybertruck -- that's loaded with all kinds of sick features!!

Ball worked exclusively with Dreamworks Motorsports to get the ride tricked out to his liking ... and take a look at the finished product he received this week -- it's got ALL of the bells and whistles built into it.

It has his "LaFrance" clothing brand logo all over ... even stitched into the car's headrests. It also has the words "Rare" and "1 Of 1" slapped on it -- an homage to the unique tattoos the hooper has on his hands and back.

Kathryn Dennis' recent DUI isn't the only legal woe on her plate, but it is the only one that's pressing at the moment ... 'cause a hit-and-run case her car was involved in is still in limbo.

Here's the deal ... the "Southern Charm" star might've recently been involved in a DUI bust in South Carolina -- but there's another case that has ties to her (or her vehicle, more like) in the same state ... in which her car is alleged to have been involved in a hit-and-run.

This happened way back in October -- Kathryn was identified as a suspect in a hit-and-run investigation after a sheriff’s deputy was injured outside an elementary school ... although she was never arrested or charged with a crime because they couldn't pin her as the driver.

UFOs are seemingly all around us these days ... and the latest sighting of one of these unidentified saucers occurred in Nevada on Friday.

Here's what happened ... a woman named Katrina and her buddies were hanging out in the city of Henderson around 10 PM when they suddenly saw a bright round light shimmering high up in the sky.

Check out the video, obtained by TMZ ... the glistening object started flying in a diagonal pattern before moving up and down. At some point, you can see a plane streaking by, but it never gets too close to the alleged UFO.

Jennifer Lopez will not be hitting the road this summer after all -- as the singer is canceling her planned tour outright, even before it starts ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for Live Nation tells us Jen's "THIS IS ME...LIVE" tour -- which was supposed to get underway in June and hit a bunch of North American venues through August -- is getting completely scrapped.

The reason ... we're told, J Lo is "taking time off to be with her children, family and close friends." Jen herself also addressed the cancelation, hopping on her site OntheJLo to say, ... "I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down. Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary."

Looks like WeHo Pride kicking off this weekend might be more tense than celebratory ... we've learned cops are gearing up for the worst amid recent global events.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... with the Pro-Palestine Rally going down in West Hollywood Saturday, coupled with anger from Donald Trump supporters over his recent conviction in the hush money case, cops are bracing for a rocky ride.

We're told there'll be uniformed deputies scattered all over the place, along with cops in plain clothes, and a heavy dose of surveillance.

Donald Trump's longtime friend Bernard Kerik has some thoughts on how he should serve his time if his guilty verdict lands him behind bars.

Kerik -- who served as Commissioner for the New York City Department of Correction as well as the NYPD commissioner -- tells TMZ segregating Trump in a prison facility isn't enough ... he needs his own facility for safety reasons.

BK -- who received a Presidential pardon from Trump in 2020 for numerous federal convictions -- explains Trump wouldn't be a high-risk inmate in terms of fighting guards, inmates, or attempting an escape -- instead, the environment around him would be high-risk.

Some scumbag pretending to be NBA prospect James McCain has been scamming fans out of their hard-earned money on Snapchat ... and now, the REAL James McCain's team is working to get the account removed from the app.

TMZ Sports has learned -- someone completely unaffiliated with 20-year-old McCain has been reaching out to people on the platform recently ... and after weeks of talking and building up trust, the user will eventually offer gifted items from SKIMS and other companies at a discounted price.

We're told some users have fallen for it -- after all, Kim Kardashian's brand recently partnered with the NCAA for March Madness ... and McCain was all over the campaign.

SKIMS also has a relationship with the NBA ... McCain's next employer.

Khabib Nurmagomedov wasn't in Islam Makhachev's corner for his last fight, but he will be Octagonside for Saturday's title scrap vs. Dustin Poirier ... and he's doing it for free!

TMZ Sports talked to Khabib and Islam's longtime manager, Ali Abdelaziz, this week ... and while all MMA fans are well aware of Nurmagomedov's exploits inside the cage, we asked about his talents as a coach -- and how it's impacted Makhachev's preparation heading into UFC 302.

"[Islam] had one of the greatest coaches you can ever have in your corner, Khabib. He's been coaching in the whole camp," Ali said, adding, "He had some of the best training partners you can ask for mimicking Dustin. We're fighting a dangerous opponent. You know, Dustin Poirier is a dangerous opponent, but I feel right now Islam is a hard guy to beat, you know?"

"And, he's going there for the kill. Everybody talks about Dustin Poirier, he's killed or to be killed. Tomorrow, Islam is going to be turned into a killing machine."

Typically, coaches receive a percentage of a fighter's pay ... but not Khabib, not this time.

"Khabib came to camp. He's not making money. He's not getting a percentage. He's spending his own money for his own flight just to help his brother."

Of course, Khabib, 29-0 (BTW, one of those wins came against Poirier), retired after beating Justin Gaethje in 2020 ... shortly after the tragic death of his father, Abdulmanap.

Since, Nurmagomedov has dedicated himself to coaching ... although he has stepped aside at times (he wasn't in Islam's corner for the Volkanovski fight at UFC 294).

Check out the clip. There's much more with Ali on Islam, Khabib, and some of his other star fighters.