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Travis Scott could have avoided his arrest in Miami last week if he hadn't left some stuff behind on the yacht where the incident went down ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the rapper had been driven away from the yacht, when he told his driver to go back to the marina early last Thursday morning.

We're told Travis realized he'd left his bag and phone on the yacht, and banged a u-turn to retrieve the items.

Former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau is laying out the keys to victory for President Biden, at least when it comes to debating Donald Trump ... and it's more about demeanor than policy.

Jon joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live" to share some insight on how Biden is most likely preparing for Thursday's presidential debate, and what it's going to take to have a successful night.

With all the concerns, valid or not, about Biden's age, Jon says POTUS needs to bring the energy on stage ... and be forceful in everything he says.

Bill Cobbs, an actor with over 50 years of experience in Hollywood, is dead ... TMZ has confirmed.

Bill died Tuesday at his home in the Inland Empire in CA ... according to his publicist, Chuck I. Jones.

With an acting career spanning all the way back to the 1970s, Bill has nearly 200 movie and TV show credits to his name.

Killer Mike's legal troubles are behind him ... 'cause TMZ has learned he's officially off the hook for his pre-Grammys arrest, as long as he keeps his nose clean.

Prosecutors in the L.A. City Attorney's Office tell us they will not be filing charges against Mike for his confrontation with an event security guard, back in February, which led to his citizen's arrest.

We're told he successfully completed his city attorney hearing ... after which he agreed to do some community service with a non-profit organization of his choice.

A Michael Jackson impersonator got to celebrate MJ's life by getting close to his family -- meeting Janet Jackson shortly before the 15th anniversary of his passing ... but it cost him a bundle.

Carlo Riley, an MJ tribute artist, tells TMZ ... he finally got to meet Michael's sister after one of her concerts last weekend. Janet had just performed in St. Louis, and Carlo made it to the show.

He says he also decided to fork out an extra $2,000 for the meet-and-greet experience with Janet after the concert.

Things between Bill Belichick and his 23-year-old girlfriend definitely appear to be serious ... as TMZ Sports has learned the couple has been living together for months.

Sources close to the duo tell us ... Jordon Hudson moved in with 72-year-old Belichick at the ex-New England head coach's home in Hingham, Mass. right around the start of the new year -- and since then, where one goes, the other isn't far behind.

We're told the duo has hardly spent any time apart since the move-in -- even when they're away from their now-shared residence.

Boyd Tinsley is facing new legal woes -- 'cause the famous violinist was arrested for DUI after allegedly having a run-in with another car ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us the Dave Matthews Band alum was busted Monday in Rio, VA after officers responded to a 2-vehicle crash. We're told cuffs were slapped on Boyd after about 20 minutes ... this after cops say they suspected he was driving under the influence.

Obviously, the narrative's a bit murky -- but we've got video of Tinsley interacting with police on the scene, and have more of an understanding of what might've happened here.

Sunny Hostin says it's humanizing to see Jennifer Lopez flying commercial, and a sure sign she can still be a humble girl from the Bronx ... even though she's a world away from "the block."

We got Sunny Tuesday outside ABC Studios in NYC, where our photog asked her about the images we got of J Lo sitting in a window seat on an Air France flight from Italy to France. Now, she was flying business class, but it's still a far cry from her usual private jet lifestyle.

Sunny says the commercial air travel makes Jennifer more like a woman of the people ... and she likes the fact the singer/actress/dancer can still fly among the normies, despite all her fame and fortune.

Diddy's guitar autographed with his former Puff Daddy moniker is going up on the auction block -- and experts are watching to see if his public downfall helps or hurts the final price.

GottaHaveRockAndRoll is expecting upwards of $2K to be splashed out on the electric guitar that boasts the inscription "Luv, Puff Daddy, Bad Boy 4 Life" in silver felt-tip pen -- a nod to his 2001 hit song with that title, and the mogul's label Bad Boy Records ... home to rap legends like Notorious B.I.G.

The instrument comes with a James Spence Authentication (JSA) Letter of Authenticity, and a Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity ... so, bidders know they're getting the real thing.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is flat-out denying he called a woman the N-word while a member of the Duke men's basketball team ... saying the interaction simply never happened.

Halleemah Nash -- an author, speaker, and Duke alum -- dropped the bombshell allegation on social media on Tuesday ... claiming, "I've only been called the N word to my face by a white man once in my life and it was on the campus of Duke University while I was doing work with the basketball team."

"And today he was named the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. What a world."

Bret "Epic" Mazur -- who formed Crazy Town with Shifty Shellshock -- talked to his late ex-bandmate a few months before he died ... and says SS seemed upbeat about the future.

We caught up with Epic Tuesday in the studio -- and he tells TMZ ... Shifty was actually stoked about making new music when they last spoke over the phone, and there was no indication Shifty was in a bad space, or going through something out of the ordinary.

TMZ broke the story ... cops are looking into Shifty's sudden death Monday as a possible fatal overdose. But based on what his former bandmate's saying here ... Seth was far from that reality.

Gayle King's continuing to stick by Justin Timberlake through his DWI drama ... slamming cancel culture for pouncing on people over one misstep, which is what she considers this.

We caught Gayle King in NYC Tuesday, and she reiterated her stance that initially caught flak -- namely, defending JT. While she doesn't condone drunk driving, which she clarified again here, she also says this doesn't make Justin a reckless or irresponsible person.

Gayle admits it was (allegedly) a huge blunder on JT's part -- but she thinks he's genuinely regretful ... even though his attorney has telegraphed a different vibe. Either way ... GK's tired of trying to cancel people so freaking quickly over single, high-profile slip-ups.

Kenya Moore is officially putting down her peach for this next season at least -- 'cause she ain't coming back to 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' ... and this could possibly turn ugly.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Kenya will not return as a cast member for the rest of production for the new season (16) after she was sidelined indefinitely for allegedly unveiling sexually explicit posters of newcomer Brittany Eady seemingly performing oral sex.

Now, we're told Kenya has not been fired from 'RHOA' ... instead, we're told both sides have agreed she's just gonna take a break from the show for now. Our sources say Bravo is keeping the door open for a future return -- however, we're also told Kenya is considering legal options at this point ... because she's not happy with how this whole mess unfolded.

Crazy Town frontman Shifty Shellshock's sudden death is under investigation ... and law enforcement sources tell us cops are looking into the possibility of a fatal drug overdose.

We're told police and fire responded to Shifty's L.A. area home Monday afternoon, after someone stopped by the house and found his body on the floor.

Our sources say drug paraphernalia and a lighter were found near the body ... which is why police are treating his death as a possible OD.

Paul Mitchell's son's death remains shrouded in mystery -- because even though we now know how he died ... it's still unclear exactly what led up to it, and why.

TMZ has obtained the police report and medical examiner's report for Angus Mitchell's death case in Hawaii -- and the paperwork certainly sheds more light on what happened before AM passed away ... as well as what went into trying to save him.

According to the docs, cops say witnesses told them Angus had been partying with friends the night before he was found at the bottom of the pool at his Honolulu home ... but nobody had a clear explanation on what led up to him getting into the water and never reemerging.

Disney ain't gonna be singing "YMCA" anytime soon -- 'cause the wife of the most famous member of the Village People is taking the entertainment behemoth to court ... alleging they blackballed the band from booking gigs at its theme parks.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Karen Willis -- the wife of Victor Willis and manager of the VP trademark for live performances -- filed suit against the Mouse House late last year for what she claims was outright hostile treatment of her hubby and another original member.

The issue all stems from a couple performances Willis says the Village People were hired for in 2018 -- when she says Disney booked 'em to do their thing at Disney World in FL.