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To those hating on Bronny James, John Salley's got a message for y'all -- pipe down!!!

The former Lakers center defended LeBron James' son and L.A.'s decision to pick him up in June's NBA draft this week ... saying straight up, all of the teenager's detractors are simply "mad they didn't think of it or do it" themselves.

"Listen," the four-time NBA champion told TMZ Sports out at LAX. "If my dad had the power, if my dad was the leading scorer, if my dad was able to take a pay cut so I could get a check -- it's like no other business."

Blake Lively's getting by with some help from her friend Taylor Swift, who's hosting a celeb-packed weekend celebration for Blake's 37th birthday at her Rhode Island seaside mansion.

TMZ got the first shots of Taylor and her man Travis Kelce chilling at the $17 million pad on Saturday. It looked like a romantic weekend getaway for them but turns out they were also prepping for their big-name guests to arrive.

Later in the day, birthday girl Blake showed up with hubby Ryan Reynolds -- and the couple shared a smooch outside on one of the home's many sun-kissed decks.

9:40 AM PT -- Nicki’s attorney, Judd Burstein tells TMZ … “Mr. Peak has been harassing Nicki on social media for years on end to no avail."

"He has now graduated to seeking to shake her down financially with manifestly false allegations and legally frivolous claims. He will regret having gone down this disreputable road when he is forced to pay her legal fees as required by California law.”

Nicki Minaj has a pissed-off Barb on her hands -- one of her avid fans claims Nicki publicly humiliated him by calling him a mentally unstable stalker and ... so, now he's suing.

The New York rapper was named as a defendant in the suit filed by plaintiff Tameer Peak in L.A. Superior Court – and the allegations paint Nicki as a full-blown bully.

According to the documents, obtained by TMZ, Tameer refers to himself as one of Nicki's most ardent followers for the past 15 years, and claims he helped her career by promoting her 2023 album, "Pink Friday 2."

Cristiano Ronaldo may have broken the record for most subscribers in 90 minutes on YouTube ... but there's just no way in hell he's catching up to MrBeast's astronomical figures -- so says Jake Paul.

Many had wondered if the soccer superstar could reach 300 million like Beast, given his wild numbers in just a few days of launching his channel -- but Paul told TMZ Sports on Friday, he just doesn't see it happening.

Now, that's not any kind of shade from the boxer -- Paul actually praised Ronaldo for scoring the number -- but he just thinks MrBeast's digits are in a whole 'nother stratosphere.

WWE Superstar Liv Morgan might have the Women's World Championship AND Rhea Ripley's man, but she's not ready to make her "Revenge Tour" a thing of the past just yet ... telling TMZ Sports there's still some gas left in that tank!!

Liv's been on a mission ever since she returned from the shoulder injury she suffered at the hands of Ripley last year ... doing everything in her power to make her nemesis' life a living hell in 2024.

That all came to a head at SummerSlam earlier this month ... when Morgan defeated Ripley to retain the belt -- then stole "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio in the process.

Erislandy Lara's knockout win streak all comes to an end on September 14 ... so says Danny Garcia, who tells TMZ Sports the middleweight boxer will instead catch an L!

We spoke with the 37-3 fighter ahead of his anticipated match against Lara -- "Swift's" first fight in two years -- something he says has been good for him, both mentally and physically.

"I feel better than ever," the 36-year-old told us of the break from the ring. "That was the best thing I did."

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's love story's heating back up ... 'cause they're side-by-side again after weeks apart -- cuddling up at her beach house.

TMZ has obtained photos from Taylor's Rhode Island home ... capturing the pair appearing just over the edge of her balcony as they soaked in the salty air coming off the Atlantic.

The pics are taken pretty far away ... but, there's Kelce, recongizable mustache and longer hair slinging his arms around Taylor as the two reunited for some much-needed time together after weeks apart.

Kanye West's living it up in South Korea with his family ... taking his daughter North to a toy store for a little shopping R&R.

The doting dad of four hit the kids store with North Saturday ... checking out some of the hottest items South Korea has to offer together while North's little siblings and Ye's better half Bianca Censori were off on their own.

Unclear if this was just a Ye/North outing or if the rest of the group was in a different part of the store when these pics were snapped ... but, either way, it's some quality time for North and her old man.

Jennifer Garner's certainly putting any Ben Affleck reunion rumors to bed ... looking totally thrilled on a date with beau John Miller after news of her ex's divorce broke.

The happy couple left an L.A. restaurant together Friday night ... and, check out the smiles on their faces -- clearly, these two lovebirds are crazy about one another.

The two dressed casually for their evening out ... Jennifer in a comfy blue sweater while John's rocking a t-shirt and flannel -- smiles galore while the valet runs to get their car.

Leonardo DiCaprio's keeping summer hot over in France ... showing off his beach bod during a yacht trip -- and, his girlfriend got the topless memo too.

The actor jumped into the Mediterranean during his sojourn to Cannes ... splashing around in the cool, blue water before working on his tan on the ship's massive deck.

BTW ... Leo's rockin' a man-bun in these pics -- unclear if it's for a role or just a style choice, but either way, Leo's definitely pulling it off.

The remake of "The Crow" is in theaters this weekend after critics absolutely demolished it ... and a star of the original flick is pissed the new project was ever conceived.

Here is the deal ... Brandon Lee, the son of legendary martial artist Bruce Lee, was shot and killed on the set of the 1994 film in an accident eerily similar to the more recent "Rust" tragedy involving Alec Baldwin.

For years, fans have been outspoken the movie shouldn't be remade, as it could tarnish the legacy and honor of Brandon.

Bryan Danielson is staring down the barrel of what could be the last match of his wrestling career ... but, if he ends up beating Swerve Strickland for the AEW title, he'd love to become the face of AEW!

Danielson chopped it up with Mojo Muhtadi on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs nightly on FS1) to discuss his Title Vs. Career match going down this Sunday at AEW All In.

While people are busy reflecting on the career of BD -- with speculation he could be done after the match -- he told us if he were to win Sunday, he'd welcome a role he's rarely been allowed to fill ... being considered "The Man."

Jared Cannonier may be outside what many consider a fighter's "prime years," but the 40-year-old isn't stressing Father Time ... telling TMZ Sports he's taking things one fight at a time, and still sees title shots in his future!

We caught up with the fifth-ranked UFC middleweight before his main event contest with 12th-ranked middleweight contender, Caio Borralho.

Cannonier -- who celebrated his 40th trip around the Sun in March -- says he isn't thinking about how much longer he plans on fighting.

Bob Dylan fans searching for the ultimate memorabilia just might find the answer blowing in the wind ... or on a collector's site that's hawking some of his handwritten lyrics.

BD scribbled out the words to his iconic 1962 tune, "Blowin' in the Wind" -- previously ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest songs of all time -- in a hotel room back in 2011 for a collector. He even signed the paper for authentication purposes.

Now, the lyrics penned by the man himself are selling for $85,000 on the collector's site, Momentsintime.com.

John Legend's tribute to Prince at the Democratic National Convention was good, but it pales in comparison to the song itself ... so says the late Purple Rain singer's ex-manager.

We spoke with L. Londell McMillan -- who previously worked as both manager and attorney to the ethereal star -- about JL's performance at the DNC this week ... a show which pissed a lot of people off.

ICYMI ... fans called out Legend, 'cause he sounds a lot like himself while singing, and not enough like Prince, while performing with longtime Prince collaborator Sheila E. -- and, many people felt he wasn't the right person to sing "Let's Go Crazy."

Rapper Enchanting, who died suddenly back in June, is yet another victim of the opioid crisis -- an accidental overdose is the official cause of death ... TMZ has learned.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office tells us the Texas-born star Enchanting OD'd on oxycodone and benzodiazepines. Oxycodone is the synthetic opioid and benzodiazepines are a class of depressants -- commonly marketed as brands that include Valium, Xanax and Klonopin.

Enchanting, whose real name was Channing Nicole Larry, was set to be the First Lady of Gucci Mane’s 1017 Records before her tragic death.