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Some folks are outraged over a live tiger's presence at LSU's game against Alabama ... and that includes Big Cat Rescue founder Carole Baskin -- who tells TMZ Sports the stunt was "blatant disregard for the tiger's well-being."

Saturday marked the first time since 2015 a Panthera Tigris was on the field for an LSU football game ... at state governor Jeff Landry's request. He initially wanted the host school to roll out its current tiger mascot, Mike, to the field for pregame festivities ... but the university declined.

Landry then resorted to bringing a tiger from Florida ... which irked Baskin for several reasons.

Britney Spears is reconnecting, face-to-face, with her son Jayden after years of not seeing each other, TMZ has confirmed -- but Kevin Federline is surprised to hear people calling it a full melting of their icy relationship.

TMZ has learned Jayden has seen Britney a couple of times recently since moving back to California from Hawaii, but as for a full-on reconciliation between them ... Kevin’s been left in the dark.

Kevin’s lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, tells TMZ ... "If there has been a reconciliation it’s news to Kevin." Mark adds that Kevin speaks to Jayden frequently and hasn’t been told about any kind of reconciliation between the 18-year-old and his mom.

It seems a Deontay Wilder vs. Francis Ngannou super fight might actually happen ... 'cause the Bronze Bomber tells TMZ Sports he's down to begin negotiations now!

Ngannou, of course, said just a couple weeks ago he was hoping to get in the boxing ring with Wilder soon ... and, when we caught up with DW out at LAX this week, he seemed very open to the idea.

In fact, he told us he wants to get Ngannou's team on the phone and begin talks ASAP!

1:28 PM PT -- Sources close to Alfonso tell TMZ ... the ankle injury is indeed minor, and he's returning to production today to finish the special. We're also told he plans to participate in filming the 500th episode of "Dancing with the Stars" Tuesday.

Alfonso Ribeiro won't be "Dancing with the Stars" for a little while it looks like ... 'cause he injured his ankle while filming a dance number at Disney World -- and, TMZ has it on video.

The actor -- who hosts the reality dance competition show -- was filming an ABC holiday special at the Florida theme park when eyewitnesses tell us he stepped on one of the trolley rails and rolled his ankle.

Watch the video, taken in the aftermath of the misstep ... Alfonso's leaning heavily on 'DWTS' cohost Julianne Hough, seemingly afraid to put his weight on the ankle -- before a production team member runs over with a chair so he can sit in the street.

Leonardo DiCaprio turns 50 on Monday ... but he got the party started early last evening, throwing a huge, celeb-studded bash in Los Angeles.

TMZ obtained photos of the long line of stars exiting the Saturday night soiree held at a private home in the Hollywood Hills.

Check out this eye-popping list ... Tobey Maguire, Emile Hirsch, Edward Norton, Benicio Del Toro, Jamie Foxx, Bill Maher, Chuck Liddell, Chris Rock, Orlando Bloom, Steven Spielberg, Paris Hilton, Katy Perry, Robin Thicke, Cara Delevingne, Dr. Dre, Anderson Paak, Tyga and Brad Pitt with girlfriend Ines de Ramon.

Jennifer Lopez made a grand entrance to the L.A. premiere of "Wicked" — looking absolutely stunning in her skin-baring gown as fans crowded around to catch a glimpse of her.

TMZ obtained video of J Lo making her way inside Saturday night's event at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in DTLA, but the actress/singer stopped to acknowledge her many admirers.

Check out the clip ... As J Lo walks toward a large archway with "Wicked" emblazoned across the top, fans are screaming her name from behind police barriers lining either side of the street.

Robert Vito -- an actor who starred in a 'Spy Kids' movie and several other shows in the early 2000s -- was arrested Friday on a felony domestic violence charge ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... officers responded to Vito's L.A.-area home Friday night after they received a call about an alleged domestic violence incident.

Our sources say Vito and his girlfriend allegedly got into a verbal argument which turned physical ... and, Vito apparently pushed her into some furniture. Cops also tell us Vito allegedly threw his young son onto the couch before knocking him down.

Rylee Arnold's relationship with USC football player Walker Lyons is just days old ... but it's clearly going well -- as she tells TMZ Sports she's "loving life" with her new man!!

Arnold and Lyons went Instagram official shortly after the "Dancing With The Stars" pro caught one of his Trojans games last month ... and it's apparently been smooth sailing ever since -- as Arnold was nothing but smiles when talking about the guy this week.

While out running errands in Beverly Hills, Arnold told us she's "super happy" with her tight-end love interest ... and called their dynamic "really fun."

Ex-NBA star Stephon Marbury believes his New York Knicks are in a position to win a championship right now ... but tells TMZ Sports he wouldn't mind adding a few more key players along the way.

We caught up with Starbury out in NYC this week ... and had to ask about all the speculation surrounding his former team's interest in acquiring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

While Marbury didn't really weigh in on Giannis specifically, he did say he'd hold the door open for any major talent ... as long as they mesh with the other guys on the current roster.

Boxer Lamont Roach says his January bout against Gervonta Davis will be the fight of the year ... telling TMZ Sports he's gunning to shock the world and hand Tank the first L of his career!

We spoke with the 25-1 fighter ahead of his upcoming matchup with Tank, who will be defending his lightweight title in Houston, TX.

Some might consider it a mismatch ... considering Tank is one of the biggest stars in boxing, while Roach is still on the rise.

Kevin DiCicco, the man who owned Buddy -- star of the popular "Air Bud" movies -- and helped create the film series is in dire straits ... he's homeless, about to be kicked out of the shelter where he's staying.

TMZ spoke to DiCicco Saturday ... who tells us he's staying at a shelter down in San Diego, but his 90-day limit is coming to an end soon -- and, he has no idea where he'll go from here. It's the end of the line ... and, he's terrified.

Kevin -- who found future dog actor Buddy near his Yosemite cabin and took him in back in the day -- explains his next step seems to be living on the street ... complicated by the major health issue with which he is dealing.

The biggest stars from New Jersey are ready to shake up the reality TV scene in their state ... 'cause the stars of "Jersey Shore" linked up with "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" for a star-studded crossover.

The "Jersey Shore: Family Vacation" team was filming at TAO -- a club in NYC last night ... and, they brought in a few other New Jersey-based stars to film alongside them.

Check out the clip obtained by TMZ ... Snooki's chatting with Melissa and Joe Gorga -- two of the biggest names from 'RHONJ' -- all while cameras roll.

Diddy's lawyers say they've received a trove of discovery material from the government over the past 6 weeks — and they’re going after the federal prosecutors' assertion there's a possible second victim.

According to legal docs filed Friday and obtained by TMZ, Diddy's attorneys attacked the government's claim there was a potential second victim of Diddy's alleged sex trafficking operation.

As you know, the original indictment pointed specifically to one unnamed victim, who seems to be his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, based on the allegations. The feds charged Diddy with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Donald Trump is on his way back to the White House ... and the controversy surrounding the death of Peanut the squirrel might have helped ... at least that's what the squirrel's owner thinks.

Mark Longo told TMZ he was humbled and honored that on Monday, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance was at a rally, talking about how "fired up" DT was over the death of Peanut ... which ML is sure helped them at the polls.

Those campaign comments -- as ML sees it -- showed Trump cares about the little guy ... even if that little guy is a medium-sized rodent that took social media by storm with his tricks.

Some liberal women are on a sex strike to punish men over Donald Trump being reelected president ... but it might not work out how they envision -- so says Farrah Abraham.

Here's the skinny ... Dems seemed to think a possible DT defeat would be a referendum on abortion rights. And as that did not happen, some women are calling for a sex strike along the lines of "4B," a trend that began in South Korea in 2018 in the wake of America's #MeToo movement.

Farrah tells TMZ ... she is all for women choosing to be abstinent, and that they should have bodily autonomy -- but a sex strike simply over DT's win is pretty lame.

Stipe Miocic is returning to the Octagon after almost 4 years away for a fight against the legendary Jon Jones ... in front of a packed crowd at Madison Square Garden that could include President-elect Donald Trump!

With the UFC's heavyweight title on the line ... we asked 42-year-old Miocic whether he'd be down for 45 (& soon-to-be 47) to play Dana White for a night, and wrapping the belt around his waist if he defeat Bones.

"I'm not against it," Stipe responded, saying, "That'd be kinda cool to have a president do it. President-elect."