Family

The wife of the Alabama politician who hurled the n-word at a city council meeting says they've been bombarded by threatening calls ... and they're living in fear of retaliation.

Nancy Mahler Bryant tells TMZ ... ever since her husband, John "Tommy" Bryant, went viral for blurting out the slur, she's been terrified someone is going to try to kill him and is worried about the rest of her family, too.

Nancy says they've received at least 400 calls to their home over the past few days from people all over the country who scream at them, call them racists and make threats.

ICYMI ... Bryant pointed at Veronica Freeman -- a Black councilwoman -- while asking if there's "a house n***er" in the room during a city council meeting.

She tells us Tommy always wears a bulletproof vest when he leaves the house, but he's also given her a pistol to have with her in case she needs to go somewhere ... or if someone tries to break into their home.

Nancy says, for now, she's not leaving the house though, and same goes for her 92-year-old mother who lives with them -- they aren't even letting her go outside to her garden over safety concerns.

She says they are also keeping the blinds closed all day for fear that if someone sees Councilman Bryant inside, they might try to shoot him.

As for Bryant ... he tells us the threats have him a little worried. However, he's steadfast he did nothing wrong in saying the n-word, and would not apologize for "doing what is right."

Keyshia Cole is speaking out for the first time since her mother's tragic death ... sharing what she loved about her mom and what she will miss the most now that she's gone.

Cole posted a series of photos with Frankie Lons Thursday with a lengthy caption to honor her late mother. She opens with, "This is so hard man. Can’t really even find the words. SMH. I honestly don’t even know how to feel. You can never prepare for something like this... Ever!!! but you will be missed."

While Keisha and Frankie weren't close while the singer was growing up -- she was raised by friends and relatives -- the two connected later in life, and their relationship was profiled on "Keyshia Cole: My New Life."

In Keisha's tribute to Frankie, she says, "I created this post to show my love and appreciation for your life and I would like to thank my fans + supporters, shooot your supporters and fans, for being here with us during these hard times, and the love that you all have for us.....the love for all your children was definitely felt."

It appears the family is organizing to have a service for Frankie in the near future with all of her kids in attendance, Keisha says, "When u said all you want is to have ALL OF YOUR CHILDREN IN ONE PLACE, AT ONE TIME meant the most to you, And I’m completely down to do that for you."

TMZ broke the story ... Frankie died at home in Oakland on Sunday, her birthday. Her son, Sam, told us she died of an overdose after a decades-long struggle with addiction.

Devastating news from Bobby Bowden -- the legendary Florida State coach just announced he is suffering from a terminal medical condition ... saying he is "prepared for what is to come."

91-year-old Bowden -- who won 2 national titles with the Seminoles -- spoke out about his health status on Wednesday.

"I've always tried to serve God's purpose for my life, on and off the field, and I am prepared for what is to come," Bowden told the Tallahassee Democrat. "My wife Ann and our family have been life's greatest blessing."

"I am at peace."

Bobby is one of the best coaches EVER -- he earned more than 350 wins in his time as the Seminoles' coach ... and was so good, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 while he was still on the FSU sidelines.

Bowden has not fully recovered from his health scare last year -- he tested positive for COVID-19 while getting treated for a skin infection ... and spent time in the hospital.

The report says the coach is currently under supervised care and "resting comfortably" at his home in Florida.

Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson seem to be keeping their word to co-parent without issue, taking their daughter to dance class as a family unit.

The two exes were spotted walking 3-year-old daughter, True, into her class in Calabasas Tuesday. Tristan did the heavy lifting, while Khloe trailed closely behind.

We're told they were in separate cars. Still, the outing proves what we've already reported ... that they're dedicated to co-parenting True, despite not being romantically involved anymore.

You'll recall ... Khloe pulled the plug on their relationship not too long ago -- this after even more rumors of cheating had been swirling in recent months ... not to mention allegations of paternity against Tristan. For now, they're just playing mom and dad to True -- and are clearly civil with one another.

It's interesting to see them in this type of setting ... because it almost gives a bit more context to the hostility Tristan showed toward Lamar Odom when he commented on a photo of Khloe.

Devastating news from Shannon Sharpe ... the Hall of Famer just revealed his beloved dog, Tarzan, tragically passed away this week.

The FS1 host posted an incredibly emotional tribute to his 4-legged friend on Monday ... saying, "It's with tremendous sadness that I share with you my Tarzan (Tuggs, Tuggman) Sharpe has crossed over."

"What would I give, spend to have 1 more hour, day let alone a yr with the sweetest little boy ever?"

Sharpe adds his other pup, Taz, is going to miss his "big bro" ... but promises to take good care of him.

Just a few months ago, Sharpe experienced similar heartbreak -- his dog, Tonkaman, died in April after getting sick.

Sharpe reflects on all the other dogs he's lost over the years ... telling Tarzan to share his treats in doggy heaven with them.

"I will see you and all my boys again and when I do, I'll shower you all with love for the lost time."

"No more pain, suffering now go play and enjoy your new home."

Of course, Sharpe is a HUGE dog lover ... sharing moments with his pups non-stop on his social media -- from playing dress-up to taking selfies.

He also used his vacation time to cover the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2018.

Biz Markie had a partner in rhyme pulling for him and his family up to the very end -- it was none other than Fat Joe, who provided emotional support like you wouldn't believe ... TMZ has learned.

The recently deceased MC's wife, Tara Hall, tells us that out of all the scores of people who reached out while Biz was ill ... Joe was the one who was always there, from the moment Biz entered the hospital last June due to complications from diabetes.

Tara says as soon as Joe heard the news, he was on the phone every single week with her -- checking in on Biz, on Tara and the rest of their loved ones to see if they needed anything, and to let them know he was there for them ... financially or otherwise.

She tells us Joe was literally willing to open his own wallet to whatever Biz's family needed during his hospital stay -- one which was fairly isolated due to COVID-19 regulations that really only allowed Tara to be by her husband's side, day in and day out.

Even now, after his death, Tara says Joe has offered to cover memorial or funeral costs -- however, she's politely turned him down each time, saying they don't need the dough ... but that she appreciates the gesture.

Joe's admiration for and dedication to Biz and his family are a sign of how beloved and respected he was in NYC's hip-hop community -- and while he's one of the few who went above and beyond, we're told several others were keeping tabs on the sitch.

Tara says other icons like Doug E. Fresh, Big Daddy Kane and Treach similarly checked in on their friend.

Paris Hilton wants Britney Spears' father to start listening to the chorus of voices demanding he let her out of the conservatorship pronto ... and she's sending her friend lotsa love.

Paris was heading into Fia Restaurant Monday night in Santa Monica with her sister, Nicky -- who was hosting the French Sole summer dinner party -- when a photog asked about Britney's battle.

Clearly, nothing's changed for Paris -- she's still very much on board with the "Free Britney" movement. You'll recall she publicly declared her position during her DJ set in Las Vegas ... days after Brit's testimony.

But, Paris' support for Britney dates back to last year when she told Andy Cohen, "I just love her so much. I feel like if you are an adult, you should be able to live your life and not be controlled."

As we've reported ... Britney posted #FreeBritney herself last week after crying in court and reiterating her desire to end the conservatorship. She also made claims that her father, Jamie, and others had threatened her, and said she wants her dad investigated for conservator abuse.

Normani's "Wild Side" has delighted and surprised fans with its homage to Aaliyah ... and the late singer's uncle says she would have been totally cool with it too.

If ya missed it, Normani released her first new track in a couple years, and along with featuring Cardi B ... many music folks believe it contains a sample of Aaliyah's "One in a Million."

That raised some eyebrows, because Aaliyah's music is rarely sampled and isn't even available on streaming services, but according to a very close member of her family ... it's all good.

Barry Hankerson -- Aaliyah's uncle and manager of her catalog -- tells TMZ ... his niece "always encouraged young women pursuing their musical and entertainment careers, to achieve their dreams."

Hankerson is the founder of Blackground Records and says he owns all of Aaliyah's masters, and he says it's clear Normani has been inspired by her music. He adds ... "I believe that Aaliyah would be very supportive of a young Black woman that chose to emulate her music and style."

Barry did add that it would have been "more honorable" if the singer sought approval to sample "One in a Million" first, but ultimately, he does seem to give his seal of approval.

He says ... "I will not stand in the way of something that brings to light the incredible staying power of Aaliyah. So in that light, wishing Normani well with the song and overall career. God bless. I think Aaliyah would be pleased."

An attorney for Blackground confirmed with us that the Aaliyah sample was never officially cleared for use, HOWEVER ... Normani's team insists that "Wild Side" doesn't actually use a direct sample.

Jennifer Lopez is taking a very hands-on approach to finding her new home, 'cause it's not every day you see J Lo scaling ladders on construction sites.

Jennifer and her crew hit up an under-construction home Saturday in Bel Air -- this pad is actually a stone's throw away from her current home. It's unclear if the unfinished product's a project she'll take over to add the finishing touches, but she seemed very interested in the property.

You can see she's climbing ladders and talking to folks onsite -- including developer, Ardie Tavangarian, of the ARYA Group -- and looking perfectly comfortable in the dusty element ... all while looking like she just stepped out of a photo shoot for a fitness mag. Talk about nailing it.

As you know by now ... J Lo and her BF Ben Affleck have been all over town looking for potential residential landing spots for her. He tagged along last week as she checked out a stunning $65 million estate in L.A.'s upscale Holmby Hills neighborhood.

The pad was a whopping 31,000-square-foot palace with 8 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. It even has its own bowling alley.

Not long after that visit ... Bennifer was at it again in an upscale Santa Monica neighborhood and not too far from Ben's Pacific Palisades digs. Only this time, Jennifer's kiddos, Emme and Max, got to offer their input.

Keyshia Cole's biological mother, Frankie Lons, has died, passing away on her birthday after a several-decades-long struggle with addiction ... TMZ has learned.

The R&B singer's brother, Sam, tells us ... Frankie overdosed at her Oakland home Sunday ... the same day she was celebrating her born day, when she apparently took drugs while partying -- relapsing on what we're told was a long, hard-fought journey to sobriety.

Sam says he was checking in with Frankie daily, trying to help her stay clean ... a well-documented battle that Keyshia and co. had captured and shared publicly in recent years ... via television, social media and other channels.

Sam also says the family wants the world to remember Frankie as someone who loved her kids, and who wanted her children to be together ... despite their turbulent history.

Keyshia was given up by Frankie and her biological father, Virgil Hunter, for adoption at a very young age -- she ended up being raised by family friends ... and reunited with her birth parents later in life as an adult -- after she'd hit it big on the music scene.

Their family dynamic is one Keyshia actually filmed for reality TV on BET -- featuring a few different shows -- with the main series being "Keyshia Cole My New Life" ... on which Frankie cameoed often, and where the mother and daughter duo shared many heart-to-hearts.

Keyshia was also quite vocal on her mother's addiction struggles ... keeping tabs on her checking into rehab and encouraging her to stay on the straight and narrow -- posting photos and videos of her mom before her time at a facility and cheering on her success.

As of March of last year, Frankie hit a huge benchmark ... staying 60 days sober, something her daughter was proud to share with her IG fans and followers. She has yet to comment on her mother's death.

Frankie had just turned 61.

Dr. Dre's son, Curtis Young, is ready to step out from his father's shadow and make a name for himself in Hollywood ... and he's doing it by landing a starring role in a feature film.

Curtis tells TMZ ... he's not only starring in the new film, "Charge It to the Game," but also composing original music for the movie.

The film is a coming-of-age story about 4 best friends finding their way through adolescence and navigating obstacles along the way ... and Curtis says he's playing the role of Kong, one of the friends' older brothers.

It's pretty cool ... Curtis says his character's younger brother is being played by Snoop Dogg's son, Julian Broadus ... and Swizz Beat's son, Nasir Dean, is playing one of the 4 best friends.

Curtis, who says he's always wanted to get into acting because art's in his blood, will score the film with Nasir.

His big break's been a long time coming ... Curtis had auditioned to play his father in "Straight Out of Compton," but didn't get the part, even though he felt he had a good shot.

Bill Cosby's wife raised eyebrows by stepping out without her wedding ring -- which she's previously worn -- but Bill's rep says it's just how she rolls these days, and not a sign of marital strife.

Camille Cosby was walking into a building Friday in NYC, and her left ring finger was looking a little lighter than usual ... as she clearly wasn't wearing her wedding band. You'll recall, Mrs. Cosby excitedly greeted her husband at home when he was suddenly released from a Pennsylvania state prison last month.

It certainly seemed like she was still standing by her man ... which is why the ring-free outing came as such a surprise. However, Cosby's rep, Andrew Wyatt, tells TMZ ... folks are reading into it too much.

Wyatt says, "I know many people who don’t wear rings and they haven't worn them in 30 years. It's hilarious because Mr. & Mrs. Cosby have been happily married for 57 years and counting."

What's unclear, though, is exactly when Camille stopped wearing her ring. Back in 2017, during Cosby's trial ... she was wearing what looks like a wedding band on her left ring finger.

Wyatt seems to think Cosby's haters are just digging for a negative story, saying ... "These are the same "media insurrectionist," who are angry that this intelligent, strong and vibrant Black Woman, Mrs. Cosby stood by her husband, as well as vehemently proclaimed Mr. Cosby's innocence."

If you ever wanna see Britney Spears perform onstage again, then you better listen up ... because she just laid her terms quite clearly (again) with a warning shot to impatient haters.

It appears some of her followers have gotten under her skin over the dance videos she's been posting in recent years ... which often take place right there in her living room. To the folks in her comments clamoring to see her do that in a show ... she's telling 'em to shove it.

Britney opens her latest IG post with this ... "For those of you who choose to criticize my dancing videos ... look I'm not gonna be performing on any stages anytime soon with my dad handling what I wear, say, do, or think 🚫🙅🏼‍♀️ 🚫!!!! I've done that for the past 13 years ..."

We've already known Britney has said she wouldn't perform again with Jamie still in the picture -- so, now, she's doubling down further, digging her heels in on the issue.

Anyway, she goes on to claim that while she performed in Vegas, the folks running her conservatorship controlled just about every aspect of it ... right down to her wardrobe, makeup, dance moves and song selection -- which BS seems to take issue with, as she suggests those were remixes as opposed to her original songs (old and new) in their pure form.

Britney also takes a shot at her sister, Jamie Lynn Spears ... writing, "I don't like that my sister showed up at an awards show and performed MY SONGS to remixes !!!!! My so-called support system hurt me deeply !!!! This conservatorship killed my dreams ..."

Britney appears to be referring to a handful of times where JLS has worked 'Oops' into some of her own original songs for smaller shows -- but more specifically, it seems ... when Jamie Lynn and other pop singers paid tribute to Britney during the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards with a mash-up/medley.

At any rate ... Britney finished her rant by talking hope, and her desire to hold out hope that she can get her life back -- despite people apparently telling her otherwise. She likens it to a fairy tale, one which she says she wants to hold onto ... skeptics be damned.

Britney Spears is telling someone -- possibly her sister, Jamie Lynn -- to hop off the #FreeBritney bandwagon, because they didn't lift a finger to help her when she was at her lowest.

The singer is pissed off, and let it show as she said, "There’s nothing worse than when the people closest to you who never showed up for you post things in regard to your situation whatever it may be and speak righteously for support … there’s nothing worse than that!!!!"

Britney's rage seemed to build the more she typed in the Friday night IG post, which started with a photo with text that read ... "Never forget who ignored you when you needed them and who helped you before you even had to ask."

Simple enough ... but the caption is where she excoriated someone many fans believe is either her kid sister or her mom, Lynne Spears ... or both of them.

Brit added, "How dare the people you love the most say anything at all … did they even put a hand out to even lift me up at the TIME !!!??? How dare you make it public that NOW you CARE … did you put your hand out when I was drowning????"

The rant comes after Jamie Lynn seemed to react to Wednesday's conservatorship hearing with a post that simply said, "Dear Lord, Can we end this bull shit once and for all. Amen.”

Jamie Lynn also posted a video last month -- following Britney's emotional testimony in another hearing -- stating she fully supports Britney's effort to end the conservatorship.

For her part, Brit's mother had filed legal docs requesting her daughter be allowed to select her own lawyer. It was an odd move -- which some saw as a suck up to Britney -- because Lynne has no legal standing in the case. She's not a conservator or legal guardian of Britney.

Since demanding to speak in open court last month, Britney's been going scorched earth on anyone she feels has crossed her -- with most of her ire being directed at her father, Jamie Spears.

And, that's why she so publicly celebrated -- horseback riding and cartwheeling -- when the judge approved her new attorney, Mathew Rosengart.

As we first told you ... Britney has told Rosengart his first job is getting Jamie removed from his current gig as sole conservator of her estate -- a duty Rosengart started leaning into during the hearing as he told Jamie if he loved his daughter "he would resign today."

Miesha Tate says her UFC return isn't about money or fame ... it's about regaining her championship belt, and showing her kids women can be good moms and kick ass!!

TMZ Sports talked to 34-year-old Tate -- who hasn't been in the Octagon under the bright lights of the UFC since November 2016 ... when she lost to Raquel Pennington.

FYI, that happened to be UFC 205 -- the Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez card -- one of the fights that made The Notorious a global superstar.

1,708 days later, Tate is taking on 44-year-old Marion Reneau as the co-main event at UFC Fight Night ... and we asked the UFC star what she wanted to accomplish this 2nd time around.

"This is not just a cash grab, it’s not just a fight. I want to be a champion again."

In fact, Tate -- who beat Holly Holm for the bantamweight title in 2016 -- tells us the layoff actually made her a BETTER fighter.

"Much better. I’m not gonna lie, much better. But, I have to prove that, so just let me glow up and then I can prove it to you guys."

And, Miesha says the comeback isn't only about her ... it's also about showing her kids that women can be great moms AND also have a badass and super-successful career.

"I love my kids more than anything, but at the same time, I want to show them that just because you become a mother, you know mothers get lost a lot of times in our world. It’s ok for the dad to do and be, but the mom just kinda just be the mom," Tate says.

Prosecutors have just hit Richard Sherman with five charges -- including DUI and criminal trespass -- after he allegedly melted down at his in-laws' home on Wednesday morning.

Officials just made the announcement, explaining all five charges are misdemeanors.

They also said they expect Sherman to appear in court for an arraignment hearing later Friday and plead not guilty to the charges.

The five counts levied against Sherman are as follows, according to prosecutors:

-Driving While Under the Influence

-Reckless Endangerment of Roadway Workers

-Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree – domestic violence

-Resisting Arrest

-Malicious Mischief in the Third Degree - domestic violence

As we previously reported, Sherman is accused of driving drunk, crashing his car, and then exploding at his in-laws' home in Redmond, Wash. just after 12 a.m. on Wednesday.

Police say Sherman tried to violently break into his wife's parents' house ... and after cops confronted him at the scene -- they say he became non-cooperative and began fighting them.

Cops say they were eventually able to take him down with the help of a police K9 ... and put him in jail, where Sherman ultimately spent close to 2 days.

The 33-year-old NFL star was eventually released without bail late Thursday afternoon.

Story developing ...