Taco Bell Hit-&-Run Car Plows Thru Crowd, Smashes Entrance ... Cops Searching for Driver

hit-and-run

Cops are on the hunt for suspects who allegedly got into a fight with Taco Bell employees at the drive-thru ... then plowed through a group of people as it crashed into the front of the place.

The insane incident went down in Charles County, Maryland ... where police say the suspects committed a hit-and-run a little after 10 PM Wednesday.

The video shows the suspect's vehicle pull up to a small crowd in front of the T Bell, then back up a little bit before flooring it into a few people as it smashes through the entrance.

According to Charles County law enforcement ... the occupants in the vehicle were in an argument with an employee working the drive-thru before the hit-and-run. Cops say they were told one of the suspects got out and assaulted the employee at the window, then got back in the vehicle.

The driver then allegedly pulled up to the front ... which is where the vid picks up. Police say 2 people were treated at the scene for injuries and one was taken to the hospital for injuries that are not life-threatening.

Cops say they located the vehicle shortly afterward at a nearby house, and we're told cops are working on positively identifying the driver.

Law enforcement tells TMZ it's unclear how many people were inside the car, but can confirm there were at least 2 females involved ... and the driver was possibly female.

Travis Scott B.Y.O.B. Is How I Roll ... Even in Fancy Malibu

BRING YOUR OWN CACTI

Travis Scott loves his new spiked seltzer beverage so much ... he's willing to sneak in a case of it to one of the nicest restaurants in L.A.

The rapper hit up Malibu's Nobu restaurant Sunday night with some friends, but instead of sipping on sake, wine or cocktails ... he was apparently cracking open cans of CACTI, his recently-launched booze brand.

Trav posted a video of an open 9-pack of the beverage next to him at his table, along with a shot of his ocean view.

BRAVING THE SWARM
BACKGRID

The scene was a lot more serene than a couple weeks ago, when Scott showed up at a grocery store to promote CACTI and caused a chaotic and potentially dangerous scene.

Of course, that's kind of become his thing during the pandemic ... whether he's hyping up a new magazine or his very own value meal at McDonald's, Travis has been drawing huge, often unexpected, crowds.

Nobu didn't turn into one of those situations ... not this time, anyway.

'Seaspiracy' Producer Kip Andersen Oceanic Doomsday's Only 27 Years Away ... Not Too Late to Fix It!!!

RUNNING OUT OF TIME
TMZ.com

Imagine a world where the oceans have ZERO fish -- that's pretty much doomsday for the planet, and it could happen by 2048 ... at least based on Kip Andersen's research while making "Seaspiracy."

The producer of the popular Netflix documentary joined TMZ Live and laid out the dangerous impact he says commercial fishing's having on our oceans. He claims it's, in essence, creating a seismic ripple effect on climate change.

Kip makes no bones about it ... the leading cause of the ocean's destruction is the fishing industry, and he says it's a damn shame its impact has been intentionally covered up. But, not anymore.

Kip, who also made 'Cowspiracy,' says his latest doc shines a light on the impact commercial fishing has on our oceans -- but adds the damage goes well beyond environmental. He claims social rights issues also plague the industry -- including allegations of slavery -- and they uncovered it while making "Seaspiracy."

Kip does offer solutions so we don't reach these catastrophic levels. But, if no one acts, he lays out the dire consequences -- if the oceans die, we die.

'Bagel Karen' Worker She Called N-Word Getting Lotsa Love $$$ And Now a Scholarship Offer Too!!!

DISGUSTING ACTIONS
@reallycutekid/Instagram
UPDATE

2:55 PM PT -- It keeps getting better and better for Vic ... 'cause a spokesperson for Mercy College tells TMZ they reached out to him about a scholarship so he can further his education. We're told the calm and respectful demeanor in which Vic handled himself is what drew Mercy's attention.

UPDATE

The spokesperson said they'll discuss with Vic to see what scholarship makes sense for him. As for Vic ... he tells us he's definitely going to accept the offer. He wants to study business management. And that's great ... 'cause he says he aspires to one day start his own clothing line.

UPDATE
UPDATE

The 30-year-old bakery employee briefly attended college for 1 year in Belgium but left school to pursue a professional soccer career in Belgium. Goes without saying ... Vic's humbled by the offer and incredibly appreciative of the scholarship.

The NYC bakery employee who had to deal with shocking, racist behavior from a woman with the new moniker "Bagel Karen" has been feeling the love from lots of folks since the incident went viral ... and it goes beyond financial support.

Vic -- the Davidovich Bakery worker who got called the n-word by Stephanie Denaro -- tells TMZ he's received overwhelming support from people all over the world on social media, but also customers flocking to the store.

He says during his Wednesday shift, one guy handed him a $100 bill in an envelope while another gifted him a $100 Metro card to help with his commute. Vic tells us his tip jar's also been stuffed ... and people have been calling the bakery to ask for his Venmo as well.

But, another customer felt helping Vic get rid of Karen's negative energy or any she left behind in the bakery was more important ... so she gave him some sage.

As we reported ... Vic's also been offered representation by several attorneys in case he wants to take legal action against Denaro, but he tells us he's still weighing his options. However, he doesn't plan to press charges against her.

In fact, Vic tells us he mostly wants his experience to be a lesson for others in his position on how a person of color can react to a racist. He says you don't have to respond to their insults and slurs with violence ... it's better to show love, even if they're demonstrating hate.

Originally Published -- 12:50 AM PT

Buffalo Radio Host I Don't Like My Toast Like Serena ... Too Dark for Me

MARCH 2021
TONE DEAF
97 Rock Buffalo

Radio hosts in New York compared their toast preferences to famous Black women's skin tones during a segment ... and yeah, it came off every bit as bad as you'd think.

The racially-charged convo aired Wednesday morning on Buffalo's 97 Rock, with Morning Bull Show co-host Rob Lederman comparing toasted bread to a trio of black celebs -- Serena Williams, Halle Berry and Gayle King.

Lederman says he toasts his bread in line with how attractive he finds certain Black women ... essentially saying Serena is too dark for his taste, Gayle's not even a thought and Halle is just right.

The fallout has been swift ... Cumulus Media, which owns the station, says it already fired Lederman and suspended the other co-hosts, including Rich "Bull" Gaenzler and Chris Klein.

In addition to his suspension, Gaenzler got canned from 2 other gigs as the in-arena host for the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Labs Testing Mystery Objects ... What the Hell Was In There???

The guy who says he found shrimp tails and other disturbing objects in a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch is going coast-to-coast to answer the burning question -- what the hell did he eat???

Jensen Karp, husband of "Boy Meets World" star Danielle Fishel, tells TMZ ... labs across the country are offering their services to figure out what exactly was in his box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, including one here in Los Angeles and another in New Jersey.

Jensen tells us he struck out 3 times Tuesday in L.A. -- trying a diagnostics lab, a hospital and an emergency room to test the black objects from his box of CTC. However, he says a NJ-based company is stepping up to test the substance ... which he fears might be rat poop.

Sending it cross country will take a little more time, so Jensen's gonna have to wait longer than he hoped to solve the mystery. He's on edge because he says he ate one bowl before noticing the strange objects ... but so far, he says he's showing no ill effects.

Meanwhile, Jensen says folks at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County are setting him up with a company pledging to pay for DNA testing on the alleged shrimp tails.

Remember, CTC's initial response on Twitter was that Jensen didn't find shrimp tails, but "an accumulation of the cinnamon sugar that sometimes can occur when ingredients aren't thoroughly blended."

We're told the DNA tests will not only tell if it is indeed shrimp but where the shrimp is from specifically. Millions of CTC lovers are on the edge of their seats, just like Jensen is.

Stay tuned.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch I Hope I Wasn't Poisoned ... Shrimp Tails, Rat Poo Found In Cereal Box???

UPDATE

11:01 AM PT -- The guy who claims he found shrimp tails in his Cinnamon Toast Crunch says he's going to poison control to test the black marks he says are baked into the cereal ... he's afraid it might be rat droppings.

UPDATE
CRUNCH CANCELED
TMZ.com
UPDATE

Jensen Karp joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday and explained why he's never eating CTC again ... and why he hopes he dodged a bullet with Monday's bowl of cereal.

UPDATE

Jensen says he's taking matters into his own hands to get to the bottom of what was in the bottom of his cereal bag ... and he's hoping General Mills investigates too, because his shrimp tail claims are just the tip of the iceberg.

UPDATE

8:30 AM PT -- General Mills just got back to us, and it sounds like they're saying whatever Jensen discovered here did NOT happen on their watch or on their grounds.

UPDATE

A rep for GM says ... "While we are still investigating this matter, we can say with confidence that this did not occur at our facility." They add, "We are waiting for the consumer to send us the package to investigate further. Any consumers who notice their cereal box or bag has been tampered with, such as the clear tape that was found in this case, should contact us."

UPDATE
UPDATE

It's true -- Jensen did show off the cereal bags from the 2-pack he says he bought at Costco, and one of them did appear to be taped up, as if already opened.

UPDATE

He'd already said he's going back to the warehouse for clarification -- but based on Mills' response here, it seems like they're saying the blame lies elsewhere.

A guy claims he found the tail end of some shrimp in his cereal -- something General Mills assures him can't be the case, but he's definitely not buying it.

Writer/Producer Jensen Karp documented what he claims was a gross morning breakfast session Monday, posting pics of various artifacts he says he found inside his new box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. He says he found shrimp tails in there ... 2 of 'em to be exact!!!

Jensen started by asking (and officially tagging) CTC's Twitter account why there were apparently crustacean remnants in his just-unsealed box ... which sparked quite a journey of what he describes as excuses and gaslighting.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch, at first, responded by apologizing and asking for more details ... while also offering a new box as a quick remedy. Then, CTC claimed, upon further examination, its quality control team came to the conclusion that they weren't shrimp tails ... but simply large, dried-up sugar clumps!

Jensen -- who's married to "Boy Meets World" star Danielle Fishel, BTW -- didn't seem to accept that answer ... as he posted close-up shots of the alleged shrimp tails. He claims he went digging even further and found more gross stuff ... including a small piece of string and tiny specks of black gunk on some of the cereal.

Some folks on the Internet theorized the stuff might be mouse or rat droppings ... which opens up a whole other can of worms that makes us gag just thinking about.

As for where things ended here ... Jensen says he's heading back to Costco -- where he bought the cereal -- to get some answers. He's also waiting for more from CTC's parent company General Mills.

We, too, have reached out to General Mills ... so far, no word back.

Originally Published -- 7:38 AM PT

Krispy Kreme Free Donuts When You're Vaccinated!!!

Krispy Kreme is offering a sweet reward for folks who get vaccinated against COVID-19 ... free donuts!!!

The nationwide donut chain says folks with valid COVID vaccination cards can snag a free Original Glazed donut just by showing proof of the shots ... and the offer's good every day for the rest of the year.

Think about it, a free donut every time you step into a Krispy Kreme with your vaccination card ... this may be a more effective way to get people vaccinated than celebrity endorsements.

3/11/21
THIS IS OUR SHOT
Adcouncil.org

Remember, former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter joined forces to encourage Americans to get COVID-19 vaccines ASAP ... but they weren't offering free donuts!

Krispy Kreme says the freebies are good at all of their 369 shops across 41 states with no purchase necessary ... ya just gotta visit the store in person or drive-thru.

Oh, and the vaccines are free too. Sweet!!!

Texas Roadhouse Founder Dead By COVID-Related Suicide

Kent Taylor, the man who founded the wildly successful Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain, has taken his own life after experiencing severe, post-COVID side effects.

Taylor suffered from tinnitus -- ringing in the ears -- which his family says greatly intensified in the last days of his life and ultimately became unbearable. At its worst, tinnitus can sound like a jet engine roaring inside the ears.

The family said, "Kent battled and fought hard," but ultimately the suffering became too great.

Kent was a master businessman, who founded Texas Roadhouse back in 1993. He came up with the idea on a cocktail napkin and brought it to life with the first restaurant located in Louisville, Kentucky. The plan took hold, and eventually, there were 537 Texas Roadhouses in 49 states, with 10 international locations.

Kent got national attention last Spring when he earmarked his entire salary to help support frontline workers during the pandemic.

He suffered from tinnitus, but it apparently flared up in a big way after he contracted COVID.   There's data indicating tinnitus is exacerbated by coronavirus.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said, "He was a maverick entrepreneur who embodied the values of never giving up and putting others first."

Kent was 65.

RIP.

Cops and Robbers Stolen Doritos Truck Chase NACHO Fast!!!

This would have been a case for Erik Estrada ... because one good chip deserves another.

A dude in Oklahoma City thought it would be a good idea to steal a Doritos truck that was sitting unattended at a local gas station. Yeah, he did that.

The dude in question -- Joshua Karpe -- and we do mean in question because a Doritos truck wrapped in one gigantic advertisement is not exactly your run-of-the-mill Honda on the road.

This was a layup for cops, who easily spotted the ad for Doritos Nacho Cheese chips.

Karpe didn't go down easy ... police chased him through 3 counties -- 90 minutes in all -- before shooting the tires out and arresting him.

Police Captain Jeff Spruill was incredulous ... “I would love to know the motivation of stealing a truck that’s very, very easy to spot and doesn’t go very fast,” adding, “What do you think you’re going to do with a truck like that?”

Maybe Joshua was just in a crunch.

Kourtney and Travis Bite Me, Whip Me, F*** Me!!! AKA Date Night in the 'Bu

Kourtney Kardashian has some very specific, and graphic, sexual demands for her BF Travis Barker -- or she's a huge fan of 80s punk rock. Or both. 🤷🏽‍♂️

Travis and Kourtney hit up Nobu in Malibu at around 10 PM Friday ... rolling up in Travis's Rolls, and Kourt's fashion choice might say a lot about how she rolls, so to speak.

Yeah, take a closer look at her graphic (double entendre intended) tee -- it says "Beat me, bite me, suck me, f**k me" ... and there are a couple more lines we can't even write out.

We know what you're thinking ... So, that's what she's into!

Not exactly. Those are actually pretty famous (in punk rock circles) lyrics from a song called "Love Me" by The Queers -- and they make for eye-catching fashion too.

Travis and Kourtney have been dating for at least several months that we know of, although Kourtney confirmed it just last month when she posted a pic of their interlocking hands. Based on the shirt she picked for date night, we'd say they're verrry comfortable.

ICYMI ... they've been super close for years -- 15 to be exact. They met back in the day, when Travis was dating Paris Hilton. Memba that?

Kourtney and Travis have spent lots of time together, as have their kids.  She was a key player when Travis bought a house near hers in Calabasas country and helped him renovate it. It's a case of friendship simmering for a long time to a romantic boil.

One thing we know for sure -- they dig sushi. Nobu aside, they were also spotted at Matsuhisa in Bev Hills, where the cost of a meal requires extreme wealth.

Joey Chestnut Devours 33 Boneless Wings In 90 Seconds ... Out-Eats Pro Football Players!!!

WINGIN' IT
FCF

JOEY CHESTNUT'S STILL GOT IT!!!

The food legend proved once again he's still the king of shoveling meat down his throat -- devouring more than 30 boneless wings in 90 seconds at an FCF eating competition ... all while beating out teams of massive football players!

The face-stuffing event went down Wednesday night just outside of Atlanta at the Infinite Energy Center, where the Fan Controlled Football league hosted its first-ever eating event.

37-year-old Chestnut -- the greatest eater of all-time -- was matched up against four teams of two ... which included squads featuring hungry-ass linemen.

Chestnut, though, was able to pound down more chicken by himself than every other team ... plowing through 33 wings in the allotted 1.5 minutes.

It was no boat race ... 2nd place ate 31 and 3rd place at 28 -- and even Joey had to tip his hat to the other guys after taking the crown.

"I knew I was going slow," Chestnut said, "but they were eating!"

Props to Joey for yet another win under his belt ... now get back to the hot dogs -- 4th of July is less than four months away!

The first Fan Controlled Football Championship is going down Saturday night at 8PM ET between the Glacier Boyz and Wild Aces.

Travis Scott Chaotic Scene at Grocery Store Promoting Spiked Seltzer

BRAVING THE SWARM
BACKGRID

Travis Scott went to work, literally, to make sure his new spiked seltzer hit local shelves ... but in the process, he caused a chaotic, and potentially dangerous, scene.

Scott hit up several grocery stores around Los Angeles Monday to promote his CACTI spiked seltzer. The rapper went inside a Pavillions in West Hollywood to check on his product and grab a pack of gum ... only to be swarmed by fans.

You can see the cashier and another customer get engulfed by the crowd as Travis signs autographs and tries to pay for his gum.

What's most upsetting about the video ... some fans aren't wearing masks, and every time he speaks, or yells, Travis pulls his own mask down ... defeating the whole point of wearing one.

Grocery stores have gone to great lengths to make sure customers can shop safely, and to see the safe practices like mask-wearing and social distancing completely ignored -- essentially over a pack of gum -- is sure to enrage store management.

2/23/21
GATHER 'ROUND
BACKGRID

It was just last month when Travis attracted a huge crowd for a newsstand he put up in Los Angeles. City officials said they were investigating the incident because Travis didn't get a permit, though nothing has been done yet.

Beyonce & Jay-Z Attract Frenzy of Photogs ... After Her Historic Night

RECORD BREAKING NIGHT
TMZ.com

Here's a true sign things are returning to normal -- Beyonce and Jay-Z getting swarmed by paparazzi leaving a celebratory dinner after an awards show.

The couple hit up a Grammys after-party at Giorgio Baldi restaurant Sunday night in Santa Monica, and everyone wanted a shot of Bey and Jay, but especially the Queen B ... who just set a record by winning her 28th Grammy Award.

Fittingly ... Beyonce's outfit looks like it's made of gold.

MONUMENTAL WIN
CBS

As we reported ... Beyonce set the Grammys' record with her win for Best R&B Performance, and during her speech, she shouted out her daughter, Blue Ivy. Blue -- who's only 9 years old -- won her first Grammy earlier in the night.

With 28 Grammy Awards, Bey holds the record for women and all singers -- male or female. The only other person who can boast 28 is legendary record producer Quincy Jones.

Meghan Markle Fans Swarm Her Old Froyo Shop ... She Gets Flavor With Harry

Meghan Markle's frozen yogurt shop shoutout is bringing a business boom to her first employer ... and now she's getting honored with her own special flavor.

Meghan mentioned her first job during her interview with Oprah, she says she served froyo at Humphrey Yogart in Los Angeles when she was 13 years old, and now the place is getting overrun with customers.

Check out the scene at the last remaining Humphrey Yogart ... there's a huge line, and we're told the shop served more than 200 folks the day after Meghan's interview aired. We're told a normal Monday sees 50 or so customers, so the Meghan bump is real.

Meghan didn't even work at this location, tucked inside a Gelson's grocery in Sherman Oaks, but that didn't stop fans from taking pics in front of the stand and snatching up all the merch.

FYI ... Meghan used to work at the Humphrey Yogart on La Cienega, which is now closed, just like every location aside from the original.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
CBS

While the owners of Humprey Yogart tell us they don't even remember Meghan working for them, they're still honoring her and Prince Harry with their own limited-edition flavor, called "Banana Royale."

The special flavor is a blended combo of banana and peanut butter ice cream with chocolate chips mixed in ... we're told it's inspired by Meghan's love of chocolate chip banana bread and Harry's love of PB&J.

It sounds tasty, but just be prepared to wait in line like everyone else.

Tom Brady Hates the Ends of Bananas They Don't Belong In My Smoothies!!!

The only thing Tom Brady might hate more than losing ... BANANA TIPS!!

The 43-year-old NFL superstar was showing off his smoothie skills on TikTok when it came time to add the ingredients.

Blueberries. Protein powder. Pumpkin seeds. Banana.

Great, sounds delicious and healthy. No surprise there.

But, when TB12 prepped the banana for the blender, he ripped off both ends of the fruit like a psychopath -- and declared that he won't eat banana tips!

So, are we ALL off banana tips now?

Look, Tom's got some weird eating habits (avocado ice cream, anyone?) ... but his diet seems to be effective. You know anyone else winning Super Bowls at 43?

So, if Tom is anti-banana tips ... maybe he's onto something?

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