Gossip / Rumors

Vin Diesel just scored an incredibly powerful ally in his war with The Rock ... Tyrese.

Vin's "Fast 8" co-star just made it clear ... it's Vin who is the driving force behind the franchise, and people like Rock need to respect that.

Tyrese posted a pic with the caption, "I've always said that if ONLY people knew how hard you work to protect this franchise and characters, minds would be blown," adding, "I'm so f****** proud to call you my family and my brother."

And then the hammer ... "if no one else will jump out there and stand up I will."

Vin also got vague support from fellow 'Furious' co-star Ludacris, who just posted a pic of the cast ... sans Rock.

War still raging.

Jennifer Lopez is not pregnant ... not even a little bit.

J Lo's longtime friend and manager, Benny Medina, tells TMZ, the stories floating around that Jennifer is pregnant are "100% not true."

Medina doubled down, sending us the pic (above), snapped late last night ... after her Vegas show. Medina said, "Does this look like pregnant?"

Two other sources in a position to know -- especially one -- confirm, she's not pregnant.

Singer Jhene Aiko is the pulling the plug on her marriage to her producer/hubby Dot da Genius ... and the timing is interesting.

Aiko and Dot were married for only 11 months. Jhene was recently linked to Big Sean. The two have been working together and this past June they made out in front of an Anaheim concert crowd.

Jhene's asking the judge to deny Dot spousal support.

She's listed irreconcilable differences as the reason for the breakup ... that's code for anything you want.

The writer Thomas Gibson kicked on the "Criminal Minds" set is anything but a nerd ... he's a boxer/martial artist with a super aggressive attitude -- sources connected to Gibson tell TMZ.

Virgil Williams is the writer/co-executive producer who got into it with Gibson when the argument escalated to the point the actor kicked him. But our Gibson sources say Williams escalated the verbal argument by "making a move" toward Gibson in a highly aggressive manner. They say Gibson's kick was more a reaction to the perceived threat than an aggressive move.

Our sources say Williams lets everyone on the set know ... he's trained as a boxer and does martial arts.

Justin Bieber has a teenybopper on his tail ... she follows him everywhere these days. She's 17.

Sofia Richie -- daughter of Lionel -- joined the 22-year-old on his private jet Thursday ... likely bound for Japan where he's appearing this weekend.

They've been inseparable for the last few days.

Lionel's little girl turns 18 in 13 days.

The crew has chosen sides in the "Fast 8" feud between The Rock and Vin Diesel ... and Rock wins, hands down.

Production sources tell TMZ, The Rock has been upset with Vin's work ethic for a long time, and he's not alone. Members of the crew tell us Vin was often 30 minutes to an hour late to shoot scenes ... and it wasn't because he was late to the set -- he was simply in his trailer and wouldn't come out.

We're told Vin didn't like Monday 7 AM calls so production was forced to make the start time 10 AM to accommodate him.

And the crew felt Vin's arrogance was out of control, especially because he had a producer title. We're told he wouldn't listen to anyone and would goad people, including The Rock, by criticizing their acting.

The crew has a vastly different view of The Rock. They say he's the ultimate professional who is always on time and always nails his scenes. They also say he's easy to work with.

As we reported, Vin and Rock have been clashing for a long time and it came to a head Monday when Rock exploded on social media, calling out a male co-star (it's Vin) for being unprofessional.

And as we told you, Vin confronted Rock Tuesday in Rock's trailer, but their issues remain unresolved.

Vin Diesel has secrets he's now going to share ... about what appears to be an excruciating experience riddled with conflict ... but so far, nothing.

Vin posted this video, in which he obliquely refers to his war with "Fast 8" co-star The Rock.

Vin captioned the video, "So much has gone in this year. I can't believe I wrapped two back to back pictures I both starred in and produced. Now I get to return to my family, my life ... To me."

Interesting he says "starred and produced." The producing part, we're told, is part of the conflict he had with The Rock.

UFC star Julianna Pena just RIPPED into Ronda Rousey -- saying, "No one cares about [her] and her fat arms anymore."

"She's like the emperor in no clothes," Pena added ... "She's broken a little bit."

So, what set Pena off?

We asked her about Amanda Nunes saying she would gladly fight her ... if she couldn't book Ronda. And while Pena says she understands from a business perspective, she thinks Ronda's days as the top dog in UFC are over.

As for Ronda's long-awaited return, Pena says she's heard rumblings that RR will fight again before the end of the year ... but adds, "I'll believe it when I see it."

Until then, Pena says it's only a matter of time until she crushes Nunes and takes the belt.

"They can delay me but they can't deny me."

The biological mother of Team USA gymnast Simone Biles says she's clean, sober and has a loving relationship with her daughter ... and is sick of being painted as an addict.

Simone's story is pretty well-known ... she was put in foster care when she was 2 because her mother struggled with substance abuse. Simone was eventually adopted by her grandparents.

TMZ Sports spoke with Shanon Biles who says she's been sober since 2007 -- and is proud of the fact she reestablished her relationship with Simone.

Shanon says she does have a beef with her father -- saying he was insensitive about the way he described her battle with addiction during an interview with NBC.

"He could have been more classy about it."

As for Simone, Shanon says she's incredibly proud of her daughter and has supported her for years -- in fact, she showed us a pic of the two of them with Gabby Douglas back in 2014.

"I just want to say I love you Simone ... I'm so proud of you! Go Team USA and I'll talk to you and see you when I can!"

"Bachelor in Paradise" star Lace Morris is literally handing out clues about her relationship with co-star Grant Kemp.

We caught Lace showing off a "Grace" tattoo Monday night at LAX. The tattoo's reportedly a combination of Grant and Lace. TMZ broke the story ... Grant and Lace end up engaged on 'BiP.'

And clearly they're not hiding it.

Charlotte McKinney juggled quite a bit for her 23rd birthday bash.

The supermodel took in a Tinashe concert in Vegas at Intrigue nightclub over the weekend with Scott Eastwood at arm's length. Check out the vid ... Scott talks a good game ... or so it seems.

What happens in Vegas ...

We're betting Justin Bieber's already had a close-up view of the birthmark in this pic -- can you spot it? It's okay if your eyes didn't go there first.

Model Sahara Ray's the chick the Biebs is cavorting with in Hawaii. Check out the pics ...the Aussie's fantastic curves are what dream vacations are made of ... if you're Justin.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are tying the knot, and they've hired a renowned wedding planner for the big shindig ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us Blake and Gwen have hired famed celebrity wedding designer, Jerri Woolworth, who has offices in Tennessee and New York. Woolworth has planned events ranging in size from 15 to 15,000 people. She's planned events for the CMAs, the NFL and the NHL.

We don't know if a date has been set.

We tried contacting Woolworth but were told she had "no comment."

Bill Cosby is trying to scare his chief accuser by way of bullying and intimidation ... so claims Andrea Constand.

The woman at the center of Cosby's criminal sexual assault case is suing the former D.A. of Montgomery County, PA, claiming he defamed her by saying she grossly exaggerated her allegations against the comedian.

The former D.A. is about to take Constand's deposition, and Cosby has filed legal docs asking for a seat at the table. He wants his lawyer to watch the blow-by-blow.

Constand feels Cosby's request is outrageous for several reasons. She says the presence of Cosby's attorney is designed "to intimidate, harass, and bully" her. In addition, she feels the lawyer is there to get evidence to save Cosby's ass in the criminal case ... which she thinks is unfair.

Amber Heard has been cavorting in London this week, but we're told she will absolutely be back for her deposition on Saturday ... and Johnny Depp could be watching the whole thing.

Our sources say Amber is locked and loaded for the depo, which is set for 10 AM Saturday morning. Johnny's lawyers, we're told, plan to grill her on her claim Johnny physically attacked her. We're told the depo could last 7 hours, and the range of inquiry includes statements from cops and witnesses who say she showed no signs of injury and nothing was broken in the downtown L.A. loft.

Johnny could be at the depo -- he has a right to show -- but both sides have to sign off on him being present because a restraining order is currently in place.

We're also told Johnny must sit for his deposition next week.

If the case is going to settle, this is the time. We're told settlement discussions are ongoing.

"Bachelor in Paradise" stars Lace Morris and Grant Kemp totally got busted hanging out together 2 days before the show premiered -- a major violation -- but there's a good reason: THEY'RE GETTING MARRIED!

Oh ... spoiler alert.

Grant and Lace were poolside Sunday at a fancy apartment complex in Denver. Witnesses tell us they were flirty, and all over each other. We're told Grant flew there to visit Lace, who lives nearby.

A source tells us Lace plans to move to L.A. to live with her firefighter fiance. All of this is great news for them, but a serious bummer for 'BiP' producers ... who expect the house guests to avoid all contact in public until after the season airs.

The teaser promo showed 3 male hands holding engagement rings -- and according to our sources ... Grant is one of 'em. ABC refused to comment.

Interesting outcome ... considering Lace hooked up with bad boy Chad Johnson in the premiere. So, she dodged "Hurricane Chad" and got nice guy Grant instead.

Congrats.