Gossip / Rumors

Tony Gonzalez isn't buying Cam Newton's missing shirt excuse ... telling TMZ Sports Newton's tie-less controversy had less to do with wardrobe and more do with plain old entitlement.

We got Gonzalez out at LAX and asked him what he thought of TieGate ... Cam Newton being benched for the start of last week's game for not abiding by team wardrobe rules.

Newton said it was a simple mix-up -- he didn't pack another shirt -- but it's clear Gonzalez thinks it's deeper than that ... saying Newton was trying to put one over on his team and organization.

Marlon Brando's son is coming to his late father's defense, saying there's no way his father would ever have plotted to sexually violate his "Last Tango in Paris" co-star.

Marlon's oldest living son, Miko Brando, tackled the controversial confession from the film's director, Bernardo Bertolucci. A video recently surfaced of Bertolucci saying, in 2013, he and Brando planned at the last minute to use a stick of butter on Maria Schneider during the sex scene, and never gave her any forewarning.

In the vid, Bertolucci says he wanted an authentic reaction to rape ... not acting. Schneider, who died in 2011, has said no intercourse took place, but she was shocked and strongly objected to the way things went down.

Miko calls the story pure crap, and says, "That's not the human being" my father was. He has a theory about why Bertolucci ever made the comment.

Celebs like Jessica Chastain, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick and Ava DuVernay have expressed outrage at Brando and Bertolucci for essentially plotting to rape a woman -- but Miko's just not buying it.

Ryan Seacrest is doing some backpedaling with his ex-GF, Shayna Taylor.

They broke up about 2 years ago, but looked like they were very much back on Sunday during a bike ride on Venice Beach.

We're told they're not officially a thing again ... yet, but Shayna was his date to Guess co-founder Paul Marciano's wedding in Bora Bora over Thanksgiving weekend.

Maybe Seacrest's finally got himself a ride or die.

The radio interview with the guy accused of grabbing Taylor Swift's ass was abruptly removed from the station's website -- and there are conflicting stories about who pulled the plug.

Former radio DJ David Mueller went on iHeart's "Mojo in the Morning" show Tuesday and gave his side of the story. It was the first time he had a chance to plead his innocence publicly. But sources connected to iHeart tell us the entire audio clip was deleted from Mojo's website at the demand of Taylor's people.

We're told soon after the interview was posted online, the 'Mojo' crew got a call from iHeart honchos to remove it ... in order to preserve the company's good relationship with Taylor. She regularly performs at iHeartRadio shows.

Our sources say no specific reason was given for why the honchos wanted it down, but it doesn't take a genius to figure it out. Mueller came off as a sympathetic figure as he explained his side of the infamous run-in with Taylor.

An iHeart spokesperson denies Taylor was involved. The rep did not provide any explanation for the Mueller clip's removal. Sources close to Taylor tell the same story -- it wasn't me. Ditto for Mueller's legal team.

Whoever wanted it killed has a problem though -- the interview's been recorded, so it lives on.

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick are together, just not ALL the way together -- nudge nudge, wink wink -- TMZ has learned.

We're told Kourtney and Scott are on better terms than they've been in years -- he's staying clean, and has been a present father -- but she still isn't sold enough to make a romantic leap.

Rumors that Scott's already won her back just aren't true, according to our sources ... who say Kourt insists there's no intimacy. We're told Scott still stays at his own house, and although they often travel together ... it's purely for co-parenting.

But as for the future -- she's open to the idea of an encore from the Lord.

TMZ Sports has obtained a photo of Ronald Gasser moments after he shot Joe McKnight ... and the witness who took the photo says he WAS yelling at McKnight's body after the fatal shots were fired.

Irina Shayk isn't letting a possible baby bump get in the way of molding wet clay.

The Russian model recreated the famous pottery scene from "Ghost" for Love Magazine's Advent calendar shoot ... and she's got everyone wondering if she's working that potter's wheel for 2.

The debate in our office -- on the heels of her rumored pregnancy -- is that a baby bump or not? Do her boobs look bigger than usual?

Better watch again to be sure.

Change Shaq's name to Bennett, cause he says he AIN'T IN IT when it comes to the beef between Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley ... telling TMZ Sports he's staying all the way out of the discourse.

Shaq would actually be a good candidate to Jimmy Carter the situation ... he's close to both men, working alongside Barkley on TNT ... and being frat brothers and friends with MJ.

But when we got him out in DC he made it clear ... he ain't the big Henry Kissinger ... saying he's totally on the sidelines when it comes to the Hall Of Fame beef.

'RHOA' star Cynthia Bailey isn't rushing into a romantic relationship with Nigerian boxer Yahu Blackwell -- right now she's only getting down with him for business.

Cynthia and Yahu, a cruiser weight boxer, were spotted at an Atlanta restaurant this week. Fans and many friends thought they were banging -- they do look good together -- but sources close to both tell us it was strictly a biz meeting.

We're told Yahu's starting a boxing app and wants access to models at The Bailey Agency for upcoming photo shoots. That was the main topic at their power lunch, but we're told there's a chance he might cameo on 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' ... if their deal goes through.

She got in huge trouble for saying WWE was trying to court Hulk Hogan for WrestleMania ... but Brooke Hogan ain't exactly backing off her claim.

We saw Hulk's daughter at LAX and asked her why she suggested Vince McMahon was reaching out to Hulk if that wasn't the case.

Watch the clip ... she never says her comments were untrue -- and when asked to clarify she told us:

"How can I put it? What is a way that wont get me in trouble? ... He's capable of anything."

Remember, Hulk adamantly denied it. But after watching this ... it seems there's more going on behind the scenes than Hulk wants you to believe.

Liam Payne is either about to be a dad, or his gf had way too much food and beer before enjoying Christmas carols.

The 23-year-old One Direction singer and Cheryl Cole, from Girls Aloud, showed up together Tuesday at the St James Christmas Carol Concert in London -- and it sure looks like something's in the oven.

The couple isn't commenting yet about the baby rumors ... or about what she had for dinner.

Here's Zendaya and Odell Beckham Jr. taking in the Knicks game in NYC together Monday night ... once again giving us hope that one of the world's dopest potential couples could become a thing.

You might remember ... the two kicked it at a Grammy party (along with Zendaya's dad) earlier this year ... and it seemed OBJ was doing something he hasn't done since high school -- trying out.

Zendaya eventually said the two decided to go the "just friends" route ... but the kids looked pretty cozy courtside at the game last night ... and hung out WITHOUT her dad on duty ... although mom was in tow.

Progress is a slow process ...

Melania Trump just got what she was after ... the man who posted the YouTube video suggesting Barron had autism is taking the video down.

The guy who posted the video says, "TMZ just contacted me to tell me Melania Trump is threatening a lawsuit over this video ... I never ever meant this as a bullying video."

The video was posted by someone who says he was diagnosed with autism at age 5, and he says he posted the video because he wanted to stop people for bullying Barron over his "weird behavior."

Fact is ... Barron does not have autism and the video perpetuated the bullying, but the guy behind the video says it will come down and he will issue a retraction and an apology to Melania and Barron.

Prince was married when he died and wanted all of his money to go exclusively to his wife -- according to the alleged wife, who's now putting his estate on notice.

The woman -- Claire Elisabeth Elliott -- filed a request for the court to remove Bremer Trust bank as administrator of Prince's estate, because she believes she should be calling the shots ... as his "Sole Heir."

Claire even claims there is a marriage certificate and will to back her up. It's worth noting she did not attach those documents in her filing. Also, we checked Minnesota court records ... no dice.

We're gonna go ahead and file this under "can't knock her for trying." She is ambitious though -- Claire also filed docs to run for President ... of the United States.

Just a hunch, her shot at Prince's dough will likely end the same way as her campaign.

Iggy Azalea and French Montana could be hearing wedding bells soon ... according to his brother, who went on a "family date" with the Aussie rapper.

We got Iggy at Catch Saturday night, where she was horsing around with French's younger bro, Zack Kharbouch -- before revealing they'd be related sooner than later. After all, they've had other "family" affairs before ... like that time they all rode in a helicopter.

Still, our camera guy asks if she'd consider dating another Nick Young-type. We're guessing no, if Zack is spittin' any truth here.

Britney Spears might be doing it again ... as in going out with a guy with whom she's been working.

Britney was seen grabbing sushi Saturday night with her co-star from her newest music video, "Slumber Party" ... and this pic of them together is ... interesting.

The stud, Sam Asghari, starred alongside Britney as her love interest. He's a personal trainer -- and he might be attached judging by how fast he took down the post.