Gossip / Rumors

Rob Kardashian's so-called new girlfriend is playing Internet hoax victim ... but we're told she's the one fueling the rumors.

Rob had a new girl, according to some recent online posts -- 'Basketball Wives' and "Bad Girls Club" vet Mehgan James. But it didn't ring true almost from the get-go ... Rob began posting pics of baby mama Blac Chyna, tweeting that he'd never even met James, much less banged her.

Mehgan then put it out there she had no idea how the rumors started ... re-tweeting Rob's denial.

Now the truth ... Mehgan was the mastermind of the whole thing.

Our sources say Mehgan's "team" contacted a bunch of media outlets planting the story. We're told her goal was SOP ... spread her name, grow her following.

Mehgan's at 806k Instagram followers -- doubling in a week -- so sadly, mission accomplished.

'Bachelorette' Rachel Lindsay has Bachelor Nation up in arms because a video of her partying with a dude ... appears to totally SPOIL the ending of her season.

For the uninitiated ... a video posted the same night as Rachel's premiere episode showed her kicking it with a handsome guy with facial hair. No biggie, until fans noticed the guy has a strong resemblance to Peter Kraus -- one of the front-runners to win Rachel's hand.

Fans are pissed ... thinking Rach gave away all the mystery. After all, she's already admitted she got engaged to one of the guys.

Take a pill, fans ... sources at the party tell us the guy in the background is a friend of a friend of Rachel's ... and absolutely NOT Peter. If it were him, Rachel would be in hot water with producers. She's banned from hanging with ANY of the contestants while the show's airing.

Soooo ... no spoiler in the video.

Still, don't count Peter out of the running, for obvious reasons ...

Scott Disick's current bender has almost reached the 2-week mark, and Kourtney Kardashian has no clue when he plans to return home to be with his kids.

Sources tell us Scott was supposed to return to L.A. after his Cannes trip last week. Instead, he hightailed it for Monaco, then Ibiza and eventually London. We're told he's had virtually no contact with the Kardashians or his kids, who are now with Kourtney after her Cannes escapade.

As we reported, things went south quick when Scott brought Bella Thorne to France. We're told the people he's been hanging with since then are considered his "party friends," and Scott's close friends are concerned.

While Kourtney's over Lord D, romantically ... we're told she's still expecting him to be a responsible dad. Right now, that's not looking good.

Charles Barkley is going to bat for his old friend, Tiger Woods -- saying people like Jack Nicklaus who say Tiger needs help don't REALLY know what they're talking about.

Barkley appeared on 97.5 FM The Fanatic Philadelphia on Wednesday and was asked for his thoughts on Tiger's DUI. He's clearly upset with people assuming Tiger has a serious substance abuse issue.

"Even Jack Nicklaus, somebody I really respect, talking about, 'Tiger really needs help.' Well he don't KNOW that. We don't know if Tiger has a drug problem."

Barkley added, "He just had a bad reaction [to prescription medication]. He wasn't out there drinking and driving."

Barkley says the "haters" are "in heaven right now because they get a chance to dump on the guy."

Barkley and Tiger were very close friends before 2009 -- and would regularly hit Vegas together. But Tiger cut him off after his marriage fell apart.

Bella Thorne is treating her PTSD -- post-traumatic Scott Disick -- with a dose of her ex-bf, Gregg Sulkin ... just in time for his birthday.

Bella and Gregg did lunch and a movie together Monday. The exes grabbed burgers in Studio City before taking in the flick for his birthday celebration. They broke up last summer, but Bella was still clinging to him as they strolled.

She also hung out with Gregg at his crib. And by hung out ... we mean lying on his back while wearing just a bra.

Bella seems to be screaming "Scott who?" Of course, he's moving on too.

1:14 PM PT -- Sofia has some choice words for folks making a big fuss about her hanging out with Scott Disick. In her own unique way, she says they're just "homies."

Scott Disick may have decided Bella Thorne was actually too old, because now he's hanging with an 18-year-old.

Scott was cruisin' the South of France on a yacht with Sofia Richie this weekend. They were super flirty, as he lifted and carted her around.

Scott brought 19-year-old Bella over to the Cannes Film Festival last week, where we believe he hasn't watched a single flick. She's back in L.A. now, and he's on at least his 4th chick.

BTW, it looks like one of the other women on the yacht is Chloe Bartoli ... one of the 4.

Bella Thorne now met Scott Disick the party monster up close and personal -- and it's a pass for her ... for now.

Sources connected to their Cannes crew tell us Bella decided to back off the festivities, and away from Scott ... after witnessing how wild he got. We're told the heavy drinking was especially shocking to the 19-year-old.

When 34-year-old Scott invited Bella to Cannes ... we're told she insisted her older sister, Dani, come along too. But even with a chaperone, and several other friends, Bella reached her limit. She hinted at her frustration Thursday on Twitter.

Sources close to Bella's fam tell us her parents were worried anyway due to Scott's reputation and his age -- but they stayed out of it because she's an adult.

When the trip started they seemed to enjoy each other's company -- but the next day Scott was getting handsy with an old flame.

Helen Mirren acknowledges UK leaders are angry with the U.S. government for allegedly leaking details about the Manchester bombing, but beyond that ... Dame Helen's a tough nut to crack.

We got HM at LAX ... and talked to her about the new tension with her countrymen. British police are pissed bombing evidence they shared with American leaders ended up getting plastered all over U.S. media.

Helen splits her time in both countries, so we wondered where she stands on the feud.

Iggy Azalea is straight-up calling BS on the rumors she's dating Odell Beckham Jr. ... telling TMZ Sports she doesn't even know the New York Giants superstar.

Odell Beckham Jr. ain't dating Iggy Azalea, despite reports the 2 had a romantic date night this week ... sources close to Odell tell TMZ Sports.

Multiple outlets reported the stars hit up Bowlero bowling alley in Woodland Hills, CA on Monday night ... and were "cozying up" with each other, "being romantic."

But we talked to sources close to Odell who vehemently denied they were in a relationship ... or dating at all ... saying "people will create anything."

As for Odell, he did make 1 hookup when he was out in L.A. ... running routes and catching passes with Johnny Manziel.

Ariana Grande is back on U.S. soil, but Taylor Swift was not involved in the flight that got her here ... as some reports have claimed.

There's a story floating around that Taylor sent one of her private jets to pick up Ariana and her mom in London. Our sources, with direct ties to Ariana, tell us that's just not the case. We're told Ariana's tour promoter Live Nation and her manager, Scooter Braun, split the PJ bill, 50/50.

Scott Disick will soon be on the same turf as Kourtney Kardashian and her new man ... and he's bringing Bella Thorne along for the ride.

We got Scott and Bella, along with her tie-dyed sis, Monday at LAX, where they were getting ready to board a flight together. Our Scott sources say they're heading to Cannes.

This new pairing didn't just come out of nowhere ... Scott grabbed dinner with Bella last week.

Charles Oakley says Carmelo Anthony should stay far away from the Lakers when he looks for a new NBA home ... telling TMZ Sports, the future ex-Knick needs to play for a contender.

There have been rumors that L.A. could be a destination for the All-Star ... who has final say in where he plays 'cause of a no-trade clause in his contract.

Oak was leaving Catch in L.A. when we brought up the possibility of Melo joining the Lake Show ... and if that'd be a good fit for Anthony and the organization.

Hell no, Oak says ... 'cause Carmelo needs to play for a title contender, and L.A. just ain't got the pieces ... even with Melo on the squad.

The new "Bachelorette" just surfaced before her new season kicks off Monday night with what appears to be a tiny engagement ring ... but she's got an explanation.

We got Rachel Lindsay leaving LAX, and our photog calls out the obvious -- she's wearing a sliver of metal around the finger where a huge rock would normally be if you were engaged.

Rachel's already confirmed she is in fact set to be hitched to someone from the "Bachelorette," but explains this one away with a simple answer ... it ain't a ring.

Benzino is begging Althea Eaton for a second chance after she caught him cheating -- and she's open to it, but he will have to pay dearly ... in diamonds!

We got the ex-"Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" stars outside Catch, where Benzino tried pleading his case to Althea asking for her forgiveness. It's sooo humiliating to watch, but sooo entertaining.

Althea eventually names her price, but not before Benzino has to choke down a full crow with a side of humble pie. On the other hand ... it looks like they arrived together, and MIGHT be leaving together. So, maybe Benzino's already working his way out of the doghouse?

Good luck, bro.

Cher took home the "Icon" award at Sunday's Billboard Music Awards -- and to the surprise of viewers and show execs -- she didn't mention President Trump.

TMZ broke the story, award show producers went into Sunday holding their breath for what the singer -- who's been extremely critical of Trump -- may say during her acceptance speech. Lucky for ABC ... Cher held back on any vulgarity or any Trump remarks at all.

The 71-year-old took the stage to perform "Believe" and "If I Could Turn Back Time" before accepting the award from Gwen Stefani. Her speech was short and simple ... thanking friends, family and those who helped her in the industry.

Chaz Bono was also there to see mom accept the award.