Gossip / Rumors

For the 2nd time this week, Rihanna and soccer star Karim Benzema hit the SAME L.A. nightclub ... after hanging together in NYC ... so, is this thing official yet or what?

RiRi and and the Real Madrid star hit up 1 OAK on the Sunset Strip ... and just like the last time they partied together, they left separately and went in separate cars.

But here's what we do know ... the two first started chatting last year during the world cup via Twitter. And earlier this month, they met up at a cafe in NYC for a super late night snack.

Then the party shifted to the West Coast ... they clubbed together on Monday night and Karim bought a bouquet of flowers on the way out.

We tried asking Karim what the deal is with Rihanna on his way out of 1 OAK but his lips were sealed.

So ... item? Or not an item?

Ryan Seacrest is trying something new -- a brunette -- because he's had the official BF/GF convo with bangin' hot former Miss Teen USA Hilary Cruz.

We're told the couple met through mutual friends a while back. Things heated up in the last month -- they were spotted leaving dinner together in West Hollywood, and Cruz also hit the "American Idol" Season 14 finale.

Seacrest is a notorious sucker for blondes … having dated Julianne Hough, Shayna Terese Taylor and Renée Hall in the past, so stepping out with a brunette is a sea change.

Not a change -- her age ... at 26 and 14 years his junior, Cruz still has something in common with the rest of them.

It’ll be interesting to see how this one pans out.

Bradley Cooper's relationship with supermodel Irina Shayk is nobody's business -- at least in France, according to a lawsuit the actor just filed against a magazine there.

Cooper's gunning for Oops! magazine over its May 28 story declaring ... "L'amour au grand jour" ... which loosely translates to ... love out in the open.

In the lawsuit, filed by French legal eagle Vincent Tolédano ... Cooper says he's never spoken publicly about dating Shayk, so the story violates his right, under French law, to a "private life."

It sounds weird in this country, but Bradley might have a case in France where celebrities are treated more like your average Pierre ... at least when it comes to privacy. He's suing Oops! for 11,000 euros.

Interestingly, Tolédano just filed a similar lawsuit for Leonardo DiCaprio against the same magazine for its cover story claiming he knocked up Rihanna.

Oops! tells us it has no idea why Cooper is suing, since their story is based on photos that ran in a Spanish magazine. In fact, those same photos were also everywhere in the U.S.

We now know how Katy Perry's name ended up on the official registration of a song the media claims is a hit piece targeting Taylor Swift ... Katy had nothing to do with it, but a producer who once worked with her did.

The song -- "1984" -- was registered with BMI last September. When you go to the BMI site, it lists Katy as the artist and 4 producers/songwriters, including Dallas Austin and a guy named Andreas Carlsson.

The reason everyone's interested in the prospect of such a song ... Taylor got pissed off at Katy last September after 3 of Taylor's backup dancers bailed on Taylor to do backup for Katy. We broke the story ... the 3 dancers had worked with Katy long before and when they signed up with Taylor, they wanted a 30-day out if Katy launched a new tour. Katy had no beef with Taylor, but Taylor was bitter.

So when the story broke that Katy was attached to "1984" (the year she was born) -- a play on Taylor's "1989" album -- everyone thought it was a response to Taylor's song "Bad Blood," which is rumored to be about her feud with Katy.

But here's what we found out. "1984" was actually registered 5 days after we broke the story about the 3 dancers jumping ship. Sources tell us the management company BMG in Sweden registered the song at the behest of Andreas Carlsson. By the way, Carlsson co-wrote "Waking Up in Vegas," which Katy recorded.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ, Katy had no idea Carlsson registered the song.

Things are heating up QUICKLY between Rihanna and soccer superstar Karim Benzema ... 'cause after the two partied in Hollywood together Monday night, Benzema capped off the night with a cheesy romantic finishing move ... ROSES!!!

TMZ Sports spotted RiRi and the Real Madrid stud on their way out of Henry's ... and even though they left separately, it was pretty obvious they were there together.

As we previously reported, the two had been hanging out on the East Coast (after flirting online last year) ... and even met up for a late night food run in NYC just last week.

Which bring us back to last night ... when Benzema shelled out a bunch of cash to the infamous rose lady on his way out of the club ... seems like a shameless attempt to close the deal.

Wonder if it worked.

Ariana Grande just came out swinging ... saying she's sick and tired of being referred to as "Big Sean's ex" -- because, "I do not. Belong. To anyone. But myself."

The singer just went off on social media -- saying she HATES the label because, "I am tired of living in a world where women are mostly referred to as a man’s past, present or future PROPERTY/POSSESION."

Grande then blasts society ... saying for the past 8 years she's been made to feel like she needed to have a man by her side or else she would be considered a loser.

"After being on my own now for a few months I am realizing that that's just not the case ... I have never felt more present, grounded and satisfied. I've ever laughed harder or had more fun or enjoyed my life more."

Grande also attacks society's sexual double standard -- saying:

"If a women has a lot of sex (or any sex for that matter)….she’s a “slut”.
If a man has sex….HE’S. A. STUD. a BOSSSSSS. A KING.
If a woman even TALKS about sex openly….she is shamed!
But if a man talks or RAPS freely about all the women (or more commonly used “bitches”/”hoes”…how lovely) he’s had…he is regaled.
If a woman is seen with a friend with a penis, there is an immediate assumption of romance or sex and she is labeled!!
IF a man is seen with a woman… his status is elevated / celebrated. “AWW SHIIIIT HE SMASHED!!!1!!1!”

As we previously reported, Grande and Big Sean split back in April -- and we're told a big part of the breakup was that Sean referenced Grande's vagina in a song ... saying she has a "billion dollar p***y."

There were also rumors that Grande had rebounded with One Direction's Niall Horan -- but she told The Sun, "A girl can be friends with someone with a d**k and not hop on it."

Boom.

Gigi Hadid and Joe Jonas' reps keep telling us they're just friends -- and if that's true ... Joe just found a way to bust out of the friend zone, because they had a little kissing sesh in public.

The couple was hanging in a bar Thursday night in New York City, and getting very cozy -- Gigi planted a smooch on Joe's hand while they were practically sitting in each other's laps.

They've been pretty tight in multiple cities lately -- LA, NY, Toronto, and now back in NY.

Unclear why they're not copping to banging -- this seems like the ultimate win-win -- but these pics make it harder to deny.

Gigi Hadid and Joe Jonas just keep banging into each other ... this time in Toronto, where they checked into the same hotel, like most "friends" do, right?

Here’s what we know… Hadid was in the 6 for Maybelline’s 100^th anniversary party. The pals grabbed dinner at hot spot Brassaii on Wednesday, and then brunched the next day at Soho House.

Hadid has been on the market since early May, when she broke up with Cody Simpson -- and although she and the middle Jonas have been hanging in LA and NYC ... we're told it's strictly a friend zone thing.

Jonas has a DJ gig in Montreal this Friday -- we’ll see if his FRIEND (*cough, BS*) tags along.

Ariana Grande and Niall Horan hung out way past their bedtime Monday night -- but don't get your panties in a bunch just yet 1Ders.

Our Ariana sources say the One Direction singer was invited to her concert in London Monday night. After the performance, she and Niall hung out backstage, but it was anything but intimate. Ariana's manager Scooter Braun and both of their entourages were also there.

After the backstage pow-wow, the group headed off to Cirque Le Soir nightclub -- and stayed out till 3:30 AM. But when the fun was over ... we're told they went their separate ways.

Too bad it wasn't a real hook-up since the normally rabid 1D fans have actually been pretty positive about Ariana. Must be the wild video of their after-party that won 'em over.

What Rihanna wants, Rihanna gets ... this time, it seems her sights are set on an international soccer superstar -- because the two hooked up for a very early breakfast date this morning in NYC.

The singer hit up a 24-hour Cuban diner called Coppelia around 5AM with Real Madrid's Karim Benzema -- a handsome 27-year-old who also plays on the French national team.

The two looked pretty cozy inside the eatery -- but left separately.

But here's the deal ... Rihanna is a HUGE soccer fan and first reached out to Benzema during the 2014 World Cup. They exchanged tweets in which she told him she "felt his pain" -- he replied, thanking her for the support.

So, friends ... or more than friends? They both happen to be single right now ...

Stay tuned.

Hell must be freezing over ... 'cause an extremely hot woman that has been connected to Tiger Woods tells TMZ Sports the two are actually NOT banging ... and get this, Tiger never even tried.

We spoke to Turkish bikini model Tugba Ercan, who has been linked to Woods ever since she posted a picture of the two hanging out at a World Poker Tour event last week.

Ercan says several websites ran with the story assuming that Tiger ... who just broke up with GF Lindsey Vonn ... was back up to his old birddoggin' ways.

"They made it seem like it was something it wasn't, it was really just a picture."

Ercan -- who once again, is SUPER HOT -- says that not only are her and Tiger totally not a thing, but that the notorious womanizer didn't even try anything ... and was a perfect gentleman.

"He was very nice and polite. One of the nicest people I ever met, the charity work that he does with the World Poker Tour for children is amazing and moving to me."

Good news? The extra eyes on Tugba have really been a shot in the arm to her modeling career ... leading to her being named S.I.'s "Lovely Lady Of The Day."

"I really would love to be the first Turkish model in the Swimsuit Issue. It's my dream."

It's now our dream too ... check out the pics below.

Slow down, Jelena fans -- yes, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez hung out Wednesday night ... but they are not dating again. Not yet anyway.

The reunion of everyone's favorite on-again/off-again set the Internet on fire, but here's what really went down.

Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. -- who counts Bieber and the Kardashians among his flock -- posted a series of videos from a gathering Wednesday night in L.A. ... and both Bieber and Gomez were there.

According to our sources, the exes were cordial, but that's it. In fact, Bieber brought rumored girlfriend Hailey Baldwin with him -- another sign there's no reunion on the horizon.

We're told this isn't the first time Bieber and Gomez have been together lately -- they've both been to a few of Pastor Rich's gatherings in recent weeks.

So, no romantic sparks for now. Give it time, they'll be back together -- and broken up again -- eventually.

Nicole Scherzinger made it clear without saying a word ... her ex-BF may be with Kendall Jenner but he's missing out on a lot.

Our photog practically tripped over his tongue when he spotted the 36-year-old leaving The Sayers Club in Hollywood. He mentions Nicole's former BF, Formula 1 champ Lewis Hamilton, but mum's the word.

As we reported, all signs point to Lewis hooking up with 19-year-old Kendall, but at nearly twice Kendall's age ... Nicole's gotta still make Lewis think about his choices.

Ex "Basketball Wives" star Gloria Govan is so over the rumors about her and Colin Kaepernick ... she's now addressing them -- and wants everyone to know the 49ers QB never crossed her end zone.

Gloria was at the "So Sexy L.A." party at SKYBAR in West Hollywood Thursday night ... when our photog asked about her estranged hubby, Clippers star Matt Barnes, and his very public hatred of Kaepernick.

Just a few weeks ago, Barnes called Kaep "a hoe" on Instagram -- which is why our guy asked Gloria if she knew what was behind the beef.

Watch ... Gloria took the ball and ran, first telling us -- "There's been a bunch of different rumors" about her and Colin hooking up. But she says, "I've never had a thing with Colin Kaepernick."

Double G seems to think fans blame her for their feud, but she tells us it's something else altogether.

There is NO rift between Chris Paul & DeAndre Jordan ... despite reports to the contrary, so says Clippers teammate Dahntay Jones who tells TMZ Sports the L.A. superstars are still like "brothers."

"Guys fight and argue on the court, but that's just the emotion of the game," Jones says ... "but people want to blow things out of proportion."

Jones is responding to an explosive report that Jordan could bolt Tinseltown this summer because he can't stand playing with CP3.

But Jones says he hasn't seen anything between the guys that make him think beef is on the menu.

"Those guys are brothers, man. They sit with each other on the plane, on the bus. If you don't like a guy you stay away from him."

Fear not Bills fans ... your new owners will NOT double-cross you and move the team out of Buffalo ... so says legendary Bills QB Jim Kelly.

Of course, billionaire Terry Pegula promised the fans the team would stay put when he bought them in 2014 ... but with markets like L.A., Toronto and even London calling ... you never really know.

But Kelly's VERY confident that Pegula's a man of his word -- he's also pumped about the man Pegula brought in to coach the team ... telling TMZ Sports, "The Rex Ryan era is on the way!!!"