Gossip / Rumors

Kid Rock's getting a big endorsement, and a big thumbs down, even before he officially runs for a Michigan Senate seat -- in other words ... welcome to politics, Kid!

We got former U.S. Senator and New York Governor George Pataki in NYC, and he thinks the rock star is exactly the kinda candidate the GOP needs now. Ditto for Caitlyn Jenner, who's made some noise about possibly entering politics.

Rock launched KidRockforSenate.com Monday and posted campaign signs all over social media.

However, another staunch Republican, Herman Cain, crapped all over Candidate Kid and Caitlyn. Interesting ... the guy who backs Donald Trump clearly doesn't think all celebs are fit for office.

Joycelyn Savage -- the woman whose father claims she's being held captive in an R. Kelly run "cult" -- has a direct message for her fam -- SHUT THE HELL UP!!!

In a video obtained by TMZ, Joycelyn slams her father, Tim Savage, for going to the media with his allegations. She reiterates she's happy where she is, and also strongly hints her father knows more than he's letting on ... regarding her relationship with Kelly.

Joycelyn insists her dad is embarrassing her, and she can't believe he's taken things this far. Although, she's outdoors in this video she still won't give up her location -- she says for "safety reasons."

R. Kelly's been challenged to a showdown in court ... from the father of one of Kelly's alleged captives, Joycelyn Savage.

Tim Savage responded to the video TMZ posted of his daughter. As we first reported ... Joycelyn insists she is not being held against her will, and wants her family to stop contacting her.

But Savage says the video proves his point ... especially because Joycelyn would not say where she is currently. In denying the allegations, Kelly's camp said they would go after his accusers -- but Savage says bring it on.

As for Joycelyn's claim she's just fine -- her father told us, "I'm praying for you, baby."

Floyd Mayweather says he ain't buyin' the rumors that Conor McGregor got knocked out during a sparring session ... essentially saying he won't believe it until he sees video.

The rumors were perpetuated this week by boxer Jessie Vargas -- who says he heard from a trustworthy source that McGregor got put on the mat with 14 ounce gloves.

He says the boxing world is a small world and everyone knows everything about what's going on.

But Mayweather says he needs proof or it doesn't matter -- telling FightHype.com, "If I ain't seen no footage, I don't believe it."

The Red Hot Chili Peppers aren't retiring anytime soon, at least not according to Flea -- but it might depend on who you ask in the band.

The legendary bassist was in Switzerland -- where RHCP's headlining the Paleo Festival -- and we asked him about the big rumor that this could be their last tour. Flea says that would be news to him, and anyone else in the band, because they've made no plans to hang it up.

The retirement buzz started after drummer Chad Smith went on the 'Eddie Trunk Podcast,' and revealed a convo he and Flea had about life on the road. Sounds like Flea's laughing that off now, 'cause he's clearly still about the music ... even at 54.

Aaron Carter was spotted behind the wheel -- despite his claims -- before cops busted him ... this according to the police report.

TMZ obtained the report, which contradicts Aaron's claim that cops never saw him driving, and therefore shouldn't have arrested him for DUI refusal in Cornelia, Georgia.

In the docs, a Habersham County Sheriff's deputy says he saw Aaron pull into the AutoZone parking lot after an alert went out for someone "driving all over the road and running into the median," in a white Chevy Suburban with no tags.

Aaron's rep says "the car was swerving because it was out of alignment not because he was drunk."

The deputy then approached him and observed his "eyes to be blood shot and watery with a glazed look to them." Aaron's girlfriend, cops say, then started acting belligerent.

During field sobriety testing, cops say Aaron talked to himself, lost his balance, swayed and had trouble tracking movement with his eyes.

Cops also say they observed "body tremors" in his legs and arms before he was arrested.

David Spade says he ain't impressed with the Mayweather, McGregor media throwdowns -- telling TMZ Sports the incessant jabbering is like "2 chicks at brunch."

It's pretty funny ... Spade is a big sports fan and has clearly been following the MayMac madness -- but it seems he's annoyed with all the talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.

"They're both talking at the same time. No one's listening ... I've never seen that much talking in my life."

Billy Bush is still unemployed, despite stories he's got a new TV gig.

There's a report out Billy is set to anchor a new Fox syndicated show, "Top 30," which debuts this Fall.

We checked with Fox, and they told us unequivocally, Billy's not the host ... "positively."

Fox hasn't picked the host yet, but we're told it will not be Billy Bush.

We know there was a meeting between Billy and his people and the Fox folks, but nothing came of it.

What's next for Chris Bosh? "Basketball and stuff."

That's what he told TMZ Sports outside Coral Tree Cafe in L.A. moments ago -- advising his fans not to close the book on his NBA career just yet.

"Health is great, feeling great," Bosh said ... noting that he's focusing on being a dad while he figures out his next basketball move.

Bosh was waived by the Miami Heat earlier this month after failing a physical -- due a blood clot condition that has plagued him since the 2014-15 season.

The alleged Amelia Earhart photo featured in a new documentary about her disappearance does NOT solve the mystery ... because the pic was taken before she crashed, according to history buffs.

"Amelia Earhart: The Lost Evidence" claimed to have a photo, taken in the Marshall Islands, which showed Amelia sitting on a dock, possibly being held captive. There's a huge problem with that theory though ... according to 2 Japanese history bloggers ... who say they've found the photo in a book published 2 years before Amelia vanished.

Amelia crashed in 1937, but the exact image is clearly seen in a book in Japan's National Library -- a book which reportedly came out in 1935.

As we first told you ... another Earhart search expert had shot major holes in the photo theory.

The documentary aired last week on History Channel ... and the network's tweeted it's investigating the new info from Japan.

Model Winnie Harlow is lashing out at media reports she fat shamed the hell out of a passenger on a yacht, because the guy is her uncle and it's a family joke ... but ya could have fooled us.

The former "America's Next Top Model" contestant posted 2 videos and blasted it to her 2.3 million Instagram followers ... showing an unsuspecting shirtless man getting some sun. She overlaid the vid with the text, "Sexy views.. You're welcome."

Winnie -- who has been bullied herself -- also appears to be secretly shooting from a distance, behind some couches.

Harlow -- born with the a skin condition, vitiligo -- has since taken down the videos and fired back at the Daily Mail report ... saying, "That 'random passenger on the boat' is like my uncle and was a family joke. He was actually poking out his tummy for the photo." She calls the outlet "the real bullies for not fact-checking before slandering my name."

Fair to say ... Winnie certainly had the power to identify the guy in her initial post so her followers wouldn't jump to the logical conclusion that it was fat shaming.

Winne's "uncle" is jumping to her defense.

Blac Chyna is a massive hypocrite who is every bit as much of a bully as Rob Kardashian ... so claims the guy she once allegedly dated.

Pilot Jones says Chyna all but ruined his life after their breakup when she posted his phone number and he began receiving a torrent of death threats. He says he had to move out of L.A. it got so bad.

He also says Chyna outed him as bisexual and the situation became so intense he tried to commit suicide.

This blows for Kim Kardashian ... she's had to jump on social media to deny a drug rumor based on a video she herself posted.

Kim made a video for her Instagram, and some of her followers noticed two nearly perfect white lines on the counter behind her. One follower flat-out accused her of being caught with cocaine.

Kim tried to put out the fire Tuesday morning, saying ... "That's sugar from our candy mess from dylan's candy shop."

The candy thing checks out. She's in NYC, and Sunday she took North shopping for sweets.

As for the lines? Pixy Stix powder? C'mon ... we were all kids once, right?

Valentina Shevchenko is callin' B.S. on the reason behind Amanda Nunes' UFC 213 title fight withdrawal ... telling TMZ Sports she's "not believing 100%" that Nunes pulled out over health issues.

We spoke with Bullet about Nunes pulling out due to chronic sinusitis ... and Shevchenko says she doesn't believe the excuse because Lioness seemed perfectly healthy the week leading up to the fight.

As for why Nunes would make up the claim, Shevchenko speculates the withdrawal happened because Nunes was "feeling (her) energy" and wanted to reschedule the fight to throw off her rhythm.

Jesse Williams and Minka Kelly were super low key, but still out in public together for a what looks like a very interestingly timed date night.

The rumored couple went to catch a movie Monday night in West Hollywood. They were both sporting ball caps, and Jesse added a hoodie as they left the theater.

They posted photos together in Paris back in January, but at the time said they were only hanging out because they were there working on a video game together.

Jesse Williams had harsh words for people who harshly judged him over his divorce ... and he did it on a Jay-Z video.

Jesse had 25 seconds on Jay-Z's 11-minute newest release, "Footnotes from 4:44" ... talking about the ongoing divorce and custody dispute with estranged wife, Aryn Drake-Lee.

Jesse says ... "I was in a relationship 13 years, 13 real years, not 5 years, not 7 years, 13 years and all of a sudden mother f****** are writing think pieces that I somehow threw a 13-year relationship -- like the most painful experience I've had in my life like with a person I've loved with all my heart -- that I threw a person and my family in the trash because a girl I work with is cute."