Gossip / Rumors

Ronda Rousey had a VERY interesting dinner date Tuesday night -- Triple H ... and it seems like the two sides are one step closer to hammering out a deal to get Ronda in the WWE.

Triple H snuck out of Republique restaurant in L.A. first. Ronda followed with her agent in tow and was in a pretty great mood.

She wouldn't spill the beans on whether a deal was done -- but interesting that Triple H would come to L.A. at the same time the "WWE SmackDown Live" was going down in Alabama.

One WWE source tells us it's unusual for Triple H to miss a TV event -- he's usually on hand for everything ... so, you know if he's gonna fly out west, it's not just for a good meal!

An NBC exec who oversees the E! television network is calling BS on Debra Messing and others who have criticized E! for paying a female anchor less than her male counterpart.

Frances Berwick, who oversees E! and other lifestyle brands, just came out publicly and drew a line in the sand ... saying it's absolutely appropriate to pay different people different salaries.

Catt Sadler quit E! after learning her counterpart on E! News, Jason Kennedy, was making double what she made.

You'll recall on Sunday Messing challenged Giuliana Rancic, saying Catt got a raw deal.

Berwick told TV critics Tuesday, "There is a lot of misinformation out there. Catt Sadler and Jason Kennedy had different roles and therefore different salaries. Catt was focused on daytime. Jason Kennedy is on prime, evening news, plus red carpet."

She went on ... "Our employees' salaries are based on their roles and their expertise, regardless of gender. So we wish Catt well, but I hope that sets the record straight on that."

Donald Trump says he's not worried about Oprah running for President in 2020, because if she does he'd kick her butt.

Trump reacted Tuesday to a groundswell of interest in a Winfrey candidacy, saying he doesn't think she'll pull the trigger and run, but if she does he'd beat her.

Gayle King is doubling down ... trying to clarify Stedman Graham's comment about Oprah running for President, and throwing in her own 2 cents too.

We got Gayle leaving CBS Tuesday in NYC, after she went on the air and offered a tightrope answer as to whether Oprah was serious about a presidential bid in 2020.

The co-anchor said Oprah was intrigued, but probably not actively considering it at this point -- despite folks already hitting her up to run a campaign.

Gayle got direct with us, insisting while SHE personally thinks President Winfrey is easy on the ears ... Oprah is not convinced, and is not seriously considering a run.

Senator Orrin Hatch gave us a big surprise Monday ... he said he'd like to sit down with Oprah and help her if she decides to run for President in 2020.

We got the Utah Senator -- who's retiring this year -- at Reagan National Airport in D.C., and he seemed gleeful about the Presidential buzz following Oprah's Golden Globes speech.

Mind you ... Hatch is the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, who has been super conservative over the years.

Hatch goes as far as to say she'd be a serious candidate if she handles things properly. It's interesting ... he was more overtly supportive of Oprah running than Elizabeth Warren, who deflected the question.

Lee Daniels is clearly not on the same page as Stedman Graham, because Lee is convinced Oprah will NOT run for Prez in 2020.

We got the brainchild behind "Empire" Monday leaving Equinox on the Sunset Strip, and he was amused at all the talk of an Oprah run, but says it's not going to happen ... and he's emphatic.

Stedman said after Oprah's stirring Golden Globes speech that Oprah would "absolutely" run if people want her to, but Lee -- who's tight with O -- says it's not gonna happen.

Laura Govan is not the "whore" you're looking for, Tamar Braxton ... this according to Laura, who seems to have a strong suspicion about who started the rumor Vincent Herbert got her knocked up.

First things first ... Laura wanted to make it clear she is NOT pregnant. When we got her at LAX Thursday she admitted she does know Tamar's estranged husband, but clarified she doesn't know him "that way."

Remember, Tamar claimed Vincent had gotten some "stupid broke ass whore" pregnant. Then Laura's ex, Gilbert Arenas, jumped into the mix and strongly insinuated Laura was said whore.

Harvey Weinstein's not hanging out in L.A. preparing to crash a 'Golden Globes' party this weekend ... because he's still hundreds of miles away.

Rumors started circulating online Thursday the notorious producer had made his way back to Hollywood and was staying at a Beverly Hills hotel where press for the awards show was being done ... but it's not true.

TMZ's obtained a photo of Weinstein -- which we're told was taken around 4 PM Thursday in Arizona -- and word is ... he's not planning on going anywhere anytime soon.

A few actors -- including Rosanna Arquette and Ellen Barkin -- posted messages earlier suggesting Weinstein was in town ... and expressing disapproval.

Jon Gruden becoming the next Raiders coach ain't a done deal yet ... but if and when it happens, Raiders legend Charles Woodson says he might be open to joining his staff.

We got Woodson at LAX ... and despite him doing analyst work for ESPN, he told TMZ Sports there's no chance he'd replace Gruden on "Monday Night Football."

But, he left the door open to coaching alongside him -- "Never say never."

It'd be a hell of a reunion -- Woodson was a Pro Bowler all 4 years Chucky coached the Silver and Black (1998-2001), and also played opposite him in Super Bowl 37 (aka the "Gruden Bowl").

So, if Gruden gets the gig ... coach should probably hit up Charles.

Kylie Jenner missed out on watching Travis Scott perform for New Year's Eve -- but she probably got a full report, 'cause she had a couple proxies there in her place.

Travis took the stage Sunday night at LIV nightclub presented by Monster in Miami, where some his baby mama's crew were in attendance. Kylie's friends, Justine Skye and Anastasia Karanikolaou, were seen dancing in the crowd, as was Kendall's gal pal, Hailey Baldwin.

Eyewitnesses tell us all three girls, and the groups they were with, ended up in the DJ booth together at one point in the night -- where Travis raged a bit himself though his set.

Preggo Kylie wasn't seen at LIV, which makes sense -- she's pretty far along as far as we know. And despite rumors she and Travis split, we're told they're still together.

Vincent Herbert did not get Laura Govan pregnant and did not commit spousal abuse on Tamar Braxton ... this according to Vince himself.

A pap got Tamar's estranged hubby Sunday out in Bev Hills where the denials came straight from the horse's mouth. Vince says it clear as day on the Govan rumor ... not true at all.

He also backs up what Tamar said herself about his Christmas day arrest -- there was no spousal abuse ... even though he was, in fact, arrested for spousal assault.

We broke the stories ... Tamar unleashed her fury on a woman claiming to have gotten pregnant by Vincent, and people were quick to assume she was referring to Laura. Laura denies it's her, and says her own ex, Gilbert Arenas, is the one fueling the rumor.

Kendall Jenner is NOT the 4th Kardashian who's expecting a bundle of joy -- she's just got a bun in the oven ... otherwise known as a bagel.

Kendall posted a mirror selfie Saturday and almost immediately had to respond to rumors that she was pregnant. Her slim figure looked a bit more hourglass-like in the pic, and people sorta lost their s***.

As it turns out, Kendall isn't preggo -- she's just fan of the doughy goodness that are bagels.

Mel B's ex-husband, Stephen Belafonte, hasn't moved on to 'Love & Hip Hop' star Nikki Baby -- even though they grabbed Xmas dinner together ... TMZ has learned.

A source close to Nikki tell us she and Stephen's dinner at Mastro's on Christmas day was just a business meeting to discuss a shoe line he's developing with her.

While they left in the same SUV ... we're told they were simply following behind another group that had joined them inside. Stephen brought some of his associates, and Nikki brought hers ... in other words, they didn't dine alone.

A video that's surfaced online showing what looks like a very pregnant Kylie Jenner has got to be a fake, 'cause it's from January ... long before she got pregnant.

There's this new clip that's been making the rounds showing Kylie and Kendall in their silver and orange dresses. You see what looks like a bump ... thing is ... we did some digging and it was apparently shot at a Golden Globes party they attended 11 months ago.

Kylie hadn't even started seeing her baby daddy-to-be, Travis Scott until April ... which is around the time we know she got pregnant.

Blame it on Photoshop, a weird angle or bad lighting ... but this ain't the real McCoy.

Floyd Mayweather is NOT in a committed relationship with 'Love & Hip Hop' star Nikki Baby ... so says the boxer's rep who tells TMZ Sports, "they're associates."

Floyd and Nikki have been friends for a while -- and ignited dating rumors after a flirty Instagram exchange that was captured by The Shade Room.

But when we reached out to Floyd's rep, Mayweather's camp shot it down saying when it comes to reports of dating, it is "not true."

Secret convo with Lonzo Ball? Buying another mansion in Brentwood?

LeBron James sure ain't quieting down the noise surrounding him coming to L.A. ... and ex-Lakers coach Byron Scott says the odds are damn good that happens.

"I think it's probably 50/50 right now," Byron told TMZ Sports outside Craig's in WeHo.

To be clear, Byron's assigning those odds to JUST the Lakers ... saying it ain't lookin' so good for the other team in Tinseltown.

But, when it comes to the Lake Show bringing in 'Bron (and Paul George) ... hell to the yes.