Gossip / Rumors

Chandler Parsons says there's no doubt in his mind Dwight Howard's a Hall of Famer -- telling TMZ Sports, "He was the best center in the NBA for like 10 years!"

It's been a huge debate in the NBA community ... and fuel was added to the fire when D12 told us earlier this week his HOF resume "speaks for itself."

Chandler couldn't agree more with Dwight when we got him leaving Craig's -- telling us Howard "100 percent" belongs in the Hall.

R. Kelly's spewing out ALL his feelings about the sex cult allegations, his financial problems, the 3 celebs he wants to get off his back ... and much, much more in a 19-minute long song.

The track's called "I Admit" and in it, Kelly goes right after John Legend, Steve Harvey and radio host Tom Joyner for being critical of him. Kelly sings, "Why would they want to tear down another brother?"

He also pleads to women to "show black men some love, 'cause black men we go through enough" -- and says he needs his 'hood's support more than ever. In the song, Kelly claims he's broke and has to keep touring "just to pay rent."

Kelly addresses some of the sex cult allegations ... admitting Joycelyn Savage's father brought her to one of his shows, and says he and Joycelyn were into each other immediately. He dismisses claims he restricts his girlfriends from eating or leaving his homes -- and points out "I'm not convicted, not arrested."

He also claims he was molested by a family member up until the age of 14.

XXXTentacion's murder has brought a rapper's career to a screeching halt ... so says the rapper himself, who at one point was linked to the murder.

Rapper Soldier Kidd tells TMZ ... his career's been derailed ever since online accusations of his possible involvement in XXX's shooting caught the eye of investigators.

TMZ broke the story ... cops working on the case were homing in on the Florida rapper after he posted a pic of himself with a gun while he was at a fish and chicken joint not far from the crime scene.

A grand jury indicted 4 people in the murder case.

G-Eazy has NOT jumped to dating Demi Lovato after his split from Halsey ... and that's coming straight from his ex, Halsey.

We got her Thursday at LAX, and had to ask her about the speculation G's hooking up with Demi. There were reports they hit up a Hollywood club last weekend. Even though that turned out to be false ... the rumor's taken off.

Halsey, who announced the breakup from G-Eazy earlier this month, says NO CHANCE. He denied the Demi buzz at the ESPYs, and his ex is fully backing him.

Ariana Grande's gotten a lot of heat for allegedly ripping off a scene in her new music video from a '90s ad campaign ... but we've learned she did it all by the books.

Ariana's "God is a Woman" dropped last week and was immediately attacked by critics who noticed similarities between the video and an ad by Jean Paul Gaultier from 1993.

Sources close to Ariana tell us the scene was absolutely inspired by JPS ... however, it wasn't art theft -- it was an homage to the designer. We're told Ariana's team reached out and obtained permission to use the concept -- and for what it's worth -- we've seen the proof.

"God is a Woman" is the latest single from Grande's album, "Sweetener," set to drop next month.

Corinne Olympios isn't buying what Colton Underwood is selling on this season of "The Bachelorette" -- insisting the ex-football player's already swiped his V card.

The villain from Nick Viall's 'Bachelor' season was in Venice on Monday when she weighed in on Colton confessing to Becca Kufrin that he's a virgin. He still got a rose, but Corinne thinks Becca got taken.

First off, she says Colton's too hot to still have unwrapped goodies. She also says his so-called confession is one guys use all the time for sympathy. That said, she thinks it's hurting him more than helping. He did get eliminated on this week's episode, so ... Corinne might've had a point.

As for whether the jock has what it takes to be the next 'Bachelor' ... Corinne scoffs and takes a shot at all of Becca's suitors this season. Bitter ... table for one?

G-Eazy is taking the silent route when it comes to his failed relationship with singer Halsey.

We got Gerald at LAX Sunday where he looked like he was in a chipper mood until our camera guy started asking about his ex.

The two broke up abruptly a couple of weeks ago after dating for almost a year. Halsey recently hinted he cheated on her over Twitter.

G-Eazy was reportedly spotted leaving Warwick in L.A. Saturday night with Demi Lovato -- but we've learned the two were not together.

Selena Gomez is keeping herself busy -- on the heels of her ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber's engagement announcement -- by throwing herself back into acting, and she's not doing it alone.

Gomez was seen Thursday on the set of the zombie-com "The Dead Don't Die." The film stars Bill Murray and Chloe Sevigny and is shooting in Fleischmanns, New York, almost 3 hours north of the Big Apple in the Catskill Mountains.

Also spotted on set was Gomez's rumored new boyfriend, Caleb Stevens. Stevens is the younger brother -- he's reportedly only 18 -- of one of Gomez's close friends.

There have been conflicting reports as to whether or not the two are an actual couple ... but, while on set, Caleb made a run for Cheetos and an iced coffee -- so if he's not a love interest -- he's at least scored a sick summer job as her assistant.

LaVar Ball says he had absolutely nothing to do with word of Lonzo's knee injury getting out, and neither did anyone in his camp family ... because the Balls don't roll like that.

We got LaVar at LAX Friday and asked about the recent report that the Lakers think someone on Zo's side leaked news of his torn meniscus and potential surgery to keep him from getting traded ... he calls BS.

"I don't leak nothing. I always say what's on my mind, so you don't never see me saying, 'I think I should say this now and let it leak.' I don't do that."

LaVar says he's never babied his son or even talked about him being hurt ... so the media should look for leakers elsewhere.

He also touches on Lonzo's relationship with his new teammates -- LeBron and Rondo -- but tells us he's been busy with his own business this summer ... so he doesn't have all the answers.

Roseanne Barr says things are not all bad for her after her racist tweet got her fired from her own show ... she says TV offers are coming in and there's one that has intrigued her.

Barr appeared again on Rabbi Shmuley's podcast and told him she may be down but not out. She makes it seem as if she's close to accepting one of the offers.

As for the show from which Roseanne was fired ... she says -- shockingly -- she didn't accept a penny when she signed the rights away to the show she created. She says, "I thought signing off of my own life's work and asking for nothing in return, I thought that was a penance."

XXXTentacion's murder suspect who is sitting in jail was reported to have been sexually assaulted in a Florida jail -- but, that's just not true ... according to Broward County Sheriff's Office.

Law enforcement officials at BSO tell us the story asserting Dedrick Williams was raped in Broward County Jail is flat-out false.

The story -- citing someone who works in the Dade County Jail system -- claimed Williams had been showering recently and was ambushed "with an attempted rape." The report went on to claim that people affiliated with Kodak Black may have been involved.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office's Public Information Officer, Veda Coleman-Wright, says that story is "unfounded" and that the entire alleged incident did not happen. Period.

What is accurate is that police have ID'd a person of interest in XXX's murder case -- 22-year-old Robert Allen, who was seen at the motorcycle shop where X was gunned down.

Donovan Mitchell tells TMZ Sports he "ain't worried" about losing Rookie of the Year to Ben Simmons -- and the reason he doesn't care? The fans love him anyway!!!

The Utah Jazz star got a hero's welcome before an appearance at the Adidas store in Santa Monica on Tuesday -- the dude is like a frickin' rock star!!!

On the way in, we talked to Mitchell about the heated rivalry with Simmons for ROTY -- and he told us, "The media chose who they wanted to chose. And it's whatever."

He added, "I'm excited to be here. I've got all this support right here!"

LaVar Ball has heard the trade rumors involving Lonzo Ball going to the Spurs ... and has a message for the Lakers:

"If they wanna trade him, trade him. It'll be the worst move they ever made."

LaVar went off at his JBA season opener on Thursday afternoon -- when we asked about the rumblings that Magic Johnson could ship Lonzo to San Antonio to get Kawhi Leonard.

"If they wanna trade him, trade him. If they don't wanna trade him, keep him. He's gonna do his thing. I'm not worried about no trades.

LaVar says he's still 100% confident all 3 of his boys will eventually play on the same NBA team, despite the fact LiAngelo wasn't drafted on Thursday.

"He'll come in the back door as a free agent," LaVar explained.

Dwight Howard being traded around the NBA isn't because he's a crappy teammate ... so says ex-teammate Steve Nash, who tells TMZ Sports Howard's city jumping is just the way the league is now.

Dwight is on his way to Brooklyn (who reportedly will buy out his contract, so we don't know where he's going), his fourth team in four years -- a lot of stops for a future Hall of Famer.

There are some rumors that Howard might have worn out his welcome with teammates in Charlotte, something that's been said in some of his past stops as well.

Nash says that's not it at all ... telling our guy players moving around is just the way the association is now.

"That's the modern NBA. Guys change teams all the time, it's not uncommon."

It's time for TMZ SPORTS DECODES ... starring NBA superstar Paul George, who might've just given the basketball world a huge clue about his future and the future of Mr. LeBron James.

Or did he?

First a little context ... rumors in NBA circles say LeBron joining the Lakers depends on him luring another big name star to Hollywood, and most people think George -- an L.A. native -- is that star.

In order for that to happen, George would have to want to play with LeBron and, when we got him at the Fortnite Celebrity Pro-Am in L.A. and asked him ... he seemed like he was down.

"Yeah, I'm with LeBron every All-Star. Every one of my All-Stars I've been teamed with LeBron ... I like playing with him."

We continued decoding as we asked George if he even likes Los Angeles ... and once again, he gave us more positive feedback than an eastern Tinder swipe.

"I'm from L.A., I can say I love L.A. because I'm from L.A."

What do you get when you love both playing with LeBron and L.A.? Seems like Purple & Gold.

Pete Davidson donned Ariana Grande's signature bunny mask during an 'SNL' sketch in late 2017 ... perhaps letting the world in on the secret he was already feeling the singer, even though he was in a different relationship at the time.

Pete rocked a suit and Ariana's mask for a masquerade ball sketch that aired in November. At the time, Pete was a year and a half into his relationship with Larry David's daughter, Cazzie.

He confirmed their split last month -- shortly after Ariana and Mac went public with their breakup -- and, in the short period of time since then, Ariana and Pete announced they were dating and got engaged.

It's still unclear when exactly Pete and Ariana started dating, but one thing's for sure ... they haven't been shy about flaunting their love since then ... and he wasn't shy with his dough when he popped the question.

As we first reported, PD dropped nearly $100k for Ariana's custom engagement ring.