Gossip / Rumors

LeVar Burton is defending space exploration, Angelina Jolie is not dating anyone, and Kyren Williams is previewing the upcoming NFL season ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Babcock break down LeVar's position on space ... now that we're dealing with an astronaut emergency up there.

Selena Gomez’s engagement rumors with Benny Blanco are really cranking up ... with recent photos totally stoking the flames.

Take a good look at these pics taken in L.A. on Thursday ... Selena is just taking a casual stroll ... but a closer peek reveals she's rocking a gold ring on none other than her engagement finger!

Selena’s not exactly parading the ring in everyone's face ... and you could argue she thought it would be hidden while juggling her glasses, phone and bag of chips. But, at the end of the day ... a ring is visible on that finger, and it's making us all wonder.

Angelina Jolie is single as a dollar bill ... she's not dating British rapper, author and activist Akala ... despite speculation the two are an item.

Angelina and Akala were photographed together this week in Italy -- she's there for the Venice Film Festival -- leading to renewed rumors of a romance with Akala.

Sources close to Angelina and Akala tell TMZ ... they are NOT dating and are just friends.

Ben Affleck ain't rushing into a new fling right after his public divorce from Jennifer Lopez -- despite buzz about him hanging out with RFK Jr.’s daughter, Kick Kennedy.

Sources tell TMZ there's no romance brewing between Ben and Kick, despite their recent sightings together ... adding they're not dating and are definitely not a couple.

It's unclear how long Ben and Kick have known each other ... but we're told they’re just buddies, and Kick thinks highly of Ben -- and that’s literally it -- no secret romance here!

Aaron Rodgers is opening up on his decision more than a decade ago to set the record straight on his sexuality ... saying he was frustrated the rumor was "meant to shame the idea of being gay."

The New York Jets quarterback famously proclaimed he "really, really" liked women amid speculation surrounding his dating life when he was a member of the Green Bay Packers back in 2013 ... and in Ian O'Connor's new biography, "Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers," he explained why he addressed the claims.

"I think I was upset at the framing [of the rumor] because it was meant to shame the idea of being gay, and I have so many friends that are gay in the community," the four-time MVP said.

Selena Gomez seems like she's sending another sign she's engaged to Benny Blanco ... because she's now following a wedding planning agency on social media.

Amid rumors Benny popped the question, Selena started following CMG Weddings & Events on TikTok.

One of Selena's fans noticed the "Only Murders in the Building" star was following CMG earlier this week -- and now there's a whole bunch of TikTok clips speculating Selena and BB are engaged.

Blake Lively's "It Ends With Us" costar Brandon Sklenar is coming to her defense ... slamming the ongoing gossip about the actress, which has painted her in a negative light.

Brandon addressed the drama Tuesday head on, calling for a ceasefire in the "vilifying" narrative against Blake, "It Ends With Us" author Colleen Hoover, and other women in the cast.

As Brandon put it ... hating on the women of "It Ends With Us" defeats the purpose of the film, which features Blake's character, Lily Bloom, navigating an abusive relationship.

Barry Keoghan is making it clear the gossip about him splitting from GF Sabrina Carpenter is a bunch of "Nonsense" ... by showing his lady some love online.

Fans began speculating about the couple's relationship after an online report Friday claiming they'd called it quits. However, the Irish actor subtly shut down the rumor by taking to Instagram and hitting "like" on the pop star's latest sultry upload ... where she wore a baby-blue crop top, underwear, garter and heels.

Alongside the image, SC promoted her upcoming album, "Short n’ Sweet" ... which Sabrina revealed will also include a bonus track on the vinyl edition.

"Love Island: USA" star Nicole Jacky is resurfacing amid some major drama with her partner from the show, Kendall Washington ... but he's not with her.

Nicole showed up to Chelsea Studios in New York City for Wednesday's reunion show taping ... and instead of rolling in with Kendall, she was with castmates Kaylor Martin and Liv Walker.

Thing is ... Nicole has been super quiet since the show ended, when Kendall had some old nudes leaked online.

Michael Rubin's not standing for anyone spewing lies about his main man Meek Mill, including the rampant memes claiming the Philly rapper is gay.

The Fanatics boss took up for Meek -- no different than he did for Drake -- Wednesday on "The Breakfast Club." The salacious lawsuit filed by ex-Bad Boy producer Lil Rod claimed Diddy and Meek were lovers, and it's been a thing on social media ever since.

Rubin says Meek doesn't have "one gay bone in his body" -- but even if he did, it's 2024 and who the hell cares?!?!

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively's cast and crew agree there's conflict between the "It Ends With Us" costars -- but we've learned he's not the clear-cut villain, as some people who worked on the film are standing with Justin.

Production sources tell TMZ ... JB, who directed and co-starred in the romantic drama, is actually viewed quite favorably by a lot of the crew, as he was generally a nice guy to work with and cared a lot about the production.

Despite reports the cast and crew are rallying around Blake in the feud with Justin over creative differences ... we're told that's an overstatement.

Blake Lively’s rumored feud with her "It Ends With Us" costar/director Justin Baldoni is all the buzz on social media -- and a video of them on-set is fueling those rumors, but one source says it's not what you think.

The clip, shot by a witness on May 17, 2023, shows Blake outside a Hoboken, NJ restaurant, looking visibly annoyed at Justin ... who we're told was directing, not acting in that particular scene with her.

It could've been creative differences or just a miscommunication ... but the clip seems to show them in the thick of some on-set drama.

Donald Trump's got a future career as a fantasy writer ... so says the former mayor of San Francisco, who's calling Trump's tale about the two of them a piece of "creative fiction."

Here's the deal ... during Trump's news conference with reporters at Mar-A-Lago Thursday, he pulled out all his usual moves -- making controversial claims and name-dropping some big-time public figures.

One of those figures was ex-Mayor of S.F. Willie Brown, who happens to have once dated DJT's presidential opponent Kamala Harris -- and who Trump says he once flew with in a helicopter that nearly crashed.

Selena Gomez has fans thinking she's engaged to be married -- whether or not that's true -- but she's got no one to blame but herself for lighting the rumor mill on fire.

The singer dropped an IG pic Thursday that seems innocent enough -- a mirror selfie in a gorgeous white dress. But, hold up -- peep those pink heart emojis right where her engagement ring would be. Curious, huh?

Of course, this isn’t a solid confirmation she and Benny Blanco are tying the knot -- but fans are wondering if she put that emoji there on purpose, or if it was just a happy accident.

Donald Trump is buying stock in a popular conspiracy theory ... suggesting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is the son of late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

The former president parroted the claim in an interview with streamer Adin Ross, during a segment where he was asked to react to photos of world leaders.

Trump quickly referenced the conspiracy theory when shown a picture of Trudeau, saying ... "They say he's the son of Fidel Castro and could be. Anything's possible in this world."

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif will fight for a gold medal on Friday.

The controversial pugilist emerged from her semi-final bout with Thai boxer Janjaem Suwannapheng by unanimous decision in Paris on Tuesday ... making her one of two fighters left standing.

Khelif was welcomed by a mostly supportive crowd ... with some even waving Algeria's green and white flag, and chanting "Imane!"