Celebrity Health

The political divide over vaccines just got bloody.

Someone was stabbed Saturday during a massive brawl in downtown L.A. ... in the middle of an anti-vaccine protest.

People on both sides squared off and it didn't take long for fists to fly. The person stabbed is hospitalized in serious condition.

The protesters called the demonstration a "Choose Freedom March." They say they are protesting the "medical tyranny" of mandatory vaccinations and vaccine passports ... whatever that means.

As the Delta variant continues to wreak havoc in the U.S., more and more cities and businesses are either contemplating or implementing mandatory vaccination policies. There's a clear move to declare restaurants, concerts, sporting events and other gathering places off-limits to people who choose to turn thumbs down to the vaccine.

As for Saturday's confrontation, there were counter-protesters present, calling their mission "No Safe Space for Fascists" ... they are demonstrating against what they call "violent anti-vaxxers."

Korn pulled the plug on their concert Saturday night with a vague disclosure ... someone "within the Korn camp" tested positive for COVID.

This is what the band said just hours before the concert was supposed to start ... "Unfortunately, there has been a confirmed COVID-19 case within the Korn camp. The safety of our artists, crew, venue staff, and fans are our top priority, so we must postpone the show tonight."

The concert was supposed to go down at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA.

Korn wants to make good on the concert, saying, "We're deeply sorry for this unfortunate last minute news, but please hold on to your tickets while we work to get your rescheduled date sorted ASAP with Live Nation and the Pavilion at Montage Mountain. Thank you for your understanding, and stay safe out there. We'll be back soon."

George Takei is drawing a line in the sand on vaccines -- saying those who consciously choose not to get the jab should be refused priority care if they get sick from COVID.

The "Star Trek" star came out swinging with his hot take Friday, writing ... "The willfully unvaccinated who wind up in hospitals from Covid should not receive priority medical care over other very sick or injured people who are as much in urgent need of medical care."

GT followed by tweeting the following ... "Anti-vaxxers think they are owning us liberals by refusing to get vaccinated. But as the kids say, this is an epic self-own."

His sentiment has gotten some blowback because of the harsh do-or-die approach. Some have pointed out there's a number of people who are unvaccinated for a variety of reasons ... and instead of calling for them to get left out in the dust, as George suggests here, they argue there simply needs to be even more outreach/education on vaccine safety.

It would appear George -- and others who've also called for the unvaccinated to lose out on privileges -- is past the point of talking and convincing. Fact is, the data is out there.

Khetag Pliev literally had his FINGER TWISTED & RIPPED from the rest of his body 135 days ago during an MMA fight ... and now the crazy tough fighter is stepping back into the cage.

Remember, 37-year-old Pliev's fight against Devin Goodale was ruled a no contest after it was discovered that the digit had been severed sometime during the bout. For minutes, no one could locate Pliev's left ring finger.

Thankfully, the mangled finger was discovered tucked away in his glove ... and Khetag -- who has a 5-1 record -- was taken to a hospital where the finger was reattached.

And, good news, he says the finger is in working order.

So, MMA career dunzo, right? Nope.

Pliev is fighting Nah-Shon Burrell Saturday night at Cage Fury Fighting Championship 99 ... and when we talked to the 37-year-old fighter, it's clear he isn't the least bit concerned about the injury.

In fact, he promised a 1st round knockout.

Legendary singer Tony Bennett is stepping away from the stage ... he's retiring from performing live and his son says it's because of health issues.

Tony is 95 years old and he's been fighting Alzheimer's Disease since 2016 ... and his son, Danny Bennett, told Variety his famous father is officially retiring from live music and scrapping his 2021 tour dates.

Tony's retirement comes on the heels of his recent sold out shows with Lady Gaga, a two-night event at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, which was dubbed "One Last Time."

TB's son told Variety ... "This was a hard decision for us to to make, as he is a capable performer. This is, however, doctors' orders. His continued health is the most important part of this, and when we heard the doctors -- when Tony's wife, Susan heard them -- she said, 'Absolutely not.' He'll be doing other things, but not those upcoming shows."

The problem for Tony, according to his son, is not the singing aspect of live performances, but the travel.

Tony's son adds ... "Look, he gets tired. The decision is being made that doing concerts now is just too much for him. We don't want him to fall on stage, for instance -- something as simple as that."

Tony is still able to sing, his son says, but the family was worried about the physical toll of traveling on a grueling concert tour.

"There's something bigger going on here that they're not telling you."

That's Michael Irvin clearly VERY concerned that Dak Prescott's shoulder strain is serious ... explaining on his podcast this week that he believes the Cowboys might be downplaying the injury to keep morale up at training camp.

Irvin broke it all down on "The Michael Irvin Podcast" on PodcastOne, saying everything he's seen from Dak since the injury has him worried about the quarterback's availability this season.

"When I was there at camp, he was throwing the ball back to the guy that was snapping it to him with his left hand," Irvin said.

"It only takes that little wave with the right hand to throw the ball two yards, and I was like, 'Oh, no. Oh, no.'"

Irvin said his contacts in the Cowboys have insisted they believe it's nothing to fret about ... but The Playmaker explained he thinks that might all be a façade at the moment.

Irvin said after Dak went down last year with his ankle injury, the team went into "the gutter" ... and he believes the Cowboys are now trying everything to avoid that same feeling in camp this summer.

"The worst thing in the world, right now, is to have everybody in camp saying, 'Oh, no, we're going to have to play this season without Dak.' Or, 'We're going to have to miss a considerable amount of time without Dak.'"

Irvin added, "You don't stay out this long with something this minor at that position when you had all of last year off."

Dak has resumed throwing this week after taking a week off ... and he's said he'd like to play in the Cowboys' preseason game next week.

But, if he doesn't go then, is it time to panic in Big D? Irvin certainly seems to think so.

If Daymond John sounds pissed off about people refusing to get vaccinated it's because the virus has already claimed the lives of 60 people he knows, and that includes an unvaccinated friend he just lost.

When the "Shark Tank" star joined us Friday for "TMZ Live" he said he'd just gotten word about that friend dying ... and his emotions about the vaccine certainly came through loud and clear as we discussed vaccine card mandates.

As you know, cities like NYC, San Fran and New Orleans are implementing mandates requiring patrons to show proof of vaccination in order to enter restaurants, gyms or any other indoor venues hosting sporting events or concerts.

Daymond firmly believes these measures should become the norm all across the country -- not just in a few cities -- because if it does, anti-vaxxers will eventually fold. Why? FOMO.

It's a similar sentiment to what Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber told us about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis essentially blocking local officials from saving lives.

Simone Biles' triumphant return home from the Olympics has hit a speed bump ... she says she was just bitten by a German Shepherd, and suffered a gnarly finger wound in the attack.

Biles explained the situation on her social media page Friday ... revealing a massive gash on her right hand.

"Here's an update on my finger that the dog bit me," the 24-year-old gymnast said, adding, "German Shepherds don't play."

Details surrounding the attack are unclear ... but Biles said she was forced to go to the doctor to get a tetanus shot and to make sure everything was OK with the injury.

Biles, though, did not seem shaken up at all over the incident ... even joking, "this dog at the farm just said NOT TODAY."

Of course, Biles had been having a great time in her return to Houston from Tokyo ... she got a hero's welcome at the airport and even got to ride in a parade!

Legendary college football coach Bobby Bowden is being remembered with a public tribute on Friday ... with a Lie In Honor at the Florida State Capitol.

Coach Bowden's casket arrived via motorcade at the state Capitol in Tallahassee early Friday morning ... which was placed and covered in roses.

Family and fans have showed up to pay their respects ... including Gov. Ron DeSantis, who ordered flags to be at half-staff at state and local government buildings.

This is part of a 3-day service for Bowden -- he will also receive a tribute at the Moore Athletic Center at FSU’s Doak Campbell Stadium.

A funeral will be held at FSU's Tucker Civic on Saturday, which will be open to the public and available to watch on live stream ... and Sunday, Bowden's service will be held at Reid Chapel on Samford University's campus.

The private burial will follow in Trussville, Alabama -- Bowden's home state.

As we previously reported, Bowden died on August 8 at the age of 91 -- his son, Terry, stating, "My father passed away peacefully early this morning with all six of his children and my mother here by his side."

Terry said a month prior that his father was battling pancreatic cancer.

Track star Cameron Burrell -- the godson of legendary sprinter Carl Lewis -- died by suicide, TMZ Sports has learned.

Records show the 26-year-old's manner of death was ruled a suicide after his body was inspected by the medical examiner this week. The cause of death was listed as a "gunshot wound of the head."

Records also show Burrell passed away in a Houston, Texas parking garage.

As we previously reported, Burrell tragically died on Monday ... with his family and his alma mater, the Univ. of Houston, announcing they were devastated by the news.

"We are going through profound sorrow and ask that all of our friends, extended University of Houston family and the track and field community in the U.S. and abroad allow us to gather with our closest family and friends," Burrell's father, Leroy Burrell, said on Tuesday.

"We are profoundly grief-stricken, and thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers and support. We will forward more information when it is available.”

Cameron was one of the best sprinters on the planet ... starring at the Univ. of Houston, where he won the 100-meter championship in 2018.

Cameron also anchored Houston's 4x100-meter relay team, and was a three-time NCAA All-American in multiple events.

Jamie Spears has agreed it's time to step down as conservator of Britney's estate -- he just said so in new legal docs -- and he wants to work with the court on an orderly transition.

We've learned Jamie's lawyer is filing legal docs in which he says, "There are, in fact, no actual grounds for suspending or removing Mr. Spears as the Conservator of the Estate ... and it is highly debatable whether a change in conservator at this time would be in Ms. Spears' best interests."

And then, he lowers the boom ... "Nevertheless, even as Mr. Spears is the unremitting target of unjustified attacks, he does not believe that a public battle with his daughter over his continuing service as her conservator would be in her best interests. So, even though he must contest this unjustified Petition for his removal, Mr. Spears intends to work with the Court and his daughter's new attorney to prepare for an orderly transition to a new conservator."

The docs go on to say, "Regardless of his formal title, Mr. Spears will always be Ms. Spears' father, he will always love her unconditionally, and he will always look out for her best interests."

He goes on to attack Lynne Spears, saying she has had little, if any, involvement in the conservatorship, let alone Britney's life for the last 13 years. He says her credibility is undermined because Britney herself refused to even see Lynne when she was at a mental health facility in 2019.

He does say he essentially saved Britney when she was "in crisis, desperately in need of help" 13 years ago, adding, "Not only was she suffering mentally and emotionally, she was also being manipulated by predators and in financial distress. Mr. Spears came to his daughter's rescue to protect her."

In the docs, Spears' lawyer says Jamie had been working on a plan to leave the conservatorship with her then-attorney Sam Ingham.

He says he has never forced her to do anything, including performing.

We contacted Britney's lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, and he was unmoved by Jamie's decision to step down, telling TMZ ... "We are pleased but not necessarily surprised that Mr. Spears and his lawyer finally recognize that he must be removed. We are disappointed, however, by their ongoing shameful and reprehensible attacks on Ms. Spears and others."

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber would love to see restaurants, arenas and other public venues require proof of vaccination -- as COVID surges in Florida -- but, first he says they have to battle Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Gelber joined "TMZ Live" on Thursday to address the dire situation -- Florida accounts for nearly 20% of new COVID cases in the U.S., and more than 90% of the state's ICU beds are full. He calls the alarming rise in cases an "unforced error" that's costing tens of thousands of lives.

The Mayor's laying blame squarely on Gov. DeSantis for outlawing mitigation efforts such as a mask mandate -- even as Florida's now had to request 200 ventilators and 100 breathing devices from the federal government.

Gelber says he hopes DeSantis reconsiders his ban, but in the meantime he's sued the gov over the issue, and sent a letter trying to convince him to change his stance. Although, he admits they don't talk anymore.

Miami Beach, in the meantime, is doing its part by teaming up with celebs like Gloria Estefan and DJ Khaled for a PSA to mask-up. And, they did it by remaking Gloria's hit "Get On Your Feet."

Arnold Schwarzenegger has had it up to HERE with anti-maskers ... blasting them as schmucks who have ZERO idea what freedom's really about.

The Terminator went off Wednesday after he was asked during an interview about COVID misinformation that's been spreading like the Delta variant ... wreaking havoc across the country.

Arnold spoke directly to, or at, anti-maskers saying, "Screw your freedom. Because with freedom comes obligations and responsibilities. You cannot just say, 'I have the right to X, Y and Z.' When you affect other people, that is when it gets serious."

He noted that anti-maskers have the freedom to NOT wear a mask but added ... "But you know something? You’re a schmuck for not wearing a mask."

Arnold, of course, has been a huge proponent of COVID-19 mitigations such as social distancing, wearing masks and the vaccine. Earlier this year ... he posted video of himself getting the shot at Dodger Stadium.

He also dropped some of his most famous lines while doing so ... including, "Come with me if you want to live," which is what the Model 101 Terminator told Sarah Connor.

Gabriel Iglesias says he wouldn't be standing here today without the COVID vaccine ... telling us the shots helped this overweight diabetic beat the virus with ease.

We got the comedian in New York City and our photog asked how he's doing after his recent breakthrough COVID case.

Gabriel says anyone hesitating to get inoculated should get the shots because he's certain the vaccine helped him coast through his bout with the virus with only mild symptoms.

The way Gabriel sees it ... if he can survive COVID as a 300-plus lb. diabetic with hypertension, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and tons of underlying health conditions, the vaccine must really work.

Gabriel says he's had hangovers worse than his COVID symptoms, but even though he's a big advocate for getting vaccinated ... he tells us why he's not taking cheap shots at unvaccinated folks on his comedy tour.

Simone Biles is the greatest gymnastic ever ... and NOTHING from the 2020 Olympics changes her G.O.A.T. status, so says gold medalist McKayla Maroney.

TMZ Sports talked to Maroney at Enso Studio art gallery in Malibu ... where we asked about her former teammates' legacy after her polarizing time in Tokyo.

"Honestly, I do [consider Simone the greatest ever]. When I competed with her back in 2013, I just felt like her gymnastics were so much better than mine."

McKayla continued ... "I mean, we competed with each other in the vault,  and I was kind of head-to-head with her on that, but she blows everyone out of the water on every single event."

Of course, Biles pulled out of the gymnastics team competition and several individual events this Olympics after suffering from the "twisties."

Simone ultimately won a bronze (balance beam) and silver medal (team competition) ... bringing her total medal count to 7 ... and there could be more to come.

Maroney says she wouldn't put it past Simone to return next Olympics as a 27-year-old ... an advanced age for a top-level gymnast.

"I'm 25 and I can't see myself getting back in the gym. I did it for the little Geico commercial, but it is really tough," McKayla says.

But, we're talking about the G.O.A.T. ... so don't be surprised to see Biles kick ass in 2024.

Errol Spence Jr. is OUT of his fight against Manny Pacquiao -- the welterweight champ was forced to withdraw from the huge event due to a nasty eye injury.

Of course, the 31-year-old was set to face off with the 42-year-old star on August 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas ... a fight that's been hyped up for months.

But, fans will have to wait to see Spence and Pacquiao duke it out in the ring ... with WBA welterweight champ Yordenis Ugas -- who was already on the card as a co-feature -- stepping in as a replacement.

Spence found out he had a torn retina during a pre-fight medical exam with the Nevada State Athletic Commission ... and flew home to Dallas for surgery.

"I’m very disappointed that I won’t be able to fight Manny Pacquiao on August 21," Spence said Tuesday. "I was excited about the fight and the event."

"Unfortunately, the doctors found a tear in my left eye and said I needed to get surgery on it ASAP and that there was no way I could fight with my eye in that condition. I’d like to apologize to everyone," he continued.

"You know I’ll be back as soon back soon. We’ve come back from worse," he said.

Manny sent his well wishes ... saying, "First and foremost, I ask everyone to join me in praying for a full and complete recovery for Errol Spence Jr."

"Thank God his physical examination discovered his eye condition before he suffered any further damage.  I have agreed to fight Yordenis Ugas on August 21 for the WBA welterweight super championship.  The proper way and the only way to win a world title is inside the ring."

Spence is expected to make a full recovery ... get well soon!!