Health

Aldon Smith has cleaned himself up and is laser-focused on getting back in the NFL, so says Jay Glazer who tells TMZ Sports ... the former All-Pro deserves a 2nd chance.

The 30-year-old defensive end was a MONSTER in the league before substance abuse issues and domestic violence allegations derailed his career.

But, Glazer says Smith had an epiphany -- and made a life choice to turn his life around, starting with joining Jay's Unbreakable gym in West Hollywood.

"Aldon's great because Aldon's been working out with our [military veterans] in our MVP program every single Wednesday night," Jay said.

"Aldon has been sober for a while and he's been helping a lot of our vets with their sobriety."

Smith - who hasn't played a down in the NFL since 2015 -- is now trying to show NFL teams he deserves another shot in the league ... and Glazer believes he's earning it.

"We've given a lot of guys second chances. He deserves it as much as anybody I've been around," Jay told us at his GlazerPalooza event at Prestige Imports Miami, where a bunch of SICK exotic cars were on display!

The event benefits Jay's MVP charity which helps military vets and athletes who are dealing with mental health issues.

Jay says Aldon -- who set the 49ers franchise single-season sack record in 2012 (19.5 sacks) -- is currently at a solid 285 lbs and SHREDDED.

"He is a freak if nature."

Firefighters are pulling off daring rescues from a 25-story high-rise inferno in Los Angeles ... where several residents are trapped by the smoke and flames.

Helicopters and fire trucks are swarming around the building near L.A.'s Brentwood neighborhood. Flames are billowing out of the 6th floor, and at least one man was clinging to the side of the building ... waiting for firefighters to reach him.

They eventually did get to him as they extended a rescue ladder up to the 6th floor. Other residents made it to the roof, where rescuers dangling from helicopters were able to airlift them to safety.

Minnesota Vikings legend and NFL Hall of Famer Chris Doleman has died after a lengthy battle with brain cancer ... the Vikes confirmed late Tuesday night. He was 58 years old.

"Chris was a great example for players past and present, as he embodied all the best characteristics of a Viking -- resilience, toughness and a competitive spirit," the Vikings said in a statement.

"Chris always carried himself with dignity and class. Vikings fans worldwide will greatly miss him."

Doleman was picked with the Vikes' No. 4 overall selection in the 1985 NFL Draft ... and after he switched to defensive end in the 1987 season, his career took off.

Doleman became one of the league's all-time great pass rushers -- recording double-digit sacks in 8 of his 15 NFL seasons -- finishing with 150.5 total QB takedowns.

But, Chris tragically had brain surgery in January 2018 and was later diagnosed with glioblastoma ... a disease he was forced to battle with until his death Tuesday.

"The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Chris Doleman after a prolonged and courageous battle against cancer," HOF president and CEO David Baker said.

Former Jacksonville Jaguars safety Donovin Darius was arrested for DUI on Sunday ... and he allegedly told law enforcement officials during the stop he had just ingested 20 to 30 pills.

Darius was found discombobulated in the driver's seat of his ride following a vehicle crash at around 10 a.m. ET in Jacksonville, according to ESPN, when things turned scary.

Darius was reportedly placed in an ambulance ... where he told on-scene rescue personnel that he was suicidal and had just swallowed a ton of pills.

Cops discovered two pill bottles in the 44-year-old's car ... but were NOT able to do a sobriety test on the former NFL safety because he could not stand on his own.

Darius was immediately taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.

According to jail records, Donovan was ultimately charged with misdemeanor DUI for the stop. An initial appearance court date has not been set yet.

Darius was a longtime stud for the Jaguars ... he was drafted in the 1st-round by the team in 1998 and started 115 games for the team from '98 to 2006.

R. Kelly missed a court date this week, but had a pretty good excuse -- going under the knife ... in an operating room, not his jail cell.

Sources close to Kelly tell TMZ ... the singer was briefly taken outta MCC Chicago, and transported to a hospital earlier this week where doctors performed emergency surgery to repair a hernia. We're told he was transported back to the big house after the procedure.

We don't know how long of a hospital stay he had, but he was back in his jail cell by Thursday evening. We're told he wasn't allowed to have any visitors at the hospital.

Seems the hernia's been plaguing Kelly for a while. His lawyer filed docs back in September, outlining several medical issues facing Kelly ... including anxiety, numbness in one of his hands and the then-untreated hernia.

Demi Lovato's new single -- which she'll debut at the Grammys -- will reveal what she was going through before suffering an overdose ... but she says it's only a fraction of her story.

Demi opened up about the meaning of the song, called "Anyone," to Apple Music's Zane Lowe. The singer tells Lowe the reason it's so special is because listening back to it ... she realized it was a "cry for help."

We broke the story ... Lovato wrote and recorded the song just 4 days before she OD'd in July 2018, and vowed during her recovery to perform it first if she ever got another chance.

Lovato says she's surprised people close to her who were familiar with "Anyone" didn't also see that something was wrong and try to get her some help.

Taylor Swift's army of fans have great timing -- putting on an incredible display of support for her just as she was going public about battling an eating disorder.

We got Taylor and an absolute WALL of Swiftees Thursday night in Park City, UT ... where her "Miss Americana" documentary premiered. We're used to seeing her fans show out in force, but you gotta see this ... 'cause they outdid themselves for the Sundance Film Festival event -- and Taylor took selfies with scores of them.

T-Swift was smiling and clearly overjoyed -- moments before going into the theater, where fans got to see her open up for the first time about starving herself while she was on the road. In the Netflix documentary, she says seeing herself in paparazzi photos "where I looked like my tummy was too big, or someone said that I looked pregnant" triggered her to stop eating.

She says the lack of eating started to affect her live performances -- but adds she now understands she's gotta have food to have the energy to get through her shows.

As we reported, Taylor's actually pulling back on live shows this year -- doing fewer huge stadium dates -- partly so she can spend more time with her mother ... who's battling cancer and a brain tumor.

Mama June just gave her family -- and her fans -- the first glimmer of hope for her future in a long time ... by sharing a message for her kids, while vowing she's gonna get better.

June posted a smiling selfie Thursday with the caption, "Well decided to get back at it im not saying im.perfect as everyday is a strugglr n some days i just want to disappear."

She adds that she and her kids are still not seeing each other, and it's been very difficult on all of them, but she hopes that changes soon.

June says ... "i want them to know i miss n love them very much."

As we've reported ... the troubled reality TV star's been looking worse for wear lately while on the road with her boyfriend, Geno Doak. Her family's been desperate for her to leave him and get help, but so far ... they haven't had any luck convincing her.

Antonio Brown is in "desperate" need of "mental health treatment" -- so says the mother of his children who claims she's taking the kids and building a new life without the NFL star.

"Over the last few years I have stood at the side of my children’s father Antonio Brown and watched the rise and fall of an incredible man and athlete," Chelsie Kyriss said in an emotional Instagram post.

"Our children and I have distanced ourselves from him and our former home. Although we have parted ways I wish nothing but the best for him."

"Unfortunately, it seems Antonio has made questionable choices and continues to ignore the advice of those who love and support him."

Kyriss is obviously referencing the new assault allegations dogging AB -- after he allegedly attacked a moving truck driver outside of his Florida home on Tuesday.

Cops say AB is a suspect and they're working on getting an arrest warrant.

Demi Lovato's upcoming Grammys performance will mark the fulfillment of a promise she made to herself after nearly dying from an overdose ... so expect it to be very emotional.

The singer will perform at Sunday's award show ... her first live performance since suffering the OD in July 2018, and TMZ's learned the song she's chosen is deeply connected to that scary ordeal.

Our Grammys sources tell us ... Demi wrote and recorded the song 4 days before her overdose, and the lyrics will reflect her state of mind during that time in her life.

We're told it's a "big ballad style" tune, and Lovato vowed while she was recovering in the hospital for months ... it would be the first song she'd perform at a big venue if she ever got the chance again.

Sunday will be that big moment ... and she's taking advantage of her comeback opportunity. Along with performing the track on a huge stage, our sources say she'll be releasing the single after the show. We're not sure what the title is yet.

Demi's Grammys gig will kick off a music revival for her. As we've reported ... she's also going to be singing the National Anthem one week later at Super Bowl LIV, and she plans to release a full-length studio album in the first half of 2020.

Dr. Oz doesn't get testy when it comes to TikTok's latest so-called "Taste Challenge" ... he just laughs it off for what it is -- RIDICULOUS!!!

We got the doc out Wednesday in NYC and wanted to get his take on the new craze taking over the social media platform ... where guys are -- we're not kidding -- dipping their testicles into soy sauce to prove whether testes have taste receptors.

You gotta see Dr. Oz's reaction ... it's what you'd expect from any decent human being, especially one with a medical license. In fact, the good doctor dropped some knowledge on us about the dangers of pulling off the stunt. He also clowns whoever came up with the idea.

Terry Jones -- beloved comedy icon and founding member of the "Monty Python" comedy troupe -- has died after battling dementia.

Jones died Tuesday with his wife, Anna Soderstrom, by his side, according to his family. He'd been diagnosed in recent years with primary progressive aphasia -- a rare form of dementia that left him unable to speak.

Terry's family says, "Over the past few days his wife, children, extended family and many close friends have been constantly with Terry as he gently slipped away at his home in North London."

"We have all lost a kind, funny, warm, creative and truly loving man whose uncompromising individuality, relentless intellect and extraordinary humour has given pleasure to countless millions across six decades."

Jones is known for playing a variety of roles for "Monty Python," including female characters often with hilarious falsetto voices. Terry's the one who screamed the iconic line in 1979's 'Life of Brian' ... "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy," while playing the mother of the title character.

The line was twice voted the funniest in film history in the UK.

Along with starring in Monty Python -- though rarely receiving the same acclaim as the other members -- he also directed the famous movies "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" with Terry Gilliam and 'The Meaning of Life' and 'Life of Brian' on his own.

He was regarded in the comedy group as its passionate heart ... who drove the early innovation on its BBC show that led to stardom -- "Monty Python's Flying Circus."

Jenelle Evans' ex-BF, Nathan Griffith, got into a nasty spat with his mom over a car accident ... and when he left she feared for his safety.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... cops were called to Nathan's home on New Year's Day and when they got there Nathan said his mother had driven her car into his. The accident happened on private property, so cops told Nathan they couldn't take a report ... and he and mom would have to hash it out on their own.

That's when things kicked up a notch. Sources close to Nathan tell us he and his mother got into an argument and exchanged harsh words. Nathan locked her out of the house until she apologized. When he finally let her in, Nathan bolted and threatened he might take his life.

Taylor Swift is revealing her mother's new medical crisis -- a brain tumor doctors found while she was already battling a second bout of cancer.

The singer opened up about Andrea Swift's struggle Tuesday while discussing her Netflix documentary 'Miss Americana' ... which will premiere this week at the Sundance Film Festival. Her mom's brain tumor diagnosis happened in March 2019.

Taylor told Variety, "While she was going through treatment, they found a brain tumor. And the symptoms of what a person goes through when they have a brain tumor is nothing like what we've ever been through with her cancer before. So it's just been a really hard time for us as a family."

Andrea, a fixture at Taylor's concerts who organizes many of her daughter's backstage experiences, was first diagnosed with cancer in April 2015. She had been in remission, but the cancer returned.