Humor

Leslie Jordan is visibly conflicted over the conflict raging at Netflix over Dave Chappelle's latest special.

We got Leslie Wednesday at Reagan National Airport in D.C., and he said right out of the gate he has conflicting loyalties ... he's both a comedian and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.

Leslie feels good comedy must have a subversive element, but at the same time, it shouldn't be designed to hurt people's feelings.

You see his mind at work as he navigates the controversy. He ultimately concludes Chappelle crossed the line because of the impact it had on the trans community ... a community that has been misunderstood and marginalized for decades.

As we reported, there was a walkout over at Netflix Wednesday to protest the CEO's decision to keep Chappelle's special on the menu.

Kyler Murray had a bone to pick with Myles Garrett following their game Sunday ... telling the Cleveland Browns star he was ticked over his inclusion in the dude's Halloween QB graveyard!

Murray's hilarious beef was all picked up on a hot mic after the Cardinals beat Cleveland ... with the quarterback asking Garrett why he had to be on one of the headstones in the pass-rusher's front lawn.

"Why you got me in the graveyard, dawg?!" Murray asked. "Why you got me in the graveyard?!"

Garrett gave a sheepish smile and then explained, "I need some added motivation."

Murray clearly didn't love the answer, replying back, "Damn!" But, he did tell Garrett he did appreciate not having a "RIP" on his marker.

As we previously reported, Garrett has laid out QB gravestones in front of his house to celebrate the spooky season ... with Murray, Lamar Jackson, Ben Roethlisberger and four others being featured in the decorations.

Garrett had said they were up because he thought they were funny, and that he liked being "kind of a troll."

Don't worry ... it seemed like Murray didn't care that much, 'cause he complimented Garrett's game and said, "You're the best at it, man."

There's a crazy scene going down at Netflix headquarters ... where employees are walking out of the office building in protest of the controversial Dave Chappelle comedy special.

As you can see, trans Netflix employees and their allies are making their displeasure known with CEO Ted Sarandos and his response to their concerns about Dave's LGBTQ+ comments, which are getting tons of backlash.

You can hear the chants ... "Trans lives matter" ... being repeated over and over again as protestors wave pickets signs in the air.

There's also a group of folks defending Dave ... they've got signs saying "jokes are funny" and "Dave is funny."

The planned protest comes on the heels of Sarandos defending Dave and downplaying transphobic concerns in an email to Netflix staffers, which leaked.

As we reported ... Sarandos has since apologized for how he delivered his message, but he's not caving to internal pressure to take down Dave's special, "The Closer."

So far, Dave's been mum on the pushback ... we got him out shortly after the special dropped, but he had nothing to say.

The Chicago Sky beat Diana Taurasi on Sunday and then they beat down her psyche on Tuesday -- trolling the hell out of the hooper by bringing the door she allegedly broke to their WNBA championship parade.

Taurasi was reportedly so pissed about losing the Finals to the Sky over the weekend, she launched a physical assault on a door in the Chicago arena, nearly breaking it in half.

The Mercury star didn't want to comment on the alleged incident in a meeting with reporters this week -- saying only, "There was a lot of doors in there" -- but the Sky made sure the storyline wasn't forgotten regardless.

The team brought the broken door with them on the stage just behind their DJ, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, showing it off to all the fans that came out to celebrate the Sky's title.

Petty, sure ... but ya gotta admit, it is a perfect troll job.

The Sky's players, meanwhile, are doing more than just rubbin' salt in Taurasi's wounds -- they're currently on buses partying in the streets of Chicago ... with Chance the Rapper!

Jon Stewart is back after a long hiatus -- and it sounds like he thinks a couple things are ripping this country apart ... sensationalism in the media, and focusing on Donald Trump.

The former 'Daily Show' host sat down with CNN's Jake Tapper Sunday, to plug his new Apple TV+ show, "The Problem with Jon Stewart," but to also discuss the current state of things as it relates to our politics, national discourse and culture wars we're going through.

On that last point ... Jon got pretty real on what he thinks about issues like CA's new gender-neutral toy section law -- and that feeling is ... this is trivial, so who gives a s***!!!

Check out his thought process ... we as a society -- plus the media, by selecting/feeding us headlines -- seek out the conflict lines as opposed to news that actually matters in our daily lives. The gender-neutral thing is one example, but he brings up Karens/masks too.

Jon notes we see a ton of anti-masker stories all across media ... but what about stories reassessing the efficacy of masks, which affects us day-to-day??? Nowhere to be found.

Of course, Jon also talked Trump after Tapper asked him about his role in the ongoing division in the U.S. -- but Jon doesn't think this issue lives and dies with DT ... if anything, he says Trump is just the latest incarnation of a phenomenon that has long existed here.

His point is that there've been many rulers and institutions of this nation, historically, that've been power hungry, and he thinks the solution -- as it always has been -- lies in the people.

It was as inevitable as snow in winter ... "Saturday Night Live" did a sketch Saturday night on Netflix's hit show, "Squid Games."

Pete Davidson and guest host Rami Malek did the honors, with a country-type song about the phenomenon.

The song was a takeoff on Branchez & Big Wet's hit, "Turn Up On the Weekend," and it was pretty hilarious. It went like this ... the 2 guys were in a deep financial hole, so they signed up for the game.

They played the usual kids games, like Red Light Green Light, and the results were fatal for some.

One of the lyrics ... “There’s a robot girl who caught me running, better duck behind the nearest guy.” At one point Pete's face is splattered with blood as he keeps singing.

There's a really funny reference to the confusion over Korean cash and the prize money.

Davidson boasts in song how he killed all of his friends to make a killing in the game. Pete returns to the U.S. triumphant and flush with cash ... which he loses on a really bad bet.  Sorry NY Jets, but it was super funny!

Pete goes back to Korea for more, but this time things don't work out as well.

If you wanna know how hard it is to stand out in the Los Angeles real estate market, just ask this guy ... who went all NSFW with his listing ... trying to score a sale!!!

The realtor, David Ferrugio, shamelessly bared all on his Instagram to promote a $1.29 million home on the market in the Monterey Hills neighborhood near L.A.

Ferrugio posed for not one, not 2, but 5 naked pics to showcase the 3-bed, 2-bath, 2,100 sq-ft. house that was just listed this week ... including a cheeky kitchen shot and a couple full frontals -- in the front and back of the property.

According to Ferrugio ... his clients were on board with his adult-themed marketing tactic, and to be fair -- he's strategically blurred.

Tough to say if that helps or hurts David with prospective buyers, but it should be noted ... actual realtor sites only include the shots of the home, and not the nude realtor.

Adele is walking back her harsh rejection of her homeland's most beloved cartoon swine, Peppa Pig, saying she's definitely down to collab with her ... after an on-air confrontation.

If ya missed it ... during the "Easy on Me" singer's very first IG Live last weekend, she answered a fan's question about working with Peppa with a very blunt "NOOOO!"

So, Peppa called in during Adele's interview Friday on the "Capital Breakfast" show and called her out ... saying it made her really sad to be rejected and asked, "Don't you like me?"

But, all's well in the world of Peppa and Adele fans now, because the singer admits she immediately felt terrible about her response and "anytime you wanna go jumping in muddy puddles and singing in muddy puddles, I'm with ya babes."

With that beef quickly squashed, Peppa's free to return to trolling other artists about their album reviews -- like Kanye -- and throw her full support behind Adele's upcoming album -- like her best friend, Drake, did.

It's officially spooky season at Myles Garrett's house ... 'cause the Cleveland Browns superstar has decorated his home for Halloween -- with gravestones of NFL QBs!!!

The 25-year-old put out the set up at his Ohio pad just a few days ago ... laying headstones on his front lawn with seven quarterbacks' last names, numbers and helmets on them.

The list of signal-callers features opposing players on the Browns' schedule this season ... including AFC North rivals Lamar Jackson, Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Burrow.

The other four names include Bears' Justin Fields, Patriots' Mac Jones, Cardinals' Kyler Murray and Chargers' Justin Herbert.

Unclear why other QBs on the Browns' schedule like Derek Carr and Aaron Rodgers missed the cut ... but you can see in photos, obtained by TMZ Sports, it's all hilarious nonetheless.

Each "grave" has it's own light fixed on it ... and on Jackson's and Jones', the words "RIP" and "Here lies" are written on the top.

There's also two giant skeletons, a scarecrow, pumpkins and more on the property!!

Of course, some could perceive these as possible bulletin board material for Myles' opponents ... but even all the motivation in the world ain't going to help tackles block Garrett better.

Because, after all, have you seen the dude?!?

Mick Jagger's heating up the most ancient beef in rock -- on the heels of Paul McCartney dissing the Rolling Stones -- but, as someone once said ... ya can't always get what you want.

Mick and the Stones played Thursday night at L.A.'s SoFi Stadium, and the frontman made a point of responding to McCartney's comment earlier this week that the Rolling Stones were basically a "blues cover band," and the Beatles were much better.

So when MJ started shouting all the celebs in the audience -- Megan Fox, Lady Gaga and Leonardo DiCaprio -- he added, "Paul McCartney is here. He's gonna join us in the blues cover band."

It was clearly intended as a soft jab back at Paul, but it kinda backfired on Mick -- because the crowd cheered wildly, thinking McCartney was about to make a surprise appearance!!!

Ahhh, when old men argue. Good stuff.

"Mean Girls" star Jonathan Bennett's so down to give the 2004 classic another go-around ... and that's so fetch!!!

We got Jonathan out Tuesday afternoon in Hollywood where he surprised guests on the TMZ celebrity tour bus by hopping on. He told the passengers he wants to make happen what everyone seems to crave ... a reunion of the cast in one way, shape or form.

Check it out ... Jonathan -- who, of course, played Lindsay Lohan's BF, Aaron Samuels -- says he doesn't care if the reunion comes in the form of a reboot as a series, prequel or sequel.

Jonathan says the film brought a lot of happiness to LOTS of people ... not to mention all the classic memes and quotes. ICYDK ... October 3rd is unofficially "Mean Girls" Day thanks to the film's most famous scene. ☝🏽

Jonathan knows fans are split ... some think it's better to leave well enough alone, but others are all about the reboot. The doubters have one receipt ... "Mean Girls 2" -- which didn't feature the OG cast -- went straight to video in 2011.

Tina Fey, who wrote "Mean Girls," is also writing the script to "Mean Girls the Musical" film.

Dave Chappelle cracking jokes over the LGBTQ+ community is fair game, and should NOT be censored in the slightest -- so says a transgender comedian, who's backing the dude.

Flame Monroe -- a Black trans comic -- tells TMZ she's not in favor of taking Dave's new Netflix special, "The Closer," off the service ... because she says in the world of comedy, nothing is off-limits -- and she simply doesn't believe in censoring standups.

Watch her explanation here, because it's very interesting. Obviously, Flame has a multi-dimensional perspective to offer -- from race to gender identity, and also her chosen craft -- and the one she feels most strongly about is a comic's right to joke freely.

That jibes with what Damon Wayans told us just the other day on this whole debate. He, too, seemed more focused on the comedy side of things ... rather than the LGBT vs. Black comparisons Dave raised in the special.

Flame goes further ... praising Dave as "great," while also saying she believes he's brought people together in a way -- to have a much-needed dialogue.

Bottom line ... Flame seems to be OK with Dave using Netflix's platform to speak his mind -- and clearly believes that outweighs the actual inflammatory content itself.

Dave Chappelle is now the great emancipator of comedians thanks to his latest Netflix special -- so says Damon Wayans, who drew a parallel to slavery while praising Dave.

We ran into the comic and actor Monday at LAX and got his take on Dave's standup special, 'The Closer' ... which is STILL being hotly debated nearly a week after its release. As for where Damon lands ... count him as firmly in Chappelle's camp.

You gotta watch how DW breaks this down for us ... saying Dave "freed the slaves" as it pertains to other comics who might be fearful to speak on certain subjects in a PC/woke culture world.

He also goes on to call him the van Gogh of the comedy game -- saying he cut off his ear, in a sacrificial sense, to let the others know ... you can still joke, be yourself and operate without fear of being canceled. Or at least, you should be able to in Damon's view.

Our photog asks about the actual content of the special -- namely, the jokes that have deeply offended folks in the LGBT community (especially transgender people) but Dame won't touch on that.

Barbara Corcoran is NOT persona non grata at 'The View' -- because Whoopi Goldberg is already past the fat joke BC cracked at her expense ... saying it's water under the bridge.

We got the comic and talk show host Monday leaving ABC Studios in NYC, and just had to ask where things stood between her and her old 'Shark Tank' pal ... who got a little out of pocket last week in taking a crack a Whoopi's weight.

Watch Whoopi's reaction when he asked her about the incident ... she legit looks like she doesn't even remember it, which reflects how she feels about it -- literally, NBD.

Now, for the why ... Whoopi explains to us that Barbara has a unique sense of humor as it is -- see her funeral birthday thing as exhibit A -- and that she really didn't take offense to it all.

There's also the history between them, which WG also touches on -- saying their friendship of 20-plus years isn't going to crumble over a little quip like that ... especially since Barbara fully apologized for it right afterward. And, yes -- that means Barb isn't banned by any stretch.

Sounds like people made a bigger issue out of it than it actually was to Whoopi herself -- who, BTW, tells us she's feeling pretty good these days. Well enough to be "up," anyway.

Hopefully Justin Bieber's watched the "60 Minutes" special on deepfakes by now, so he can tell when he's complimenting -- or challenging -- the real Tom Cruise.

JB got totally fooled by the @deeptomcruise TikTok account recently, believing the "Tom Cruise" created by artificial intelligence was the real deal playing guitar and singing.

Justin was impressed, so he shouted out Tom for his musical skills ... and then reminded him of their previously rumored fight-to-be that never was ... with the Biebs suggesting he'd still wallop Cruise.

JB even went a step further later on by posting his own cover of the deepfake Cruise's song to show his respect.

But, it was all for naught, because Justin was fooled -- like so many others -- by the deepfake account that's existed since February, created by Chris Ume ... who uses A.I. technology to merge Cruise's face with impersonator Miles Fisher's to create the realistic effect.

Kim Kardashian has a message for Debra Messing ... you don't have to be an actor to kill it on "Saturday Night Live."

Kim came out of the gate with some shocking humor ... "I'm a Kim, not a Karen. Somehow [my mom] just knew. I don't know how she saw that coming, and not Caitlyn."

And then, there's this ... Kim said one thing she isn't is a gold-digger, "Honestly, I'm not even sure how you become one. So, I asked my mom's boyfriend, Corey."

And, she went on and on with jabs at her fam ... “[I'm] so much more than just a pretty face and good hair, and great makeup, and amazing boobs, and a perfect butt.  I’m so much more than that reference photo my sisters showed their plastic surgeon.”

Kanye wasn't spared, at first saying how grateful she was to be married to him and then slamming the brakes by saying she's divorcing him because of his personality!

There were sex tape jokes, O.J. Simpson jokes ... almost no one escaped her line of fire.

Of course, the writers killed it, but Kim was shockingly relaxed and ... well, really funny.

The skits were also mostly hilarious -- A "People's Kourt" where she settled lame family disputes.

Kris and Khloe made cameos and Halsey played a hilarious Kendall.

Lots of celebs also joined in -- Blake Griffin, John Cena, Chris Rock, Tyler C, Chase Crawford, Amy Schumer and Jesse Williams.