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An air traffic controller working two jobs through the government shutdown isn't trying to alarm flyers ... but, he thinks a mental lapse on the part of another ATC is possible given the current issues in he field.

We spoke with Jack Criss -- an air traffic controller with more than 15 years of experience in the field -- on "TMZ Live" Thursday ... and, he told us he has a friend who refused to fly to visit him because she feared getting on a plane amid the increased stress on other controllers.

Criss tells us he's a safety advocate, and he always gives 100% focus to his job when he's working ... but, he could see a situation where an air traffic controller -- worried about not receiving any pay, while also dealing with other personal issues -- could screw up and end up hurting a lot of people.

Comedian Alex Thomas was closely associated with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records uprising at the top of the century ... which led to him landing the role of the sassy gay man who dissed Ja Rule at the end of 50 Cent's "Back Down" track!!!

The song was a crucial moment in 50 and G-Unit winning their rap battle against Ja and Murder Inc. en route to 50's "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'" debut, nearly being certified Diamond!!!

Alex tells "The Art of Dialogue" that after Dre and DJ Pooh hand-picked him to star in the 2001 film "The Wash" -- alongside Snoop Dogg and Eminem -- Dre immediately pulled him aside and tipped him off that some guy named 50 Cent was the next rapper to blow up.

TMZ Sports is going live from the newsroom to discuss the day's biggest stories ... but we don't just want folks to watch and enjoy the conversation, we want y'all to get involved!!

Hit the comment section as Babcock, Lucas, Mojo, Edward and the whole crew break down the most important topics of the day ... and we'll be interacting with viewers throughout the program between 1 and 2 PM PT.

So tune in, make fun of us, share your two cents, sound off about your favorite team ... nothing is out of bounds.

"Family Matters" star Darius McCrary has officially landed in a Michigan jail after being extradited from California ... and here's his fresh mug shot.

According to online records ... the former sitcom actor was booked into Oakland County Jail near the Detroit metro area on Wednesday night.

In the new photo ... Darius is seen in a blue jumpsuit, staring blankly into the camera.

D4vd attended a huge bash back in 2024 ... and, a photo has surfaced appearing to show Celeste Rivas standing with him and partying the night away.

The singer-songwriter hit the party in July last year at a house in Los Angeles ... and one picture taken by a pro photographer at the place captures D4vd with a huge grin on his face -- and a girl behind him turned to the side, covering her mouth with her hand.

Her red-tinted hair is half-hidden under a black and gold durag ... and, it's hard to make out her face since her hand obscures her features.

Logan Paul's CryptoZoo legal nightmare is officially over ... 'cause TMZ has learned a judge has reaffirmed the August dismissal of the class action lawsuit against LP, which accused him of defrauding investors in his failed NFT project.

The case stemmed from CryptoZoo -- Logan's 2021 NFT game that promised players could earn money by breeding "virtual animals" ... but the project never really got off the ground. Disgruntled investors filed a class action lawsuit last year, claiming Logan and his team "rug-pulled" the project and misled buyers.

According to a magistrate judge, the plaintiffs failed to link Logan directly to their alleged losses. This week, a district judge agreed.

Shakira's not the only victim of some shady tax collecting over in Spain ... at least according to international lawyer Robert Amsterdam, who is warning Americans and their businesses about what he says is a bait-and-switch scheme.

Following a press conference Thursday, Amsterdam unloaded on the Spanish government and its tax collectors ... he says the government incentivizes inspectors with a bonus system where they get a slice of the tax they collect.

Amsterdam says the Spanish government lures in foreign businesses and celebs with desirable tax credits and incentives, then turns around years later and declares the certificates meaningless and hits them with astronomical tax bills.

The feds are projecting Sean "Diddy" Combs will be released from custody on May 8, 2028 ... but his attorney thinks he will be a free man even sooner.

We got Marc Agnifilo in New York City on Thursday and our photog asked him about the Bureau of Prisons estimating a release date for Diddy.

Marc, who delivered a stirring closing argument at Diddy's criminal trial this summer, says his feeling is Diddy will walk free before the date provided by the feds ... in part because he thinks Diddy will be a model citizen behind bars.

4:17 PM PT -- DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino tells TMZ ... "Today, justice has been delivered. While the arrest of these five individuals will not bring back the lives lost, we hope it brings some measure of closure to the families who continue to grieve the loss of their loved ones."

He continued ... "These arrests serve as a stark reminder of the dangers that social media can pose, and of the predators who hide behind social media applications, looking to exploit our youth and sell their fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills through digital connections. Whether you deal on the screens or in our streets, the DEA and our law enforcement partners remain committed to targeting those responsible. This is a fight to save lives."

The death of Robert De Niro's 19-year-old grandson Leandro Anthony De Niro-Rodriguez is allegedly linked to a criminal network that targeted teens and adults living in New York City ... this according to federal prosecutors.

Five alleged drug suppliers arrested in the case -- Bruce "Tea" Epperson, Eddie Barreto, Grant "Dizzy" McIver, John "John John" Nicolas and Roy Nicolas -- were purportedly wrapped up in a drug distribution ring that also involved 2 other unnamed drug dealers who helped distribute their supplies. One of the unnamed dealers allegedly sold Leandro the lethal batch of drugs that took his life.

The unnamed dealer allegedly DM'd back and forth with someone the documents refer to as "Victim 3" -- reportedly Leandro -- about providing him with fentanyl pills after the overdose death of another alleged victim.

Rosie O'Donnell says she's worried about her daughter Chelsea's safety when she's in prison ... but, at least for now, her accommodations at a Wisconsin jail seem easy enough to handle.

Marinette County Assistant Jail Administrator Jake Roberts tells TMZ ... Chelsea's housed in general population -- where she and the other inmates have dayroom time -- time in a shared common area outside of cells where they eat foods like chicken patties, tacos, pizza and rice -- from 6 AM to 10 PM.

Roberts tells us inmates have access to games -- with the ability to buy Phase 1, Uno, chess and checkers -- a TV, phones on the wall, a kiosk to send out messages and video visits ... so, she's got a line to the world outside. She's also able to see visitors.

The women from "Selling Sunset" are bringing the drama from their reality show to their premiere party ... because Chrishell Stause and Chelsea Lazkani didn't get invitations -- and it was intentional.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Netflix did not have an official premiere party for "Selling Sunset" Season 9, but Bre Tiesi organized an event with her fellow cast members.

Chrishell and Chelsea got the short end of the stick here ... they were MIA from Wednesday night's party at Gravitas in Beverly Hills.

Nikola Topić -- the Oklahoma City Thunder's first-round draft pick in 2024 -- has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.

General manager Sam Presti announced the news Thursday ... three weeks after Topić underwent a necessary procedure in order for him to have a biopsy, which concluded he had the disease.

Topić has since kick-started his fight against cancer ... and requested the team keep his situation under wraps until he began the chemotherapy process.

Nigel Sylvester's on top of the sneaker world after his Nike Air Jordan 4 “Brick by Brick” kicks won Sneaker of the Year at ComplexCon 2025 -- a moment the designer/BMX star says was every bit amazing as it was a relief!

Sylvester chopped it up with TMZ Sports after his big weekend in Las Vegas ... where the 38-year-old talked about his AJ4s' impact on sneaker culture, whether he's bragged about winning, and his plans for the Swoosh going forward.

"When we were watching the [ComplexCon] live stream, and Joe LaPuma was like, 'Nigel Sylvester, Brick by Brick AJ4,' it was just like, man... It was surreal for sure."

4:17 PM PT -- DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino tells TMZ ... "Today, justice has been delivered. While the arrest of these five individuals will not bring back the lives lost, we hope it brings some measure of closure to the families who continue to grieve the loss of their loved ones."

He continued ... "These arrests serve as a stark reminder of the dangers that social media can pose, and of the predators who hide behind social media applications, looking to exploit our youth and sell their fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills through digital connections. Whether you deal on the screens or in our streets, the DEA and our law enforcement partners remain committed to targeting those responsible. This is a fight to save lives."

Two years after the death of Robert De Niro's 19-year-old grandson, Leandro Anthony De Niro-Rodriguez, the family is still searching for answers ... now authorities have made 5 more arrests in the case, TMZ has learned.

Leandro was found dead on July 2, 2023 from what was reportedly determined to be an accidental drug overdose. According to People, a DEA official told the outlet the suspects taken into custody in New York are being charged with death resulting from the sale of narcotics.

The 5 men were charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, NBC 4 New York reports.

Sean Paul is swapping his focus to humanitarian efforts to assist in the ongoing Hurricane Melissa that's currently ravaging his homeland of Jamaica!!!

A rep for Sean tells TMZ ... Sean was on the island and is currently preparing to help those in need through his foundation and a partnership with Food For The Poor Jamaica.

On Thursday, SP took to IG to confirm he'll do everything he can to help feed and shelter people after the storm ... outlining the nature of the damage and stressing how countless families have been displaced.

The otters at Oregon Zoo were flippin' out -- dunking, dribbling, and flexing skills that might just have the NBA sweating ... and TBH, their game is pretty legit!

The zoo in Portland just dropped an IG clip of their star players -- Lincoln, Juno, and Sushi -- three sea otters casually slam-dunking jack-o’-lanterns like it was the playoffs ... and as you can see, they were total show-boaters.

The trio was launching out of the water, slamming pumpkins like pros -- they were rewarded with fishy treats -- and even nailing a worthy aerial that's straight-up epic!

According to the zoo, the otters aren’t just clowning around ... dunking’s part of their training. Usually it’s basketballs, but this time pumpkins -- seasonally appropriate -- all to keep 'em moving and keeping those little joints in top shape.