Artificial Intelligence Causes Panic, Hurts Stock Market ... Fake Pentagon Explosion Pic
An AI-generated image of a fake explosion outside the Pentagon stoked panic and sent stocks tumbling as the hoax spread on social media.
The fake image behind Monday's chaos shows smoke billowing from the grounds outside the Pentagon ... with the image spreading like wildfire online after being shared by tons of accounts, including a Russian state media outlet.
The AI-generated work was often posted with false accounts of an explosion happening at the Pentagon ... causing a panic and a stock selloff that saw the S&P 500 drop by 30 points.
@PFPAOfficial and the ACFD are aware of a social media report circulating online about an explosion near the Pentagon. There is NO explosion or incident taking place at or near the Pentagon reservation, and there is no immediate danger or hazards to the public. pic.twitter.com/uznY0s7deL
— Arlington Fire & EMS (@ArlingtonVaFD) May 22, 2023 @ArlingtonVaFD
The Arlington County Fire Department put out the fire by debunking the image as a hoax.
While some were fooled by the fake Pentagon photo, some weren't so easily duped ... with eagle-eyed accounts pointing out obvious flaws with the AI-generated image, mainly focusing on warped sections of the Pentagon fence.
Calls for more guard rails on AI are now getting stronger ... as debate about the future of AI rages on Capitol Hill.
Remember ... AI expert Gary Marcus joined us on "TMZ Live" last week after testifying before Congress about the dangers of AI, warning the futuristic technology has the power to manipulate users and influence ways of thinking.
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Kroy Biermann Kim's Got Gambling Problem ... She Needs Psych Exam!!!
Kroy Biermann says his estranged wife, Kim Zolciak, spends so much time gambling their money away online, she can't take care of their kids ... and now he's asking the judge to order a mental evaluation for her.
According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Kroy says Kim's been showing some "very troubling behavior" that's accelerated in the months leading up to their divorce.
Kroy claims Kim has admitted to him that she's spending a lot of time and money on online gambling and other games of chance, and he claims her "compulsion" has devastated the family financially.
What's more, Kroy claims Kim is so consumed with online gambling she's unable to properly care for the couple's four minor children ... and as a result, he says he's concerned for the kiddos' safety and well-being.
Kroy says it's in the best interest of their kids for Kim to sit for a psych exam ... he suspects her alleged gambling problem may be the result of underlying mental health issues like depression, anxiety, narcissistic personality disorder, bipolar disorder or ADHD.
TMZ broke the story ... Kim and Kroy are deep in the hole, owing more than $1 million to the IRS.
The divorce is getting uglier by the day ... Kroy's legal papers come on the heels of Kim asking a judge to step in and force Kroy to get a drug test.
'Real Housewives' Star Kim Zolciak Files For Divorce From Kroy Biermann
As we first reported ... both Kim and Kroy filed separate divorce petitions earlier this month, and they are both seeking custody of the kids ... and the recent filings indicate things are getting nasty.
Kim and Kroy are still living under the same roof with their kids, in the same Georgia estate that went into foreclosure earlier this year ... so it's a safe bet tensions between the two are running high.
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Jay-Z & Beyoncé $200M Malibu Pad Purchased in Cash, Baby!!!
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$200 million is an astonishing amount to just about everybody in the world, but if you're Jay-Z and Beyoncé, you can afford to drop it all at once ... and still be one of the richest couples on the planet.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the two paid $200 million CASH for the 30,000-square-foot Malibu mansion purchased from William Bell, one of the biggest art collectors in the world.
The figure is mind-boggling ... but if you look at the couple's financial portfolio, they've certainly got the assets to make it work.
According to Forbes, Jay is worth $2.5 billion ... thanks to his lucrative liquor businesses, Ace of Spades and D'Usse, his music catalog, and his fine art collection -- with pieces from Basquiat.
In 2022, Forbes estimated Beyoncé's net worth to be just shy of $500 million ... crediting her tours, music catalog, and appearances in feature films to the majority of her wealth.
Of course, she also just kicked off her "Renaissance" tour, which is expected to rake in more than $1 billion ... so their net worth will only go up from here.
TMZ broke the story, the Malibu purchase was the most expensive ever recorded in the state of California.
We covered it all in the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.
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Nirvana's Kurt Cobain Guitar Fetches Eye-Popping Amount ... 10x Estimated Cost!!
Kurt Cobain smashed his Fender Stratocaster back in the '90s, but the move only jacked up the price of the guitar ... going for a whopping 10 times the estimated amount at auction.
The late Nirvana frontman destroyed the electric guitar while recording the group's iconic 1991 album, "Nevermind," but the pieces were put back together and sold at Julien's Auctions this weekend in NYC.
The instrument was supposed to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000, but, as it turned out, it went for an earth-shattering $595,900. It was signed by Cobain and the other two band members, drummer Dave Grohl and bassist Krist Novoselic.
According to Julien's, Cobain gifted the guitar to Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan (also deceased) while Nirvana was touring in '92 ... but it's not clear who made the purchase at auction.
Cobain fatally shot himself at his Seattle home in 1994. He was only 27 and at the height of his career and influence in music, having created the so-called grunge movement with some other bands.
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NUTRIBULLET SUED Exploding Blender Severely Burned Me ... See My Gross Injuries!!!
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A woman claims she can't wear short sleeves anymore because her NutriBullet machine exploded and burned the skin off her arm ... and she says she has the graphic images of her injuries to prove it.
Gail Mitchell filed legal docs claiming she barely used NutriBullet's Original 24 oz. Single Speed Black Jar Blender for 60 seconds when the machine exploded ... sending the scalding hot contents onto her body, causing painful burning to her chest, arms, scalp, and face.
The photos of her alleged injuries look pretty gnarly ... Gail's arms are covered in burn wounds and her skin is now super scarred. She also claims the explosion left her kitchen a mess too.
According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Mitchell says the incident happened in November 2020 when she was whipping up a smoothie using turmeric, ginger, water, mango and split peas.
Mitchell says she was standing in front of her NutriBullet, looking for a cup to pour her smoothie into when the machine exploded less than 1 minute after she fired it up.
In the docs, Mitchell says the blender explosion made the contents of the smoothie scalding hot, leaving her with 1st, 2nd and 3rd-degree burns ... and she says she had to go to a burn center every week for a month for treatments.
She claims the device's design can cause contents in the blender to become heated to dangerous temperatures. She says the high-speed motor operating the blades creates heat that is transferred into the canister and its contents, sometimes heating the contents to dangerous temps. She also says the rapidly spinning blades create friction, creating heat that is also transferred to the contents of the canister, sometimes heating the contents to dangerous temps as well.
Mitchell says her burns, particularly the 3rd-degree burns on her arm, developed scars ... and she says she's already undergone three expensive laser surgeries costing $25K each and has a fourth coming up.
NutriBullet Sued After Woman Claims It Exploded, Burned and Sliced Her
As a result of the scarring, Mitchell says she will never be able to wear short sleeves again ... and she says the injuries also make it tough to sleep.
She says the incident left her depressed, anxious and traumatized ... and now she's suing Nutribullet for her medical bills, lost earnings, and more ... and she wants punitive damages because she says the company knew about the risks and still failed to adequately warn customers.
We've reached out to NutriBullet, so far no word back.
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Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav Torrent of 'Boo's At BU Graduation ... 'Pay Your Writers!!!'
Warner Bros. Discovery head honcho David Zaslav had a really tough time gettin' his words out at Boston University's graduation ceremony ... because the crowd was heckling him with a barrage of 'boo's -- over the ongoing writers' strike.
Zaslav was the commencement speaker Sunday for BU's class of 2023, but in the sea of caps and gowns, many grads gave him a piece of their mind as he tried to inspire ... talking about how to deal with difficult people.
Video and pics from my IATSE friend at the BU Graduation / Zaslav picket in Boston. Big turnout with loads of different unions attending.#wga#wgaStrong#wgaStrike pic.twitter.com/qpe2KCXgAf
— Calvin Starnes (@CalvinStarnesOG) May 21, 2023 @CalvinStarnesOG
The chant -- "PAY YOUR WRITERS" -- was deafening, to the point Zaslav had to push pause as the crowd roared its disapproval.
#WGA #BU #WB #DavidZaslav pic.twitter.com/MoVXcuiwsY
— K. B. (@kbsez) May 21, 2023 @kbsez
There were protests outside the venue and some of the demonstrators even made their way into the event.
5/2/23
The WGA is demanding fair wages and a ban on AI in writers' rooms. The strike's been going on for nearly 4 weeks with no end in sight.
We've seen a bunch celebs and food trucks show up at protests across the country ... and there was even a pretty funny anti-AI banner flying high in the sky -- directed at Zaslav and the other studio heads.
Zaslav never spoke about the WGA strike during his lengthy speech ... but it sounds like folks in the audience handled that topic for him.
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Adidas Selling Off Yeezys Yeah, We Were Slow Cutting Ties With Ye ... But We're Giving $$$ to Anti-Defamation League
Looks like Adidas is trying to make good after getting skewered for failing to part ways with Kanye West during his antisemitic tirade ... because the company's donating a chunk of its upcoming Yeezy profits to the Anti-Defamation League and other charities.
Adidas says it's going to sell off some of its remaining inventory at the end of this month, adding a "significant amount will be donated to selected organizations working to combat discrimination and hate, including racism and antisemitism."
In addition to the Anti-Defamation League, the Philonise & Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change -- started by George Floyd's brother, Philonise -- will also benefit.
It's unclear how much will go to the charities, but as we reported, there's about $1.3 billion in Yeezy products left over after the company pulled the plug on Kanye back in October.
You'll recall, Adidas seemed slow on the draw when it came to Ye -- dropping him well into his antisemitic tirades, including his unforgettable post -- "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE."
Ye also had some extremely controversial takes regarding Floyd's tragic death back in 2020.
Adidas eventually kicked Kanye to the curb and tried repurposing its remaining stock, selling the shoes without the Yeezy name ... which, by the way, fell flat.
Regardless, it seems Adidas is trying to bring those profits back up and make things right with the communities.
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Jay Z & Beyoncé $300 Million in L.A. Properties ... Holding On to Bel-Air Estate
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It's nice to have options ... and that's exactly why Jay-Z and Beyoncé are going to hold on to their $100 million Bel-Air mansion, despite just shelling out $200 million in a historic purchase.
Sources close to the couple tell TMZ, as crazy as it sounds ... the brand new Malibu pad will serve as a weekend home -- in a sense -- at least for the time being. We're told the Bel-Air home, purchased for $88 million back in 2017 is still "home" ... close to the kids' schools and friends.
Eventually, our sources say, Jay-Z wants to move his family to the Malibu estate full-time ... but hasn't indicated whether that shift would also include selling Bel-Air.
TMZ broke the story ... the couple paid $200 million for the 30,000-square-foot mansion, setting a record in the state of California for the most expensive home ever sold. It sits on 8 acres on the Pacific Ocean in the Paradise Cove area ... aka Billionaires' Row.
What's also astonishing ... our sources say the home's previous owner and builder, William Bell, one of the biggest art collectors in the world, had a $1 BILLION art collection inside.
Those pieces obviously won't stay with Jay-Z and Beyoncé ... but you gotta wonder if they might've been able to work a portrait or two into the final negotiations.
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Jeff Bezos Hey Lauren, Nice Booty!!! Gives Her Butt A Spank During France Vacay
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are clearly lovin' their vacation together ... so much, in fact, that he gave her a nice pat on the rear as they stepped onto dry land for some lunch!
The Amazon bigwig and his boo were spotted in the South of France Saturday, taking some time away from his $500M superyacht to get some grub at Plage Keller in Antibes. We're told as Jeff helped Lauren into the spot, he gave her a playful smack on the butt!
The 2 were all smiles as they strolled into the restaurant together, clearly havin' a blast while in full vacay mode.
As we reported, the happy couple's been enjoying their time out in Europe on Jeff's half-a-bil yacht, dubbed the Koru ... soaking in the sun together on the new vessel's maiden voyage.
There was also discussion on whether or not the ship's busty figurehead was made to look exactly like Lauren ... but folks online have been debating if it really resembles her.
BTW -- Jeff and Lauren are now just a 30-minute drive from Cannes ... unclear if they just happened to move the vacation towards the big festival as a coincidence, or if they're planning on making an appearance before it wraps next week.
But one thing is for certain -- Jeff just can't keep his paws off Lauren!!!
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Jay-Z And Beyonce Celebrate $200 Million Record Home Purchase ... With Soufflé Dinner In London
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One would think Jay-Z and Beyoncé would be living it up in their new $200 million Malibu estate -- the most expensive home sale in California history --- but nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact, the power couple was thousands of miles away in London Friday night after news surfaced about their massive house purchase, which bested the previous record of $177 million in the Golden State.
Check out these photos, obtained by TMZ, which show Jay and Bey dressed to the nines as they leave Harry's Bar in Mayfair with their security in tow. We're told they climbed inside a Viano box van and were driven back to their hotel.
Our sources say the A-listers had dinner at Harry's with billionaire entrepreneur Nassef Sawiris and satisfied their taste buds with a "delectable soufflé."
Not a bad way to spend the night ... but it probably would have been cozier inside their mansion fit for a king or a queen or both in their case.
Of course, there's plenty of time for Jay and Bey to enjoy their 30,000-square-foot monstrosity in the heart of Malibu's Paradise Cove area ... aka Billionaires' Row ... overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
TMZ broke the story Friday morning about their eye-popping real estate transaction -- which would have been the largest ever residential purchase in the nation if not for someone having bought an NYC apartment for $238 million.
Still though, Jay and Bey's house is a true architectural masterpiece, created by master builder Tadao Ando, who is also designing the house Kanye West bought in Malibu.
Turns out this is Jay and Bey's second big housing purchase in the Los Angeles area ... back in 2017, the couple plunked down $88 million for a Bel-Air mansion and funneled millions more into the home to push it over the $100 million mark.
We covered it all in the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.
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Insane Food Fight Video Chipotle Customer Turns Violent ... Tacos Not Made Fast Enough
A customer lost his s*** and totally trashed a Chipotle Mexican Grill in D.C. -- and it was all because his tacos weren't made fast enough!!!
Fox 5 in Washington D.C. obtained surveillance video of the food fight, which starts off with the man standing at the counter waiting for an employee to prepare his food after he ordered the tacos.
It doesn't take long for him to go completely bonkers. He reaches over a glass partition and scoops up a pile of lettuce and other ingredients and hurls them at the worker, who ducks for cover in a room behind the counter.
But the unruly patron isn't done yet. He picks up a stack of trays, bags and napkins and throws them across the room. He even grabs a computer monitor and tosses it.
According to a police report, obtained by Fox Business, the man became furious simply because the worker failed -- in his view -- to serve the tacos at a more rapid pace.
After making the mess, the suspect jumped on a scooter and drove off.
The Metropolitan Police Department has launched an investigation and is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the man's arrest.
As for the Chipotle employee, she seemed stunned by the violent incident, but she was otherwise OK. She told Fox 5 "a lot of crazy stuff happens at this Chipotle, but not that."
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Tom Petty How It Feels to Be ... in My Clothes!!! Iconic Wardrobe Auctioned
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Here's a chance for Tom Petty fans to step into the late singer's shoes ... and a lot more from his closet, as a treasure trove of items hit the auction block.
Tom's wardrobe from his former home in Encino, CA is going up for sale through RR Auction, including hats, jackets, vests, boots, shirts and shoes ... with some of the items even marked with his initials on the tags.
One standout piece is Tom's iconic black and white striped jacket, which he famously wore on the cover of the UK 12" single for his 1978 hit, "Listen to Her Heart." The jacket has wide lapels, flap pockets, a single vent on the back and 2 pearloid buttons.
The auction also includes Tom's black denim Lee "Easy Rider" jacket, which he famously wore during a 1987 tour with Guns N' Roses and a 1989 MTV Video Music Awards performance with Axl Rose ... singing "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Free Fallin'."
Tom wore many hats over the years, none flashier than his Burmese cap ... which is decorated with yellow floral designs and embroidered with two elephants.
The collection also includes his fedoras, baseball caps, Stetsons and a black cap he wore on Molly Meldrum's Australian TV show.
They say the shoes make the man, and Tom's footwear includes some fancy brown suede leather Chelsea boots.
He often wore boots on stage, and the collection features his size 9 black leather Zodiac boots, and sneakers of all different colors.
The auction ends on June 22, and all of the items have starting bids of $200 ... with some of Tom's stuff expected to fetch thousands.
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Adam Levine Check Out My New $70K Bronco ... Hennessey VelociRaptor!!!
Adam Levine is adding to his multi-million dollar car collection ... he's driving a new Ford Bronco that's super hard to find ... and he looks super happy behind the wheel.
The Maroon 5 lead singer hopped in his 500-horsepower Bronco Hennessey VelociRaptor on Friday ... tooling around Santa Barbara, CA in the $70,000 whip.
Adam's living it up as the weekend nears ... he's got the windows down and the top off.
This version of Ford's new Broncos is not just sitting at any old dealer ... Adam's one of the first folks to get a set of keys ... so it's no wonder he looks so thrilled.
Adam's cruising solo here ... looks like he left the wife, kids and the family's new puppy at home.
The man's got a thing for rare and expensive cars ... Adam reportedly owns over $2 million worth of wheels, including a $685k vintage Ferrari.
Remember ... Adam is also suing a car dealer he alleges sold him a fake $1 million Maserati.
Adam looks pleased with his latest purchase, though. Giddy up.
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Bill Gates San Diego Bachelor Pad Finished ... Sorry About the Noise!!!
Bill Gates's new mansion is all set for move-in... and you gotta imagine his neighbors are happy the home's construction is finished after years of disturbances.
The Microsoft founder completely transformed the multi-million dollar pad in Del Mar, San Diego, gutting the whole thing, adding solar panels and a bunch of other luxury add-ons.
However, while rebuilding the home, Bill definitely ruffled some feathers with locals in the area ... with some neighbors reportedly complaining about the noise and disruptions from construction. So, it's likely a huge relief for them to finally see someone move in.
Gates and his now ex-wife Melinda originally snagged the beachfront estate for a whopping $43M back in 2020. The two pulled the plug on their marriage the following year ... which left BG with the San Diego pad.
BG has other properties in Seattle and Palm Springs, and now he has an all-new place to call home in San Diego ... and perhaps even make it up to his neighbors with an invite to hang.
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Jay-Z, Beyoncé Purchase Most Expensive Home Ever in California
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Jay-Z and Beyoncé have just snagged one of the greatest architectural masterpieces in the country ... a 30,000-square-foot home in the prime area of Malibu ... and they paid a King's ransom.
Real estate sources tell TMZ ... the couple paid $200 million for the property, making it the most expensive home ever sold in the entire state of California ... eclipsing the previous record of $177 million. It's also the second most expensive real estate deal in the country -- the top being $238 million for an NYC apartment.
They actually got an unbelievable deal ... the home was quietly listed for a whopping $295 million.
The house sits on an 8-acre bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the Paradise Cove area ... AKA Billionaires' Row.
It's also an architectural jewel, designed by Tadao Ando, a Japanese master architect, who is also designing the house Kanye West bought in Malibu.
The house was owned and built by William Bell, one of the biggest art collectors in the world. It took Bell almost 15 years to build the all-concrete structure.
The home is the couple's second massive real estate purchase in the Los Angeles area that we know of ... back in 2017, they purchased a Bel-Air mansion for $88 million, and pumped millions more into the home to push it over the $100 million mark.
Mega-celebrity realtor Kurt Rappaport repped both the buyers and seller. We contacted his office for comment ... so far, no word back.
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PAUL WALKER'S BROTHER No Cameo For Me in 'Fast X' ... But Stoked for My Niece!!!
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Paul Walker's brother says there are no surprise appearances from him in the final chapter (allegedly) of the 'Fast and Furious' franchise ... but he's happy another family member is getting her shine.
We got Cody Walker Thursday right after Ludacris got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame -- and we asked him about the new "Fast X" movie, and Paul's daughter Meadow Walker appearing in it.
First off ... while Cody says there are no secret cameos from him in "Fast X", he acknowledges there's always been talk of it, and doesn't completely shut the door.
Fact is, it wouldn't be much of a secret if he told us!
As far as possible CGI scenes of Paul's character, Brian O'Conner ... Cody says he's not involved in those decisions. He does tell us Paul is referenced in it, as you'd expect.
As we reported, Meadow does have a small role in "Fast X" ... and she says it's a blessing to be able to honor her father's legacy.
Cody tells us he's stoked and it makes total sense his niece is taking the torch from her father for her first appearance in a 'Fast' flick.
The new movie is in theaters this week and is expected to make a ton of money at the box office ... which is no surprise to Cody. He tells us why Paul would have been pleasantly surprised at the franchise's direction since starring in the OG film back in the day.
Cody's still big on the car scene -- just as Paul was -- his FuelFest will be at Irwindale Speedway, outside L.A., on June 3 ... and he says the accompanying car show will showcase the top custom exotic cars from around the globe.
Add live music, drag races, and drifting and ya got the perfect party for diehard "FF" fans.
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Cody sounds like he's fine with not joining the franchise, preferring to leave the acting up to his niece.
We discussed Paul Walker's legacy in a recent episode of the Last Days Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.