Ariana Grande, Dalton Gomez We Couldn't Make it In a Post-Covid World

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Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez couldn't make their marriage work in a post-Covid world ... because their lives were vastly different.

Sources connected to the former couple with direct knowledge tell TMZ, when Ariana and Dalton hooked up in 2020, they were everything to each other -- company, romance, support ... all of it.

When Covid restrictions lifted, we're told their differences became alarmingly apparent. Dalton, an L.A. realtor, was taken aback by Ariana's celebrity. He had not dealt with her schedule, the paparazzi and the various opportunities that took her out of L.A.

We're told Dalton would sometimes question why they needed to go around town with security, something that was a must for Ariana.

Their differences started to make the marriage unravel, and it was greatly exacerbated when she went to England last December to begin filming "Wicked."

By January, they were separated, but still on friendly terms. They began living separate lives until May, when they decided to take a shot at it again. That lasted 2 weeks before they both threw in the towel.

Fact is ... we're told Dalton has been dating over the last few months, which was fine with Ariana. Our sources say both Ariana and Dalton were "shocked" no one picked up on the separation until today, when TMZ broke the story they had gone their separate ways and were headed for divorce court.

We covered it all in the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Drake No Young Thug, No Problem ... Stars in 'Oh U Went' Vid!!!

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Turns out Drake's recent trip to Memphis was all in support of Young Thug ... as Drizzy shot scenes there for the "Oh U Went" music vid, and picked up a key to the city while he was at it.

The finished product was released Monday ... directors Nick Manterola and Garfield Larmond Jr. splice footage from a more scripted video treatment together with Drake's contributions.

The "Jimmy Cooks" rapper can be spotted in one scene holding a small child as he raps from a stoop and elsewhere, and gets turnt with fans inside the Railgarten venue where the video was shot.

The Memphis City Council awarded Drake a key to the city last month -- aside from shooting the music video there, Drake's dad, Dennis Graham, is a Memphis native.

As for Thug's "Business is Business" album ... it debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 a few weeks ago ... an impressive achievement, considering the YSL leader has been locked up for over a year on criminal racketeering charges.

When we spoke to producer Southside about the project's creation, he declared the reception exceeded his expectations, as they finalized the album -- Drake features and all -- in just 2 weeks.

Real friends stand in your corner ... and appear in your music vids!!!

The Kid LAROI Exits Lil Baby's Tour... Low Tix Sales Force Cancelations

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Lil Baby may have been a little too ambitious in announcing his nationwide tour ... as new reports indicate low ticket sales have forced the superstar rapper to cancel multiple dates.

Interestingly enough, The Kid LAROI has also dropped out of the tour for reasons not fully explained by the Aussie artist.

On Monday, it was revealed Baby's "It's Only Us" tour was dropping 10 cities from those first announced ... Denver, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Louisville, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego -- all cut from the lineup.

Fans who bought tickets to the now-defunct tour stops will receive automatic refunds and the previously announced performers -- GloRilla, Rylo Rodriguez, Gloss Up and Hunxho -- are still on the bill for the remaining dates ... at least for now.

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Baby posted the updated tour dates on his IG but still caused a divide amongst Kid LAROI supporters, fans pissed over the aforementioned cancelations, and also Baby's hometown fans who couldn't understand why he didn't have an Atlanta date.

At any rate, tix go on sale come Tuesday. The show must go on ... even if it's not the one that was originally promised. 🤷🏽‍♂️

DaBaby Screw The Baby Mamas!!! Directs Moneybagg Vid

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DaBaby's getting behind the camera for a change as the director for MoneyBagg Yo's new music video.

DaBaby's clearly learned a thing or two churning out zany music videos with Reel Goats over the years, and premiered Moneybagg's "F My BM" visual on Monday ... where the Bread Gang turned the courtroom upside down, in 4K!!!

The Memphis rapper followed DaBaby's script and portrayed an unsuspecting cheater who eventually gets dragged into a chaotic courtroom for a battle of the sexes showdown.

The track can be found on Moneybagg's latest "Hard To Love" project and DaBaby's vision totally rips a page outta the book of life ... Moneybagg revealed he had to nip a cheating scandal in the bud with GF Ari Fletcher before getting peace of mind to release the project.

Kudos to DaDirector for bringing the drama to life.

Nas Oh, Ho, Ho ... It's 'Magic' Pt. II On the Way!!!

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UPDATE

8:31 AM PT -- 7/18 -- Taaaa-daaaa... Nas officially released the two-headed cover art for "Magic 2" on Tuesday ... with a release date of this Friday, July 21!!! 50 Cent confirmed he'll be featured on the LP as well!!!

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Nas is throwing up the proverbial bat signal he's about to drop new music -- scrubbing his IG account last week -- and a new posting hints it's gonna be another sequel within his extensive discography!!!

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On Monday, Nas shared a throwback black-and-white video of an escape artist bursting out of a straitjacket with a couple of magic wand emojis ... a sly indicator that his next rollout would be "Magic 2," the follow-up to his surprise 2021 release with Hit-Boy.

The last time we spoke to Hit-Boy, the Diamond-selling producer played it pretty coy ... denying he was working on a "King's Disease 4," but he still confirmed new music with Nas was on the horizon.

Nas' work ethic has been relentless these past few years by dropping a new project every year since 2018. We reached out to Nas' team to see when fans can expect the next trick of his hat ... no confirmation yet!!!

Originally Published -- 7/17 10:29 AM PT

Ariana Grande, Dalton Gomez Separated, Heading for Divorce

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Ariana Grande and her husband Dalton Gomez have been separated since January, and they are heading toward divorce ... sources connected to the couple tell TMZ.

As we reported, Ariana was not wearing her wedding ring at Wimbledon over the weekend ... in fact, she's been ringless a lot these days.

We're told a few months back the 2 tried a reconciliation, but it failed.

One source with direct knowledge told TMZ, their relationship "is heading for divorce."

Ariana and Dalton have been thousands of miles apart since December, when she started filming "Wicked." Our sources say they were having problems even before that.

We're told they remain friends and still talk on the phone regularly, but, according to sources, the marriage is kaput.

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DON'T CARE WHO SEES

It was early 2020 when we first saw the two of them making out at dinner at Bar Louie in Northridge, CA. At the time, no one really knew who Dalton was or how serious the couple's relationship had gotten.

The couple tied the knot in May 2021 in a very private ceremony at Ariana's home in Montecito.

Miranda Lambert Stops Show, Berates Fans ... No Selfies, Listen to the Music!!!

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ENJOY THE SHOW

Miranda Lambert wants people to listen intently during her concerts -- which she made clear at her concert, in pretty dramatic fashion, no less.

The country singer was performing at her Vegas residency Saturday night, and right as she was about to launch into her song, "Tin Man," she hit the pause button to address some ladies near the front, who were apparently snapping photos ... of themselves!

As Miranda explains, she was upset by the fact that the unidentified women were taking selfies instead of listening to her sing ... so much so, she felt she needed to say something.

She told her band, "I'm gonna stop for a minute" ... the music cut off, and Miranda actually motioned to the women to stop and put their phones away. Presumably, they did, because she started over and got into the vocals.

Still, it was clear she was quite peeved by what she perceived as a couple of rude fans.

BTW, the crowd cheered her on during this ... so we're sure NO ONE else in the audience took a selfie! 🙄

Howard Stern Takes Over Radio Station ... With Bon Jovi, Fallon & RDJ Singin' Live!!!

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HOWARD AND FRIENDS

Howard Stern gave fans a big shock, going live on his own station without warning ... and he brought some of Hollywood's biggest names along with him to hijack the airwaves.

Stern's SiriusXM show went live Sunday night -- it was NOT a promoted show -- and said he was going back to his roots to spin some tracks, but he wasn't alone in the studio.

Howard's pals Jimmy Fallon, Drew Barrymore, Robert Downey Jr., Brooke Shields and Jon Bon Jovi all jumped on the mic with him, making the surprise airing a real star-studded event.

Sounds like the gang was having dessert together when the idea came up for the radio host to play some tunes -- which is why his celebrity takeover was so spur-of-the-moment.

They all picked out some of their favs, with JBJ choosing The Eagles' "Hotel California" -- and the rock legend even belted out the hit with Jimmy and Robert!

Truly an incredible moment -- especially for anyone who caught the impromptu airing live!

Elton John Singer Testifies on Behalf of Kevin Spacey ... Challenges Accuser Over Alleged Groping

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Kevin Spacey got an assist from a famous friend in his sexual assault trial ... Elton John.

The Rocket Man appeared remotely Monday from Monaco, essentially challenging the testimony of one of Spacey's accusers who claimed he was groped by the actor while driving to Elton's annual White Tie and Tiara Ball.

The accuser said the incident happened either in 2004 or 2005, but Elton testified Spacey was only at one party -- in 2001. Elton said Spacey spent the night at his home after the party.

Elton's husband, David Furnish, also testified Spacey was only at the 2001 bash, and said he had checked photographs of the events which backed up his testimony.

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GREETING THE CROWD

Spacey has pled not guilty to 12 sexual assault charges that could end in life in prison if convicted.

Bebe Rexha Puts Boyfriend On Blast ... For Weight Gain Text

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Bebe Rexha is putting her boyfriend on blast for fat-shaming her while they were texting.

The singer posted a message on her Instagram Sunday, containing a screenshot of Keyan Safyari's text, critiquing her body in the most unflattering way. Keyan told Bebe she was beautiful and he loved her, but that he would always be honest because he cared about her.

Then he wrote, "Would you rather I lied to you? You gained 35 pounds obviously you gained weight and your face changes?" Keyan then justified his hurtful words by saying Bebe calls him "chubbs" whenever he packs on 3 pounds.

Keyan also encouraged Bebe to seek out a therapist and do the "retreat thing" to get to the root of the possible issues in their relationship.

The couple started dating in 2020, but their current status is unclear. And they don’t seem to be in a good place.

We covered the drama in a recent episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Cardi B & Offset Mario-Themed Bday Party For Kulture ... All Smiles After Nasty Cheating Claims

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PRINCESS PEACH PARTY

Offset & Cardi B are lookin' to be back to normal after some explosive cheating claims ... because they were both having a blast at their daughter's 5th birthday party.

It was a Mario Bros.-themed bash for Kulture Sunday, and Cardi shared all the highlights on her social media -- which included her kiddo meeting Princess Peach.

There was a ball pit for the little ones, a castle bounce house, and an impressive birthday cake themed perfectly to the iconic video game ... all tying into the theme, "Super Kulture."

The birthday girl's parents were having fun together, too -- Cardi rocked a sparkly gown while Offset kept things casual. Their 1-year-old, Wave Set, was also in the building ... lookin' fly with an iced-out chain!

Safe to say, things between Cardi and Offset have calmed down ... as we reported, the Migos rapper put his wife on blast last month, claiming she's been sleeping around.

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C'MON NOW

Cardi didn't take that lying down -- going on Twitter Spaces to call him out for the post. She even said she'd hit him with a bottle if he tried saying that to her face.

The 2 looked to be heading in the right direction earlier this month, though ... gettin' close and personal in Paris outside the Balenciaga fashion show.

Quavo & Lori Harvey Not Dating, L.A. Run-In Just Coincidence ... He Was All About Biz

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The Quavo and Lori Harvey dating rumor's been fueled by a couple of misleading photos -- and we've learned all they really have in common right now is the same taste in restaurants.

The buzz is the celebs had a hot lunch date at the San Vicente Bungalows -- an exclusive L.A. hot spot -- and while it's true they were there at the same time this week, they were not together.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ Hip Hop ... Quavo was sitting at a different table from Lori, and he was having a lunch meeting. We're told he was focused purely on business, and not Lori.

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YOU GO, GIRL

Even Lori's tried to squash it by commenting on the TikTok post that claimed they must be dating. She explained she was there with friends, and Quavo co-signed ... calling the post "cap."

Real talk? We're told the pics of them leaving the joint were taken 10 minutes apart. While that's a common tactic celeb couples use to throw off paps, this time it's just a coincidence.

Lori is still dating "Snowfall" star Damson Idris, and Quavo is putting the finishing touches on his "Rocket Power" album, which will feature his collab with Future -- the one with that direct shot at Russell Wilson.

Sorry folks, just a very cold cup o' tea when it comes to Lori and Quavo.

G Herbo Blown Turn Signal Led to Gun Bust ... Cops Say They Found Glock

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G Herbo might not be facing a gun possession case right now, if it weren't for the simplest of traffic infractions ... at least, according to the cops who busted the "PTSD" rapper.

Chicago police tell us Herbo was pulled over in a vehicle that had failed to display a turn signal in traffic ... and it was during that July 9 stop that cops say they found a Glock 33 in the car.

We also got a hold of Herbo's latest mugshot, and he looks either perplexed or amused over the situation. Let's face it, having a perfectly good Sunday Funday ruined over jail time is guaranteed to dampen your mood.

As we previously reported, Herbo didn't spend long behind bars and was later released on bond.

He and his team are still mum about the arrest, but Herbo did make a lyrical statement this week via King Von's new posthumous "Grandson" album ... which features his blistering bars on the song "Real Oppy!!!"

Morgan Wallen Gifts Idaho Murder Victim's Family Free Concert Tickets ... Donation, Meet/Greet Too!!!

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Bryan Kohberger heard one of the Idaho murder victims was a huge fan of his, so he took it upon himself to seek out the late college student's family ... with none other than an invite.

The country singer touched base with Ethan Chapin's mourning loved ones ... this according to Ethan's mother, Stacy, who recounted the sweet move on social media. Sounds like she and the rest of the Chapin household got the VIP treatment for MW's SoCal show Friday.

She says Ethan once sent her one of Morgan's songs, telling her he loved the dude -- a story Stacy's publicly shared since his death. Welp, Morgan heard about it and did something.

Stacy writes, "Last night, we met Morgan Wallen! He kindly gifted our family and friends tickets to his show in San Diego. Morgan's mom, Lesli, even flew in! It was an incredibly bittersweet full-circle moment."

She continues with this ... "Truthfully, the show would have been enough. We were all over the moon, and then Morgan handed us a donation check to the Ethan’s Smile Foundation. It was one of the kindest gestures in my life. I still cannot believe it happened, and it isn’t easy to recognize it all came at a massive cost to our family." Stacy ends by thanking Morgan.

Obviously, the family posed with Morgan for a handful of photos ... and just like she says, they all looked overjoyed to be there. Of course, it also must've been somewhat painful.

Ethan was one of 4 University of Idaho students who were killed last year ... the others included his girlfriend Xana Kernodle, and her roommates, -- Madison Mogen and Kaylee Gonclaves. All of them had been brutally stabbed to death at a house they were renting.

Prosecutors say they have the alleged killer ... Bryan Kohberger, whom they claim carried out the grisly murders and who'll now stand trial -- with the death penalty on the table.

He's pled not guilty to the murder charges he's facing.

Jason Aldean Dashes Off Stage Mid-Performance ... Latest Heat Stroke Victim

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TOO HOT TOO HANDLE
UPDATE

6:30 AM PT -- Just as we thought, the concert venue tells TMZ he pulled the plug on the show because he was experiencing heat stroke. He's doing ok and Jason Aldean's team is working on a rescheduled date.

Jason ran into trouble during his Connecticut concert Saturday night ... he was filmed bolting offstage in the middle of a song, and although we don't know, there are signs it was heat-related.

The country star was performing in the heat and humidity at the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford when he stopped singing and buried his face in his upper arm. It looks like he was wiping off sweat, then he just ran off stage.

Check out this video ... Jason starts belting out the words again while standing at the mic, but it's all very brief, and that was the end of the show. Something is clearly wrong.

We don't know what happened after that ... but one of Jason's fans took to Twitter to provide some details.

She wrote ... "It was hotter than hell. It was bad enough just standing in the pit I can't imagine performing in jeans, boots, and hat under all those lights in that humidity with no breeze. Hope he's okay!"

She also said Jason never returned, and the show was cut short. Jason is currently on his "Highway Desperado" tour, so we hope it's not too serious.

We've reached out to Jason's reps for comment ... so far no word back.

Originally Published -- 5:34 AM PT

Actress, Singer Jane Birkin Dead at 76 ... Inspired birkin Handbag

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Jane Birkin, the English singer, actor, and style icon known for her 60's style, died on Sunday, July 16 at the age of 76.

Birkin was also a model and came to be widely seen as a fashion trendsetter, inspiring Hermes' famous Birkin handbag.

The news comes after Birkin was forced to cancel a handful of concerts in May due to health concerns, and less than two years after Birkin suffered a minor stroke.

Birkin was known for her professional and personal relationship with the musician Serge Gainsbourg.

The pair were together for 12 years but remained friends after their split, with Gainsbourg still writing songs for Birkin.

Her acting credits included films such as the 1966 classic Blow Up, Death on the Nile (1978), and Evil Under the Sun (1982).

Jane was 76. RIP