Music

5:45 PM PT -- "CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source. CNN aired the story about the video several months before Combs was arrested."

5:40 PM PT -- Diddy's legal team tells TMZ ... "Our written and oral communications with CNN’s counsel were clear - they destroyed the original video file they received from their source."

Bombshell in the Diddy prosecution ... CNN destroyed the only known copy of the 2016 video in which Diddy is seen beating Cassie in the hallway of an L.A. hotel ... this according to new court documents.

Diddy's defense team and prosecutors filed a joint letter about evidence in the case. According to the defense ... CNN purchased the video showing Diddy attacking Cassie in the hallway of the InterContinental Hotel in L.A. The letter claims "CNN purchased the only known copy of the Hotel's surveillance footage, uploaded that footage into a free editing software, altered the video and then destroyed the original footage, even though it knew about and repeatedly reported about the federal investigation."

The defense claims CNN altered and edited the footage by "covering the time stamp and then changing the video sequence. It also includes speeding up the video to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are. As a result, the CNN videos do not fairly and accurately depict the events in question."

Diddy and federal prosecutors are at odds over the jury selection process for his upcoming criminal trial ... and his defense team wants to cast a wide net.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Diddy's legal squad wants to begin jury selection on May 5 ... and they want to pick from a massive pool of 600 jurors.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, want to get started with jury selection next month ... proposing an April 21 start date, which Diddy's camp is balking at because they want more time to prepare his defense.

Flavor Flav says it was a thrill to be on "The Masked Singer" ... but, he thinks the show's producers gave him up too early -- and, he had at least one song he really wanted to do.

We caught up with the rapper in Los Angeles Wednesday ... and, we had to ask him about his run on the hit competition singing show after he was unmasked as "Space Ranger" in this week's episode.

In case you haven't seen it ... Flav took his mask off after singing "Cleanin' Up the Town" on "Ghostbusters" night -- his second song of the season after he belted out "Bad Blood" the previous week.

Playboi Carti's long-delayed "I Am Music" album is set to drop on Friday and DJ Akademiks is hinting that Kendrick Lamar used his feature to go after Drake!!!

Ak was locked into his chat last night after Carti called him and played him his "I Am Music" album in its entirety!!!

He couldn't contain his excitement, and he let out a few spoilers ... Lil Uzi Vert, Justin Bieber, XXXTentacion and a double dose of Kendrick Lamar are all featured on Carti's album!!!

Former En Vogue and Lucy Pearl singer Dawn Robinson says she's been homeless for 3 years -- and her ex-husband is offering her an olive branch ... in the form of a job in the hospitality industry!!!

Andre Allen was married to Dawn from 2003 to 2010, and while their union ended in disaster, he tells TMZ Hip Hop he doesn't want to see her crash out ... and thinks she'd be a perfect inclusion into the Hilton Brands.

Andre says he orchestrated Dawn's short-lived reunion with En Vogue before things shuttered for good, but he tells us leaving the music industry actually saved his life, and finances.

Justin Bieber's getting real about his imposter syndrome ... telling fans he's always "felt unworthy" despite dozens of people in his life telling him he's enough over the years.

The singer-songwriter posted the emotional message to Instagram Thursday ... writing that people always told him he deserved everything he received in life -- but, he still felt like a "fraud" despite their kind words.

Justin said he felt "sneaky" ... 'cause if people knew how judgmental or selfish he was, he doesn't think they'd see him the same way.

A little girl who needed Maurice Cheeks' help to sing the national anthem at a Portland Trail Blazers game in 2003 had a second shot at the song on Wednesday ... and the now-Knicks assistant was in the building for the redemption!!

Natalie Zito was 13 years old when she was picked to sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" ahead of the Blazers' Game 3 playoff matchup in 2003 ... but nerves got the best of her, and Cheeks stepped in to help her finish the rendition.

The heartwarming moment became one of the most memorable in the NBA's anthem history ... and more than two decades later, Zito took another crack at it.

Jessica Simpson couldn't deny the "Irresistible" urge to get back onstage ... 'cause she just had her first live performance in more than a decade -- and, she says she did it to remember what really inspires her.

The singer-songwriter and actress hit South by Southwest -- the popular film and music festival in Austin, Texas -- performing at the Recording Academy's Austin Chapter Block Party ... and, the event marked her first performance in 15 years.

JS posted a clip before she hit the stage ... saying she felt excited and blessed to be performing again after her long hiatus.

Disney may have toned down its big Hollywood premiere for "Snow White," but Rachel Zegler wasn’t gonna let that stop her from going big on the promo tour -- glitz or no glitz!

Rachel made her grand entrance at the Spanish premiere Wednesday -- but it still wasn't quite the red carpet spectacle she might have imagined. Instead, the event was scaled down and tucked away in a remote castle in Segovia, northwest of Madrid.

Rachel, who takes on the title role, stunned in a white floral gown as she performed "Waiting On A Wish" -- a brand-new song for the film -- serenading a modest crowd of locals with her powerhouse vocals.

"Snow White" has been drowning in controversy for months, and now with Disney more or less pulling the plug on the movie’s red carpet premiere, one of its key actors is beyond disappointed -- you might even say ... GRUMPY!

Martin Klebba, the voice of Grumpy -- one of the 7 dwarfs in the new flick -- tells TMZ ... he’s seriously bummed and a bit pissed Disney axed what should’ve been a massive premiere for such a major film -- all because of the ongoing controversies surrounding the film, and stars Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler.

Martin tells us while Rachel, who plays Snow White, and Gal, as the Evil Queen, are entitled to their own political views and ideals, those personal opinions shouldn’t have overshadowed everyone else’s hard work -- no matter how much bitching about them is on social media.

Kelly Clarkson's recent step back from her popular talk show isn't a cause for alarm despite all the online rumors ... TMZ has learned.

Here's the deal ... the singer-turned-TV personality has been noticeably absent from "The Kelly Clarkson Show" since early last week -- disappearing suddenly just before a show and abruptly forcing actor Simu Liu into an impromptu hosting role.

KC returned for a couple episodes last week ... but, she hasn't been onstage since March 5 -- and, it led to a whole lot of online speculation about her health.

Tank is the newest bright-eyed star on Broadway with his new role in Alicia Keys' "Hell's Kitchen" and he's learning and respecting everything about the process ... including the ticket prices!!!

We spoke to Tank ahead of his big debut in 'HK' about the growing outrage in the NYC area ... Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal's "Othello" going rate of nearly $1K per ticket!!!

It's no different than their box office draw as movie titans ... Tank says both Denzel and Jake have earned the right to charge what they want, but audiences should still budget reasonably to partake in the theater arts!!!

Dawn Robinson, the leading voice for R&B powerhouses En Vogue, Lucy Pearl, and even Dr. Dre's Firm supergroup at one point, is cleaning out her closet ... revealing she's been homeless, sleeping in her car for nearly 3 years.

The brave and shocking revelation came on Dawn's YouTube channel in a vid titled, "YOUR NEW LIFE IS IN THE SCARY 🫣" ... her channel sat dormant for a year and 6 months before Tuesday.

Dawn explains she fell on hard times during the pandemic and had been staying with her parents in Vegas before that situation fizzled.

The WNBA could be adding a bit of mom's spaghetti flavor to it in the near future ... TMZ Sports has learned Eminem is currently in talks to join a bid for an expansion team.

A spokesperson for the legendary rapper tells us ... Marshall has had some preliminary discussions about securing a spot in an ownership group that's trying to bring the W back to Detroit.

So far, we're told he hasn't officially signed on just yet ... although, he does apparently have some big interest.

50 Cent isn't calling Rick Ross' inclusion on Bow Wow's "Millennium" tour a win like everyone else ... he suspects "The Boss" simply can't sell tickets to his own shows now!!!

The G-Unit rap star didn't waste the opportunity to throw digs at Ross and Big Meech in a since-deleted Instagram post roast.

The tour began last week on March 7 and 50 called out Ross for slipping through the cracks ... "HE not a surprise guest he can't sell a ticket. LOL," 50 wrote, causing Uncle Murda and Nate Dogg's son NHale to burst out laughing in the post.

Legendary singer Gladys Knight is back home after a scary illness landed her in the hospital ... and, she's leaning on her husband during this difficult time -- wrapping her arms around her man.

TMZ has obtained a picture of the happy reunion between Gladys and her husband of almost 25 years, William McDowell ... arms wrapped around him while she snuggles her face into his chest.

Knight and McDowell met back in 2001 ... and, after just a few months together, they decided to take the leap and tie the knot. McDowell is Knight's fourth husband.