Music

Joe Tacopina is taking a victory lap at the expense of federal prosecutors ... because he's always said the racketeering and sex trafficking charges against Diddy didn't add up -- and a jury agreed.

The famous defense attorney joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and ripped prosecutors for bringing what he says were trumped-up charges against Diddy.

Joe, who's been banging this drum for months now on our weekly series on Tubi, "TMZ Presents: United States V. Sean Combs: Inside the Diddy Trial," says the evidence and testimony never pointed towards racketeering or sex trafficking.

Funk Flex isn't letting Cassie off the hook despite her immunity in Diddy's RICO trial ... considering the "Me & U" singer received a huge payout in exchange for her silence years ago!!!

On Wednesday, the Hot 97 disc jock exploded on Cassie and her attorneys ... picking apart her "victim" label, while also acknowledging she and her family experienced a hardship.

Flex recalls seeing Cassie give off good energy at a young age, but thinks the lines blurred once her relationship with Diddy got underway.

The Diddy case started with prosecutors claiming he was a racketeer and sex trafficker who was blowing up cars and distributing drugs ... but now it's been reduced to transporting prostitutes across state lines -- and his team says that's not enough to keep him locked up before sentencing.

Diddy's legal team just fired off a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian outlining the reasons why they say he should be released from federal custody.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Diddy's defense says the jury "unambiguously rejected the government's allegations that Mr. Combs ran a years-long criminal enterprise or engaged in sex trafficking -- the core of the government's case."

Diddy had a message for his family after skating on the most serious charges in his criminal trial ... "I'm coming home."

After the not guilty verdicts for racketeering and sex trafficking were read in court Wednesday, Diddy turned around in his seat and nodded to his family and told them he would see them soon.

Diddy's mom, Janice Combs, was seated behind him in the gallery ... along with his three daughters and his sons Christian, Justin and Quincy ... plus Dana Tran, the mother of his youngest child, and a bunch of extended family members.

Diddy's team is preparing for his possible release by ramping up security at his Miami estate, where he would return if he's allowed out while awaiting sentencing … TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … within the last couple of hours, the music mogul's team began making arrangements for his potential return -- including increased security measures at his waterfront estate on the exclusive, guard-gated Star Island.

We’re told security has been beefed up both at his property and at the entrance to the island, as media and paparazzi have already started swarming the area in anticipation of his release.

Billy Ray Cyrus is officially lassoed -- he’s head-over-boots for his GF Elizabeth Hurley and makin' damn sure the whole world hears it!

Check out this IG pic ... Elizabeth turned heads in a sizzling low-cut swimsuit while cruising on a boat -- and while fans were drooling, Billy wasted zero time calling her his "one of a kind young lady."

Elizabeth had Billy on the brain too when she dropped the pic -- she captioned it with lyrics from "Over the Rainbow." Totally fitting, since there’s an actual rainbow over her head and it just so happens to be the couple’s song.

Diddy will still need to wait to receive his sentence ... but, the jury's role in the process is done -- and, they have officially pulled an Elvis and left the building.

Multiple cameramen captured the jury leaving the federal courthouse in Manhattan in a black van with opaque windows, mostly hiding their faces. However, our reporters on the scene assure us these are the 12 people who decided the rap mogul's fate.

The van rolled out past the photogs and over a removable barrier ... before joining the rest of the busy NYC traffic.

12:36 PM PT -- Aubrey took to Instagram with a lengthy statement regarding the Diddy verdict. She clearly doesn't agree with the jurors' decision and says that she is heart broken for Cassie and the other victims.

Diddy's former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O'Day was none too pleased with him being found guilty of only 2 of 5 counts in his federal criminal trial -- to the point where she may need a barf bag!!!

Aubrey was glued to CNN when Diddy was offered some breathing room after learning he wouldn't be sent to prison for life ... a verdict that Aubrey claimed had her tasting vomit, over her sadness for the victims.

Aubrey was optimistic ahead of the trial and voiced heavy support for Cassie and others ... and was in discussion with Homeland Security at one point -- but ultimately didn't testify at the trial.

Travis Kelce is opening up on how Taylor Swift found herself onstage at a Tight End University event ... saying despite it being a pretty off-the-cuff moment, she had every detail handled in real time!!

The Kansas City Chiefs superstar addressed the viral Nashville moment on Wednesday's "New Heights" ... saying it was Taylor who pitched the idea of joining Kane Brown and his band at the Tight Ends and Friends party -- and soon enough, she was singing her heart out to "Shake It Off."

Kelce went on to explain how Swift pulled it together ... telling his brother, Jason, he watched her write impromptu sheet music for the musicians backstage to make sure everyone was on the same page, despite not rehearsing beforehand.

50 Cent was pleasantly surprised with Diddy dodging the feds' most serious charges and came up with a new nickname for his arch-rival -- the "Gay John Gotti"!!!

The backhanded compliment has its merits in Teflon ... Diddy was found NOT GUILTY on 3 of 5 counts ... acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking of Cassie and Jane following their tearful testimonies -- all cleared off the table!!! He's guilty of 2 counts of transportation for prostitution.

50 trolled Diddy throughout the trial, even adopting the evil genius of A.I. images ... but had to tip his hat and acknowledged his OG title as a "Bad Boy" within the music industry.

Sophie Cunningham must be a Juvenile fan ... 'cause the Indiana Fever guard was backin' that ass up after her squad won the WNBA Commissioner's Cup!!

The party went down on Tuesday after the Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx with a 74-59 victory in the finale of the in-season tournament.

It was the first Commish's Cup win for the Fever ... and the champs certainly celebrated like it -- live streaming the whole bash on social media.

So now that disgraced music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has been found guilty on two of five counts in his federal criminal trial in NYC, what happens to him now?

Shortly after the jury verdict was read in court, Judge Arun Subramanian thanked the jury for their service and dismissed them. Diddy defense attorney Marc Agnifilo implored the judge to let his client walk today pending sentencing ... since he's been acquitted of the most serious charges.

The judge asked for briefs from the prosecution and the defense teams on release pending sentencing ... Judge Subramanian has indicated he could rule on whether to keep Diddy in custody until he's sentenced, or released on conditions on bond. The sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Diddy's just waiting to hear the verdict now ... and, he and his family members are falling back on prayer during this difficult time.

The rapper led his family in prayer Wednesday morning before heading back to his holding settle in the Manhattan federal courthouse ... telling his fam to be strong.

He asked God to bless his family and the hearts of the jurors during the prayer, finishing off the remarks with an "Amen."

Post Malone took a tumble off stage during a concert in Arizona — and the shocking moment was captured on video by a fan.

The singer was performing his hit, "Pour Me A Drink," at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, on June 21 when things went awry.

Check out the TikTok footage, which just came onto everyone's radar ... Post strolls over to the edge of the stage and kneels down to toast the fan, with each holding a plastic cup. The ledge under Post's feet suddenly gives way and he collapses to the floor.

It's singer Saweetie's 32nd birthday, and after you give her sexy shots a good look up n' down, you'll be saying, "that's my type!"

The California native has put out a handful of bangers over the years: "Icy Grl", "My Type" and "Tap In," but she's also celebrated for her sensual selfies ...

Sippin' on sunshine in her green bikini, Saweetie sure knows how to work the camera and get those angles hittin' just right!

Every mirror selfie tells a story, and this one definitely showcases her effortless beauty ... Selfies for days!

"Tap, tap, tap in" to Saweetie's hot shots with our photo gallery ...

Nostalgia just slammed into Vegas ... 'cause when New Kids On The Block kicked off their Right Stuff residency, members of a rival boyband crashed the stage -- and the crowd lost it!

Catch the clip -- NKOTB were hyping up the crowd last weekend at the Park MGM, asking who wanted to marry them back in the '90s … and while fans screamed, Backstreet Boys’ Howie Dorough popped up with a cheeky banner that read, "I Do."

Howie later pulled up with AJ to crash the stage ... and it was nothing but boy band bromance -- hugs, laughs, and major 1990s nostalgia as they embraced NKOTB like long-lost brothers.

If you were expecting a boy band showdown -- think again. Even with BBs launching their Millennium Sphere residency later this month, both groups proved there’s more than enough room (and love) to go around on the Vegas Strip.

But with NKOTB already kicking things off with a bang, you can bet it’s lit a fire under the Backstreet Boys -- and sources tell us they’re grinding hard, rehearsing 12 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week, to gear up for their massively anticipated Sphere takeover.