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Evan Peters says he had to transform himself into Jeffrey Dahmer to do the story justice -- and he means that literally ... 'cause the dude went totally method for the killer role.

The actor dished Saturday about what exactly went into preparing for the job when he was cast by Ryan Murphy and co. to play the lead in "Dahmer -- Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" ... and, as it turns out, there was a lot that went into embodying the guy.

During a Q&A, EP revealed he actually wore Dahmer's actual clothing and accessories -- including his glasses, his shoes and his jeans. How exactly the production got their hands on that stuff to begin with is anyone's guess ... but Evan says he put it to good use for months.

He even says he wore weights on his arms to help maintain Dahmer's straight-as-an-arrow posture, and Murphy had previously revealed Evan stayed in character while he was on set.

Luckily, though, the guy didn't take Dahmer home with him ... and had some techniques to shake the darkness he was living with on a daily while shooting the show. Some of that included watching comedies and lighthearted content, not to mention feel-good music.

He specifically cited "Step Brothers" as one flick he'd watch to drop the Dahmer effect when the cameras weren't rolling ... clearly, becoming Dahmer took its toll on the dude.

Evan's costar, Niecy Nash, also spoke her piece at the panel ... and said she was glad the series examined different lenses into the Dahmer story -- especially as it pertains to the victims and his watchful neighbor, Glenda Cleveland, whom NN portrays on the show.

She addressed the racism and homophobia present in the saga -- especially on the part of cops at the time -- and noted they'd done a good job at capturing that facet of it.

There's been outrage over the project being made, as some feel that it glorifies Dahmer. However, those who've actually seen it in its entirety know it's more nuanced than that ... showing this tragedy from multiple sides and not hiding from the truth of what happened.

Henry Cavill is stepping away from "The Witcher," and a new Geralt of Rivia has been tapped ... one Liam Hemsworth.

The announcement came down Saturday, and it's kinda shaking up TV land ... as HC has helmed the lead role for 3 seasons now, to much acclaim. Now, though, he says he's outta there and passing on the baton for round #4 -- and the timing makes total sense.

Henry writes, "My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4. In my stead, the fantastic Mr Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf."

He goes on to wish Liam luck playing a character he says he adored. Liam, meanwhile, is embracing the new job ... saying, "Henry, I’ve been a fan of yours for years and was inspired by what you brought to this beloved character."

LH adds, "I may have some big boots to fill, but I’m truly excited to be stepping into The Witcher world."

The news is a big deal, but also predictable. Fact is, Henry is back for the DCEU as Superman -- thanks, in large part, to The Rock -- and there's at least one more movie he's gonna do as the Man of Steel, if not more. Seems HC wants to clear the deck for that.

Like we said, Henry has gotten rave reviews for his performance as Geralt -- with many viewing it as his post-Superman era and giving him kudos for leaving DC behind ... which, for a long time, didn't seem to want him back to reprise his iconic role.

Jason Oppenheim is a money machine ... unloading TWO of his luxury penthouses in Hollywood.

The newly renovated condos are going for $7.49M each -- they're identical -- not an outlandish price after a nearly two-year remodel.

The 2 units take up the entire top floor ... with a private outdoor deck and panoramic views from downtown L.A. to the blue Pacific.

Each has 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. They have cool features, including a built-in bar, smart home technology and a movie projector.

The building has a 24-hour valet, doormen, fitness center, dog park and swimming pool ... amongst other bells and whistles.

Jason's no dummy ... he used the casts of "Selling Sunset" and "Selling the OC" to help market the units by throwing an event in the penthouses this week. Of course, cast members all posted tons of pics on Insta.

There's an open house Sunday ... we don't know if looky-loos are welcome.

Netflix's "The Crown" is currently filming its latest season, and it looks like Princess Diana's fatal car crash will be front and center ... because the show's recreating that tragic moment.

Production was underway Thursday in Paris, and rather eerily, they're shooting right around the Pont de l'Alma tunnel ... the fateful location where Diana's driver crashed in 1997 while being tailed by paparazzi.

It looks like the production is retracing the actual route and the scene as it really happened -- they have photographers on motorcycles surrounding the Mercedes-Benz sedan.

As you know, the 36-year-old's death shocked the world ... her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, and their driver were also killed in the devastating crash.

FYI -- fans of the show know Diana, currently played by Elizabeth Debicki, was first featured in the show's 4th season, and there was a TON of fan excitement surrounding her introduction to the royal plot.

It's unclear if Diana's death will become the main focus of the upcoming season, but it looks like producers and the director are aiming to recreate the event as accurately as possible.

Kanye West is not being scrubbed from Netflix in the wake of his antisemitic rants ... the streaming giant says the biopic on his life is staying put.

While tons of companies are distancing themselves from Ye, including Balenciaga and talent agency CAA, a rep for Netflix tells us there are no plans to take down its 'Jeen-Yuhs' documentary trilogy on Kanye's life.

Netflix's position is they are not in business with Kanye because he was the subject of the doc, and he wasn't involved in creating or promoting the movies.

The streaming service also says there is nothing antisemitic in the documentary ... and Netflix points out they don't remove content about or by people who later spark controversy.

When the documentary debuted earlier this year, Kanye showed up to the Los Angeles screening with Chaney Jones ... and a ton of celebs were there too.

Blame Halloween or Netflix, or both ... but a Texas pizzeria is cutting off a slice of the ghoulish Jeffrey Dahmer fascination -- which is pissing off some people and drawing others into the joint.

Capital Pizza in Lubbock is now proudly displaying an almost literal hot mess -- it's called the "Jeffrey Dahmer Special." Yes, that's a finger and eyeball surrounded by what looks like blood and guts.

It's not real, of course, but the imagery alone is making some people lose their appetite. The restaurant's manager tells TMZ ... one of his servers came up with the concept in honor of Halloween, and the immensely popular Netflix series.

He says the pie is just ramen noodles, pepperoncini garnish ... along with the prop body parts and a whole lot of fake blood. Even though it's not on the menu -- it's just a prop in the pizzeria's window -- many customers have complained it's in poor taste.

The manager says they've had it out there for about 3 weeks, and while they've had complaints, lots of other customers love it -- coming in to have their kids take photos with the display. It's spooky season, after all.

However, the marketing move comes amid lots of controversy over Dahmer being celebrated as some sort of folk hero -- instead of a mass murdering monster -- spurred by Netflix telling his story in what many deem a very sympathetic light.

Adam Sandler's daughters are starring in a new movie about a bat mitzvah ... and they're taking home a paycheck big enough to make most bat mitzvah gifts seem, well, lesser.

Sadie and Sunny Sandler scored roles alongside their famous father in Netflix's "You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah" ... and their minor's contracts lay out their compensation.

According to the contracts, filed with the court and obtained by TMZ, Adam's teenage daughters are each earning $65,000 for the flick ... and they're gonna be paid in weekly installments during filming.

Adam's got to be loving it ... because it's almost like an allowance for his kids.

The Netflix feature film is putting Fiona Rosenbloom’s beloved coming-of-age novel on the big screen ... and Sunny is playing Stacy Friedman to Sadie's Ronnie Friedman.

Sadie and Sunny's contracts also call for them to get first-class accommodations if they have to film more than 50 miles from home, including swanky hotel rooms, business class plane tickets and car service, plus a $60 per diem and their own trailer on the movie lot.

Adam's daughters could be in for a bigger payday down the line ... there's a follow-up book in the series, and if Netflix makes a sequel the girls are each set to earn $162,500.

Jeffrey Dahmer is all the rage this spooky season, and while full-blown costumes -- mimicking the serial killer and his crimes -- have been yanked offline, the homemade crowd still has an outlet.

Etsy, as it turns out, is hawking a ton of Dahmer-themed gear right now -- stuff from graphic tees to cutting boards and everything in between, it seems. The shirts, in particular, are distasteful ... especially because of the jokey messages blared across the fronts.

There are a few iterations of "Jeff Boyardee" tees that are cheap buys ... $8 to $20, more or less. Another leans in on the sadomasochism and invokes another serial murderer -- reading, "Choke me like Bundy and Eat me like Dahmer." Both of their faces are featured.

Dahmer shoes are also being sold, with a cartoon version of his face and a bunch of chopped meat all over the outside. The cutting board has Dahmer's name etched into the wood and a note that says, "If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em. - Jeffrey Dahmer."

The point here is ... Dahmer-fever's now reaching well beyond places like eBay ... which has removed a lot of similar items.

As we reported ... eBay says a lot of the JD-inspired costumes that were/are on their platform violate their terms and conditions, especially as it pertains to promoting violent content -- which obviously applies to Dahmer, who killed upwards of 17 boys and men.

You're definitely not gonna see Dahmer costumes in stores or anything, which might be why people are turning to places like eBay or Etsy -- but the fact is, a Dahmer outfit is not difficult to recreate whatsoever.

If people wanna dress up as Dahmer, they're probably gonna do it whether they can get it on the Internet or elsewhere -- this despite the outcry from the families of the slain.

Hardcore "Cobra Kai" fans ... grab your gi and your wallet -- the famous mansion featured on the show is now a short-term rental, but overnight stays are far from cheap.

Our sources say Daniel LaRusso's home recently underwent $1 million in restorations to get it ready for renters ... with upgrades mostly focused on the grounds and amenities, and reservations start at $2,300 a night.

Folks looking to splurge can also shell out more cash for karate lessons, a private chef, chauffeur services, exotic car rentals, a masseuse, private security and even a private jet charter!

The 9,214 square foot estate has 6 bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. It sleeps 12 and it's decked out with a heated pool and spa, fire pit, indoor pond, garden atrium and a wood-fired pizza oven.

TMZ broke the story ... the home recently sold for $2.4 million, with the buyer planning to convert the property into a rental.

The "Cobra Kai" mansion -- which is actually in Marietta, GA, not the show setting of Encino, CA -- is taking bookings through VRBO.

Online shoppers hoping to score some Jeffrey Dahmer-inspired gear for Halloween are now officially out of luck ... because eBay has pulled the plug on costume pieces paying homage to the serial killer.

A spokesperson for eBay tells TMZ ... the company has policies that prohibit listings glorifying hate, violence and criminal activities -- and the Dahmer sales clearly fit the bill.

The official policy, listed on their site, says there's no space for "items closely associated with or that benefit violent felons, their acts, or crime scenes within the past 100 years."

We're told eBay is constantly sweeping the site ... looking for similar listings that also violate policies.

As we reported, tons of costumes inspired by Dahmer were up for sale on the website as the Nexflix series gained popularity -- everything from his distinct glasses, a blonde wig and a shirt similar to one worn by Evan Peters on the show.

Jeffrey Dahmer-inspired Halloween costumes have already gotten a ton of backlash, but more than anything they're evil and exploit families ... so says one victim's mom, who is urging folks to stay clear of them.

Tony Hughes was a deaf, non-vocal victim among the 17 young men murdered by Dahmer. His mom, Shirley, tells TMZ … it's already super triggering to see a hit Netflix series about the serial killer, much less folks dressing like the killer.

Most big retail stores have opted out of selling JD costumes given all the outrage, but many folks have flocked to online stores, such as eBay, to sell Jeffrey Dahmer costume props ... including blonde wigs, retro-style tops and even the wire-rimmed glasses.

Shirley says it hurts for Netflix and all the online stores to profit off her son's death, while none of the victims' families have seen a dime. She feels all the eBay ads should be taken down ... or at the very least, give the profits to the families.

While folks are able to dress like Dahmer for fun, the pain never goes away for Shirley. She says, if Netflix hadn't streamed the show, none of the families would be re-victimized ... and then there'd be no Dahmer costumes this year.

Dahmer was sentenced to life in prison in 1992 ... he was beaten to death in prison in 1994.

Jeffrey Dahmer costumes might not be on the shelves at major stores this Halloween ... but that isn't stopping folks from hawking the killer costume online.

Tons of costume items inspired by the serial killer are up for sale on eBay, despite outrage from folks who say the costume, given Dahmer's history, is just downright disrespectful.

Folks on the site are selling everything from Jeffrey Dahmer-style glasses to a shirt similar to the one worn by actor Evan Peters in the new Netflix series. Some of the props for sale are made for children's costumes ... like a JD-inspired wig.

One kid already had social media up in arms after his rendition of the killer went viral, with folks suggesting anyone in Dahmer gear should be beaten up.

Halloween costume retailers Spirit, Halloween.com, and Party City all are not selling any official Jeffrey Dahmer costumes.

Dahmer killed 17 people and was convicted of 16 murders and sentenced to life in prison in 1992. He was beaten to death behind bars.

Anna Sorokin is fresh out of ICE custody and spending her time on house arrest ... and she thinks a second chance is something that she's earned -- even if others don't see it that way.

Anna joined us Thursday on "TMZ Live" ... and she thinks her trial taking place in the U.S. -- mixed with America's obsession with the true crime genre -- is what boosted her popularity, saying her story is all about getting another chance.

Of course, it would be a really tall order for ICE to give her the green light to stay -- as you know, she was found guilty of multiple fraud charges back in 2019 ... including 4 counts of theft services and 3 counts of grand larceny while pretending to be a German heiress named Anna Delvey.

Anna chalks her crimes up to a simple mistake ... and she makes the argument she should be allowed to stay in the U.S.

Anna's required to stay at home and rock an ankle monitor ... only to step out under the watchful eyes of immigration officials or her parole officer.

Talk about kickin' a simple claw machine up a notch ... the premiere party for "Bling Empire" had a real, eye-turning game that you'd be a fool not to press your luck on!

Folks at the shindig tell TMZ ... Christine Chiu, one of the cast members on the Netflix series, held the bash Wednesday night at the Pendry in WeHo to celebrate the show's 3rd season.

There were awesome gifts and activities for guests -- but nothing topped the arcade machine filled with some serious bling.

The claw machine featured real diamonds and other goodies ... including Dunamis diamond watches for men and women, as well as tokens up to $1,500 that can be cashed in at Jason of Beverly Hills.

FYI -- Jason of BH has made some sweet jewelry in the past, including the official Super Bowl rings for the LA Rams, as well as NBA Championship rings.

The claw machine carried a total value of $150K ... obviously, it had security around it to keep the goods safe.

R&B singer Lyfe Jennings is fending off critics after revealing he once serenaded former cellmate, Jeffrey Dahmer ... but he's got a pretty odd defense.

Lyfe responded to the backlash Thursday with a declaration he must have borrowed from his pal, Captain Obvious ... he pointed out drugs have taken more Black lives than Dahmer -- who, for the record, killed 17 people -- that police know of, anyway.

Lyfe had previously posted, rather glowingly, about his time in an Ohio jail with Dahmer. He referred to the serial killer/cannibal as "the homie" and admitted singing Mint Condition's jam 'Pretty Brown Eyes' at Dahmer's request.

The trip down memory lane angered many of Lyfe's fans -- most of them Black -- who felt like he was capitalizing off the moment created by the immensely popular new Netflix series ... not to mention romanticizing his brush with evil.

Lyfe says he isn't backing down from cancel culture and nonstop trolling on his IG page and is exercising his right to think outside the norm.

His words sound similar to Kanye's BFF Candace Owens ... who recently argued Black people should be more upset about obesity and gun violence than the "White Lives Matter" shirts she and Kanye wore this week.

Lyfe's comments probably aren't sitting well with Boosie Badazz ... who angrily called for all Black people to boycott the Netflix series.

The show's been criticized for being sympathetic to Dahmer, who preyed upon young men of color, and -- according to the show, at least -- got several passes from police who were allegedly racist and/or homophobic.

The "Stranger Things" themed Halloween display taking the Internet by storm ... is also drawing too much attention for one neighbor -- that got it all shut down, but now the homeowners are striking back to turn it on again.

Aubrey Appel tells TMZ ... she and her husband, Dave, turned the lights off on their display Sunday, and took down the levitating Max figure after a neighbor called the police. However, no official complaint was filed.

For those unaware, the insane display in Plainfield, Illinois is highlighted by Max Mayfield from the Netflix series seemingly floating in midair ... a reference to the latest season of the show.

Their setup's gone viral during this Halloween season, apparently too viral for some! Aubrey says the neighbor in question called cops after someone pulled into their driveway and walked on their lawn to check out the Appels' home.

Aubrey and Dave tell us they had reached out to all their neighbors before putting up the 'ST' homage and had the neighborhoods' full support. After the one neighbor's complaint, they were planning on taking everything down this week -- but had a change of heart due to the overwhelming amount of support they were getting.

Dave met with City Manager James Capparelli Wednesday and was told they were doing nothing wrong and had nothing but support for their home haunt.

Moving forward, they'll only be in full operation on weekend nights ... people can still take a look during the day if they want, but the lights will be off. Max will be "levitating" as long as winds are below 10 MPH, otherwise she'll be at her stepbrother Billy's gravesite.