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Russell Brand wants you to know he’s still alive … even though people on social media seemed to think he kicked it.

The source of the confusion? Conservative podcaster and former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino shared a pic of himself on a podcast with Russell.

And he captioned it … “There won’t be another. One of the saddest days of my life. He was just different. And everyone who knew him, knew it. May God rest your soul.”

Here’s the thing … He wasn’t talking about Russell. He was talking about Charlie Kirk -- who's also in the photo.

But since Russell was front and center, death rumors started flying.

The actor decided to clear things up, replying on X … “I actually feel quite well. Not suicidal, FYI.”

Russell’s health may be fine, but he’s recently been charged with two new counts of rape and sexual assault charges ... on top of the other five he was already facing.

The family of the Georgia math teacher who died in a prank-gone-wrong is crowdfunding to put his kids through college ... and generous folks have already donated over $483,000 and counting.

Jason Hughes' wife, Krista May, started a GoFundMe with a $75,000 goal to pay for "immediate expenses and a future college fund for his children" ... and money has been pouring in from across the country.

As of this post, the GoFundMe has $483,492 and counting.

Jason's family says ... "Jason's life was a blessing to so many, and his untimely passing will be indescribably difficult for his wife and two young boys for years to come. Please use this opportunity to come alongside them in their time of immediate need and future planning for his children."

President Donald Trump initially blamed Iran for last month's attack on an Iranian elementary school, but now that a preliminary inquiry reportedly determined the U.S. to be at fault ... he says he doesn't know anything about the strike.

While meeting with the press Wednesday outside the White House, Trump was asked about the ongoing military investigation, which is reportedly holding the U.S. responsible for the Tomahawk missile strike.

When asked if he personally took responsibility, Trump answered, "For what?"

Eminem lost a family member ... TMZ has learned his maternal grandmother is dead.

Sources close to the family with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the rapper's grandma, Betty, died Tuesday at her home in Missouri. We're told she died from complications due to breast cancer.

Eminem, we're told, was not with his grandma when she passed.

Betty was the mother of Eminem's mom, Debbie, who died in December 2024 following a battle with advanced lung cancer.

The Department of War is reportedly so mad about some pictures taken of Pete Hegseth that officials have told several photographers not to come back to the Pentagon.

Here's the deal ... the Secretary of War has delivered multiple press briefings this month in the aftermath of the United States' bombing of Iran -- the first taking place on March 2.

Photographers were allowed in the room during the briefing ... but, The Washington Post reports, photos they took of Secretary Hegseth upset DoW officials.

According to WaPo -- citing two anonymous officials -- photographers were banned from briefings on March 4 and March 10 ... and Pentagon staff photogs took photos instead.

The United States military says it has struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran since Operation Epic Fury began ... and we've got a new look at some of those strikes.

U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for American military activities in the Middle East, released new video Wednesday showing Iranian targets being blown to smithereens.

The footage shows the U.S. carrying out strikes on moving vehicles, underground bunkers, ballistic missile launchers, and more.

The Georgia teen charged with running over his teacher during a prank gone horribly wrong is speaking out for the first time ... saying he plans to lean on his faith as he moves forward.

18-year-old student Jayden Wallace -- who is facing first-degree vehicular homicide after allegedly running over math teacher Jason Hughes said in a statement, "I pledge to live out the remainder of my life in a manner that honors the memory of Coach Hughes by exemplifying Christ. He will never be forgotten."

Wallace’s family also released a statement, obtained by 11Alive, saying Hughes meant the world to their son -- adding "Jay expresses his deepest sorrow and sincerest apology to the Hughes family."

So much for the friendly skies! A Southwest Airlines flight from Miami to Denver went completely off the rails before takeoff ... and the whole thing was caught on camera.

Watch the video ... a man -- whom the Miami PD report identifies as 32-year-old Marcial Martinez -- is yelling at someone named Marissa to leave the plane with him as he's being escorted off for being disruptive.

But soon, all hell breaks loose ... Marcial appears to bum-rush a man standing between him and Marissa and a huge fight ensues involving at least one flight attendant and other passengers about the March 6th flight.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi was quietly moved to a Washington D.C. military base after receiving threats from drug cartels and people pissed about her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to the New York Times.

Bondi was relocated from her regular D.C. residence within the past month after federal law enforcement alerted her staff about the threats, the paper reported, citing sources familiar with the situation. 

The NYT says Bondi saw an uptick in the threats after the arrest and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S Delta Forces in January.

Gavin Newsom is having some fun at the expense of Pete Hegseth, slamming the Department of War Secretary for going on a $93 billion taxpayer-funded spending spree to buy pricey steaks, lobsters and crabs.

The California Governor, and likely 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, ripped Hegseth for his lavish spending habits during the last month of the fiscal year in September 2025, according to government watchdog Open the Books. The watchdog highlighted that Hegseth's bulk purchases were the largest of any federal agency since 2008.

As a result, Newsom's press office took a monster-size shot at Hegseth, writing in all caps on X Tuesday, “HEGSETH BLOWING $93 BILLION OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 1 MONTH !!”

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz appeared in court for the first time since being arrested and charged in connection with the shooting at Rihanna's home.

Ortiz showed up wearing a blue jumpsuit and her hair was in braids.

Ortiz's Tuesday court appearance comes after being charged with attempted murder and assault ... her lawyer entered a plea and then withdrew it. Her next court appearance is March 25.

The Florida woman is still in custody and bail has been set at $1.8 million. Ortiz waived her right to a speedy trial and the judge issued protective orders for Rihanna and A$AP Rocky. Ortiz has also been ordered to surrender her guns.

As we reported ... Ortiz, 35, is accused of firing off multiple rounds into the Grammy winner's home while she was inside with her three children ... even hitting an Airstream trailer. Following the shooting, police trailed Ortiz's white Tesla Model 3 into a shopping center parking lot, where they arrested her.

She was later held on a $10,225,000 bail.

5:39 PM -- Prosecutors claim there were 9 people on Rihanna's property when Ivanna Lisette Ortiz allegedly opened fire ... which appears to be why she is charged with 9 counts of assault with a firearm.

The folks on the property ... Rihanna, A$AP Rocky and the couple's three children ... plus Rihanna's mom, Hollywood talent agent Tracey Jacobs and two other individuals ... according to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ.

At a press conference ... L.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Rihanna and her partner, A$AP Rocky were inside a trailer on the property at the time the shooting occurred.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz has officially been charged with attempted murder and assault in connection with the shooting at Rihanna's Los Angeles-area home.

Ortiz, a 35-year-old woman from Florida, was charged Tuesday with one count of attempted murder, nine counts of assault with a firearm, two counts of shooting into an inhabited dwelling and one count of shooting at a motor vehicle ... according to the Los Angeles Times.

She's accused of firing off multiple rounds into the Grammy winner's home. Following the shooting, police trailed Ortiz's white Tesla Model 3 into a shopping center parking lot, where they arrested her.

Ortiz was later booked for attempted murder and held in custody with bail set at $10,225,000.

2:03 PM PT -- A Disneyland official tells TMZ ... this afternoon, building materials being used by a contractor produced a reaction backstage at the theme park ... and the area was examined by appropriate response teams.

Several cast members were treated on-site by paramedics and released ... and we're told at least five employees experiencing dizziness and shortness of breath were transported to local hospitals.

Out of an abundance of caution, adjacent areas were cleared of guests -- and are expected to reopen soon.

Scary situation at Disneyland ... multiple people have been taken to the hospital following a hazardous materials incident.

Alina Habba, the former acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, quietly divorced her husband and moved to a Florida home near President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago.

The former Trump lawyer filed to divorce her second husband Gregg Reuben last month in New Jersey ... and the divorce was quickly settled ... according to the Daily Mail.

Alina and Gregg got hitched back on New Year's Eve 2020 in New Jersey ... but they did not have any children together.

Pete Hegseth's Defense Department reportedly blew through tens of billions in one month ... including huge splurges on steak, lobster, crab, fruit baskets, and furniture according to recent analysis by the government watchdog Open the Books.

The Pentagon went on an epic spending spree in September 2025 by burning through $93 billion ... the most at the end of a fiscal year since 2008 ... all part of the federal government's use-it-or-lose-it budget.

Hegseth's DOD needed to spend the money to keep their current funding moving forward ... and he signed off on $6.9 million for lobster tail, $2 million for Alaskan king crab, $15.1 million for ribeye steak, $1 million for salmon, almost $140K for donuts, and $124K for ice cream machines.

The woman accused of shooting at Rihanna's house while the singer was inside seems to have taken cops on a trip through Los Angeles after the incident ... according to just-released dispatch audio of her arrest.

In the recording, obtained by TMZ, cops appear to tail Ivanna Lisette Ortiz in a white Tesla Model 3 as she drove into the parking lot of a shopping center.

According to the audio ... it appears the suspect got out of the car, getting down on her knees as officers approached her vehicle.