Brandon T. Jackson Praying For Jamie Foxx ... As a Friend, I'm Scared!!!

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Brandon T. Jackson is sending up prayers for his friend Jamie Foxx, saying JF's hospitalization ... coupled with the pressure on comedians is starting to scare him.

We caught up with the actor/comedian Wednesday at LAX, and he offered up some words of encouragement to Jamie following the mysterious health condition that's landed him in a hospital for more than 3 weeks.

Brandon spoke directly to Jaimie, saying, "I love you. My prayers are with you and your family" ... and he actually took a moment to pray on camera.

He added, as a fellow comedian, he wants folks to understand the fast-paced lifestyle of the industry ... something that's starting to frighten him.

Of course, Jamie's ailment remains a total mystery and there's no word what he's battling or what caused it. Still, BTJ says it's important for entertainers to take care of themselves with healthy doses of sleep and moderation.

As we reported, Jamie suffered what his family called a "medical emergency" on April 12, and has remained in the hospital. He finally broke his silence Wednesday with an IG post, saying ..."Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed."

Jackson left off by saying "faith without works is dead" ... reiterating he's hoping for a speedy recovery of his dear friend.

NFL Prospect Michael Jefferson Suspected Of Being Under Influence In Crash ... Cops Say

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Cops in Alabama say their initial report of Michael Jefferson's car crash was wrong ... telling TMZ Sports on Wednesday they now believe the 2023 NFL Draft prospect was the one who was impaired on the night of the tragic wreck last month.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says it somehow mixed up the drivers of the two vehicles in its first report of the fatal car accident on April 9 in Mobile County, AL.

Initially, the ALEA claimed Jefferson was driving a 2019 Chevrolet Impala ... before Charles Dunn slammed head-on into it in his 2014 Dodge Charger.

Now, however, the ALEA says Jefferson was actually driving the Charger -- while Dunn was in the Impala.

That means, according to the crash report, cops suspect Jefferson was the one who was under the influence of both alcohol and drugs at the time of the accident -- not Dunn.

It also means, per a diagram of the crash in the report, that Jefferson (labeled Unit 1) is the one who was traveling in a southbound lane before moving into Dunn's northbound lane, headed in the wrong direction, before colliding with the 55-year-old (labeled Unit 2) head-on.

As we reported, Dunn died as a result of the crash. Jefferson -- a former star wideout at Louisiana who was in line to get drafted last month before the wreck -- sustained significant injuries that required several surgeries.

Police told us an investigation into the crash remains ongoing. According to the report, the 23-year-old's blood was taken following the crash, but the results have not yet come back.

Meanwhile, Jefferson's attorney, Brad Sohn, told us on Wednesday he had "absolutely no reason to believe that Michael Jefferson is under criminal investigation or has ever been under investigation."

Dunn's family told us in a statement they now want a public apology from Jefferson and his representatives ... adding, "Charles Dunn never drank or smoked in his life and we would like for his name to be cleared."

Jefferson was considered to be one of the 30 best available receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft prior to the accident ... though he ultimately went unpicked. Sohn previously said the wide receiver was optimistic he'd play football again despite the severity of the injuries he suffered.

Ex-NBA's Alexey Shved Attacked Outside Restaurant ... Hospitalized, Police Investigating

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Alexey Shved -- a Russian-born basketball player who hooped in the NBA -- was hospitalized after he was attacked outside of a Moscow restaurant ... but thankfully, he's on the road to recovery.

According to Shved's Russian basketball team, CSKA Moscow, the 34-year-old was attacked by a "hooligan" on Monday night ... and "suffered a serious head injury as a result of the fall."

Alexey --- who played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, and New York Knicks -- was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

Shved, wearing a neck brace, seemed in relatively good spirits as some of his teammates and coaches visited him in the hospital.

Shved's team said he contacted the police to investigate the incident ... and added he would not be able to participate in the squad's next round of matches.

The 6' 6" shooting guard spent his final season in the NBA with the Knicks in 2015, averaging 14.8 points per game in 26.4 minutes for the Knickerbockers.

Shved rejoined CSKA in 2021 where he's averaging 17 points and 7.8 assists this season.

Jamie Foxx Breaks Silence from Hospital ... 'Feeling Blessed'

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Jamie Foxx is back in the land of social media for the first time following his mysterious hospitalization ... breaking his silence with a heartfelt message to those who've been wishing him well.

The legendary actor took to Instagram Wednesday, writing "Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed." Fans flooded the comments with more well-wishes for Jamie -- including one that said, "Forever !!❤️ WE LOVE YOU GOAT!!"

He also gave a shoutout to Nick Cannon, who will be filling his hosting shoes on his game show, "Beat Shazam" ... and told people he'll see them all soon.

As we reported, Nick's taking over for Jamie while he copes with his medical condition -- Kelly Osbourne will swap in as the show's DJ, a spot normally held by Jamie's daughter, Corinne. Kelly shared her views from the DJ booth Wednesday, too.

The jury's still out on what exactly went down with Jamie ... but it looks like he's movin' in the right direction, seemingly well enough to thank his legion of fans for lifting him up.

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

Jamie Foxx Nick Cannon to Fill in As 'Beat Shazam' Host

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Jamie Foxx has left a big absence in his hosting duties on "Beat Shazam" ... a hole Nick Cannon hopes to fill while Jamie remains hospitalized with a serious mystery condition.

TMZ has confirmed Nick will take over the hosting duties of the popular FOX game show where contestants attempt to guess songs with lyrics from hits of all genres. We're told Kelly Osbourne will work as the show's DJ ... a position held by Jamie's daughter, Corinne, as she takes leave to help with her dad's recovery.

In a social media post Wednesday, Kelly shared a video from the DJ booth on the "Beat Shazam" set.

Kelly's IG video features an emcee in the background, gassing up the studio audience for Nick. Kelly also posted a photo of the show's rundown.

TMZ broke the story ... Jamie's family and those closest to him continue to ask for prayers, echoing, "Pray for Jamie."

Jamie's hosted the show since 2017, and he's also an executive producer. Corinne's been the show's DJ since 2018, working the past 4 seasons.

The hugely popular music lyric game show was scheduled to go into production just days after Jamie was hospitalized with what Corinne described as a "medical complication" but that was delayed. Nick and Kelly started shooting Wednesday.

As you know ... Jamie was in Atlanta working on the movie "Back In Action" earlier this month when he fell ill, and his fill-ins on that project have been a stunt double and body double.

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

Jamie Foxx 'Pray for Jamie'

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Jamie Foxx remains hospitalized more than 3 weeks after suffering a medical emergency, and those closest to him say he needs all the prayers and well-wishes his fans can muster.

While his exact condition remains secret -- tightly guarded by his family -- we've spoken with sources close to Jamie who echo the same plea -- "Pray for Jamie."

It was April 12 when Foxx's daughter, Corinne, announced her father suffered a "medical complication."

Jamie is one of the most prolific players in Hollywood, and his condition has sent studios scrambling.

Jamie has been the host of the hugely popular "Beat Shazam" music lyric game show on FOX, which was going into production just days after he was hospitalized.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... Jamie will not be on this season of "Beat Shazam." We're told filming starts today, with a new host. We're also told Corinne, who DJs on the show, will not be on as well -- she's been a fixture at the hospital in Atlanta by her dad's side.

As we reported, Jamie was in Atlanta for work on the film "Back in Action" when he fell ill, a stunt double and body double have been seen filling in for Jamie for that project.

Pray for Jamie.

NFL Star Taylor Lewan I'm Suing Over Botched 2020 ACL Surgery

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NFL star Taylor Lewan says he's dragging the docs and others involved in his 2020 ACL surgery to court ... claiming they screwed up the procedure -- affecting his career and his life.

The former Tennessee Titans offensive lineman broke the news on his "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast on Tuesday ... revealing he recently filed a lawsuit "against the people and entities that are involved with my surgery from October of 2020."

Lewan didn't want to get into too many specifics of the complaint -- saying his lawyers advised him not to go into detail about it all -- but he made it clear, he believes the people tasked with repairing his knee botched it.

Lewan initially tore up the ligament on Oct. 18, 2020, during a game against the Houston Texans. He went on to have surgery to try to fix the issue days later.

The 31-year-old, though, was never quite the same after the procedure. He played just 13 games in the 2021 season ... and in 2022, he played in just two games -- before he reinjured his knee in a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Following the season, Lewan was cut by the Titans.

The former Univ. of Michigan left tackle -- who was picked by Tennessee in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft -- was widely regarded as one of the best linemen in the league before his '20 injury ... making three Pro Bowls.

Gordon Lightfoot Dead at 84

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Gordon Lightfoot, a folk music and soft rock icon of the 1970s, is dead ... according to his publicist.

Gordon, best known for his hit, "If You Could Read My Mind," passed away Monday evening in Toronto, where he'd been hospitalized. His publicist, Victoria Lord, did not say why he was getting medical treatment or release a cause of death.

The folk singer and songwriter became a Canadian national treasure, but also scored big hits throughout the '70s on the U.S. Billboard charts -- like 'Read My Mind,' "Sundown" and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

Lightfoot was a 4-time Grammy nominee, and he's been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, as well as the Canadian Music HOF.

He had a rep for being a fitness nut and had remained active on the road ... touring the U.S. and Canada for years before the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to take a break.

In fact, he was still touring earlier this year, until an announcement just a few weeks ago that he was canceling all remaining dates due to an unannounced "health-related" issue.

He's survived by his 6 children and his wife Kim Hasse, to whom he's been married since 2014.

Gordon was 84.

RIP

College Baseball Player Struck By Bullet During Game ... Hospitalized

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Terrifying moment during a collegiate baseball game Saturday ... a player was struck by a bullet while he was standing in the bullpen -- and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital.

It all went down during Texas A&M University-Texarkana's game against the University of Houston-Victoria at George Dobson Field in Texarkana, Texas ... after authorities say an argument in the streets near the diamond erupted into gunfire.

According to the Texarkana Texas Police Department, two men shot at each other in front of a home as the game was happening nearby ... and an errant round "traveled about 400 yards and struck the innocent victim at the ball field."

Cops say after collapsing, the TAMUT baseball player -- whose identity has not yet been publicly revealed -- was hospitalized. Thankfully, both the school and police said in statements the 18-year-old is now in stable condition.

Authorities say they believe 17-year-old Kamauri Butler and 20-year-old Demarco Banks were the shooters during the incident. Banks, cops said on Monday morning, turned himself in on Sunday night on a felony deadly conduct warrant. Police said they're still on the hunt for Butler, who's wanted for felony aggravated assault.

As for the game -- which was stopped in the fifth inning as trainers tended to the injured baseball player -- TAMUT said it's been officially declared a no-contest.

Cops are urging anyone with information about the incident to call 903-798-3876 or Texarkana Area Crime Stoppers.

Selena Gomez Organ Donor Francia Shades Ex-Friendship ... Next Question, Please!!!

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Francia Raisa is tossing serious shade toward her former friend, and kidney recipient, Selena Gomez ... dodging questions any way she can about whether they're still on good terms.

The "How I Met Your Father" star was taking her dogs for a walk Sunday in Studio City when she was asked about her relationship souring with Selena -- but she repeatedly, and not-so-subtly, changed the subject.

It was a nonstop dodge fest ... Francia refused to even touch on whether she'd be willing to follow back SG on social media. She was also asked if she'd be up for organ donation again -- but it sounds like she's more into talking others through the process.

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For those unaware, Selena and Francia were longtime friends ... first meeting back when they were child actors, and getting so close Francia agreed to donate her kidney in 2017 when Selena's failed due to her battle with lupus.

They were thick as thieves after that, with Selena constantly thanking Francia for saving her life. That all seemed to change in November, however ... when Selena told an interviewer the only person she was close to in Hollywood was Taylor Swift.

Those words went viral, with Francia commenting "interesting," and unfollowing Selena ... who later defended herself, saying, "Sorry I didn't mention every person I know."

Selena seemed to turn around in March, saying she'll "never ever, ever, be more in debt to a person than Francia" ... but it doesn't sound like Francia's on the same page.

Michael J. Fox I Probably Won't Live Past Age 80 ... Details Parkinson's Battle

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Michael J. Fox says he doesn't think he's going to be around in 20 years as he continues to battle Parkinson's disease -- which is making his life more difficult by the day.

The beloved actor -- who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991 -- sat down with CBS Sunday Morning for a new interview that's hard to watch ... because he says, in plain terms, he honestly doesn't think he's going to live past the age of 80 the way things are going.

Check it out ... MJF heartbreakingly describes how the disease continues to wear on his body -- which results in more accidents, falls, and injuries as he gets older. Despite this, he actually calls Parkinson's a gift ... albeit, one that keeps on taking, as he puts it.

Mike says he's fortunate to have resources around him to help him deal with it -- but notes, not many people have lived with Parkinson's for as long as he has ... over 30 years.

And yet, the guy continues to keep up an incredibly good attitude -- maintaining his sense of humor ... and carrying a positive outlook, big picture. There's a telling mantra he upholds -- with gratitude, optimism is sustainable. In other words, he says if you have something to be grateful for ... you have something to look forward to. And Fox says he's grateful for a lot.

There's a touching story he shares about watching "Back to the Future" recently on TV ... which he hadn't seen in years. As he took the movie in anew, he says his wife asked what he was doing, and he told her. He says he quipped to her, "I'm really good in it."

Yeah, understatement of the year. Bust out the tissues for this one ... Mike's a treasure, folks.

Bill Bellamy Yes, I Missed Out on 'Booty Call'™ ... Doesn't Want AI Stealing His Voice, Jokes!!!

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While AI is sparking intellectual property debates, funnyman Bill Bellamy's making it clear ... he's not down with the tech using his jokes -- and the fact is, he's still feeling some kinda way about a different financial loss.

We linked with Bill out in NYC and tackled the ongoing discussion about artificial intelligence ... and he's unapologetically Team Human.

Bill not only thinks AI would have a hard time matching his joke-writing wit, he also believes deceased superstars -- like Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. -- would also frown upon their voices being remixed without legal approval.

We also talked to Bill about a golden opportunity he admits missing out on back in the '90s -- namely, not trademarking the "booty call" catchphrase he coined as a young comic on Def Comedy Jam.

The phrase has since been placed in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, and Hollywood also took advantage ... tapping Jamie Foxx and Vivica A. Fox for the 1997 rom-com.

Speaking of Jamie, Bill tells us his inner circle relayed positive news about the Academy Award winner's condition after he suffered a medical emergency in Atlanta.

Bill says the word he got is Jamie's recovering nicely, and Martin Lawrence has said he heard the same. So, we'll take the good news!!!

Fiery Disaster TikToker's Flamethrower Explodes ... Burns Over 80 Percent Of Body

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A dangerous challenge on TikTok landed a North Carolina teen in the hospital with serious burns over nearly 80 percent of his disfigured body.

Grisly photos of Mason Dark have gone viral after the 16-year-old was dared by a group of TikTokers to make a torch out of a spray paint can and a lighter.

The TT users often meet online to create mini-flamethrowers, but this time their makeshift project went awry as Dark was engulfed in flames after the can exploded.

Dark ran to a river near his Wake Forest home and dove inside to put out the flames. When he emerged from the water, he had third-degree burns over 76 percent of his body, including his face.

His mom, Holli, told Fox affiliate WRAL News, “He is unrecognizable, unrecognizable." She also said her son was rushed to a burn center, where he has already undergone skin grafts, which are surgeries that replace damaged skin with healthy skin from unaffected areas of the body. Dark is expected to stay in the hospital for at least 6 months.

Holli went on to say her son's flaming, bunched-up T-shirt was seared into his skin while he was trying to remove it at the riverbed.

She added that his physical appearance has only worsened since the accident last week, explaining, “The way he looked when those kids saw him when he first came in, to what he looks like now, it’s 100 times different."

Dark is an active high school football player and track runner.

Nyjah Huston I'm Gonna Skate 'Til I Can't Anymore ... Like Tony Hawk!!!

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Nyjah Huston isn't going to let his recent injury scare him into early retirement -- the skateboarding superstar tells TMZ Sports he plans to go all-out until he literally can't anymore ... just like Tony Hawk!!

The 28-year-old busted his ACL, partially tore his meniscus and fractured his tibia off a bad skating accident last year ... which kept him on the sidelines for months.

We spoke with Nyjah -- who's inching back to full recovery -- about how he handled the first major injury of his career ... and he said he couldn't wait to get back on his board again.

"Skateboarding is so much more to me than a job, or than making money, or making a living for myself. It really is my life and is something I plan on doing until I physically can't anymore."

"I wanna do everything I can to make sure I can make that happen and make sure I'm gonna be like, 50, 60 years old still grinding rails out there."

Of course, Hawk is known for crushing it even at 54 years old ... and Nyjah says that's exactly how he's trying to be in a couple decades.

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As for his return to competition, Nyjah's actually participating in the Street League Skateboarding event in Chicago this weekend ... and even though he's not 100% yet, he makes it clear he's going to give the fans something to cheer about.

Pelé Name Added To Portuguese Dictionary ... 'Out Of The Ordinary'

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Brazilian soccer legend Pelé has received yet another honor four months after his passing -- his name was added to the Portuguese dictionary as an adjective with a definition only fitting for a G.O.A.T.

The three-time World Cup winner's name was added to the Michaelis, a brand of dictionaries published in Brazil, after a campaign by his foundation to include his name garnered more than 100,000 signatures.

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"That or someone who is out of the ordinary, who or who by virtue of their quality, value or superiority cannot be equaled to anything or anyone, just like Pelé," the definition reads.

"Edson Arantes do Nascimento (1940-2022), considered to be the greatest athlete of all time; exceptional, incomparable, unique."

Pelé's definition drives home the point that he was beyond exceptional at his craft while paying homage to the remarkable career he had on the pitch for Brazil.

As we reported, Pelé -- born Edson Arantes do Nascimento -- died last December at a hospital in São Paulo ... surrounded by his loved ones after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Pelé was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2021 ... and spent his final two years in and out of medical facilities, valiantly fighting the disease.

In 1958, Pelé -- widely regarded as one of the greatest scorers ever -- won his first World Cup when he was 17 ... and captured another two titles for Brazil in 1962 and 1970.

RIP

Independent Wrestler Set Himself On Fire In Deathmatch ... Suffers Significant Burns

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Terrifying moment during an independent wrestling match last weekend ... a wrestler accidentally set himself on fire while trying to perform a stunt -- and suffered significant burns to his face and body in the process.

It all happened at XPW Wrestling's deathmatch event in Pomona, Calif. on April 22 ... when MASADA was attempting to blow a fireball at his opponent.

Video of the match -- a no-holds-barred contest where weapons are allowed -- shows MASADA grabbed a flaming torch, poured a substance in his mouth ... and then tried to blow the liquid and the ensuing flames at his counterpart.

The problem? The stunt somehow went awry ... and the fire went everywhere, swarming MASADA's entire upper body.

In footage of the match, you can see the flames engulfed the wrestler's face, chest and shoulders for several moments before they were mercifully extinguished.

Somehow, MASADA ended up finishing the contest ... but he raced to the hospital immediately afterward, and was diagnosed with first- and second-degree burns all over his body.

The 41-year-old told TMZ Sports on Friday he's still in the burn unit at a nearby medical facility recovering ... adding, "My face is healing up fast, just the rest is going to take a while."

As for what happened during the fire mishap, MASADA told us, "I've done that spot a lot when I wrestled in Japan, but it was rushed and I think being outside had something to do with it."

MASADA expects to be out of the squared circle for a bit ... but he said there are no plans to hang up his wrestling boots anytime soon despite it all.

Speedy recovery!!