Reality TV

Lisa Barlow says Jennie Nguyen should get another opportunity to star alongside her on "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" ... despite an unceremonious exit.

We got Lisa this week at LAX and asked her about her former 'RHOSLC' castmate Jennie, who was fired by Bravo after some of her allegedly racist social media posts resurfaced from a couple years back.

Lisa says she hasn't heard much from Jennie besides one text, but she hopes she's all good ... and adds that Nguyen's firing has been "hard" on all of the SLC 'housewives.'

Our photog asked if Jennie should get another crack at reality TV, and Lisa told us she's all for giving folks second chances.

Jennie came under fire for her 2020 Facebook posts and re-shares many viewed as attacking Black Americans because the photos and memes were critical of the BLM movement.

Andy Cohen and several 'housewives' condemned the posts, but it sounds like Lisa is having a tough time turning her back on a former friend.

Lisa might be in a forgiving mood, because she's embroiled in her own controversy -- a hot mic incident from a recent 'RHOSLC' episode where she ranted about castmate Meredith Marks.

Lisa was heard branding her former BFF Meredith a "f**king piece of s*** garbage wh**e" ... with Lisa also alleging Meredith "f***ed half of New York."

Things are really heating up between 'Joe Millionaire' star Steven McBee and his new lover, Calah Jackson ... cause we're told they're gonna be shacking up in his new home.

ICYMI, Steven chose Calah and gave her a promise ring on the season finale, and he's already making an even bigger commitment by dropping $772,565 on a Kansas City, MO love nest.

Our sources say, Steven bought the place in his name, but the couple's decided to move in together. It's a bigger move for Calah -- she's from Dallas -- but they won't be too far from Steven's family in the rural town of Gallatin, MO.

We're told, the house is still under construction, but should be finished by the end of this month. These photos -- taken by photographers Mark and Cyndi McCombs -- of a replica model give you an idea of what their new pad will look like.

From the looks of it, it'll be pretty nice and they'll have lots of space in their 4 bedroom, 4 bath pad. It's a sweet "starter" home for the couple, but then again ... he's a millionaire.

The lovebirds seems to be having better luck than the other Joe on the show. As we've told you, Kurt has already split from Amanda, who he picked in the finale.

Traci Braxton, the sister of Toni Braxton, has died ... TMZ has learned.

Traci's Husband Kevin Surratt tells TMZ ... "We have come to a time where we must inform the public that after a year of privately undergoing a series of treatment for Esophageal cancer our beloved Traci Braxton has gone on to glory."

We're told Traci's sisters, mom and friends were by her side when she passed.

Traci appeared on the family's reality show, "Braxton Family Values." She was an actress, best known for "Sinners Wanted." She also appeared in "There's a Stranger in my House" and "Chaaw." She recorded a hit song, "Last Call," that rose to #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. She also recorded "Broken Things" featuring her sisters, Toni, Towanda and Trina.

As you know, Traci has famous sisters ... Toni, Towanda, Tamar and Trina.

The family has experienced other recent tragedies. Her niece, Lauren Braxton, died from a heroin and fentanyl OD back in 2019 at age 24.

The last time we saw Traci she was joking and laughing with our cameras on the streets of NYC in April 2019.

Traci leaves a husband, Kevin Surratt and a child.

She was 50.

RIP

Omeretta The Great may be done with "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta," but she's not giving up on love ... in fact, she's looking forward to happily ever after with her boo, who is currently serving a 27-year sentence in prison.

The Atlanta-bred rapper sat down on the "It's Tricky with Raquel Harper" podcast and opened up about her future plans with Tabyron Rashad Smith ... her fiancé.

Omeretta says the two are actually engaged and will probably get married while he's in jail and they'll have another ceremony when he's released. She has his name tattooed on her but says they have bigger plans when he's free -- like having kids and starting a family.

ICYMI ... Smith was convicted of robbing nine Asian-owned businesses throughout Georgia in October and November, 2017. He's serving 27 years behind bars ... so if he serves the full sentence he'll be 51 and she'll be 50.

According to the DOJ ... Smith and his co-conspirator, Dravion Sanchez Ware terrorized, threatened and injured victims during their spree.

President Biden's latest executive order is a big "W" for those in the crypto world, and a clear indicator everyone should, if nothing else, start learning what it's all about ... according to Daymond John.

The "Shark Tank" star joined us Friday on "TMZ Live" for his "Follow the Money" segment ... giving us his take on Biden's greenlight for feds to study risks and benefits of cryptocurrency. Daymond says the bottom line is ... it's really good news.

He says the news legitimizes crypto, and should get more people to invest. Even further, he believes Biden's interest in creating a digital U.S. dollar will protect all Americans.

Although, the prez did not announce any regulations of cryptocurrency ... Daymond says they'll be necessary to prevent investors from getting hurt or scammed.

Already, 16% of Americans have invested in crypto, and he says that number will increase greatly in the next 10 years.

Clint Arlis, one of the contestants on season 11 of "The Bachelorette," died by suicide ... TMZ has confirmed.

According to the coroner's report, obtained by TMZ, cops found Clint dead in his parent's Illinois home back in January, he was found hanging in a bedroom closet.

The report says officers found a note left behind on Clint's bedroom dresser ... and his parents told investigators he had been experiencing paranoia and thought people were watching him.

According to the docs, Clint's parents told police his struggles with paranoia began after he had a legal issue with a friend, and he had recently moved back with his parents to get back on his feet after having some difficulties living on his own in Texas.

Page Six was first to report the cause of death.

The report says Clint's parents also told investigators he was having relationship issues with his girlfriend of 4 years ... and he was taking experimental medications as part of a clinical trial for alopecia, with his dosage increasing.

As we reported ... Clint's sister broke the news of his death back in January, but at the time, there was no cause of death.

It's heartbreaking ... the docs say Clint's father told cops he was the one who found Clint hanged in the closet, with the dad searching the house for his son when Clint didn't come downstairs in the morning.

Clint, who was only 34, competed against Nick Viall on 'Bachelorette' is remembered for his slogan ... "Villains gotta vill."

Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack being on the same page is a rarity these days, but the exes, and their HGTV bosses, are in lockstep about pulling the plug on "Flip or Flop" ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us ... Tarek and Christina's contracts for the show were up, but talks had already begun for a new season when the former couple had second thoughts about their 11th season.

Our sources say the decision had nothing to do with any specific incident or flop in ratings -- all parties involved just wanted to end the series on a high note.

It doesn't hurt that Tarek and Christina each have solo projects now with the network. Translation: Neither really needs "Flip or Flop" now that she's got "Christina on the Coast" and he has 'Flipping 101.'

Our sources point out ... working with an ex is not always ideal, and that's proven true for them. Remember, TMZ broke the story when Tarek lost it on Christina during a shoot last July. We were told he snapped because she was telling him it was time to start filming.

As you know, the exes announced they were splitting in December 2016, but still signed on for the next season of the show that made them famous. Tarek filed for divorce the following month, which was finalized a year later.

On tonight's finale of "Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer" Kurt Sowers does find love, but TMZ has learned there's another plot twist -- one you won't see on the show.

So, this is where we give you the ol' SPOILER ALERT ... just in case you're on the west coast and don't wanna find out how it ends until you see it on FOX.

Alright, for everyone else ... here's the big upset news: Kurt chooses Amanda Pace in the finale, and not Carolyn!!! That's the first shocker, and the second one is ... Kurt and Amanda are already dunzo!!!

A source close to the former couple tells TMZ ... they called off their relationship back in December, not long after the show wrapped filming in the fall.

For those keeping score or laying wagers, the pairing only ended up lasting about a month and a half.

We're told there wasn't anything specific that caused the split ... instead, they simply realized their relationship wasn’t going to work outside of the show as their lives were heading in different directions. Simply put ... they just weren't a great match, romantically.

We're told it had nothing to do with the fact Amanda found out what viewers have known all season -- that Steven McBee is the millionaire 'Joe,' and Kurt is, well ... not.

And, just like that, Kurt's back on the market and looking for love. Our sources say he's confident he will meet the right person outside of reality TV.

Many fans of the show speculated on social media he'd chosen Carolyn, the other fan favorite. We know what you're thinking, but no ... we're told he's not rebounding with her.

Chrishell Stause is getting sweet revenge on any guy who sends her unsolicited nude shots -- as one man just found out, she'll forward 'em to your mother!!!

The 'Selling Sunset' star issued a PSA Wednesday on her social media for any creeps hoping to get her attention by sending her their family jewels. She revealed she'd just dropped a bombshell on one such guy who sent a penis pic via DM.

Chrishell says once she opened the message, she went to work playing private dick, if you will, by going to his Instagram page and finding his mother's account. The genius had just tagged mommy in a post for International Women's Day.

Seems Chrishell had more respect than he did, though -- she used the 💩 emoji to cover some of the guy's junk, sparing his poor mom's eyes.

Chrishell says it's going to become standard operating procedure for her, if unsolicited nudes keep coming her way ... explaining she won't post them, but she will pass them along to the sender's mother, sister, wife or gf.

Guess this is part of the reason why Chrishell recently told us she's having trouble finding a non-celeb to date.

Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker are clearly still in their newly-engaged phase ... spotted on the beach with some serious PDA.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ ... the make-out couple was staying at the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach. After leaving the pool Tuesday, lips locked, they hit the sand for more action ... drawing attention from beachgoers within eyesight.

Kourtney was straddling Travis ... his hands pulling her jeans down a bit, and sucking faces like there's no tomorrow! Things got so intense, one nearby family -- with kids -- walked up to them, although it's unclear what was said, but probably something along the lines of "get a room!"

After their sandy sesh, the two ran down to the ocean for more fun ... and to cool off.

Omeretta The Great claims she was misled by "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta" producers, who focus more on "love" and less on hip-hop ... and she says that's why she's quitting the show.

Omeretta revealed exactly how things went south with 'LHHA' -- from her view, at least -- on the "It's Tricky With Raquel Harper" podcast. The rapper says the version of the VH1 show she was pitched would focus on her "rise to the top" -- a concept she agreed to right away.

Don't forget, Cardi B was one of many artists featured in the series before becoming an international superstar -- so, Omeretta hoped it could give her career a boost too.

But, she says what ended up airing was far from expected, highlighting drama over her grind in the music biz ... something Omeretta openly admits rubbed her the wrong way.

Now, it wasn't a total loss ... in fact, OTG told Raq she did get one big thing out of her time in front of 'LHHA' cameras.

It sounds like the show didn't fight hard to get her to stay, once she told them she was peacin' out. Watch this clip and you can feel the chill in the air ❄ -- Omeretta feels played, and she's not looking back.

This season of "The Masked Singer" is in full swing, with the costume designs literally bigger than ever ... unfortunately, that's resulting in more headaches -- and falls -- on set!

The hit series -- currently in its 7th season -- hasn't been shy when it comes to elaborate costume pieces ... even winning Emmys for their hard work! However, this season might've gone too far.

With celebs wanting to go all out with their looks, the team is forced to make things bigger and better ... which has proven to be a disadvantage for contestants, including Cyclops and McTerrier.

Both mystery celebs have had their share of tumbles and slips while in costume ... and there's concern more wipeouts are inevitable.

Cyclops' headpiece is a beast, too ... making it impossible to enter and exit the stage as the other contestants would. Instead, crew members have to move equipment around just for them to walk on stage.

We're told the choreographers are also bearing the brunt of the problem ... forced to simplify performances because the costumes are just too difficult to manage.

Production sources say first rehearsals are usually rough when celebs break in their new attire ... but this season has been especially difficult due to the increasing complexity of the costumes.

This isn't the first time elaborate costumes gave the show some grief ... as we reported, last season's Jester -- AKA  Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols -- had a bulge just too big for TV audiences, forcing costume designers to shrink the ... royal jewels.

'Love Is Blind' stars Deepti Vempati and Kyle Abrams were spotted together after rumors spread the two were an item ... and the clip tells it all!

Kyle & Deepti were walking the streets of Wicker Park in Chicago Sunday. While they weren't holding hands or getting cuddly, people who saw them say they sure looked like a couple!

As they go down the sidewalk, a waitress calls out to them ... offering mimosas on the house. An irresistible offer apparently, as the reality stars beelined it into the restaurant -- his hand briefly on her back.

Season 2 of the Netflix series featured both Kyle and Deepti, as they ended up getting engaged to other people -- Shaina Hurley and Abhishek "Shake" Chatterjee.

As fans recall, Deepti said no to a marriage with Shake at the alter  ... after he constantly spoke about how he wasn't attracted to her. Kyle and Shaina didn't make it to the altar, breaking up in part because of religious differences.

On Friday's reunion episode, Kyle blew fans away when he said his deepest regret was not proposing to Deepti. The show did not highlight any of their dating interaction in the pods. In a recent interview, Deepti played it coy about her and Kyle's relationship post 'LIB' but said the two of them were "figuring it out".

"The Challenge" star Jordan Wiseley wanted to find a way to help the crisis unfolding in Ukraine, so he flew to neighboring Poland ... and now he's got a key role in the war effort.

Jordan's staying about a kilometer from the Ukraine border at a small border crossing in Poland, along with his actor roommate Kevin Pasdon, and they're crossing the border in a truck and delivering crucial supplies to Ukrainian troops.

As Jordan explains, he felt drawn to the crisis and recently bought plane tickets to Poland with Kevin ... and while they landed last week without a plan, they knew they would find a way to pitch in, and they did.

Jordan and Kevin say their U.S. passports are being put to good use ... the travel docs allow them to cross into the country with relative ease, unlike other truck drivers who came to help from countries in the European Union.

It also helps Jordan knows how to use a manual transmission ... he says he grew up driving all sorts of vehicles back in the States ... and Jordan's tale of how they got their gig is pretty incredible.

While the deliveries are being made to Ukraine military forces, Jordan and Kevin are not exactly running firearms here ... they say they are delivering essential items, like food, blankets and gasoline.

There's also a bunch of manual labor involved ... they've got to load up the trucks each day with boxes, then unload them once they make it to their drop spots in Ukraine.

Joshua Tharpe -- a guest star on "Party Down South" -- has died ... TMZ confirms.

His brother, Billy, tells us ... Josh was found dead Monday by his mother on the kitchen floor of his home in Baton Rouge, LA. Billy says Josh's death comes as a surprise, as everything seemed fine just a day or so prior.

We're told Josh had gone to church with his mother on Sunday and then hung out at her house afterward. Later that day, he swung by a friend's place where he had plans to spend the night -- but had to stop by at his own place first to grab some clothes ... and Billy says he never returned.

The friend grew concerned when she didn't hear from him the next day, and contacted his mom ... who went to his house where she found him collapsed. Billy says the coroner has notified them that Josh died as a result of a heart attack. Apparently, he'd experienced something similar a year prior, but much more mild and he'd recovered.

Joshua wasn't a full-time cast member on the CMT reality show, but he was featured in multiple episodes.

He was just 42.

"FBOY Island" star Garrett Morosky says his passport showing Russia as his birthplace just got his butt detained in a Mexican airport ... while trying to return to the United States.

We got the Netflix reality show star at Tocaya in WeHo and he told us he had all sorts of problems crossing the border ... an ordeal he's chalking up to his quirky passport and the Ukraine-Russia war.

Garrett says he was all set to board a flight from Mexico to Los Angeles this month when he was suddenly yanked out of line and detained ... with Mexican officials asking him all sorts of questions and even taking off his pants during a search.

Garrett has a U.S. passport, but he was actually born in Russia ... which is on his travel documents. "FBOY Island" fans will recall, Garrett was on a date with Sarah Emig when he told her he was adopted from Russia.

Given the increased tension between the U.S. and Russia -- due to the invasion of Ukraine and subsequent U.S. sanctions -- Garrett says he was scared he might not be allowed back into the U.S.

Ultimately, he was released and allowed to board a flight to L.A., but he says it was an eye-opening experience.