Reality TV

Mama June's chipper, loving and optimistic message to her kids might seem like a promising sign she's turning things around, but the problem is ... they don't believe her.

Sources close to June's family tell TMZ ... they think her Thursday post -- in which she suggested she's trying to get better and says she loves and misses her children -- is a ploy to deceive the public. Exhibit A? They say the photo she used is 2 years old.

We're told the family suspects this is June's way of getting some positive attention, so she can ultimately start making money through Instagram ads. They think she's desperate for cash.

As for why the family is so skeptical ... our sources say June's only contacted them once recently to check on a family member who had a heart attack. They say she went radio silent again when her kids pressed her on where she was and how she was doing.

Mama June just gave her family -- and her fans -- the first glimmer of hope for her future in a long time ... by sharing a message for her kids, while vowing she's gonna get better.

June posted a smiling selfie Thursday with the caption, "Well decided to get back at it im not saying im.perfect as everyday is a strugglr n some days i just want to disappear."

She adds that she and her kids are still not seeing each other, and it's been very difficult on all of them, but she hopes that changes soon.

June says ... "i want them to know i miss n love them very much."

As we've reported ... the troubled reality TV star's been looking worse for wear lately while on the road with her boyfriend, Geno Doak. Her family's been desperate for her to leave him and get help, but so far ... they haven't had any luck convincing her.

'Bachelorette' contestant Tyler Gwozdz -- who competed for Hannah Brown -- was hospitalized for at least a week following a suspected overdose ... TMZ has learned.

According to Boca Raton PD, officers and paramedics rushed to a home on Monday, January 13 ... responding to a 911 call for a possible drug overdose. They ended up transporting Tyler to a hospital where he was admitted to the ICU.

We know Tyler remained in the hospital for a week and was listed in critical but stable condition. Come Tuesday, he was no longer a current patient in their system.

"Vanderpump Rules" stars Lala Kent and Randall Emmett can wear it like a badge of honor now, 'cause the way they got subtly dissed by Meryl Streep ... turned out to be pretty epic.

Lala and her fiance were on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and we asked them about rubbing elbows with Meryl Sunday night at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. If ya missed it, Lala was giddy about getting seated near Meryl and Adam Driver inside the Shrine Auditorium.

Her social media totally blew up when viewers saw her proximity to Queen Meryl -- but Lala and Randall told us things went a little south when they tried to get up close and personal.

You gotta see them describe the moment Randall tried to make an introduction. Not every day your moment gets hijacked by the likes of Robert De Niro!!!

Turns out producing "The Irishman" -- as Randall did -- is a lot easier than producing a pic with Meryl.

The good news ... Lala and Randall still got their photo op, even though it was just in the background of Iain Armitage's pic with Meryl.

Lala and Randall are hoping they get a second shot with their new podcast, "Give Them Lala ... With Randall." They have a few Oscar winners on their wish list of guests.

Watch the clip to see Lala prove she's ready for an Al Pacino sit-down!

The real-life stars of Netflix's "Cheer" documentary want to put their newfound fame to good use ... and they've got ideas for potential movie adaptions and pitches for music videos!!!

We got the cheer squad from Navarro Community College in Texas after they touched down at LAX and asked how they're feeling about going Hollywood.

Coach Monica Aldama is hoping their story finds its way into a movie script ... and she wants Sandra Bullock to play her on the big screen!!!

As you know ... everyone is raving about the super fun doc, and the cheerleaders are getting shoutouts from all types of celebs and athletes.

Jerry Harris tells us his favorite famous fan, and his answer might surprise you ... sorry, JJ Watt, being the best defensive player in the NFL just ain't cutting it for Jerry.

Speaking of sports stars ... these cheerleaders say people better recognize -- they are definitely athletes.

A music video makes perfect sense for the cheer squad ... and while Lexi Brumback wants to collab with someone from the EDM world, her peers are pulling for Drake.

Ronnie Ortiz-Magro is down and out about being single -- meaning he looked DOWN when a random woman took OUT her boobs to flash him in Hollywood!!! Yeah, he's doing fine.

The embattled "Jersey Shore" star looked like a kid in a candy store Monday when a woman outside The Highlight Room Bar treated him to a titillating show. It's unclear who the woman is, but it's crystal clear she's a HUGE fan.

They all laughed it up afterward. Ronnie and his all-female group of friends later hopped into 2 limos, which drove them to Universal Studios. Fun times for sure, and a massive contrast to Ronnie's drama-filled life with his ex.

TMZ broke the story ... Ronnie has no idea why Jen Harley allegedly snooped around his house and then attacked him with an eyeliner pencil. Ron told cops Jen went ballistic after finding a woman's makeup in his trash.

Jenelle Evans' first husband is in a very familiar place -- a North Carolina jail -- and it could be an extended stay because he's facing serious felony charges.

Courtland Keith Rogers -- who was married to the former 'Teen Mom' star from 2012 to 2014 -- got arrested over the weekend in New Hanover County He's been booked on one count of felony larceny, and one count of felony possession of a schedule I drug ... which includes "highly addictive and mind-altering substances" such as heroin, morphine and mescaline. Cops haven't revealed what Rogers allegedly had.

Rogers is also facing a misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia and a schedule II drug. That's more like pain medications. According to sheriff's records, he's still in jail being held on a $15k bond.

We broke the story ... Jenelle's ex was arrested last July for a felony probation violation, in connection with his April 2018 bust on drug charges. Rogers was also arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman in August 2018.

Mama June is once again unloading valuable property for cash ... this time it's a diamond ring, and we're told she took the very first, seemingly low-ball, offer.

The troubled reality TV star visited a pawn shop called Cash America in Stockbridge, GA on Thursday morning, and brought in a nice diamond ring resembling a wedding or engagement ring ... according to witnesses.

We're told she didn't say much and didn't give a reason why she wanted to sell the ring. Employees didn't ask many questions, though, and offered her $1,500 after a quick examination.

Good enough for June, apparently. We're told she accepted, took her cash and bolted in a pickup truck.

As for the ring ... it's possible it's the one her boyfriend, Geno Doak, gave her in March 2019 on her most recent TV series, "Mama June: From Not to Hot."

Damon Dash is pissed at We TV for allegedly reneging on a promise not to allow his son to drink alcohol on "Growing Up Hip Hop" ... and now daddy's suing the network.

According to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ, Damon Dash claims We TV required his kid, Damon "Boogie" Dash, to consume alcohol to increase ratings for the reality show, even though they had verbally agreed not to give Boogie a drop.

In his suit, the Roc-A-Fella cofounder claims his family's suffered emotional distress as a result of We TV's insistence that Boogie imbibes on the show.

Dame's also claiming the network owes him some cash ... he says We TV is not paying him for his work on the show.

Dog the Bounty Hunter had a full plate of family drama to deal with this weekend -- a former cast member from his show got arrested ... all because his own daughter snitched.

The guy's name is Justin Bihag -- AKA Justin Chapman, who's been referred to as Dog's nephew on TV -- and he got paid a visit by cops on Sunday down in Edgewater, CO ... where police say he was in violation of a court order to lay off booze and drugs.

How this exactly came about ... Dog's own flesh and blood Lyssa, his daughter, tipped the local police off to Justin's alleged bad behavior -- this according to the arrest report, obtained by TMZ.

"Naked and Afraid" veteran Gary Golding did the unthinkable when he came across a dead baby dolphin on the beach ... he sliced it open and ate it.

TMZ's obtained this disturbing video showing Golding recently coming up on a dead baby dolphin that washed up in Laguna Beach, CA. Golding -- returning to the Discovery Channel in the new series "Naked And Afraid: Alone" -- at first says he wants to open up the baby dolphin to check if there's any plastic inside.

Watch the video ... Golding justifies his actions by saying he doesn't want the "poor creature" to go to waste. He then rips out the baby dolphin's heart with his bare hands and says he'll nourish himself and prove he's a true scavenger by eating the dolphin's heart.

Alexis Eddy -- who rose to fame on MTV's "Are You The One?" -- has been found dead in West Virginia ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... cops got a call just before 7AM Thursday morning for a female in cardiac arrest. We're told no foul play is suspected, but authorities are still waiting on a toxicology report to determine cause of death.

A West Virginia native, Alexis was a contestant on the reality dating show back in 2017, and she caused quite a stir in the house for her character and backstory, revealing on-camera her cousin is a convicted murderer.

Alexis was very open on social media about her struggles with substance abuse ... but as recently as late September she said she and her father were both clean and sober. She also posted pics comparing the 2 in a side-by-side from a couple years ago.

A family member tells us Alexis came home to her mom's house Wednesday night around 11 PM and seemed to be fine. She was found by another family member ... and they believe she was still sober.

In October of 2019, Alexis announced she was engaged, but it appears that engagement was recently ended.

RIP

Jenelle Evans' estranged husband, David Eason, is a wanted man in North Carolina ... and it all stems from an allegedly illegal truck-towing incident in 2018.

The embattled former reality TV star was ordered to appear in court Thursday for the case, but he no-showed, so the judge signed a warrant for his arrest ... according to the New Hanover Criminal Court Clerk.

The case centers around an incident that went down way back in the summer of 2018, in which Eason appeared to illegally tow a man's truck. David kinda shot himself in the foot on this one too -- he shared the video Jenelle took of him towing the truck that he claimed had blocked him in a space.

Alex Trebek says he's gotten super close with Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer over the years ... and having them back on "Jeopardy!" feels like a family reunion.

The beloved game show host joined us for "TMZ Live" and told us he's enjoying the hell outta hosting the greatest "Jeopardy!" contestants of all time. Alex says they've got an incredibly strong bond, forged during their long runs on the show.

If you've tuned in to the tournament of champions, you've probably noticed how much fun Alex has been having. It's been a trying 10 months for Trebek, who's battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, but he tells us he's really enjoying this special competition.

Alex says he's still hanging in there in his fight against cancer ... he has his good days and bad, but it seems this reunion of sorts is really lifting his spirits. Really puts a smile on your face.

Kim and Khloe Kardashian have NO problem gripping it and ripping it, or at least that's their goal, as they take their best shots at playing golf.

The K sisters hit the links Tuesday in L.A. with Kris Jenner -- and TV cameras, of course ... so we can expect to see this on a future episode of 'Keeping Up.' If we're keeping it real as to who did it better -- Khloe's follow-through seems better ... but Kim's hip rotation is totally on point. Not shockingly.

Hey, neither of 'em whiffed on the ball. Now, do we think either is going for their pro card? Hell no! Still, should make for good TV.

Y'know you wanna hear Kim yell, "It's in the hole!!!"

If they are serious about improving their games, they could always consult their stepdad, Caitlyn Jenner ... who golfs almost daily. As we've reported she has a 6 handicap -- and if you're not a golfer, just know that's really good for a non-pro.

"Vanderpump Rules" star Jax Taylor knows full well what he's saying about the new cast isn't nice, but he's saying it anyway ... on the heels of attacking a fellow veteran on the show too.

Jax and his wife, costar Brittany Cartwright, were out Tuesday night in NYC and said except for 2 newbies -- Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni -- the rest of 'em aren't his cup of tea. That's putting it lightly. You gotta see his choice words.

Then there's this ... while on 'Watch What Happens Live' after the season 8 premiere Tuesday night, Jax also went after Ariana Madix in a vile way, appearing to out her as a lesbian.

Ariana was watching, apparently, and fired back on social media, saying ... "I DO like women AND men. It's called being bisexual. Ever heard of it?"

So, why does Jax have his undies in a bunch over all his costars? Hard to say what his beef is with Ariana, but as for the new blood around Lisa Vanderpump -- Jax admits he just doesn't know 'em ... and he doesn't like new people.