Scandal

Jason Arday -- the former Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism who was found dead in London Friday -- feared leaving the house amid the media scrutiny just before he died ... according to a longtime friend.

Simon Baron-Cohen, the director of the Autism Research Center at the University of Cambridge, appeared on BBC Radio 4's "Today" Saturday ... and he discussed his last conversation with Arday, which he says took place hours before he passed.

Baron-Cohen says Arday confided in him that he was afraid to leave home ... because he felt "bombarded" by the media calling him a fraud.

CBS News Chief Correspondent Matt Gutman has reportedly been accused of harassment by a former colleague.

The allegations are part of a broader wrongful termination lawsuit against ABC News by former ABC field producer Samira Said ... who says she worked with Gutman while employed by ABC between 2021 and 2025. Gutman joined CBS in January 2026.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in Los Angeles and reviewed by TMZ, accuses Gutman of being inappropriate on two occasions. During one instance, Said accuses Gutman of initiating a discussion with her and a group of male employees in which they would rate a female correspondent’s appearance, "reducing her professional standing to a numerical score based on her physical attributes."

Jason Arday, the Cambridge professor who resigned after being accused of plagiarism, has died, according to the university.

In a statement Friday, Deborah Prentice, the Vice-Chancellor Professor at the University of Cambridge, confirmed Arday's death, saying "we are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news" and "our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."

The Metropolitan Police in London said officers responded to a man's home Friday afternoon after receiving a report that he was found unresponsive. Police declared the man dead at the scene and notified his next of kin without releasing Arday's name publicly.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared to be up close and personal with her ex-fiancé just months before their split became public knowledge ... at least based on some photos posted on social media.

Snaps of the former couple are making the rounds online ... appearing to show the New York Congresswoman and Riley Roberts hanging out at the bar of a Manhattan burger joint.

The pics -- shared by Black Iron Burger on May 4th -- seemingly show AOC and Riley sitting side by side, with the restaurant thanking the Congresswoman for paying them a visit.

The family of former Miss North Carolina USA 2026 Brittany Boltinhouse is speaking out after she was stripped of her title after her alleged past social media posts contained racist language.

An unnamed family member seemed to defend her in a statement to the Daily Mail, stating ... "I think it's important to put her truth out and have the proper narrative out versus a narrative that is saving the face [of] an organization."

They continued, "As you can imagine, there's a lot we would like to say but we are taking the time to be in prayer and unity and [will] respond in a manner [that] God calls us to."

Miss North Carolina USA 2026 Brittany Boltinhouse has been stripped of her crown ... just over a month after alleged old social media posts with alleged racism resurfaced.

Miss USA CEO Thom Brodeur said Wednesday Boltinhouse agreed to step down from her role as Miss North Carolina after her conduct violated the standards of the pageant organization.

Brodeur wouldn't go into specifics, but he said the organization “does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity.”

The woman suing Kyrsten Sinema for allegedly breaking up her marriage has questions about her ex-husband's conversations with the former Senator's legal team ... and she wants a judge to make him answer them ... TMZ has learned.

Kyrsten's boyfriend, Matthew Ammel, was recently deposed by lawyers for his ex-wife, Heather Ammel, in her case against Sinema.

Heather claims Kyrsten's lawyer was present when she grilled Matthew about his relationship with the politician. During the depo, Heather said Kyrsten's legal team objected to some questions being asked on the grounds of attorney-client privilege, claiming Kyrsten and Matthew's lawyers had an agreement to work together in the case.

In her filing, Heather claims Matthew's story about his romance with Kyrsten changed to be more aligned with Kyrsten's version of events.

Amanda Frances won't be holding a diamond for another season of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the show tell TMZ ... producers did not ask the season 15 newbie to return for season 16.

Amanda's departure comes after a rocky rookie season ... she clashed with Dorit Kemsley and Bozoma Saint John claimed she was building a "cult" through her business.

Lil Wayne looks like he may have been making plans to meet up with former "Teen Mom: Young + Pregnant" star Rachel Beaver ... at least according to a series of messages and text conversations we're told he exchanged with her.

In the alleged texts, obtained by TMZ, it appears things started with Rachel -- who is currently 23 -- sliding into Wayne's DMs on November 13 ... writing, "Fly me out I won't say anything like the last one."

It looks like Wayne then asked for her phone number before the conversation moved to text.

The alleged texts show Rachel suggesting they wait to meet up until after Christmas because she'd need time to line up a babysitter for her children. Then, on January 3 around 5 AM, it appears Wayne reignited the conversation with a simple message -- "want u."

2:19 PM PT -- A rep for Tom Sandoval tells TMZ ... "In our society, sadly abuse against men is too often not taken as seriously as it should be. Physical assault is against the law, and verbal attacks, coercive control, and intimidation are abusive behaviors that are unacceptable regardless of gender."

The rep adds ... "While Victoria continues to deny the allegations, Tom's account is supported by eyewitnesses, including his band manager, and in some instances, video evidence.

Tom has remained committed to allowing the legal process to address these matters, and we are confident the facts and evidence will speak for themselves."

Tom Sandoval claims his ex, Victoria Lee Robinson, kicked him in the groin and questioned his manhood during a nasty altercation when they were still dating ... TMZ has learned.

The "Vanderpump Rules" alum submitted a new declaration Monday in his ongoing restraining order case against his ex, claiming the alleged groin-kick happened in October while he was on tour with his band "Tom Sandoval and the MOST Extras" in Florida.

Tom says after the concert ended, Victoria "kicked me repeatedly in the groin area while hurling expletives and insults toward me in the presence of my band mates, tour crew and fans."

He claims Victoria had "consumed drugs and alcohol to the point that venue security personnel had to physically carry her from the concert venue back to the tour bus" earlier in the night.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's former lover is pulling back the curtain on their affair ... revealing the lengths she went to get him alone -- and the advice Kamala Harris gave her when the scandal exploded.

Ruby Rippey writes in a new Vanity Fair essay that professional boundaries with Newsom began crumbling while she worked as his secretary during his time as San Francisco mayor.

Rippey says she would scan Newsom's calendar for openings, show up wherever he was expected to be and make sure he spotted her before slipping away. She says her phone would soon light up with a text asking, "Where are you?"

Former NFL linebacker Thomas Davis's ex-wife cut a deal in her assault case ... avoiding a criminal trial over an alleged attack on a woman she believed had hooked up with the athlete.

Kelly Davis entered a pretrial diversion program Monday and agreed to complete a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention course, stay away from alleged victim Laura Watterson, and pay $1,380 in restitution, according to North Carolina court records obtained by the California Post.

Kelly's attorney, James J. Exum, told the outlet the charge will be dismissed if she completes every condition of the program ... calling it a "very fair resolution" for someone with no criminal history.

Warde Manuel's days at the helm of the University of Michigan athletic department are numbered ... the AD is stepping down at the end of the year after a massive investigation into the Sherrone Moore scandal.

"Today, I am announcing that Warde Manuel has told me that he would like to step down," Michigan President Domenico Grasso announced, before thanking the longtime administrator.

"I have the deepest respect for Warde and his countless contributions to Michigan and have asked him to stay on until the end of the calendar year."

Guess this Wolf is on the hunt for cougars ... that's what Dylan Wolf is doing when it comes to Bunnie XO.

We got the 24-year-old "Calabasas Confidential" star leaving Barney's Beanery in WEHO on Wednesday night, and -- of course -- we had to ask him about his seemingly ongoing fling with 46-year-old Bunnie and their July 4th makeout sesh in Nashville.

Dylan puts it like this ... "Sometimes a cowboy wants to hunt cougars."

The dude was wearing a cowboy hat as he got all philosophical ... and he also told us he's got a lot of love for both Bunnie and her estranged husband, Jelly Roll, and respects that they have "a lot going on right now."

Frankie Muniz's estranged wife is coming to his rescue after haters apparently bullied him into deleting a video of them dancing together ... footage he posted after their divorce announcement.

The video in question shows Frankie and Paige Price busting some moves together in their living room to the 2007 pop-punk hit "Check Yes, Juliet" by We the Kings. Frankie wrote, "Who says you can't stay friends with your baby mama?"

Well, the lighthearted post didn't sit well with some fans, and the criticism was so cruel the "Malcolm in the Middle" star scrubbed it from his story!