The Kardashians

Kim Kardashian's West is helping convicts who were just trying to make a living selling drugs ... at least that's the way a former drug kingpin who served hard time sees it.

"Freeway" Rick Ross -- who went to federal prison in 1996 after making millions as a drug kingpin during the '80s crack cocaine epidemic -- made his sentiments clear at LAX ... selling drugs is not a violent crime -- it boils down to simple economics.

Ross says drug dealers are mostly trying to support their families, and that's why they got in the game. He praises Kim for spearheading the Lyft partnership ... which will help up to 5,000 soon-to-be-released prisoners get a ride to job interviews.

Ross tells us this is a huge deal ... even though he had a girlfriend to drive him around once he got out in 2009 ... many others at the halfway house with him weren't so lucky.

The ex-drug boss also praises Kim for doing the right thing ... even if it means working with President Trump.

Kim Kardashian West's recent announcement at The White House was only the start of a massive undertaking ... of which almost 5,000 inmates will be able to reap the benefits from.

Sources with knowledge of Kim's partnership with rideshare giant Lyft tell us the company has committed services to get up to 5k soon-to-be released inmates to job interviews. We're told the biggest group of prisoners who have been granted release will get out of prison July 19.

Our sources say Kim -- in a partnership with #Cut50 -- has worked tirelessly on both federal and local levels to ensure inmates will be provided housing and employment opportunities. We're told there's also a long-term plan in place to make sure those released from prison will continue to get opportunities for years to come.

Kim has visited prisons across the country -- recently spending time on death row -- getting to know prisoners, their cases and possible injustices.

As we reported, Kim was at The White House Thursday with President Trump to announce her new partnership with Lyft.

Kardashian has been at the forefront of prison reform, lending her voice to help free those locked up for life for nonviolent crimes ... at one point, she helped to quietly free 17 inmates in 90 days.

O.J. Simpson says he didn't do it ... making a VIDEO claiming he's NOT the real father of Khloe Kardashian -- because he NEVER hooked up with Kris Jenner.

Simpson -- who already shot to 600,000 followers in the 48 hours after joining Twitter -- says he wants to set the record straight on the Kardashian rumors, starting with rumblings that he and Kris got busy back in the day.

"I want to stress ... never in any way shape or form had I ever had any interest in Kris romantically or sexually and I never got any indication that she had any interest in me," Simpson said.

"So, all of these stories are just bogus and bad and tasteless."

Of course, O.J. and Kris' ex-husband, Robert Kardashian, were BFFs -- but O.J. is adamant he never tried to make a move ... even after they divorced.

As for Khloe ... people have been speculating that Simpson is her "real" dad for decades because she looked different than her sisters, Kim and Kourtney.

"Khloe, like all the girls, I'm very proud of," O.J. said ... "just like I know Bob would be if he was here."

"But, the simple facts of the matter is she's not mine."

Caitlyn Jenner would like all the dads in her life -- and, by extension, the Kardashians' lives -- to know she appreciates each and every one of them ... except one Tristan Thompson.

Kylie and Kendall's father posted a Father's Day tribute Sunday, honoring not only her own dad -- who was a WWII vet -- but also her two sons, Burt and Brandon (who are both dads) ... as well as Kanye West, Rob Kardashian, Scott Disick and Travis Scott.

You'll notice that Tristan is absent from the group shout-out. He, of course, shares a kid with Khloe Kardashian ... but got kicked to the curb after cheating on her (again).

Clearly, Caitlyn's not a fan of the guy ... none of the Kardashians seem to be at this point, frankly. Also interesting -- Khloe posted some cryptic messages ahead of the big holiday that one could interpret as being aimed at her baby daddy.

On her Insta story, Khloe posted stuff like ... "stop having relationship problems with someone you're not in a relationship with" as well as, "reminder: you cannot change a person who doesn't see an issue in their actions."

The good news ... Khloe seems to have a decent co-parenting relationship with Tristan for the sake of their daughter, True. She told Laura Wasser recently that she keeps it cool with him and tries to keep any bad energy away from the kid.

Kim Kardashian definitely earned her title as Princess of Prison Reform ... using her celebrity status for good has yielded nothing but positive results, so says one of her freed prisoners.

The first prisoner released under the First Step Act -- Matthew Charles -- showered Kim with praise when we ran into him on Capitol Hill. As we reported, Kim not only helped secure his release ... she's covered the next 5 years of rent while he gets back on his feet.

Kim was front and center at The White House Thursday to unveil her latest prison reform initiative -- a rideshare partnership that allows inmates to travel to job interviews. The end game is to make them productive citizens rather than recidivists.

Kim's been a big help by writing checks so various lawyers and prison reform groups can do their thing ... and they have done their thing with success, recently freeing more than 17 inmates and counting. These are mostly inmates who are serving long terms for non-violent -- mostly drug -- offenses.

Two of the Kardashian kids got their traditional double birthday party this weekend, courtesy of Kim and Kourtney.

North West turned 6 on Saturday and Penelope turns 7 next month, but close enough for a birthday bash.

The theme of the party ... the Hasbro game, Candy Land. It was held in the backyard of one of the Kardashians ... we don't know which.

Tons of party stuff ... a bounce house, toadstools and the obligatory candy, complete with an enormous candy bar festooned with the worlds, "Happy B-Day Penelope and North."

North and Kim showed up with matching eye shadow and braids.

4:36 PM PT -- Blac Chyna is firing back at her baby daddy, Rob Kardashian, after he had his attorney sent a letter instructing her that their daughter, Dream, absolutely CANNOT appear on her new reality show, "The Real Blac Chyna" ... while taking some swipes at his own family at the same time.

She posted a lengthy statement Saturday, saying in part ... "Had Rob contacted me directly rather than through his attorney Marty Singer, Rob would have learned about Dream participation in the show."

She goes on to say that Dream was never going to be part of her show, and that she would never subject the kid to "long hours" on set. Further, she says she'd never let Dream be in the presence of the real drama that Chyna and her mom experienced while filming.

Chyna writes, "It is very unfortunate that Rob could not simply have an adult conversation with me 'the mother of his child,' Dream Kardashian, appearing on my show."

Then come the shots at the Kardashian family as a whole. Chyna went on to criticize the fact that Rob and co. have featured Dream on their own reality show, allegedly without ever consulting Chyna and seeing if she was good with it.

BC gets pretty nasty with her critique, writing ... "I also would have pointed out to Rob the hypocrisy of his family's insistence that Dream appear on 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' in the family's desperate attempt to boost the dismal ratings for their stale and contrived show, without my approval, including an entire scene being Dream's birthday party, again without my consent."

Chyna finished her thoughts by saying, "My show is about my life and my kids are a huge part of my life. It's really sad that everything I do to better myself or my family the same people have something to say to stop or hinder it."

Rob Kardashian's pumping the brakes on his 2-year-old daughter becoming a big TV star ... or at the very least he's making sure it doesn't happen on Blac Chyna's new reality show.

Rob's lawyer, legal pit bull Marty Singer, fired off a threatening letter to Chyna, telling her their daughter, 2-year-old Dream, CANNOT appear on her show, "The Real Blac Chyna," without Rob's consent, and he will NOT give consent.

As we reported, Rob and Chyna share 50/50 joint custody, and Singer says there's no way Dream's mother can turn a TV camera on Dream without Rob being on board.

According to the letter, Chyna sent Rob an appearance release for Dream to appear on the series, and he's not gonna sign.

We're told Rob has several reasons for withholding consent. He's seen all the drama with Chyna ... most recently, getting into a crazy fight with her former hairdresser while Dream was in the house and an explosive fight with her mom. We're told Rob feels her life is way too tumultuous and a reality show would just exacerbate the situation.

Beyond that, Rob's had his own experience with reality shows, and for the most part, the experience wasn't good. He doesn't want his daughter subjected to the long hours, the lights and the drama.

The letter ends with a threat to the network that's airing the show ... "Should The Zeus Network proceed with releasing any episodes of the Series or related materials containing Dream's likeness, it will be acting at its own peril and exposing itself to significant liability."

2:12 PM PT -- The press conference just ended and Kim made a major announcement … she’s involved in a rideshare partnership to give former inmates free rides to job interviews.

Kim says after spending time visiting prisons all over the country and talking with inmates on the inside and those who were recently released, one of their biggest hurdles is finding ways to get to job interviews and to work.

Meanwhile, the Prez announced a series of initiatives by the federal government and employers to help former inmates find work when they get back to their communities.

Kim Kardashian is back at the White House to talk prison reform, but this time she'll be making a speech alongside President Trump ... and TMZ is streaming it live.

Kim and the Prez are talking about the first prisoners released under the recently passed First Step Act ... and Trump is also expected to discuss hiring people with criminal records.

As you know, Kim and her legal team have been working diligently to free nonviolent prisoners who are spending life in prison for small drug crimes under Draconian sentences ... helping dozens of men and women gain their freedom.

Kim went to 1600 Penn. last year in the name of prison reform ... sitting down with POTUS in the Oval Office ... and now we're going to learn more about the fruits of their labor.

Their news conference is set to begin at 1 PM PT, and we'll have it all here.

Khloe Kardashian hit back against allegations she cheated with Tristan Thompson at the expense of his baby mama, Jordan Craig.

Khloe says she was reluctant to continue seeing Tristan when he confessed to a pregnant ex ... but believed him when he and his people told her he and his ex were done.

"He pleaded with me that the relationship was over before we met," Khloe says. She claims he showed her evidence ... and had her talking to his lawyer, mother and friends to convince her they were through.

"This is MY TRUTH," Khloe says, insisting she truly believed Tristan was single when they started dating ... and if he wasn't, she is "so completely and utterly sorry," but pins the blame on those who lied to her.

"I pray my truth is in fact that," she wrote. "Lord knows I pray but now, I really don't know what to believe."

Jordan Craig claimed in court documents obtained by Radar Online she found out Tristan was cheating just a month after discovering she was pregnant ... and said Tristan had denied even knowing Khloe before she saw them together in paparazzi pics.

Khloe, of course, would face a similar experience with Tristan on the heels of giving birth and after.

What do 2 millionaire ex-Kardashian friends do together on a random Thursday afternoon?? They go check out expensive luxury cars together!!

NBA stars Ben Simmons and Tristan Thompson hit up the Lamborghini dealership in Beverly Hills recently ... and it just goes to show that even though they're no longer with the Kardashians, they still got time for each other.

Of course, TT and Khloe went through a nasty breakup after the whole Jordyn Woods drama ... and Kendall Jenner and BS just cut things off for good last month.

But, these guys were bros way before dating KarJenners ... they're both Klutch athletes and have been hanging out in the same circles for years.

We're told the duo looked at cars for about an hour before driving off in Ben's Ferrari ... so it's unclear if they found anything they liked.

After all ... the dude REALLY loves Ferraris.

Kendall Jenner just got a little peace of mind -- her alleged stalker who crawled up onto her property has been kicked out of the country.

John Ford -- the 38-year-old Canadian citizen who twice showed up at Kendall's home last year -- has been deported from the U.S. following his hearing in El Paso, Texas. Good news for Kendall, because authorities feared he could get violent.

We broke the story ... Ford was arrested by ICE in New Mexico in March after the law enforcement agency hunted him down.

Jenner's alleged stalker's had an expired visitor visa and was in the country illegally, and after his arrest an ICE spokesperson told us it "very well have prevented a violent crime," adding ... "Our special agents acted quickly on this tip to ensure that this obsessive behavior didn't escalate to become a tragedy."

As we reported ... Ford scaled a hill at Kendall's home last October and ended up by her swimming pool. He came back again shortly thereafter and ended up on her porch.

Kylie Jenner's drama with Jordyn Woods is far enough behind them for them to say hello to each other in public -- but Tristan Thompson is STILL on their no-fly zone.

Kylie, Jordyn and Tristan were all partying Friday night at Bootsy Bellows, and people inside the nightclub tell us Kylie and Jordyn spoke with each other briefly inside the VIP area.

We're told Kylie was inside for about half an hour, and Jordyn was there for about 20 minutes ... and in that small window, KJ went down from her top-level section to say hi to JW, who was in a lower section.

The former BFFs flashed smiles as they said hello, and we're told their interaction wasn't awkward at all. As one source put it, the "good vibes" were flowing. Kylie and Jordyn weren't alone, there were some mutual friends around to help break the ice.

As you know ... Kylie and Jordyn's super close friendship ended back in February after Jordyn hooked up with Tristan at a house party. In the fallout, Khloe broke up with her baby daddy once again, and Jordyn was kicked out of Kylie's guest house.

So, all eyes were on Kylie and Jordyn as they made their way to Bootsy Bellows for the birthday bash of their longtime pal, Stassie Karanikolaou ... and things got even more interesting when Tristan popped up.

Tristan -- who was rolling with Drake, NBA baller Jordan Clarkson and Shaq's son, Shareef O'Neal -- walked up to Kylie and Kendall's section ... but we're told Kylie didn't talk to him, only Kendall did. Our sources say TT and Jordyn didn't communicate either.

By all accounts, Kylie's peace summit with Jordyn went well and it seems like they're getting more comfortable being around each other. They say time heals all wounds ... it's been about 6 months for the ex-friends.

Rob Kardashian is pumping the brakes on a new fashion line, because he's been accused of stealing a crucial design for it -- so now he's gotta pivot.

Fans of independent street artist Rx Skulls -- who is well known for a signature toothy skull design -- recently alerted him directly to a new line of hoodies and pins that Rob's own line, HALFWAYDEAD, was advertising on social media.

Check out the side-by-side comparison ... the skull logo Rob slapped on his sweaters looks eerily similar to the Rx one -- and, apparently, Rob thought so too.

Sources close to Rx tell TMZ ... he and Rob's team got in touch with each other, and put the issue to bed amicably. We're told Rx was even offered an explanation about how his skull design ended up on the hoodies and other merch.

It all worked out in the end though... our sources say Rob's company deleted the photos of the hoodies and pins that featured the skull design, and promised Rx it wouldn't peddle the merch.

No harm, no foul ... we're told Rx was good with that.

Rx Skulls itself alluded to the situation as well, saying the issue had been resolved ... and went on to thank their fans for the overwhelming amount of support and help.

So, the ex-boyfriends of Khloe Kardashian and Kendall Jenner walk into a bar, but Kylie Jenner's already there -- there's no punchline here, just a weird night in West Hollywood.

Kylie was hanging out inside Delilah nightclub well after midnight Thursday morning when NBA stars Tristan Thompson and Ben Simmons rolled in shortly before 2 AM ... aka closing time.

They didn't stay too long -- 5 minutes later, Simmons bolted ... maybe because he saw Kylie, maybe because it was closing? A few minutes later, Kylie and Tristan took off too ... separately, mind you.

Unclear if Kylie had any interaction with Kendall and Khloe's ex-BFs, but as they say ... Hollywood's a one-horse town.

As you know ... Khloe and her baby daddy had a major falling out in February when Kylie's BFF, Jordyn Woods, hooked up with him. And, Kendall and Ben reportedly broke up a few weeks back.

As an added bonus, French Montana -- who also dated Khloe in 2014 -- was at the club too, but left right before Simmons and Thompson arrived.

Rob Kardashian's Instagram ban is still in full effect -- he has NOT returned to the social media platform, despite what some believed after Kris and Kourtney promoted an account bearing his name.

Peeps on IG went into a frenzy Tuesday when his mom and sister told people to follow @robkardashianofficial ... but we've learned Rob isn't allowed to be the person behind the account.

Honchos at Instagram tell TMZ ... @robkardashianofficial is an official fan account being run by "Jenner Communications," and there are certain rules and guidelines in place to ensure Rob can't turn it into his own account.

Here's how strict and specific those rules are -- the bio and captions can't be written in the first person, Rob can't upload posts himself, it must be managed by someone other than Rob and he can't create any of his own content for the account.

As you know ... Rob got booted from IG in 2017 after posting nudes of his ex, Blac Chyna, forcing him to take his social media game to Twitter and Snapchat.

The fan account's first post was on July 5, 2018, but it sat dormant until this past May ... and now it's getting more and more active.

Kylie Jenner got wet and sandy for her latest sexy photo shoot, and everyone on the beach -- and probably a few off of it -- got to feast their eyes on her billionaire booty.

Kylie flaunted her flawless figure on the beach in Malibu, showing off her endless curves in a thong underneath a see-through wrap skirt. The beauty mogul wasn't afraid to get down and dirty, rolling around in the sand and posing on some rocks to get the perfect shot.

It wouldn't be a beach day without some bikini action ... and Kylie's wardrobe change did NOT disappoint. It's not everyday -- or any, really -- that you see a self-made BILLIONAIRE looking like this. No offense to Warren Buffet.