The Univision talk show host canned for racist remarks about Michelle Obama says the pink slip was generated from the First Lady's Office.

Rodner Figueroa's team tells TMZ ... no one from the station or social media uttered a peep when he said Wednesday morning that a makeup artist who transformed himself into Michelle Obama, looked like a member of the "Planet of the Apes" cast.

The team claims at 10:20 PM Wednesday they got a call from a Univision exec who said Michelle Obama's office called the network to complain.

Figueroa wrote a letter to the First Lady -- obtained by TMZ -- in which he says he's from a bi-racial family, half-black, half-Latin, and adds he's the first openly gay Hispanic TV presenter. He says, "I've been an activist for causes in favor of minorities, as I have been discriminated against."

Figueroa then writes, "I voted openly twice for your husband, Barack Obama."

"Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" star Joseline Hernandez kicked the beehive when she swore under oath the show is totally fake ... because producers and co-stars have all put her on blast.

A source close to producers tells TMZ Joseline lied ... the show is absolutely real. They say no one told Joseline to hit anyone, which is why they slapped her with a 4-day suspension and also why she's facing assault charges in NYC.

Her co-stars were more blunt ... Momma Dee, Nikko Smith, Adiz "Bambi" Benson, and Waka Flocka's Mom, Debra Antney say she's a thirsty liar because Althea Eaton can't fake a black eye.

They swear producers don't stage anything on the show ... it's all 100% authentic. Antney thinks drugs have skewed Joseline's judgment and she needs to face the reality that she's in trouble.

Joseline's being sued by Eaton, who claims JH got high on crack cocaine and then kicked the crap out of her during a reunion show.

Kyle and Kim Richards are sisters at war ... and it's way more personal than just a vicious dog attack.

There has been radio silence between the two -- with the exception of a brief encounter after a "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" reunion show -- since Kim's dog attacked Kyle's daughter in November.

We're told Kyle is furious Kim hasn't 86'd her pit bull -- which has a long rap sheet and tore into 18-year-old Alexia's hand.

But it goes deeper than puncture marks. Kim feels betrayed by her sis because she feels fellow housewife Brandi Glanville has been more attentive to her struggles with substance abuse than Kyle.

What galls Kyle is that she feels Kim is an ingrate ... Kyle says she and Mauricio have been a driving force all along in trying to keep Kim sober, and she feels Kim is using them as scapegoats to deflect responsibility for her addiction problems.

Our "Housewives" sources say nothing is permanent, but they give a reconciliation little hope.

Prison's not just for license plate making and shower rape ... it's also for GAMBLING ... so says ex-NBA star (and ex-con) Jayson Williams ... who says inmates LOVE to bet on the TMZ show.

Williams knows a little something about doing time -- he spent eighteen months in a New Jersey prison before spending eight months at Rikers Island stemming from a DWI arrest.

So, how did the former New Jersey Nets superstar pass the time in the big house?

JW says he and his fellow prisoners would bet on the time stamp that shows up on screen at the beginning of "TMZ on TV" which shows the exact time Harvey Levin starts the morning meeting (see below).

But get this ... Williams says he found a way to beat the odds -- connecting with his snitches on the outside who had already seen the show.

Hey, when gambling with crooks ... anything goes.

Nene Leakes either had too much to drink, or too much ego ... or both. That's the only reasonable explanation for her to compare herself to Joan Rivers.

Nene's on the short list of possible new hosts for Joan's show ... and it sounds like her mouth is plenty warmed up for the gig.

The paparazzi swarming Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in Paris might sound more sophisticated -- yelling in French -- but watch ... they go down just as hard as the American ones.

Kimye was walking into the Louis Vuitton show during Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday when multiple backpedaling paps slammed into a barricade. No one seemed seriously hurt in the carnage -- and you gotta see the one guy who persisted after Kanye ... until a bodyguard took him out.

Not to be outdone ... Selena Gomez got an even bigger crush from photogs and fans leaving the LV show. The video is INSANE, but at least she was armed with much bigger protectors.

Wanted: Way more bodyguards in Paris before the next Fashion Week.

Bruce Jenner has stopped production of his docuseries chronicling his transformation from a man into a woman, because he feels pressured by producers and has concerns about his family.

Sources connected with the project tell TMZ ... Bruce told producers 2 weeks ago he felt like they were rushing him and compromising his family by gunning for a May air date.

Bruce has two big issues -- he wants to make sure his 3 sons are "in a good place" to handle the radical change he's undergoing. He realized the cart was driving the horse, and that the show cannot proceed until his kids are psychologically able to handle it.

We're also told the recent car crash -- in which a woman died as an apparent result of his inattentiveness -- has had such an emotional impact on him that he needs to deal with it before proceeding with the docuseries.

A source directly connected to the project told us ... "There's a 99.9% chance the docuseries will happen," but it's still possible Bruce could pull the plug. As we reported, Bunim/Murray Productions will produce the docuseries.

Our sources say there's almost no doubt it will air, but there's no way it will happen in May.

Joseline Hernandez from "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" knows what's real ... and it's not her show.

Hernandez testified under oath in a videotaped deposition that she and other cast members stick to a script.

She's being sued by former co-star Althea Eaton, who claims Joseline got high on crack cocaine and then beat the crap out of her during a reunion show.

During the depo, Althea's lawyer wanted to know if the real Joseline emerged during the fight in question, or whether it was pre-programmed.

"Dancing With The Stars" pro Karina Smirnoff changes fiances as often as she changes dance partners -- partly because dancers lead sexually charged lives ... this according to her latest ex.

Sources close to Jason Adelman -- who announced he and Karina were engaged in January -- say he called things off because she has "different family values." We're told he's not accusing her of cheating, but he was uncomfortable with the way she acted around other men ... especially dancers.

It's not like this was any long term engagement -- he just popped the question in January ... after they reconnected at a holiday party in December. As for his belief that dancers are all horned up people looking to bang -- a rep for Karina says that is "disrespectful and insulting to the entire dance community."

Our Adelman sources add that he feels Karina's track record speaks for itself ... she's been engaged twice before -- to fellow dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy and MLB pitcher Brad Penny -- but never made it down the aisle. So much for the third time.

Karina's rep also says this is "nothing less than an attempted smear campaign from a malicious person."

For what it's worth ... we're told Karina returned the ring.

Every week, she hits your TV as the filthy Rosita Espinosa, all grimy from surviving the zombie apocalypse. But in real life, Christian gets dirty in a totally different kind of way.

Check out 11 photos of the starlet sexy enough to make you rise from the dead and earn your Woman Crush Wednesday honors.

Windell D. Middlebrooks -- the actor best known for playing the straight-talking Miller High Life delivery man -- died suddenly at his home ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Middlebrooks tell us he was found unconscious at home in the San Fernando Valley Monday morning -- and was transported by ambulance to a hospital ... where he was pronounced dead.

We're told it does not appear there was any foul play.

While he was best known for the Miller commercials ... Middlebrooks was also a very successful TV actor with roles on "Cougar Town," "Parks and Rec," "Scrubs," "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia," and the "Bernie Mac Show."

He was also a series regular on ABC's "Body Of Proof."

Middlebrooks was 36 years old.

A rep for MillerCoors tells us ... "He connected with people so naturally because he was one of the kindest, most genuine folks around. We will miss him a great deal and he will always hold a special place with us."

More insane feats of strength from the guy who plays "The Mountain" on "Game of Thrones" -- this time, he threw a 56-pound kettle bell 19 FEET IN THE AIR ... setting a new world record!

Hafþór Björnsson was competing at the 27th Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio this weekend -- in a kilt -- when he decided to push his kettle bell swingin' skills to the limit.

Charlie Sheen is blasting Chuck Lorre for the "Two and a Half Men" finale with the most thinly veiled threat ever, saying ... "You must feel safe where you live!"

Sheen was out at an L.A. mall with some pals (including Darius McCrary) when he was asked about the way Lorre killed him off in the last episode -- falling piano, if you missed it -- and Charlie went into classic warlock mode.

Just a taste -- "To be that stupid ... in my face, really? You must feel safe motherf***er!"

Watch the video ... there's much more, and even if Sheen plays the "it was a joke" card -- Lorre can't be laughing.

Must-See: McCrary's reaction to Charlie's verbal attack. Classic.

NeNe Leakes is making a big play for "Fashion Police," but she doesn't want to replace Kelly Osbourne ... she wants to be the new Joan Rivers.

NeNe was leaving Mr. Chow in Bev Hills Monday night when she pitched herself to our photog, explaining she and Joan have the same MO.

Here's the problem. Saying she could be the next Joan is a shot at Kathy Griffin, who probably has a say on who gets the open spot.

Chick feuds ... they're fun.

Kyle Richards cops to being a total coward when the now-legendary fight between Kim Richards and Lisa Rinna broke out -- and that's because she says it was 100% legit ... shattered glass and all.

The "Real Housewives" star was leaving Mr. Chow when she told our photog the brawl was NOT fake drama ... despite speculation it was all choreographed.

Kyle explained why she ran for the hills -- instead of jumping to her sister's aid -- which led us to the most important question: Could she take Lisa in a fight?

Place your wagers ... then watch the clip.

John Stamos returned to the “Full House” house in San Francisco ... and posed for a pic with a bunch of fans! Awesome, right?

Not really ... since the fans were totally oblivious Stamos had slipped in behind them -- and then he bragged on social media about tricking them!