Bob Saget Told Stage Crew He Was Suffering from Long-Term Covid, Hearing Issues

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Bob Saget was not feeling well the night he went into his hotel room and ended up dying -- at least that's what one of the last people to speak with him is claiming.

A showrunner who works at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall -- where Bob's last show took place before he booked it to Orlando that fateful night -- told investigators Bob had disclosed to her and other stage crew that he wasn't well health-wise preshow.

The woman, whose name is Rosalie Cocci, said Bob had told them he was battling long-term COVID, and it had taken a toll on his body.

As far as what he was dealing with specifically ... the woman told cops Bob mentioned his hearing was off and he was constantly asking them to turn everything up.

In addition to hearing trouble, Cocci went on to explain Bob had said he was sick the day before, and his throat was sore ... she added he seemed to be "talking himself up" to get ready for his stand-up performance ... which he ultimately did.

In the end, Cocci says she and the crew were surprised he knocked it out of the park when push came to shove -- despite his earlier complaints, they say he didn't miss a beat and put on a great show, as if nothing was wrong.

If it's true that his hearing was off, that could cause balance issues ... it's unclear what exactly caused Bob's fatal brain bleed ... but a problem with balance could result in a fall or misjudging distance.

Now Bob's family tells TMZ, they don't believe he had long-term COVID, because he had only come down with the virus 2 weeks earlier and he never complained of hearing problems.

As you know, the authorities have said Bob bumped his head somehow while he was in his hotel room later that night -- and ended up dying as a result of a major brain bleed.

The police have speculated he may have hit a cushioned headboard attached to his bed ... but a lot of intrigue has resulted due to the mysterious circumstances. And now, in light of this latest revelation, we're sure only more theories will surface about what exactly happened.

Peyton List & Jacob Bertrand 'Cobra Kai' Stars Are Dating ... The Rumors Were True!!!

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NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT

Peyton List and Jacob Bertrand are officially a couple -- TMZ got visual and verbal confirmation -- and neither's worried about the potential consequences of dating a coworker.

We got the "Cobra Kai" stars traveling together Tuesday at LAX, finally confirming their long-rumored relationship ... with Jacob joking we caught them red-handed.

Jacob tells our photog they've actually been seeing each other quietly for some time ... and they don't sound the least bit worried about their romance interfering with the show.

As Jacob put it, this is trial by fire ... but since he's been on the Netflix show longer than his girlfriend, he's not worried about being the one written off the show if things ever go south with Peyton.

He was pretty clearly joking.

And, get this ... Jacob tells us he and Peyton actually go way back. Watch the clip, he gives us the origin story of how they met way back in their teens.

They seem like a pretty fun couple, and Peyton tells us why she could kick her boyfriend's butt if they ever put their karate skills to the test.

Amanda Bynes Everyone Wants To Talk To Me ... But I'm Not Ready

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Amanda Bynes is a hot commodity on the interview circuit ... CBS' Gayle King and all the major players are reaching out ... but she's just not ready to answer questions.

Amanda was freed from her 9-year conservatorship Tuesday, and everyone is dying to book her first interview since the judge's ruling ... we're told her team heard from Logan Paul's team and a bunch of news outlets from all over the globe.

The former child star's attorney, David A. Esquibias, tells TMZ ... while Amanda's being flooded with offers, most of which came pouring in over the last 5 days, she's not ready to talk and is laying low for a while.

Amanda's interview suitors are a who's who of media. There's big interview names like Gayle and Logan, newspapers like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal, magazines like Vanity Fair and Elle, not to mention every entertainment and morning show.

We're told producers from every above outlet are begging to sit down with Amanda in the wake of her conservatorship ending ... heck, even a big Australian news program, The Project, wants a piece of her.

And it's not just on-camera interviews, cover stories and features ... Amanda's attorney says several production companies reached out to her team about filming documentaries or a potential reality show on her life moving forward.

Amanda's not welcoming the media circus just yet ... but we're told she's not completely ruling out any of these opportunities in the future. For now, we're told she's super excited about buying furniture for her new place in L.A., where she will live with her fiancé.

Interviews aren't the only thing Amanda is shying away from ... we're told there are no major celebrations taking place following the end of her conservatorship, and she's just spending time with her man, Paul.

One medium not seeking Amanda's thoughts ... books. We're told there are no offers for Amanda to put pen to paper, at least not yet.

Bob Saget Photos of Headboard ... Authorities Believe Caused His Death

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Bob Saget may have died after hitting his head on the headboard in his Orlando hotel room -- at least that's what authorities believe -- and they have just released photos of the object.

The headboard -- in the Ritz-Carlton hotel room -- is padded, although cops say there's a hard surface underneath ... they believe Bob hit his head on that surface, which caused a fatal brain bleed.

The reason for the theory -- Bob's head was not bleeding externally when they discovered his body. They theorize he hit his head while getting into bed just after 2 AM.

Fact is ... authorities say they may never know precisely what caused the fatal contact. The reason they're sticking to the headboard theory -- the Medical Examiner concluded Bob hit his head on "something hard, covered by something soft."

It looks like Bob used the bathroom before getting into bed. There's a towel in the tub and toiletries in the shower as well as on the counter.

What's interesting ... Bob may have taken a shower, although authorities haven't said that. It leaves open the possibility Bob may have suffered his injury in the bathroom, although it doesn't align with the theory of something hard covered by something soft.

There's also the interview cops did with the hotel valet, who says Bob was in good spirits when he arrived just after 2 AM. The employee said Bob showed no signs of dizziness, slurred speech or other indicators of a head injury ... and there was no damage to his vehicle indicating he'd been in a wreck. Further supporting the theory the accident happened in his room. He also looked fine in a photo taken with the valet.

TMZ broke the story ... Bob's body was discovered hours after he checked into the hotel room. Once he shut the door, no one else walked in until security entered the room in the afternoon.

Wendy Williams Heads to Miami After Declaring She's Ready to Work

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Wendy Williams is back in South Florida, hopping on a commercial flight in the NYC area hours after insisting she'll be ready to do her show again ... once she deals with some "private things."

We got these pics of the beloved talk show host in Newark Airport, where she was catching a flight to Miami. Witnesses tell us Wendy was traveling with her son, Kevin Hunter Jr.

As you know, Wendy's been battling multiple health issues for several months. We're told she was holding Kevin Jr.'s arm at times last Thursday night, and it appeared he was guiding her as they made their way to their flight.

One good sign, though ... Wendy wasn't using a wheelchair, which is major progress over the last few times she'd been out in public. She had been at a wellness center in Miami last year, so it's possible that's where she was heading.

Once arriving in Miami around 12:30 AM, Wendy was overheard talking to a fan who'd asked about her making a return to TV ... and she said she's in the process of getting her show back, and working things out with her money.

That jibes with what she'd said last week on 'GMA' -- that she'll be ready, willing and able to do her show again once she takes care of some personal matters.

As for the money, Wendy claimed Wells Fargo denied her access to her accounts and filed documents saying she has "several million dollars" that have been frozen due to alleged financial exploitation.

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KEEPIN' IT MUM

As we've reported, "The Wendy Williams Show" found a permanent replacement in actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd at the beginning of February.

By the end of the month, show producers announced the end of Wendy's show and the launch of Sherri's. We talked to Sherri the day before the cancelation when she still referred to herself as a "temp" host.

Stella Carlin in 'Orange Is the New Black' 'Memba Her?!

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Australian actress and model Ruby Rose intrigued us all when she was locked up on the crazy popular prison show as the side-shaved Stella Carlin for season 3 of Netflix's hit show "Orange Is the New Black" back in 2015.

She shared the screen with lead actress Taylor Schilling who played the poorly adjusting inmate, Piper Chapman and Laverne Cox as the salon boss, Sophia Burset.

Rose was also an MTV Australia presenter and co-hosted "Australia's Next Top Model" in 2009 as well as "The Project" until 2011.

Today Ruby enjoys lounging around and hanging with her fur-babies.

Guess what she looks like today with spikey hair!

Amanda Bynes Conservatorship Will End ... Judge's Tentative Ruling

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Amanda Bynes is less than 24 hours from personal freedom -- a judge just set the stage for the end of her conservatorship.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ, the judge for the case issued a tentative ruling Monday saying Amanda's conservatorship is "no longer required."

While it's a tentative ruling, there is a court hearing scheduled for Tuesday morning and it's almost a certainty the judge will make it official ... because no one is objecting to Amanda's petition to end her conservatorship.

Remember ... the former child star was placed under a conservatorship back in 2013, following a string of bizarre episodes brought on by what she has said is bipolar disorder. Amanda says she's been sober for several years now, thanks in part to getting support through AA.

She filed the docs last month to end the 9-year conservatorship, a move her father and mother -- who is Amanda's conservator -- fully support.

As we first told you, Amanda is gearing up for some big life changes once her conservatorship ends ... including moving into her own place with her fiancé.

Zelensky's Ex-Press Sec. His Background is Multifaceted ... That's Why He's So Good!!!

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy's former press secretary says the guy's a good leader during war for a couple of reasons  -- including the fact he's a legal eagle.

We talked to Iuliia Mendel Monday -- who served as the Ukrainian President's spokesperson for two years after he was elected in 2019 -- and she told us what she and the rest of Zelensky's team saw in him then that the rest of the world is witnessing firsthand now.

For starters, she reveals that Zelensky was actually a lawyer in his past life -- before he was even a comedian/actor -- and that certainly plays into why he's so savvy in this difficult time.

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Mendel explains her former boss' diverse background has helped him navigate what's going on with Russia ... and why he's even been willing to head to the front lines of the fighting to show support both to his troops and people, but also to negotiate as needed.

Then comes a somewhat difficult question ... what if all the backing from the world that Ukraine has received thus far simply isn't enough to fend off the Russians?

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A third world war looms ...

She answers that with poise and class, telling us what Ukraine needs ... and what it'll settle for when it comes to reinforcements. Zelensky himself has made clear he'd love boots on the ground, but there's an alternative Mendel lays out that might be a middle ground for all.

Amanda Bynes 'All That' Costars Have Her Back ... Going Into Conservatorship Hearing

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Amanda Bynes' former "All That" castmates, Leon Frierson and Christy Knowings are making sure she knows they still have love for her -- voicing their support -- and Leon will even be in court for her conservatorship hearing.

Leon tells TMZ ... he will be at the L.A. courthouse this Tuesday, March 22 -- and we're told Leon convinced Christy to get involved in showing support for Amanda too.

While Christy can't be there in person -- she has auditions -- she says, "If it were me, I would want people to support me. Amanda's a very different person today from the person she was back then, as we all are."

Christy admits she and Leon haven't spoken to Amanda in years, but also says they've never forgotten her. In fact, you could say Leon and Christy have been inspired by her.

They're both doing a reality show called "Child Star Reboot" ... a sort of "where are they now" look at young actors. Also, Leon hosts the "Prime Nostalgia Podcast" which shines a light on a lot of the issues Amanda has faced.

Christy says they have no ulterior motives in publicly voicing support -- they simply want Amanda to know they genuinely care about her. As she put it, "I know Amanda's a sweet person and loved working with her."

As you know, Amanda was placed under a conservatorship in 2013 after a string of bizarre episodes. She's since gotten support through attending AA, and has been sober for several years.

She filed docs in late February to end her 9-year conservatorship, and the judge is expected to issue a decision during Tuesday's hearing.

Amanda's attorney, David A. Esquibias tells TMZ … "Amanda appreciates the love and support from her fellow cast members."

'Walking Dead' Moses J. Moseley Cause Of Death Could Not Be Determined ... Biden Sends Family Letter

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The investigation into the shooting death of 'Walking Dead' actor Moses J. Moseley could not resolve whether the fatal shot was intentional or accidental.

According to Moses' death certificate, obtained by TMZ, the cause of death could not be determined.

TMZ broke the story ... Moses' body was found in his car back in January, and cops in Georgia started investigating his death as a possible suicide. His family believed there was something fishy about his demise, theorizing he may have been kidnapped and murdered.

The death certificate states Moses shot himself, but the doc also says the intent behind the fatal gunshot is unknown.

Moses' sister, Teerea Kimbro, tells TMZ ... the family received a letter this week from President Joe Biden, who offered his condolences.

Teerea tells us she's not sure how POTUS heard about Moses' death, but she thinks her late brother may have visited The White House before.

Despite the findings presented in Moses' death certificate, we're told the family still believes he did not kill himself and that he was murdered.

Flo-Jo Memorabilia Back In Husband Al Joyner's Hands Thanks To 'Storage Wars' Star Rene Nezhoda

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Olympic legend Florence Griffith Joyner -- AKA Flo-Jo -- had her priceless memorabilia returned to Olympic gold medalist and husband Al Joyner ... and it's all thanks to "Storage Wars" Star Rene Nezhoda!

Rene tells TMZ ... after our story broke about his acquired collection, family members and friends of Flo-Jo started reaching out to him, including Al, hoping to buy it back.

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MISSING MEMORIES

Rene and Al met up in San Diego to strike a deal, with Rene making a profit much smaller than he could've snagged on the open market. Rene says the important thing was restoring the gold to the fam.

The item that held the most value to Al was her weight belt, something they'd use together working out. The belt was going in the trash after the locker -- originally owned by Al -- was picked through. Luckily, the piece was saved and it's back in Al's hands.

As we reported, Rene bought a ton of Flo-Jo's belongings and collectibles off of his pal George, who purchased Al's lockers at auction. Inside were Olympic jackets, autographed Flo-Jo Barbie dolls, and signed track shoes -- the same ones worn while breaking the world record!

It was in 1998 when Flo-Jo unexpectedly died of suffocation in her sleep after suffering an epileptic fit.

Before letting his 2 lockers go up for auction, Al went through and took what he thought was important ... not realizing some of the best gems were still inside! After learning what Rene got, he knew he had to buy it off of him.

Joel McHale Crushed Over Russ Wilson Trade ... 'He's A Unicorn'

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NO RUSS, NO PROBLEM!

Breaking up is hard to do -- just ask Seahawks super fan Joel McHale ... who's not doing so well after finding out his favorite team shipped away star quarterback Russell Wilson to the Broncos.

TMZ Sports spoke with McHale out at LAX on Friday afternoon -- just a couple days after his Seattle squad parted ways with Russ -- and the comedian told us he's been pretty down in the dumps over the trade.

"I'm just as surprised as you are," McHale said. "I thought he was staying. Clearly, I was wrong. That was shocking news."

Joel had previously told us he thought there was no way in hell the 'Hawks would deal Russ -- but now that they have, he said he's downright sad.

"He's one of the best ever," Joel said. "He's a unicorn."

But, Joel said he'd always remember the good memories Russ gave him ... and said he's still sure Seattle will erect a statue honoring the QB eventually.

As for his fandom going forward, Joel tells us he won't be rooting for the Broncos, and that Seattle will just fine without #3.

Bill Maher TLC, ACLU, MTV, WW, ETC ... They're All Trying to Fool Us

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Bill Maher bent minds Friday night ... with the premise companies and organizations have hidden behind old images of who they once were ... changing everything but their name.

The "Real Time" host ticked off some pretty undeniable examples ... TLC used to be about learning ... now, "My Teen Is Pregnant and So Am I." Yet it's still called TLC.

A&E used to be about arts -- now, "Psychic Kids."

The History Channel offers nothing historic anymore, and MTV has nothing to do with music.

As Bill says, "You can have a petting zoo and turn it into a bondage dungeon, but you gotta change the sign!"

And, then there's Playboy, and Bill harkens back to the 'ol days when it was a "whack-off mag" for straight guys. Now, the woman are gone and the mags gone in every which direction.

And, then there's the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue ... and here he drops a line you'll just have to listen to yourselves.

Two more. Weight Watchers, which he says used to be a club for people to lose weight. Now, he says, despite the fact obesity is linked to a slew of serious diseases, it's recast as body positivity. The company's now ashamed of its name, he says, so it's now just WW and people who talk about weight loss are slammed.

And, finally -- and maybe most ominous -- the ACLU. The "L" stands for liberty, and the old ACLU used to be about protecting free speech, no matter how offensive. Now the ACLU has  turned its back on its calling, and cautions it will NOT fight for speech that is offensive to marginalized groups or speech "contrary to its values." As Bill says, "Free speech is a more important value than never being offended."

John Clayton Beloved NFL Insider Dead At 67 ... Hall of Fame Broadcaster

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NFL reporter John Clayton, who covered the league for decades and was one of the most recognizable reporters on television, has died at the age of 67 years old.

The detail surrounding Clayton's death are not publicly known ... but John's friend and former colleague Chris Mortensen provided some information on social media.

"John Clayton passed away today at a Seattle area hospital. His wife Pat and sister Amy were at his side and communicated earlier he passed peacefully after a brief illness," Chris wrote.

"We loved John. We are mourning his loss. Pat has asked the @Seahawks to release further information."

Clayton began covering professional football in the early 1970s in Pittsburgh ... and ended up rising all the way to ESPN, where he wrote for the website, and appeared on TV and radio.

He first joined the network in 1995.

Aside from all his great on-camera work in Bristol, John also starred in one of the funniest ESPN commercials ever ... dropping the line, "Hey Ma, I'm done with my segment!!"

Clayton, a member of the writer's wing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2007), was incredibly respected by both colleagues and fans.

JC was also inducted into the HOF at his Alma Mater, Duquesne University, in 2001.

John is survived by his wife Patricia.

Rest in peace.

Gabriel Iglesias Helps Fan Get New Prosthetic Leg

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Gabriel Iglesias is helping to make the life of one fan who recently suffered a serious injury much easier ... by reaching into his wallet to help buy a much needed device.

Nick Weaver tells TMZ ... he recently reached out to the comedian on social media, sharing his story, and asking to help contribute to a GoFundMe with an $8,000 goal to buy a prosthetic leg.

On Thursday, much to Nick's surprise, a $5,000 donation come in from Gabriel ... hitting the fundraiser's target.

After donating, Gabriel reposted the link online, joking, "Just paid off his leg. Make sure he doesn’t miss my show." A few months ago, celebrity jeweler Ben Baller also donated $2K to Nick's cause, saying "thank you for being part of the BTB army!"

Nick says back in August 2021, he got into a dispute with his brother over some money owed ... and his brother allegedly ran him over with a car. He lost his leg as a result of the incident after surgeries were unsuccessful in saving it.

Nick wanted to see Gabriel when he toured near his hometown in Mobile, Alabama back in November but was unable due to his current complications. Hopefully, the two can meet up at a future show for some laughs!

'Grey's Anatomy' Crew Member Wrongly Arrested On-the-Job ... Sues City of L.A., Cops for Racial Profiling

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A driver for "Grey's Anatomy" is accusing LAPD of racial profiling after officers pulled him over at gunpoint and arrested him in front of the cast and crew ... only to discover they had the wrong guy.

Ernest Simon Jr., who is Black, says he'd just dropped off crew members near a Tarzana, CA set in March 2021 when he got pulled over. In a lawsuit filed Thursday, he says officers told him an automated license plate reader linked his vehicle to a stolen BMW sedan, which was pretty shocking to Ernest ... because, at the time, he was driving a Ford van rented by Disney.

Ernest says the parking lot attendant where he'd pulled over told the cops Ernest was part of the 'Grey's' crew ... still, with guns drawn, they made him lie face down on the asphalt, and even called for backup. In the suit, obtained by TMZ, he says no fewer than 7 cop cars raced to the scene ... and he claims they also called for helicopter support.

Other crew members recognized what was happening, and Ernest says they tried explaining to cops they had the wrong guy -- but in docs, he says cops only yelled at them "Get out of the line of fire." He says that, combined with the fact he was Black, had him terrified he was about to get shot.

Now handcuffed, while still lying on the ground ... Ernest claims the crazy scene went on for about 30 minutes. According to his lawsuit, it only ended when a white male co-worker reiterated to officers they had the wrong guy -- which is the same story he claims a Black male co-worker had already told cops, but to no avail.

At that point, cops took off the cuffs and released Ernest, but he doesn't think it's a coincidence this happened in Tarzana -- an L.A. suburb, where he points out the population is 70.7 percent white, and only 3.6 percent Black.

He's now suing LAPD and the city of Los Angeles for $20 million, claiming they racially profiled him, violated his 4th Amendment rights and used excessive force.