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Jussie Smollett is trying to make a Hollywood comeback, but the hate crime hoax will always hang over his head if he doesn't come clean about what really happened ... at least according to the attorney for the brothers who say Jussie hired them to stage the 2019 attack.

Gloria Rodriguez reps Abel and Ola Osundairo -- the Nigerian brothers who claim Jussie hired them to beat him up on a freezing cold night in Chicago -- tells TMZ ... Smollett is making his comeback attempt harder on himself and wasting his talent by not being honest.

ICYMI ... Jussie recently told Variety the real "villains" in his alleged attack are the Chicago Police Department and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He also told the outlet he was sticking to his original story that two MAGA hat-wearing Trump supporters in masks attacked him, doused him with bleach, put a noose around his neck and shouted racist and homophobic slurs.

Michael Theo might be breaking a lot of hearts with his announcements ... 'cause he says "Love on the Spectrum: Australia" won't be getting a third season -- and, he's off the dating market too!

We caught up with the star of the series -- which actually debuted before its American counterpart -- on our "Big Down Under" podcast ... and, he revealed he's dating someone new, but people won't see it play out on television 'cause the show's not coming back.

Theo doesn't give a reason for the cancelation ... but, he seems at peace with it -- frankly telling us that chapter of his life is closed now.

Taylor Swift's new album is coming out October 3, the same day Diddy is set to be sentenced in his federal criminal case ... which is interesting, 'cause T-Swift once said she'd go to prom with the guy in a group!

A clip from a 2011 interview from "The Rachael Ray Show" has resurfaced in the aftermath of Swift revealing her album release date, where Taylor selects her ideal prom date from a choice of a group of celebs.

Taylor says she'd rather go with a group than a specific date ... picking up photos of Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Sheryl Crow -- and, finally, Diddy.

Wendy Williams' guardian is trying to shut down A&E's attempt to depose her early ... arguing issues need to be resolved in guardianship court before they do anything in the civil suit.

Sabrina E. Morrissey made the request in documents filed Wednesday ... basically arguing she could be stuck between a rock and hard place if the judge in the civil case orders something that runs in contradiction to an order by the judge in the guardianship case.

For example, Morrissey argues, the civil judge could decide on certain deposition conditions that the guardianship judge isn't cool with ... and, then she won't know what the heck to do.

Taylor Swift has drawn plenty of criticism and insults from Donald Trump in the past -- and now Jimmy Fallon’s spinning her material to roast the Commander-in-Chief ahead of his Friday summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It was pure comedy gold -- Jimmy went full Swiftie on Wednesday's 'The Tonight Show,' belting lines like, "For a long time Trump looked at Putin and thought, 'You Belong With Me,' and when the people warned him to steer clear, he would just 'Shake It Off.'"

The hits kept coming -- like how Americans worry Trump isn’t serious about negotiating for peace in Ukraine … "because his brain is basically one giant 'Blank Space.'"

Wendy Williams' lawyer is challenging the alleged test results that reportedly prove she has dementia and aphasia ... insisting those spreading the claim are acting out of self-interest.

Joe Tacopina tells TMZ ... Wendy's leaked medical diagnosis is "false" -- and, it's "being spread by a party with a vested interest in keeping Wendy trapped under this excessive and restrictive guardianship."

He adds the leaking of the alleged diagnosis is a total violation of Wendy's rights as a human being.

Lorna Raver -- best known as the creepy old woman who cursed Alison Lohman in Sam Raimi's horror hit "Drag Me to Hell" -- has died.

Raver died on May 12 ... her death was announced in the "In Memoriam" section of SAG-AFTRA's Summer 2025 magazine.

Her loving agent Michael Greene remembers her as a "beautiful lady" who will shine down on all from Heaven.

Greene also reflected on her iconic role in "Drag Me to Hell" ... telling TMZ Raver was up for the part alongside his other client, Anna Berger. He says Raver ended up landing the role because she was able to fly around in the harness needed for special effects with ease.

Wendy Williams took a series of cognitive tests this week ... and, a new report states that the results back up her original diagnosis.

The former talk show host's official test results have not been released ... but, People reports Wendy was again diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia. She was first diagnosed with both diseases in 2023.

We told you about the legal filing made by Williams' court-appointed guardian, Sabrina E. Morrissey, earlier this month in which her lawyers wrote, "Medical specialists have formed an opinion concerning [Wendy's] current neurological condition and diagnosis, including whether she has the ability to make decisions."

Donald Trump's ready to rock out with Rocky and more stars at this year's Kennedy Center Honors ... 'cause he announced the spotlight's going on KISS and Sylvester Stallone.

The President of the United States -- who was named chairman of the center earlier this year -- announced all five honorees for this year's ceremony Wednesday ... speaking about his friend Stallone at length.

POTUS lauded Stallone for his acting chops ... adding Sly's not the kind of person who looks for public adulation -- but, DJT says Sly was incredibly honored when he called to give him the good news.

Danielle Spencer -- famous for playing Dee Thomas on the hit ’70s sitcom "What’s Happening!!" -- spent her final days in a hospital bed ... where she had to get food and medicine through an IV.

Danielle's mom, Cheryl Pelt, tells TMZ ... Danielle was hospitalized August 1 after an infection turned septic, and she was unable to eat hard foods.

What's more, we're told Danielle had pneumonia in both lungs ... and she was losing weight and her gastric cancer was kicking up.

Zoë Kravitz has a story that'll rattle you -- she and her mom Lisa Bonet accidentally let a snake loose in Taylor Swift’s house ... and the chaos was off the scales!

Zoë spilled on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” Tuesday, saying Taylor graciously let her stay at her Beverly Hills pad during this year’s wildfires in L.A. ... but when Lisa set her pet snake Orpheus down in the bathroom to wash her face, he made a break for it -- straight into a hole in the corner.

The room had a banquette built into the wall with a tiny hole -- and that’s where Orpheus got stuck. Zoë and Lisa clung to his tail for dear life, but the more they tugged, the deeper he slithered into the wall.

A leopard can't change its spots ... and, this star can't change how instantly recognizable she is -- even when we hide her identity!

This reality star, business mogul and all-around hottie shared this selfie in an animal-print bikini covering her chest and a white bathrobe covering her waist ... looking like the queen of the jungle in this snap.

Reba McEntire is remembering her "cowboy" former stepson, Brandon Blackstock, a week after his death following a years-long battle with melanoma.

The country singer mourned Brandon in an Instagram post Tuesday night ... sharing throwback photos together while reflecting on his impact during his time on Earth.

She writes ... "There is no one else like him, and I’m thankful for the time we had together. His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family. Rest in peace cowboy. Happy trails to you til we meet again."

Die-hard MAGA fans who’ve jumped ship on President Donald Trump should reap what they sowed -- no forgiveness, says D.L. Hughley.

The comedian joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live," saying the only reason some folks turn anti-Trump is because he caused something bad to happen to them or someone close -- not because bad things have been happening to others all along during his 2 times in office ... which, in his book, makes these former Trumpers selfish.

D.L. pops off in our video, brushing off Charles’ question about forgiveness in politics and saying the whole Republican game now is built on loyalty -- and they ride or die with it.

Nick Carter was being a total 'Star Trek' fanboy in Las Vegas while recently hanging with a pair of Captain Kirks -- William Shatner and Paul Wesley.

The Backstreet Boys star dropped by Creation Entertainment’s STLV: Trek to Vegas 2025 Convention last week ... where he snapped pics with the two sci-fi stars.

Sources familiar with the situation tells TMZ ... the trio chopped it up for about 20 minutes and were very interested in one another’s work -- and a lot of support was shared between the actors and musician.

Danielle Spencer -- famous for playing Dee Thomas on the hit ’70s sitcom "What’s Happening!!" -- has died at 60 following complications from cancer, TMZ has learned.

Her longtime friend and former costar Haywood Nelson -- AKA Dwayne from the sitcom -- tells TMZ Danielle passed away Monday night in a Richmond, Virginia hospital ... with her mom Cheryl and her jazz musician brother Jeremy Pelt by her side.

Haywood says he was in Dallas when he got the heartbreaking call -- telling us he always saw Danielle as his little sis. The two last spoke just two weeks ago on the phone, and he says she sounded upbeat at the time.