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It's no surprise ... there has been a cascade of grief, sympathy and tributes from celebrities around the world in the wake of Aretha Franklin's passing.

Mary Wilson -- founding member of the Supremes -- tells TMZ, "When God created Soul, he created Aretha Franklin to sing it!"

Gladys Knight wrote Aretha a note, which states, "Well my sister our Father in Heaven has called you home, but we are so very grateful to him for blessing you with such an awesome gift to share with us. Your music set a standard for every single lady in this industry to rise to. You have touched minds, hearts and spirits, including my own."

She continues, "Yes, we are sisters and we squabbled as sisters do, but we also loved, supported and laughed together through our lifetime. I pray you have a smooth journey Ree Ree and hopefully I'll get to sing with you in the Heavenly choir, if I make it. Love you, Gladys"

And the tributes go on:

Salute to the Queen. The greatest vocalist I've ever known. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 #Aretha

Travis Scott's surprise cash handout isn't just a fun thing for his fans ... it's touching lives and helping people in need too.

Case in point ... Peter Valdriz, who replied to Travis' $100k Twitter giveaway announcement Tuesday -- in which fans were encouraged to tweet their Cash App tag with lyrics from "Astroworld" for a chance to get money. Peter pleaded his case by saying the dough would help with his mom's funeral cost.

Minutes later ... the rapper sent him $800 with a personal message saying he hopes it helps.

Peter tells TMZ ... his mother passed away last week after a battle with a brain virus and complications that followed. He says the gift from Travis came on what would have been her 52nd birthday and will go toward the expenses for her funeral next week.

He tells us Scott's donation really means a lot to him and his entire family, saying ... "Knowing that someone is out there trying to help us during this difficult time means the world to us."

He adds ... "I personally want to thank Travis Scott for really making a tough day for my family into a day we can cherish."

There's more -- Peter tells us Travis' gift has inspired other "generous and kindhearted" strangers to chip in to help with his mom's funeral as well.

Thomas Markle certainly has his own style, but the idea of him starting his own clothing line is "ridiculous" ... so say sources close to Meghan's dad.

Rumors of Tom M. trying to become the next Tom Ford began Wednesday when the Duchess of Sussex's half-sister, Samantha Markle, tweeted it out ... saying she was excited about her dad's new clothing line for men.

We're told this is absolutely untrue and the only credible part of Samantha's additional claim that Thomas is focusing on a line of hoodies for older dudes ... is that he does indeed like to wear hoodies.

Safaree claims Nicki Minaj went after him with a knife, stabbing him so severely he went to the hospital by ambulance ... but she says he's a liar.

Safaree, who broke up with Nicki in 2014, just tweeted, "Remember the night you cut me and i almost died the police and ambulance had to take me out the crib on a stretcher and I had to lie and tell them I was trying to kill myself so they wouldn't take you to jail."

Nicki fired back, "U stole my card & told me you thought it was an account with 'free money' that I didn't know about. On God. God will strike you down & more for lying."

We've actually seen a video back in 2014 that shows Nicki chasing Safaree with a knife.

Donald Trump's most recent rant on the NFL's anthem controversy has Cam Jordan PISSED OFF ... with the superstar calling POTUS an "overly insecure prepubescent child."

Trump lashed out at NFL players who continued to take a knee during the "Star-Spangled Banner" this morning ... calling for them to either stand or face suspension.

The Saints Pro Bowler went to his own Twitter to tee off on Trump on Friday ... saying, "Only way to say it. What a Goober. He is who I thought he was."

"Guy is 70+ yr old acting out in what was once the highest respected political position, as a overly insecure prepubescent child..."

FYI -- Jordan was one of the several Saints players to sit during the anthem last season ... and had talks with Drew Brees about promoting social justice while respecting the flag at the same time.

But, clearly, we still know where Cam stands.

Donald Trump is pissed off at two Miami Dolphins receivers who continued the "take a knee" demonstration into the 2018 NFL season ... and now he's calling for them to be suspended.

Both Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson took a knee during the national anthem at the Miami Dolphins pre-season opener versus the Tampa Bay Bucs on Thursday. Other players raised their fists.

Enter Trump ... who tweeted first thing Friday morning -- calling for swift action against the players.

"The NFL players are at it again - taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem," Trump said.

"Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their 'outrage' at something that most of them are unable to define."

"They make a fortune doing what they love. Be happy, be cool! A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest."

"Most of that money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!"

On the other hand, the players were praised by Colin Kaepernick -- who started the demonstration. He offered the following message to the players -- "Stay strong brothers."

The NFL Network is responding to Heath Evans -- who claims he should NOT have lost his job for sending sexual pics to a wardrobe lady because she sent sexy pictures back.

But, the NFL Network ain't buyin' what Heath's sellin' -- essentially saying the fact it was mutual doesn't mean it wasn't "misconduct" in the first place.

"Heath’s employment was terminated as a result of his own misconduct – which he freely admitted to on Twitter today," network spokesperson Alex Riethmiller tells TMZ Sports.

"Before severing its relationship with Heath, the NFL carefully considered all of the circumstances, including the information that Heath provided. In the end, the NFL concluded that his conduct was not acceptable in our workplace and we stand by our decision to terminate his employment."

Heath Evans is adamant he did NOT sexually harass a wardrobe specialist at NFL Network -- claiming they exchanged MUTUAL sexual text messages ... but he was fired anyway.

Evans was named in a 2017 lawsuit filed by Jami Cantor who claims she was sexually terrorized by several ex-NFL stars working at the Network ... including Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp, Donovan McNabb and others.

In her suit, Cantor claimed Evans sent her nude pics on at least 2 occasions -- but now, Evans says it was definitely a 2-way street.

"My accuser and I had exchanged mutual flirtations that included her sending me and me sending her pictures of a sexual nature," Evans wrote in a statement.

"I regret having engaged in the picture exchange. Nothing ever came of the mutual flirtations and we remained friends during and after her employment ended at the network."

Evans says he has text messages that prove his story.

But, despite his apparent evidence, Evans says the NFL Network pressured him to sign a non-disclosure agreement about the case ... which would bar him from telling his side of the story publicly.

Evans says he refused -- so the NFL Network fired him on July 27. Now, he's sounding off on social media.

Still, Evans says he has no hard feelings towards Cantor -- "While I certainly wish she hadn't falsely included me in the series of allegations she made, I understand better than most that people who have been mistreated and hurt, often hurt other people."

Jeffrey Toobin thinks it's awfully peculiar President Trump seems to have a habit of viciously attacking black people ... but stops short of calling him a full-on racist.

We got CNN's Chief Legal Analyst Monday at LAX and asked about DT's latest vitriol against prominent African-Americans -- namely, his disgusting tweet calling LeBron James and Don Lemon dumb and dumber -- and Toobin thinks there's a pattern here that can't be ignored.

Bottom line ... Trump has a track record of going after blacks both on Twitter and at rallies. He's called out LaVar Ball as being a "poor man's version of Don King" and has constantly referred to Rep. Maxine Waters as a "low IQ" person. And, don't forget the NFL's SOBs.

Toobin doesn't want to get into name-calling -- unlike the Prez -- but says 45's barbs reek of racism.

He also praises his coworker's eloquent response to Trump after getting attacked this weekend.

Melania Trump's not going to bat for her husband after his derogatory and utterly disrespectful tweet Friday night ... and is instead lending her support to LeBron James.

Scoreboard?

FLOTUS addressed Donald Trump calling both LeBron and Don Lemon dumb, through a statement by her spokesperson to CNN saying ... "It looks like LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation."

According to her statement, Melania would also be open to visiting LeBron's I Promise School in his hometown of Akron as part of her "Be Best" initiative.

So -- instead of backing POTUS on this one -- seems like the First Lady's more down to team up with Bron.

Donald Trump, the man who callously separated children from their parents and forever traumatized them in the process, has viciously attacked LeBron James, the man who just opened a school for hundreds of poor children and probably saved them in the process.

The most vile President ever to hold office tweeted late Friday night, "Lebron (sic) James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron (sic) look smart, which isn't easy to do. I like Mike."

LeBron was on CNN this week, unveiling plans for the I Promise School in his hometown of Akron -- which has opened its doors to 3rd and 4th graders, and set to expand to 1st - 8th graders by 2022. LeBron is giving every student all sorts of benefits, from bicycles to free tuition at the Univ. of Akron.

Trump, who bumbles through speeches and brags how he is unprepared, is clearly continuing his campaign of hatred and prejudice.

What's especially amazing ... LeBron actually exercised restraint on Lemon's show in criticizing the President. The grossly insecure President, who is manic over and obsessed with cable news, simply cannot handle criticism and responds with wild and baseless personal attacks.

Don Lemon responded by saying, "Who's the real dummy? A man who puts kids in classrooms or one who puts kids in cages? #BeBest."

10:15 AM PT -- Michael Jordan just weighed in on Trump's tweet, as well, telling NBC News ... "I support LJ. He’s doing an amazing job for his community.”

It's the least surprising thing this week ... that sports stars and other celebs are appalled by the President of the United States calling LeBron James dumb in a late Friday night tweet. If this were a limbo contest, Donald Trump would blow everyone away, because no one could go lower.

Here's a sampling.

NBA All-Star Karl Anthony-Towns

WNBA Star Elena Delle Donne

NBA Rookie Sensation Donovan Mitchell

Ohio Gov. John Kasich

Selma Blair says James Gunn is a good man who told a few stupid jokes a decade ago, and his haters are looking at him through a 2018 lens which just ain't right.

We got Selma at LAX Thursday afternoon and she explained why she quit Twitter over the reaction to Gunn's rape and pedophilia jokes. As you know, Gunn was 86'd from the "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise ... pretty clear reaction to the torrent of social media outrage.

Selma -- who credits Gunn for helping her come forward with her story about another director she says sexually harassed her -- says she left Twitter 'cause she wasn't in the mood to take any abuse from trolls because she supports Gunn.

8/1 -- A judge has granted the orders in part, and has ruled 4 of the 5 individuals must stop communicating with him and keep their distance. The judge did deny Feldman's request to block the individuals from mentioning him on social media.

In the docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Feldman claims the trolls have been working with Judy Haim, Corey Haim's mother.

Corey Feldman isn't waiting for LAPD to conclude its investigation into what he calls serious threats on his life -- he's requesting court-ordered protection.

Feldman filed for requests for restraining orders against 5 individuals he claims are harassing him online. TMZ broke the story ... Corey already went to cops over a barrage of Twitter threats he's received. One said, "If longing to see @Corey_Feldman get gangraped in prison is wrong, I don't want to be right." Police now have search warrants to track down the people behind some of the threats.

In the new docs, one of the alleged harassers matches up with a name in the search warrants -- so, this seems like Corey's covering all his bases here by filing for the restraining orders.

Another one of the people Corey names is a woman who played in his backing band, The Angels.

James Gunn's future in the "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise is now in the hands of Disney -- a future his own brother won't try to predict after the cast's public cry of support.

We got Sean Gunn at LAX Monday just hours after he and the rest of the 'Guardians' actors penned an open letter going to bat for their fired director after he was canned over a week ago for old tweets that made light of rape and pedophilia.

The actor doesn't have much more to add beyond what the letter says clear as day -- that the 'Guardians' "fully support" James -- but he does elaborate on what he thinks is happening to his big bro ... a full-on character assassination that he chalks up to mere lies.

Corey Feldman's the victim of an online attack that he feels goes beyond typical social media bullying -- people talking about him getting raped -- and now LAPD's on the case.

There are 4 different Twitter accounts that Corey says have been harassing him and wishing heinous things happen to him. According to a search warrant ... one Twitter said, "If longing to see @Corey_Feldman get gangraped in prison is wrong, I don't want to be right."

Corey's blocked the person, but cops think the suspect created multiple accounts to annoy Corey ... who's repeatedly alleged widespread pedophilia in Hollywood. In another message, an Instagram user commented 17 times, "Corey is a rapist."

Corey says he and his family are in fear for their lives due to the nature of the messages. Detectives are trying to trace the IP addresses of the people behind the Twitter accounts.