Disney World Jungle Cruise Boat Goes Down With People Onboard!!!

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"The Most Magical Place on Earth" became the wettest place for a group of theme park guests who got caught on a sinking vessel ... the park's famous Jungle Cruise.

One of the boats at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando started taking on water, which meant everyone onboard had to trek through the water, and try to climb to dryer conditions.

As you can see, there wasn't much wiggle room, but it's an amusement park -- no one was in danger of drowning here. Just a soaking inconvenience.

As you can see ... the Jungle Cruise waterways are pretty shallow.

The boat, named the "Bomokandi Bertha," reportedly sank around 12:30 and caused the ride to be shut down for nearly 2 hours. During that time the wet passengers were safely unloaded -- no injuries, besides wet socks -- and the boat was towed away.

Ya gotta hope everyone at least walked away with FastPasses for their troubles. Titanic this ain't. In fact, kinda reminds us of another "dangerous" river crossing.

Nik Wallenda Daredevil's Death's Sad But ... It's Not Stopping My Volcano Stunt!!!

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Famed tightrope walker Nik Wallenda's not the least bit shaken about his upcoming volcano stunt after another daredevil's recent death -- 'cause he says life or death is just his thing.

We got Nik out Thursday in NYC, and wondered if he's at all concerned about walking over the very active Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua next week. That will come on the heels of daredevil "Mad" Mike Hughes' fatally crashing a rocket in California.

Nik, who last summer tightrope walked 25 stories over Times Square, says there's no doubt he's risking his life but this is the business he was literally born into, and risk is just his reality. That being said, Nik admits he has some logistical concerns ... with the volcano itself.

He says the acidic gases it emits add a layer of stress. Nik, who is training with wind machines and an oxygen-deprivation mask, said the volcanic gases could pose a real threat to the wire. Then there's the heat, but oddly he's less worried about that.

BTW, the volcano walk, which will be televised live, is Nik's highest and longest ever -- 2,000-feet up and 1,800-feet across!!!

Cedric the Entertainer Shame On That Cop ... For Arresting 6-Year-Old Girl

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Cedric The Entertainer says the cop who arrested a 6-year-old girl over a school tantrum did more damage than he may realize -- because the kid's probably scarred for life.

We ran into the comedian Wednesday at LAX and asked him to weigh-in on the arrest of Kaia Rolle in Orlando last year -- a disturbing incident that was captured on bodycam footage and just recently released to the public. Cedric didn't hold back on how messed up it is.

He spells it out pretty clearly ... treating children like adults, especially in a legal setting, is absolutely wrong -- and a much different approach should've been taken by all involved.

Kaia Rolle
HANDCUFFING A CHILD

More importantly, though, he tells us part of the reason youth grow up not trusting law enforcement might have to do with the fact stuff like this can actually happen. He seems to be implying that cops themselves set the tone when they pull these kinds of stunts.

If you haven't seen the video yet, brace yourself ... it's quite upsetting. You see 2 officers -- one of whom has been ID'd as Dennis Turner, who was subsequently fired over this -- enter a room where Kaia is being read a book by a school official. She's then taken out to the police car with a zip tie used to hold her hands behind her back ... and she's fully bawling.

Apparently, cops were called in this case because Kaia had allegedly assaulted some of the campus workers ... but that's no excuse to take her in like this, so says Cedric.

He also touches on race here, openly wondering whether a white child would be handled the same way. As for this happening in Florida ... of course it did, he muses.

Amazon Hidden Van Stockpile is Ridic Hundreds at the Ready!!!

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If you've ever wondered how Amazon can get packages to people so damn fast, get a load of this ... it might just answer your question.

TMZ got footage of a remote location just east of L.A. where the online retailing giant stashes hundreds of delivery vans ... literally at the ready in a hillside dirt parking lot. Check out the clip, it's an impressive sight ... rows upon rows -- each at least 100 deep -- of vehicles parked side-by-side.

BTW, this isn't Amazon going rogue and plopping its fleet in a random open space -- like much of L.A.'s real estate lately ... Jeff Bezos is paying for this space. Although, he didn't buy this one yet ... Amazon's just renting.

Ya gotta figure Amazon has similar hidden storage spots all over the country.

Naturally, that might lead to more criticism of Bezos himself, who's been grilled lately for not being quick enough to offset Amazon's massive carbon footprint on the environment. Ya still gotta give him credit for recently starting a new Earth Fund with billions of dollars of his own cash.

That said, some are still waiting on him to ditch gas-guzzling rides, and go full electric -- or finally start drone deliveries. 🤷🏽‍♂️

Lil Nas X 'Tree House' Music Vid Underway ... Just as Elaborate, Per Usual

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Lil Nas X got his week started with what looks to be a brand new music video -- and like he has in the past ... it seems he's about to wow us with a crazy production.

The rapper was filming Monday atop a parking structure in Downtown L.A., where a set had been built resembling an intricate tree house of sorts. It ain't your usual kid-built MacGyver job either ... the "houses" almost look like apartments.

Check it out ... you see people coming in and out of the entrances, including LNX who had an interesting outfit on -- blue coat, brown pants, and polka-dotted shirt underneath. Feels like this thing could get pretty wacky.

Remember, Lil Nas is known for his over-the-top music vids -- which are top-notch and pull out all the stops on visual effects, props, set design, costumes ... and of course, animals.

His most successful song and video to date is "Old Town Road," which has racked up over 440 million views on YouTube. His other videos haven't really come close to that, but they're just as highly produced and elaborate. Based on what we see here, he's keeping that going.

The big question, of course, is what song this could possibly be for. He already did videos for his 3 big singles off his debut EP, "7," and has recently teased "new bangers" in 2020.

Hmmm ... the anticipation is killing us. We see you though, Nas X 👀

Joe Burrow RIP To My NFL Career Thanks, Tiny Hands!!!

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Joe Burrow's NFL career might be over before it even began ... and it's all because of his small mitts!!!

Of course, the Heisman winner and projected #1 overall pick's small paw dilemma was revealed prior to the NFL combine this week ... with his hand measuring 9 inches from thumb to pinky -- which would tie for the smallest QB hands since 2008.

Now, the tiny hands didn't stop Burrow from leading the LSU Tigers to a perfect season and posting some of the best QB numbers the sport has ever seen ... but people like to freak out over this kinda stuff.

Burrow decided to break his silence over the reports on Monday ... and he faced the music with some good, old-fashioned comedy gold!!!

"Considering retirement after I was informed the football will be slipping out of my tiny hands. Please keep me in your thoughts," Burrow tweeted.

Great response from the young fella ... after all, the whole storyline seems a bit trite at this point when Kyler Murray's 9.5-inch hands did just fine last season.

Jesse James 'Monster Garage' Back in Biz, Baby!!!

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UPDATE

3:19 PM PT -- Jesse joined TMZ Live Monday and shared what'll be new on the revamped version of "Monster Garage."

UPDATE
Jesse James
MORE TECH, MORE POSSIBILITIES

The monster is back in Jesse James' garage ... he's returning to reality TV after a 14-year hiatus with a reboot of his hit show.

Jesse is coming back to Discovery Channel with a brand new season of "Monster Garage" ... and he's coming in hot too. We're told the garage will be filled with upgrades, including some cutting-edge technology ... and a renewed passion for creating mind-blowing vehicles.

In the 14 years since "Monster Garage" ended, Jesse's been traveling the world, expanding his skill set in forging and blacksmith work -- learning from some of the best in the biz -- and now he's ready to unleash his new talents.

Jesse James
UNFINISHED BUSINESS

The first run of "Monster Garage" went like this -- Jesse and his 5-person team would modify vehicles into multi-tasking machines. For instance, there was a PT Cruiser that doubled as a wood chipper, a school bus that turned into a pontoon boat, and a police car that could morph into a donut shop.

It was cool stuff back then, but now Jesse says he's excited to step back into the garage to push the limits even more by showing what his team can do when they refuse to quit.

The reboot premieres later this year ... get ya popcorn ready!!!

Daredevil 'Mad' Mike Hughes Dead at 64 ... Fatal Rocket Crash Landing

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UPDATE

3:59 PM PT -- We've confirmed ... 'Mad' Mike Hughes has, in fact, died.

'Mad' Mike Hughes is believed to possibly be dead after launching himself in the air with a self-made rocket that crash-landed -- and it was captured on camera.

The well-known daredevil and amateur rocket-engineer was doing a rocket launch Saturday in what appears to be near Barstow, CA -- where a reporter says Mike propelled himself into the air with a "self-made steam-powered rocket" and then crash-landed into the ground.

022220_mad_mike_kalV2 2/22/2020
THE FATAL STUNT ACCIDENT

The reporter, Justin Chapman, adds, "Very likely did not survive." He tells TMZ ... Mike is confirmed to be dead there on the ground as well.

In the video, you see a parachute fly out of the rocket, but it doesn't appear anyone is using it. The presumption, for now, is that Mike might've stayed in the rocket as it ascended hundreds of feet into the air.

Mike's rep, Darren Shuster, tells TMZ he was NOT at the launch Saturday, but does believe his longtime client to be deceased based on what he's seen and heard. Darren says Mike was a "one-of-a-kind" adding, "When God made Mike he broke the mold. The man was the real deal and lived to push the edge. He wouldn’t have gone out any other way! RIP"

For Saturday's experiments, Mike is said to have been attempting to get as close to space from Earth as possible -- otherwise known as the Karman line, about 62 miles above Earth's surface -- without the use of advanced tech you might find at NASA or SpaceX.

Much more tragic, Mike seemed pretty stoked for the launch this weekend. He posted a video describing his rocket, where it would go down and what he was aiming to achieve. BTW, he was a big flat-earth believer -- and a doc was even made about him trying to prove it.

We've reached out to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dept. for comment ... so far, no word back. However, we were told by a dispatcher at the Victor Valley Sheriff's Station that a call for service had been placed Saturday out of Barstow -- the nature of which is unclear.

Mike was 64. RIP

Originally Published -- 3:50 PM PT

Wrestling Star Hornswoggle On Viral Bullied Child Quaden Bayles ... This Needs To Stop!!

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Dylan Postl
TAKE IT FROM ME

Hornswoggle saw the viral video of 9-year-old Quaden Bayles hysterically crying after incessant bullying ... and says he's been in a similar position, 'cause the wrestling star also grew up with dwarfism -- and was picked on.

TMZ Sports talked to Swoggle -- a wrestling star who spent 10 years with WWE -- and he offered advice to Quaden on how he should deal with kids who pick on him.

FYI -- the wrestler was born with a genetic condition that causes dwarfism

"I guess my biggest advice is don't let it get to ya, because that's what they want. All they want is to see you sad. All they want is to see you angry and upset, and just bummed out," Swoggle says.

"The minute you don't let them see that, alright. And it's not right to say, but maybe they'll move on to someone else. Or, maybe they'll just stop altogether."

If you haven't seen the video yet ... it's heartbreaking to watch. Bayles -- born with Achondroplasia dwarfism -- says he wants to die 'cause of bullies at school ... while crying.

Swoggle says it's also up to the people around Quaden to stand up for him when they see something going down.

"The other thing for others around Quaden is, if you see it, stick up for each other. There's no reason for it. There's no reason to let it happen."

The wrestling star says he knows kids look up to him ... and hopes he can be a source of strength to those who are struggling with bullies.

"Hopefully, I can [inspire kids] in some way. Hopefully, [Quaden] sees it as well as other people who might be getting bullied," Swoggle says.

"Hey, it didn't get to me. Don't let it affect your life. Do what you want to do. Live how you want to live and just have fun with life. That's the key. Enjoy life. We only got one, in reality."

"You can only be 9 years old once. You can't go back in time to change it, so enjoy it."

Bullied Boy Quaden Bayles Getting MMA Lessons ... After Heartbreaking Video

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A 9-year-old boy who said on a heartbreaking video that he wanted to kill himself after being bullied is getting a lift from the MMA world ... he's taken ONE Championship officials up on their offer for free training lessons.

Quaden Bayles -- an Australian with Achondroplasia dwarfism -- went viral this week after his mom posted a disturbing video of him breaking down in tears after being bullied.

In the footage, Bayles tells his mother, "I wish I could stab myself in the heart. I want someone to kill me."

Thousands of people -- including celebs all over the globe -- reached out to show their support for the boy ... with ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong even offering free MMA lessons.

Chatri Sityodtong
YOUR PAIN IS YOUR STRENGTH

FYI -- ONE is one of the top MMA organizations in the world ... with stars like Demetrious Johnson and Eddie Alvarez fighting for the promotion.

Turns out, Bayles was super down for the training ... 'cause just hours after Sityodtong posted his message -- the ONE honcho says Bayles' family gladly accepted the offer!

"I just spoke to his amazing mom, Yarraka, over the phone," Sityodtong said Friday. "She has graciously accepted my invitation to come to Singapore for an all-expenses-paid vacation so Quaden can learn martial arts at EVOLVE."

"Our instructors will be sure to bully-proof Quaden. If he wakes up from his nap, we plan to FaceTime tonight. Yarraka said that he might sleep through the night. If so, we will FaceTime tomorrow. Let us all take the opportunity to show little Quaden how much the world cares."

Quaden is also set to make an all-expenses-paid trip to Disneyland in the coming months after a GoFundMe for the boy raised more than $230,000 in less than a day.

"Quaden’s feeling the love and now he needs a good rest," his mother said in a statement Thursday night. "We are meeting with the appropriate people in power to make changes and make a stand against bullying."

Insane Video Giant Moose Nearly Trucks Skiers ... Going Down Mountain

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MOOSE ON THE LOOSE!!!!!!!

A giant elk almost ran over unsuspecting skiers going down a snowy mountain at a resort in Sweden this week ... and the video of the close call is WILD!!!!

Erik Stark -- an F1H2O powerboat racing driver -- filmed the crazy scene with a GoPro attached to his head ... and you can see in the footage, the moose just BARELY misses Stark and a few other skiers.

What's crazier ... the animal nearly plowed through EVEN MORE bystanders on its way down the mountain -- before it ultimately hopped a fence to escape to safety.

Fortunately, it doesn't appear anybody was hurt by the runaway beast ... and Stark was able to joke about it all afterward.

"I had to stop to allow the moose to overtake me," he said. "#toofastforthemoose"

PHEW!!!!

(h/t Barstool Sports)

'Sonic the Hedgehog' Star Teeth Redesign Was Well Worth It We Made Bank in Week 1!!!

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'Sonic the Hedgehog' took a cue from the fan base -- and rightly so, because the movie's rolling in the dough as a result ... so says one of the film's stars.

Actress Tika Sumpter was leaving Craig's in WeHo Tuesday night, and she weighed in on the massive box office haul her new flick pulled in over the weekend -- upwards of $70 million here at home, and projected to make a lot more than its estimated $85 mil budget.

According to her, the secret formula for success here was the fact Paramount Studios listened to the feedback from potential viewers on social media earlier last year ... when everyone ripped Sonic's original look, and his eery human-like teeth that nobody seemed to like.

Tika says the proof is in the pudding in terms of Paramount's reward for taking note -- and it sounds like she thinks other studios may follow suit with future projects.

Funny enough, Tika invokes another animated classic with teeth issues of its own. She says we've advanced beyond the one-block denture depiction, but aren't quite ready to see cavities, it seems.

Ain't that the truth!