U.S. Senate Black Candidate Wears Noose ... In New Ad Campaign

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Charles Booker -- a Black candidate running for U.S. Senate in Kentucky -- put a rope around his neck in a startling campaign ad ... which takes aim at Rand Paul.

Booker's new video focuses heavily on lynching in the South, historically ... even using an actual noose hanging from a tree that he fastens around his neck as he narrates.

CB mentions how Kentucky used to rely on lynching as a tool of terror against African-Americans -- which is why he finds it so meaningful that he's the first Black Kentuckian to win the Democratic nomination to take on Sen. Paul in a race coming up in November.

He lists some of what he considers dubious positions Paul has taken ... like comparing expanded health care to slavery, opposing the federal anti-lynching act -- which has since become law -- and allegedly saying he would've "opposed the Civil Rights Act" of 1964.

That last claim isn't entirely accurate -- Paul has, indeed, made controversial remarks on the CRA ... but it's perhaps a bit more nuanced than how Booker's characterizing it here.

At any rate, Booker likens beating Paul in the general election to getting the noose off his neck ... suggesting the two go hand in hand. Sen. Paul hasn't responded just yet.

Australia Man vs. Kangaroo Just Another Day Down Under!!!

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The people of Australia have a lot to deal with when it comes to vicious wildlife -- but very rarely do they have to square up with the country's national animal, the kangaroo -- which makes a new video that much more shocking.

The clip starts out with a man seemingly running for his life, until you see what's chasing him ... a full-grown roo! The man trips, and the animal stomps on him before turning back around the two square up.

From there ... the guy grabs a stick to try and defend himself, but it doesn't phase the kangaroo -- the animal stays on the attack.

Finally, the man grabs the animal by the arm and wrestles it to the ground before putting his weight on the animal and calming it down. Unclear what started the attack or how it officially ended ... but certainly not a battle you see every day.

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KANGAROO JACKED

We should point out, however, it's not the only man vs. kangaroo brawl we've seen ... back in 2016, a man rescued his hunting dog from a kangaroo's chokehold by punching it in the head.

Mets Vs. Nationals Fan Makes Terrifying Over-The-Railing Catch ... With Baby In Hand!!!

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9:35 AM PT -- The fan -- Alan Alcantara -- tells TMZ Sports the move wasn't as risky as it seems ... explaining there is a floor in center field that wasn't visible on the broadcast footage.

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UPDATE

"It was not like there was a hole there where the kid was going to drop and die," Alcantara said.

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He added that it wouldn't have mattered anyway ... telling us his grip on his babies is just that strong!

An MLB fan terrifyingly leaned over some railing with his baby in his arm to try to catch a home run ball on Tuesday -- but, thankfully, he avoided disaster, made the grab and kept everyone safe!

The wild moment went down in the first inning of the Washington Nationals game against the Mets in New York -- when Starling Marte crushed a home run to deep center field.

The ball landed in an area with no seats, took a huge hop -- and that's when a dad in the stands made a play that we're sure Mom wasn't too pleased to see.

Broadcast video from the game shows as the ball was coming back down from its initial carom, the man held his baby with one hand and made the barehanded catch.

"Did he catch that?!" the game's announcers asked. "Baby's fine! All good!"

The fan actually spoke to the Associated Press about the play following the game ... and revealed he was a former baseball player -- so the catch was no sweat.

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"In Dominican Republic, we don't all get to have gloves, so we do play baseball barehanded, so I figured I could do it," the fan said. "I did it many times when I was a kid, so why not?"

The kid, meanwhile, was totally fine.

As for the man's plans for the now-famous ball ... he said he's giving it to his pastor, who's a huge Mets fan.

BTS Hit White House Press Briefing Talk Anti-Asian Hate

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The biggest band in the world is inside one of the most famous residences ... all in the name of stopping anti-Asian hate.

The K-pop supergroup addressed members of the media during Tuesday's White House press briefing Tuesday to put a spotlight on the troubling rise of anti-Asian hate crimes and the importance of Asian inclusion and diversity.

During the briefing, BTS thanked President Biden for the chance to speak on the issues and for reminding them how important their voice can be as artists. May 31 marks the last day of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander heritage month.

The group was also scheduled to have a closed meeting with President Biden in the Oval Office to discuss hate crimes targeting Asians in the U.S. -- which also comes on the heels of Biden's first trip to Asia as President.

As you know, President Biden has been outspoken about addressing the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes since the start of the pandemic. Last year, he signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law.

Lion with a Mullet Cat's Bad Hair Day Stirs Uproar ... Zoo Says It Wasn't Us!!!

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A lion's not-so-purrfect hairdo is raising eyebrows ... prompting a zoo in China to brush the blame off themselves and onto mother nature.

Hang Hang the lion has the Internet buzzing about his rockstar mane, because let's face it ... sure looks like a total failure of a haircut -- but the Guangzhou Zoo claims it has nothing to do with his unique look.

They say high humidity is to blame for Hang Hang's blown-out mullet, claiming the lion licked his paws and brushed his hair out during a recent extreme heatwave.

The zoo chalks it up to "nature's magic," adding Hang Hang looks like a blonde supermodel, but most others don't see it that way. Some say he looks like one of The Beatles, mop-top and all, while many draw a resemblance to the "Tiger King" himself, Joe Exotic.

Zoo visitors are still skeptical the weather is at fault here ... one claims his hair looked nothing like this 2 months ago when they went to the zoo, and some even say the staff has ruined the lion's appearance altogether.

The opinion that really matters, of course, is Hang Hang's ... but he's remained silent. So far.

great white shark Chomps Down On A Seal Near Beach ... First Sighting Of The Season

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SHARK IN THE WATER

The state of Massachusetts is going to need a bigger boat after hearing about this ... a great white has been spotted for the first time this season, and it's having a big meal right next to the beach.

Beachgoers saw quite the scene Sunday at a beach in Nantucket as a huge shark took down one of the nearby seals ... the clip shows the water quickly turning from blue to red as it takes bite after bite.

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SAVIN' THE DAY

With this being the first sighting of the season, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy is urging people to play it safe while catching rays -- things like staying close to the shore and avoiding areas with a lot of seals or schools of fish.

They also recommend people in the water keep their splashing to a minimum -- what a bummer.

Of course, this story seems too familiar ... great white spotted near a beach on a holiday weekend? Reminds anyone of that Jaw-dropping flick? Not to mention Spielberg filming his blockbuster in Martha's Vineyard -- on an island just a few hours away from this new sighting.

All seems a little fishy.

Mona Lisa Let Her Eat Cake!!! Man in Wheelchair Attacks Painting

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CAKED LISA

In the world of art, this is the highest sacrilege ... someone trying to deface the Mona Lisa.

It happened, of course, at the Louvre Museum in Paris. A man in a wheelchair, disguised as an old lady, got up out of the wheelchair, removed the wig and threw a piece of cake at the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece.

Of course, the painting is protected by glass and God knows what else, so no damage was done, but it was a scene for sure.

The man shouted at the crowd to think of planet Earth when he hurled the desert. It was laced in cream, so the smear was apparent. He also threw roses in the gallery.

He screamed, "Think of the Earth. There are people who are destroying the Earth. Think about it. Artists tell you, think of the Earth. That's why I did this." Well, he certainly figured out a way to get his message out.

Lourve staff quickly removed the smear from the glass. As for the vandal, he was reportedly taken away for psychiatric care.

The 16th-century Renaissance painting has been targeted several times before. It was stolen in 1911 by a Lourve employee. In the 1950s, it was badly damaged in a sulfuric acid attack and ever since was secured behind bulletproof glass.

TikTok Chemical Peel Victim Laser Treatment Bringing My Skin Back to Life!!!

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The TikToker who claims he received the chemical peel from hell -- which left his skin badly disfigured -- is finally finding some relief after undergoing laser treatments to correct the discoloration.

Neyo White flew to L.A. in March, to see Cosmetic Dermatologist, Dr. Jason Emer, to get several treatments to help with the discoloration on his face.

We're told, they did several treatments to help even out his tone, stimulate new skin growth, produce collagen and plump his skin, which usually all totals around $30K.

The results were almost immediate, and Neyo felt confident and optimistic about his skin looking better. He was advised to let his skin heal for a few months and return in May for a check-up ... and the results have been amazing.

As we reported, Neyo went viral after going to a spa in Georgia in February for a chemical peel ... and he ended up with a completely discolored face full of burns. He told us, it was so bad he sued the spa.

Now ... it looks like things are finally turning around for the better.

Paul McCartney Showing Support for Johnny Depp??? Plays Clip of Him at Concert

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Paul McCartney either took a position in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard saga -- possibly a pro-JD one -- OR ... he's just playing a tune/music video that happens to feature the guy.

Macca performed in Orlando Saturday at the Camping World Stadium -- just one of his many stops on the 'Got Back' tour he's on right now -- and at one point in the show ... he started performing his track "My Valentine," the visual treatment for which has a Depp cameo.

Check out this video, obtained by TMZ, showing PMC crooning on the piano, while an interesting image pops up on the jumbo screens flanking the stage -- it's Johnny strumming the guitar, opposite Natalie Portman ... who's also featured in Paul's 2012 music video.

We're told that when Johnny first showed up in front of everyone ... the whole stadium lost it and cheered. Paul didn't say anything to address it -- he just carried on playing -- but we're told there's no doubt the feeling in the room was that he'd done it on purpose.

There've been reports Paul has actually been using this song and visual treatment throughout his tour this year ... which just happened to coincide with the trial. Word is ... Paul has actually used this visual treatment on stage in tours past, so it could much ado about nothing.

Still, on the face of it... it would appear he deliberately chose to have this on his set list now, and to have Depp cameo. And if that's true, you could certainly argue he's Team Johnny.

Not to go too far down this rabbit hole here -- BUT ... some online have also made some interesting comparisons between Johnny's sitch and Paul's own once upon a time. For those who remember, he went through a nasty divorce with Heather Mills ... who accused him at the time of some pretty awful stuff, which kinda echoes what JD's been accused of himself.

Anyway, this is just one more very public vote of confidence for Johnny -- or so it seems.

Zendaya Viral Vid of Woman Getting Beaten ... Not Her Despite Speculation

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10:01 AM PT -- 5/31 -- We've been told the person getting beaten might be a minor, and, as a result, we have removed the video.

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6:25 PM PT -- Zendaya's rep confirms to TMZ ... this woman in this video is NOT Zendaya whatsoever, despite all the speculation. Case closed.

A viral video of a young woman getting beaten up has led the internet to believe it could possibly be Zendaya -- but based on the visual evidence we've seen ... it's likely BS.

This clip made the rounds this weekend ... it's 7 seconds long, and it shows somebody wailing on this poor girl inside of an apparent store somewhere. After they're done punching, they resort to kicking, sending the woman flying back and knocking her head against a wall.

Indeed, it's incredibly brutal -- and there's no context whatsoever, as far as we can see, that points to where or when this happened, who exactly was involved, or why.

What people do believe they see here, however, is someone who appears to resemble Zendaya -- at least from the quick glimpses of this girl's face you can make out in the video. Yes, we'll admit ... it does look a bit like the actress -- especially from her 'Euphoria' scenes.

Again, there's no telling when this might've been from -- or if it's even Zendaya at all, frankly -- but FWIW, Z isn't rocking this length of hair at the moment ... she's got a much shorter 'do right now, as you can see in recent pap shots of her out and about in Massachusetts.

Her shoe-wear is also different than what's in this video -- rainbow-colored Crocs. Zendaya's got sneakers on here ... and has publicly said she'll either rock tennis shoes or heels, not much in between. Zendaya's never been snapped in Crocs from what we could find.

The bottom line is this ... there's no clear evidence this is, in fact, Zendaya -- and yet, Twitter's got her trending right now since they think it could be her. Zendaya or not though -- others have pointed out that those who are mocking this are sending the wrong message.

Even if it's just a doppelganger ... the filming and recirculation of an assault on a woman of color is something many see as a disturbing trend -- with this just being the latest example.

We've reached out to Zendaya's camp for comment. She hasn't spoken up on this quite yet -- but if it isn't her, it might be worth debunking ... 'cause this thing is running rampant.

Originally Published -- 3:03 PM PT

Lance Bass Reposts Uvalde Victim Dance Video To Go Viral Posthumously

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Lance Bass is shedding a light on one of the Uvalde victims whose wish was to go viral on TikTok -- something her family is hoping to achieve in the wake of her tragic death.

The NSYNC singer reposted a clip Saturday to his IG Story showing a TikTok video originally published by a man who says he's the uncle of 10-year-old Tess Marie Mata -- one of the 19 children slaughtered Tuesday by a crazed gunman at Robb Elementary School.

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In the video, you see Tess dancing to Don Toliver's 'No Idea' -- a track of his which has been used a lot in different challenges, and which has become a fan fave lately among TikTokers.

Tess, clearly, was no exception ... as she had her own version to the dance -- something her uncle here says she was hopeful would translate to a little internet fame one day. He makes the plea to his followers ... can we honor her wish in death and make her go viral?

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Lance was clearly on board, posting this on his own page ... and also commenting, "breaks my heart," to which the uncle thanked him -- saying Tess was a big fan of the boy band.

This child is just one of many whose life was cut short ... but it's videos like these that show, they had personalities and dreams -- all adding to the devastation, especially in light of reports that cops were slow to the draw and could've stepped in to help sooner.

People are rightly outraged over the fact current gun laws allow for weapons of war to be in the hands of ordinary citizens, but the videos of parents being held back and/or arrested in the moment while officers just stood around should, perhaps, cause as much indignation.

Tess's family has a GoFundMe page, and we're sure all the other families do as well. Heaven knows they can use all the help folks are willing to offer right now.

84-Year-Old College Grad Betty's Cap & Gown Moment ... 67 Years in the Making!!!

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You've heard of college grads on the 5 or 6, maybe even 8-year plan ... but Betty Sandison blows 'em all away -- it took her nearly 7 decades, but she's finally earned her bachelor's degree.

The 84-year-old just matriculated at the University of Minnesota with a degree in multidisciplinary studies, and all that stood in her way was a marriage, raising 2 children, a nursing career, one global pandemic and ... 67 years.

Ya can't knock Betty's hustle! She first enrolled at her now-alma mater in 1955, and got her nursing license after one year -- but once she got married, she dropped out less than 30 credits shy of her bachelor's degree.

Betty says it was always something she wanted to do, but once she had 2 daughters and started nursing ... it never happened. It wasn't until she retired in 2013 that she decided to start checking off her bucket list, which included getting that damn degree.

She enrolled in 2018 and immediately ran into a few, umm ... technological hurdles. She told WCCO, "That computer business just almost did me in." Still, she persisted, even through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The good news for Betty -- no exhaustive job search, having already retired! Yeah, she did it a little backward, but it worked for her.

Brendan Langley United Worker Called Me 'P***y' ... And Hit Me First

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Ex-NFL player Brendan Langley is sharing his side of the infamous airport brawl ... his attorney tells TMZ Sports the United employee harassed him, called him names, and got physical first -- leaving his client no choice but to defend himself.

We've obtained a statement from Alan Jackson, Brendan's attorney, who says the former Denver Broncos CB is the real victim.

"Brendan Langley was minding his business walking through the airport with his bags when he was accosted by a United Airlines employee who claimed to 'run the airport,'" Jackson says.

"When Brendan tried to ignore him, the assailant followed and harassed Brendan, calling him a 'd***' and a 'p***y' and challenging him to fight."

Jackson says 27-year-old Langley yelled out for help, but no one intervened. He also says the viral footage only tells part of the story -- and claims CCTV backs up his side of the altercation.

"Footage from the airport security cameras establishes without question that Brendan was in reasonable fear of physical harm, and reasonably and lawfully defended himself. We do not expect charges to be filed against Brendan."

Of course, Langley was the only person arrested, however, the United worker was fired almost immediately after the video made rounds on social media.

As for Langley's job -- he's currently on the CFL's Calgary Stampeders -- the organization announced they've suspended Brendan indefinitely.

Calgary Stampeders Brendan Langley Suspended Indefinitely ... Over Airport Brawl

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2:06 PM PT -- The Stampeders just handed down swift punishment following Langley's airport brawl -- the team placed the receiver on indefinite suspension.

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Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel addressed the decision ... saying, "The Stampeders take matters such as these very seriously."

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"After learning details of the incident including the filing of a criminal charge, we are indefinitely suspending Brendan Langley."

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During the suspension, Langley will be banned from the team facility and will not be allowed to be involved with the squad in any capacity.

The Calgary Stampeders have launched an investigation into Brendan Langley ... after their wide receiver was seen on video punching a United Airlines employee at a New Jersey airport this week.

The Canadian Football League club released a statement late Monday announcing the probe ... saying it is aware of Langley's arrest and is "looking into the matter in order to learn the full details."

"[We] will have no further comment until the investigation is complete," the team said.

Langley -- who just signed with the Stampeders in February -- got into a brawl with the UA employee at the Newark Liberty International Airport after an argument.

The video of the melee went viral ... capturing the two men in an all-out fistfight at a ticket counter.

The employee was left with a bloody face and police tell us Langley was later arrested for simple assault. United ultimately fired the employee over the incident.

Langley was selected as a cornerback by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft -- making him the first player drafted from Lamar University in over 25 years.

The 27-year-old signed a four-year, $3.17 million deal ... and converted to wide receiver in March 2019. He was waived before the 2019 season.

After a short stint with the Seattle Seahawks and the XFL, Langley signed with the Stampeders, where he was expected to compete for playing this season.

Originally Published -- 6:41 AM PT

Indiana Pastor Admits Affair with 16-Year-Old ... As Enraged Congregation Demands Truth

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An Indiana Pastor attempted to come clean in church about adultery he'd committed 20 years ago, only to have the congregation turn on him when the woman called him out -- revealing she was just 16 at the time of their encounters.

Pastor John Lowe of New Life Christian Church in Warsaw, IN stood in front of his church Sunday to reveal he was stepping down after confessing to cheating on his wife with one other person many years ago. Lowe was met with forgiveness and applause ... but then a woman and her husband walked up to the altar and addressed the congregation.

The woman revealed she was the one Lowe cheated with, but claims she was just 16 at the time when Lowe had sex with her on his church office floor, taking her virginity.

The age of consent in Indiana is 16.

The stunned congregation looked on as the woman continued, saying the affair went on for 9 years and pleading for Pastor Lowe to tell the truth.

Once the woman and her husband left the stage -- people in the audience began to shout at Lowe, to tell the truth -- and he ultimately fesses up, saying the woman was, in fact, only 16 when he had an affair with her.

A local report says the county prosecutor has opened up an investigation into the matter.

Alec Baldwin Let Me Tell You About Workplace Safety ... Weighs in on United Fight Video

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Alec Baldwin is weighing in on workplace safety -- not on a film set -- but at the airport, where a brutal beatdown occurred between a passenger and a United Airlines employee.

The video, which went viral Monday, shows former NFLer, Brendan Langley, lay the employee out with a nasty right hook. Langley was later arrested for simple assault and the employee was hospitalized and later terminated.

Upon closer look, it does appear the United employee was first to make physical contact with the passenger ... as shown in the first second of the video.

However, Baldwin apparently sees things differently. According to The Shaderoom, Baldwin left a comment on Instagram about the video, saying, "The guy working at the airport is the victim. He came to work to do a job. The other guy, with his big mouth, is guilty of workplace abuse, where people come to work with an expectation of safety, even civility. This a**hole who hit this guy should be put on a no fly list."

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It's interesting ... Baldwin's movie, "Rust" has been called out for work safety issues by the New Mexico Environment Dept.'s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau. As you know ... cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was accidentally shot and killed on the set.

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NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY

The D.A. is still conducting a criminal investigation into the shooting and no one involved in the movie has been cleared. There are also civil suits pending.