'The Challenge' Paulie Calafiore I'm Attracted To Men and Women ... Comes Out After MTV Show
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Paulie Calafiore, who just got eliminated from MTV's "The Challenge: USA," is coming out as bisexual.
The reality TV star came out to GLAAD, saying he almost feels guilty about waiting so long to share his truth.
Paulie says he decided to come out as bisexual after changing his perspective ... explaining, "There might be other people that are going through this exact same thing …and maybe this is what they needed to hear and what they needed to see in order to do it themselves."
For Paulie, one of the hurdles was his upbringing as an athlete ... he says he felt pressure to be viewed publicly as a strong athlete and competitor, and that sports culture made him feel like he had to repress his sexuality.
Paulie, who is also a "Big Brother" alum, says since coming out as bisexual he's been accepted by his family and his longtime girlfriend and fellow 'Challenge' star Cara Maria Sorbello.
Now that the weight's been lifted, Paulie tells TMZ ... "I really don’t know what to say at this point other than I’m extremely grateful. I am looking forward to what the future holds, the community has been so welcoming and so has everyone from all walks of life."
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Famous Meme Dog Cheems Dead at 12
Cheems, one of the most famous dogs on the internet, is dead after a battle with cancer.
The viral meme dog died Friday during a surgical procedure ... according to his owners, who say he fell asleep during surgery and never woke up.
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Cheems shot to fame way back in 2017 when an awkward photo of him went viral ... sparking a meme that is still shared to this day.
Also known as Pup Balltze or just Balltze, the shiba inu was famous for his love of cheeseburgers ... and he's got his own meme character, Cheemsburger.
The pup's owners say ... "Don't be sad, please remember the joy that Balltze brought to the world. A Shiba Inu with a round smiling face connecting you and me, he has helped many people during the pandemic and brought a lot of joy to many of you, but now his mission has completed."
Cheem's family believes he's in a better place now ... "running freely in the sky and having a lot of delicious food with his new friends."
Cheems💙 pic.twitter.com/Kbz5vnHZc6
— La Abuela García®™ (@rthur013) August 19, 2023 @rthur013
Naturally, Cheems is getting a grand send-off on social media ... with the meme getting posted all over the place.
Cheems was 12.
RIP
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Drake Catches Book Thrown at Him ... Beat You If It Hit My Face!!!
Drake's now having books thrown at him onstage, in addition to bras ... and it sounds like a fan got lucky the page-turner didn't smack him in the face.
Ya gotta see the video from Drizzy's Friday concert in San Francisco ... he's onstage talking to fans between a break in songs when suddenly a book comes hurtling out of the crowd, and he snatches it with one hand.
While it appears the book may have gone over his head, Drake told the book-thrower ... "You lucky I'm quick. Would've had to beat your ass if that hit me in the face."
Champagne Papi's been totally cool with women throwing bras at him during his concerts, even helping one big-chested fan go viral and land modeling deals.
But, it appears book throwing is crossing a line for Drake.
It's part of a larger trend unfolding at concerts ... Bebe Rexha got hit in the face with a flying phone, Keslea Ballerini took a friendship bracelet to the noggin and someone even threw a bag of cremated ashes at Pink.
Fortunately, Drake's got cat-like reflexes.
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Britney Spears Speaks About Divorce ... 'I Couldn’t Take The Pain Anymore'
Britney Spears is opening up about her divorce to Sam Asghari, saying she’s a “little shocked” ... while admitting “I couldn’t take the pain anymore honestly.”
Britney Spears Throws Sexually-Charged Divorce Party with Shirtless Men
The pop star posted a lengthy statement with a homemade dance video on Instagram Friday night, but she never explained why from her perspective her 6-year relationship and 14-month marriage ended with Sam, although saying she "couldn't take the pain anymore" suggests the marriage wasn't working for her either.
Still, Britney offered a window into how she's coped with everything, stating she’s been “playing it strong for way too long” and her so-called “perfect” posts on IG mask her true reality behind the scenes, noting, “I think we all know that.”
She also said she wished she could show her “emotions and tears” on how she really feels, but she always hides her weaknesses.
Britney then made cryptic references to being her dad’s strong soldier, getting fixed by doctors, needing her family most and receiving unconditional love — but “not under conditions.”
Britney wrapped it up by saying she will be strong and, as things stand now, she’s “pretty damn good.”
As we reported, Sam filed for divorce this week after getting into a blowout fight with Britney over allegations she cheated on him and physically abused him.
The two signed a prenup allowing Britney not to turn over a cent of her fortune to Sam … but our sources say that could change.
Stay tuned ...
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Taylor Swift Hits up Antonoff Wedding Rehearsal Dinner ... Fans Shut Down NJ Road!!!
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Taylor Swift not only turns heads, she shuts down roads!!!
T.S. hit up Jack Antonoff's rehearsal dinner Friday night, and so many fans found out ahead, they caused a major New Jersey road to be impassable.
8/18/23
Antonoff, Taylor's frequent collaborator, is marrying actress Margret Qualley, and they celebrated at the Black Whale restaurant in Beach Haven.
Cops apparently got the memo Taylor was going to show, so they were out in force to control the hundreds of fans who wanted to catch a glimpse of their hero.
Swift has been performing regular 3 hour shows around the country, but she still has the energy to party well into the night,
The wedding goes down Saturday. Congrats!!!
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Nev Schulman I've Got Match For Woman Catfished By Fake Actor
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Nev Schulman wants to play matchmaker for a pair of folks who got catfished by people pretending to be Katy Perry and "Stranger Things" star Dacre Montgomery.
We got the "Catfish" star at Aces Pizza in New York City Friday, and our photog asked him about the Kentucky woman who divorced her husband and got swindled out of $10,000 by someone pretending to be the Netflix actor.
Nev says the newly single mother, McKayla, would make a great match for a guy from his old MTV show ... Spencer.
As Nev explains, Spencer infamously got catfished by a woman masquerading as the "Dark Horse" singer ... and their awkward meeting was featured on his show.
Needless to say, Nev thinks Spencer and McKayla have enough in common to strike up a relationship.
While lots of folks are dragging McKayla for thinking she actually had a shot with a celeb, Nev says not so fast ... and he tells us why it's not that extreme of a premise.
Still, Nev cautions anyone going online in search of love to beware of some big red flags ... like when your potential partner starts asking for money. Nev says that's a dead giveaway.
It's funny ... Nev thinks he's actually being catfished here in some ways ... as we reported, McKayla detailed her saga on a YouTube channel called "Catfished."
Nev says neither he or his show are involved in the YT channel in any capacity ... but he's laughing it off.
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IShowSpeed Returns To YouTube Streaming ... Addresses Penis Incident
IShowSpeed made his return to YouTube on Friday ... and the popular streamer got real about his infamous wardrobe malfunction -- begging his viewers to stop trolling him over the incident.
Speed was emotional as he got back in front of the camera -- initially going berserk on those incessantly calling him "IShowMeat" ... before calming down and speaking from the heart.
"This is truly an embarrassing f***ing moment for me," said Speed -- who has more than 19 million followers on the platform. "Lately these past days and hours, I've been suffering very mentally, bro. Genuinely, bro."
"At the end of the day, I'm still a human being, bro, and one of my worst fears that I never even wanted to happen."
"This depressing, bro," he added. "You guys don't know the feeling, bro, what I'm feeling right now."
Speed says his viewers can keep mocking him all they want ... but they're missing the bigger picture, as he has younger siblings who found out about the incident.
"Sometimes I ask why this s*** happen."
Despite Speed's pleas, his chat was flooded with steak emojis and other comments throughout his stream ... and at one point, he left the camera to compose himself.
IShowSpeed Not Banned From YouTube After Exposing Penis On Stream
As he tried to go about his gaming, Speed was bombarded with even more trolls as he got on Roblox ... and while some people had encouraging words, he explained there's no one who has been through the same thing.
TMZ Sports broke the story -- Speed was NOT banned from YouTube following the incident ... as the platform told us he would be able to return to streaming despite it all.
As for how his penis got exposed to begin with, Speed explained he didn't have any clean underwear ... so there's that.
For more influencer news, tune in to TMZ Verified the podcast. Dropping every Thursday on all podcast platforms.
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United Airlines Pilot Major Turbulence In Parking Lot ... Chops Parking Gate With Ax!
A United Airlines pilot must've been feeling a whole lotta cabin pressure ... because he was caught on camera chopping down a parking gate with a freaking ax.
63-year-old Kenneth Jones went full-on lumberjack earlier this month at the exit of an employee parking lot at Denver International Airport, according to CBS News Colorado -- whacking the thing nearly 2 dozen times before it finally falls off.
Not long after, Jones was confronted by other airport employees, and he put up a bit of a struggle over the ax before eventually giving up.
The pilot's reportedly been charged with a misdemeanor for his parking lot remodel, which allegedly caused $700 in damages, and he's been removed from United's work schedule as the company continues an internal investigation.
As far as a reason for the ax outburst, Jones reportedly told cops he just hit his breaking point -- the outlet says he's due to appear in court at the end of September.
It's unclear where the ax came from, and there's no word on why the parking gate was the victim here ... but it's possible he might've been stuck in a long line to get out of that lot -- gotta say, we've been there.
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Lil Tay Mom Gives Update on Custody Battle Paves Way for Tay Comeback
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Lil Tay is in line for a comeback on the heels of her death hoax ... because there have been significant developments in her mother's custody battle with Tay's dad.
Angela Tian's attorneys Lorne MacLean, K.C., and Fraser MacLean, tell TMZ ... the viral star's father, Christopher Hope, has been ordered to cough up approximately $275,000 in back child support, dating all the way back to 2014.
We're told he'll also have to continue to pay monthly child support going forward -- Tay's only 14.
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What's more, the lawyers say Angela has sole decision-making power, Tay's primary residence is now with her mother and she has court authorization to relocate with Tay outside of Vancouver, if she chooses.
Remember, it was Christopher who got a court order in 2018, requiring Tay to leave L.A., return to Vancouver and stop making online content. Now, Angela's lawyers are saying that's changed ... they say the court's orders will help Tay advance her career.
Angela tells us this is a HUGE win for Tay and her, saying the extended custody battle has put them "in a constant state of severe depression." She says Christopher's "disgusting financial motivation" has been a massive weight she's glad is finally lifted.
She continues, "I have been financially ruined fighting for my daughter’s rights and freedom which should have never been taken away to begin with. We have won our case in court and my children and I can finally move on from this nightmare. My daughter can pursue and achieve her dreams on her own terms, and we are finally a happy family again, together."
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As we reported, Angela and Christopher had widely different ideas for Tay's career back when she reached the peak of her viral fame, when she was just 8.
Christopher said he wanted a more traditional career path -- stuff like singing and acting. But, with her mom at the helm, Lil Tay might be back online in no time.
TMZ broke the story, news of Tay's death -- posted on her IG last week -- wasn't true at all ... and we were told her account was taken over by someone else. A spokesperson for Meta confirmed it had indeed helped Tay regain control of her account.
We've reached out to Christopher for comment about the custody changes, but he said he had no comment.
We covered Lil Tay's custody drama on the latest episode of the TMZ Verified podcast, available on all podcast platforms.
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Man Splits In Half Plunges 750 Feet To His Death Off New York City High-Rise
A man died a gruesome death after jumping roughly 750 feet to his death in NYC ... and he reportedly ended up split in 2 on the pavement.
The man made his fatal jump from the top of the Deutsche Bank Center Thursday night in Manhattan, located on what many call "Billionaire's Row" in Columbus Circle. Creating even more of a spectacle is the fact he ended up slamming into the glass marquee above the entrance to the ritzy Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which is part of the same building.
His body was reportedly split in half by the impact with the marquee -- parts of his body were found across the street on construction scaffolding which was dripping with blood.
The 55-story building houses the hotel, several companies and super expensive luxury apartments where celebs like Jay-Z and Gisele Bündchen have once lived.
It's unclear if the man, who was in pajamas when found dead, worked or lived in the building at the time ... but some reports claim he might have taken a service elevator to the top before meeting his demise.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
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Plies Britney's Single Again ... Let's Party, Baby One More Time!!!
The fact a handful of Britney Spears' supporters are blaming Plies for sabotaging Britney and Sam Asghari's marriage isn't lost on the "Bust It Baby" rapper ... and he's been trolling them all morning with plenty of glee!!!
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A highly amused Plies hopped in his whip and took to IG on Thursday to troll the internet after we broke the story of their split and then covered Sam's divorce filing ... laughing manically while blasting Britney's iconic "...Baby One More Time" to the speaker's max volume!!!
Plies has made it a point to boost the buzz of several of Britney's bizarre dancing videos ... his IG is reminiscent of a mini BS shrine already after months of reacting ... and some passionate fans have already named him to be the scapegoat ... without any concrete evidence, of course.
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Britney may be more concerned with buying herself a horse instead of her crumbling nuptials at the moment but as we reported, a pretty explosive argument and cheating allegations forced Sam to file for divorce ... and the situation could possibly take even more downturns.
Either way, it's all entertainment for Plies!!!
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Doug Flutie My Baseball Skills Are Bananas!!! ... Wacky Game Appearance
Ex-NFL star Doug Flutie stepped outta retirement to suit up for a Savannah Bananas baseball game on Wednesday ... and if you're a fan of shenanigans, this is the clip for you.
Of course, the Georgia-based exhibition team is known for wacky antics and entertaining contests ... and on Wednesday, the squad enlisted the former Heisman winner during its stop in Brockton, Massachusetts.
Doug Flutie is here. pic.twitter.com/rNoemDyAJ1
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) August 17, 2023 @ConorRyan_93
Flutie fit right in during his appearance ... entering the game by flailing around a box of his signature cereal, Flutie Flakes, and gathering his teammates together for a huddle and lining them up in formation on the mound before throwing a deep pass into the outfield.
The older fans in attendance loved the cameo ... but it wasn't the only one of the night -- ex-MLB star Johnny Damon also threw on an all-yellow jersey to try to help get the Nanners a win.
DOUG FLUTIE????
— NESN (@NESN) August 17, 2023 @NESN
🤝: @TheSavBananas run on @dunkindonuts pic.twitter.com/oBzPbZL1Uu
It's unclear if the two former pros were successful in the effort ... but really, who cares?? All that matters to Savannah is putting on a show, and it's safe to say the team did just that!!
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Barnes & Noble Sniffer Man Sniffing Women in Stores Released Despite History
AUGUST 2023
A California man caught on a viral TikTok sniffing women's butts at a Barnes & Noble was arrested last week ... but he's already back on the streets despite a lengthy criminal record.
The disturbing clip made the rounds online last week -- the man, who law enforcement sources believe is 36-year-old Calese Carron Crowder, is seen going up to women from behind and allegedly smelling them.
According to online records, Crowder was arrested last week for what appears to be a separate, misdemeanor incident in Glendale. He was released a few days later.
What's shocking is that records show Crowder has a very long list of arrests over the years, but was let go relatively quickly after the August arrest.
Our sources say Burbank PD is currently working on handing over its findings regarding its investigation of the Barnes & Noble sniffing ordeal to the D.A., but no charges for that incident have been filed against Crowder as of now.
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IShowSpeed Accidentally Flashes Junk During Stream
Popular gamer and internet personality IShowSpeed showed a lot more than speed during his recent YouTube live stream ... accidentally exposing his junk in front of thousands of viewers.
The super-famous streamer -- who has 19.4 million subscribers on the platform alone -- was playing "Five Nights at Freddy's," when he decided to stand up and thrust in front of the camera as the character "Chica" appeared on screen.
IShowSpeed Returns To YouTube Streaming, Addresses Penis Incident
"Oh, Chica, I miss you," Speed -- real name Darren Watkins Jr. -- seemingly said during the stream. "I'm about to f*** you, Chica. Oh s***, this d*** up in you, baby."
But during his excitement, Speed's penis slipped through his shorts ... and he was immediately horrified.
"Oh my God, oh my God," Speed said before appearing to cut the stream short.
It could be bad news for Speed -- YouTube has strict guidelines regarding nudity ... and he could face banishment from the platform depending on how the company interprets the mishap.
As of this post, his account is still live ... but his stream was removed from his page.
The timing is pretty crazy -- Speed just made his big return to streaming after taking a few weeks off to deal with a medical emergency involving his eye.
We've reached out to Speed and YouTube for comment.
For more influencer news, tune in to TMZ Verified the podcast. Dropping every Thursday on all podcast platforms.
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Twins' Christian Vazquez Drilled In Helmet By Foul Ball In On-Deck Circle ... Somehow OK
Terrifying moment for Christian Vazquez during the Twins game Wednesday ... he was struck in the helmet by a foul ball while he was standing in the on-deck circle -- but somehow, he ended up being OK.
The crazy scene happened just minutes ago while Donovan Solano was up to bat against Tigers pitcher Reese Olson.
The Minnesota first baseman took a big hack on a slider, but he just missed barreling it up -- and the ball went foul ... making a beeline right for Vazquez's head.
Christian Vázquez took a foul ball to the helmet while in the on-deck circle 😳 pic.twitter.com/qLvkUSfM8M
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 16, 2023 @JomboyMedia
The baseball ended up clanking off the Twins' catcher's helmet with force -- though, miraculously, Vazquez emerged unscathed.
You can see in a replay from the game's broadcast, the ball just barely caught the brim of Vazquez's helmet ... saving him from a potentially gnarly injury.
Vazquez would go on to fly out to right field ... a frustrating result no doubt made much easier to swallow given how bad things could have been just seconds prior.
The game, meanwhile, is still going on ... with Vazquez's squad up 4-3.
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Matador Violently Gored In Ass In Bullfight ... Miraculously OK
One tough matador is on the mend after getting gored in the ass during a recent bullfight ... but despite the horrifying scene, he says he's doing OK.
It all went down this week at the annual Prieto de la Cal in Madrid ... when Alejandro Conquero -- the son of famous matador The Hurricane of Huelva -- challenged a white bull with a pink cape.
In footage of the competition, the 28-year-old matador clearly held his own until one of the bull's horns caught him ... and he got sent flying into the air.
That's when it turned gruesome -- the massive bull rammed his horns right into Conquero's rear end and threw him up several feet for a second time.
Thankfully, other matadors jumped into the ring to divert the bull away from Conquero ... and he was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Doctors told COPE that Conquero suffered "a goring in the posterior perianal region, which dissects the rectum through the coccyx and could affect the external sphincter of the anus" ... but the matador says he feels fine.
"I am excited and I give a thousand thanks to those who at this time have thought or have been interested in me," Conquero said per his IG story.
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"The evolution is positive, there is no fever, pain, the normal one but with the hope of being able to dress up soon. Thank you very much."
The goring comes just weeks after the "Messi of Matadors" was struck by a 1,100-pound bull in Spain during a show ... suffering injuries to his neck, face, and legs.
Get well soon, Conquero ... and be sure to ice up.