Viral

Talk about fast food ... how about a NASCAR driver leaving the Daytona 500 in the middle of a race to go on a McDonald's run!?!

That's exactly what Ross Chastain did on Sunday when a rainstorm delayed The Great American Race for more than 5 hours ... right after the 15th lap!

It was clear the weather wasn't going to let up any time soon, so Chastain hopped out of his racing car -- and into his personal car -- so he could speed over to a nearby Mickey D's to grab some food for himself and his crew.

Oh, he was still wearing his green racing suit when he pulled up to the drive-thru ... and the woman working the window couldn't believe it!

"AAAAAHHHH you just came from the racetrack?!" the woman asked.

"Yeah, we're racing, whenever it stops raining!!" Chastain replied.

The staffer couldn't believe her eyes ... saying, "This is my first time meeting a race car driver!" She even called over her co-workers to take a look!

RC explained he drives the #42 McDonald's car ... so it was only right he hooked up his crew with a massive order -- 6 of "everything" for his team and a hot fudge sundae for himself!!

When the race finally resumed, Ross finished in 7th place.

Dr. Fauci has a million new reasons to smile, 'cause the guy just came up on a boatload of cash for sticking to the facts and the science during the pandemic.

The director of the NIAID was just awarded a million-dollar cash prize from the Dan David Foundation -- an Israeli nonprofit that funds and advocates for breakthroughs in science and technology. He's one of three recipients to get a cool mil ... all for "defending science."

There are past, present and future categories for the winners, and DF got etched in as the man of the present in the field of public health ... due to his work speaking on behalf of vaccines -- plus, everything else he's done on the pandemic front, in 2020 and beyond.

The Dan David Foundation said Fauci's storied legacy in HIV and AIDS research was also considered in granting him the award.

It's interesting ... although the org didn't mention Trump by name, they certainly alluded to him in their remarks -- saying, in part, they were giving this to Tony for "courageously defending science in the face of uninformed opposition during the challenging COVID crisis."

You'll recall ... Fauci recently said it was "liberating" to be able to speak truthfully and freely about how best to fight the virus, without a de facto muzzle on him from the very top.

Now that Tessica Brown's hair is finally 100 percent Gorilla Glue-free, she can get back to basics ... and enjoy a normal 'do again.

Sources close to Tessica tell TMZ ... she visited a barbershop on Valentine's Day morning to get her hair trimmed and styled after the procedure last week to remove the glue from her scalp.

We're told she visited the Below Zero shop in Violet, Louisiana to see a barber she knows ... and he gave her the cut for free after everything's she's been through.

As we've chronicled ... Tessica's received an outpouring of support ever since she revealed on TikTok that she'd made the terrible choice a month ago to substitute her normal got2b glued hairspray with Gorilla Glue Adhesive Spray.

Though the advice she received to rid her hair of the hardened glue didn't work, Bev Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Obeng came through for Tessica big time by performing a $12,500 procedure for free to get her out of the sticky situation.

Tessica also received more than $20k in donations for her plight, which as we first told you ... she plans on donating the majority of to the Restore Foundation -- which provides reconstructive surgery services for people around the world.

Our sources say Tessica's received hundreds of hair products for free as well -- including more got2b glued -- so she never reaches for Gorilla Glue again ... not that she would.

North West's oil painting -- which some call Bob Ross-esque -- actually caught the eyes of the folks keeping his legacy alive, and they wanna work with the young artiste.

Sarah Strohl from Bob Ross Inc. tells TMZ ... they were thrilled to discover North's painting -- despite all the online haters it drew -- and they're looking to nurture her talent by inviting her to visit the Bob Ross Experience in Muncie, Indiana.

Sarah says everyone at the late and iconic American painter's company is thrilled about Bob's apparent influence on a new generation ... represented by North.

If North accepts the invitation, we're told she'll get to check out Bob's paintings, up close and in-person. She'll also get a class in Bob's wet-on-wet technique with a certified Ross instructor -- that is, if she hasn't mastered it already.

The venue itself is pretty legendary ... it's the refurbished studio where Bob filmed his beloved series "The Joy of Painting" from 1983 to 1994.

The visit would be pretty cool for any young artist, but especially for North ... after all the bitter reaction to Kim Kardashian posting North's work of art.

As we reported ... Kim was pissed when haters came after North and questioned the authenticity of a piece she said North painted herself.

Kodak Black visited Marjory Stoneman Douglas High on the third anniversary of the deadly mass shooting there ... and he came bearing gifts of education.

The rapper was in Parkland, FL Sunday for a memorial to honor the 17 victims claimed during the 2018 shooting rampage -- with upwards of 100 guests in attendance, including the Mayor and other town officials. Kodak was there for Meadow Pollack -- one of the students killed.

Kodak's attorney, Bradford Cohen, tells us KB was Meadow's favorite recording artist -- something he caught wind of and wanted to commemorate her with a scholarship in her name.

We're told Kodak established a $100k scholarship fund in Meadow's memory at the Nova Southeastern University Law School, for students wanting to study justice reform. That's where her brother, Hunter, is attending. Of course, Hunter was also at the ceremony, front and center.

Check out the video of Kodak discussing his intentions, and the warm reception he receives afterward ... not to mention a hug from Hunter. They later walked up to a table together to light a candle for the Parkland victims -- it's pretty moving to see up-close.

Rod Ponton, the Texas attorney who appeared as a cat in a Zoom court hearing, wants to turn his viral moment into cold, hard cash ... right meow!!!

Rod tells TMZ ... he was initially embarrassed by his 15 seconds of fame, but now he's embracing the fact he's an overnight internet sensation and he wants to milk it by hawking shirts, mugs, and anything else folks will buy.

The guy's in high demand ... Ron says he's already getting tons of requests for speaking engagements about staying professional in the midst of Zoom snafus. He's certainly an expert in this arena.

As for his cat call seen 'round the world ... Ron says he was using his assistant's 10-year-old's computer and still doesn't know how or why the feline filter was activated when he joined the virtual courtroom.

The LAPD is conducting an internal affairs investigation to determine which officers shared a photo of George Floyd with the caption, "You Take My Breath Away."

The cops in question appear to work out of LAPD's Harbor Division, where the image was being passed around at work. The Department believes the original post may have been the work of an LAPD employee.

It appears a member of the LAPD saw that the post was being shared and was so offended they contacted the brass, which then triggered the investigation.

Internal Affairs is now trying to get to the bottom of it, looking to see where it was posted and who shared it. It seems that shouldn't be too difficult if the post was being shared among some of the rank and file.

Tekashi 6ix9ine and Meek Mill came an inch from trading punches early Sunday morning ... as their long-standing beef reached a boiling point.

The 2 men were at KOMODO in Miami and as Meek was getting in his car to leave, Tekashi appeared and they both started jawboning. In the video, you hear both rappers and their security yelling at each other. It looks like Tekashi is trying to lunge at Meek.

Tekashi is hurling insults at Meek, accusing him of working with cops ... yes, the irony is not lost on us.

They went from face-to-face to social media where it continued, 6ix9ne posting, “STOP LETTING THESE RAPPERS LIE TO YOU! THEY TO TOUGH FOR SECURITY @meekmill RUNNING AROUND WITH POLICE.”

Meek's response ... "69 waited out side the club for me they tryna get usssssss wtf ... We did not run into eachother I was getting in my car he just popped out ....we almost was smoking on that 69 pack for the love of a viral moment ..... he tryna get something locked up no cap lol"

And then, Meek lowered the boom ... “The feds sent him to take me out wtf. [I] had to spit on him so he retreated lol he really waited outside the club for me. I thought I was dreaming wtf we almost smoked him lol he posed a lil threat popping up in the parking lot waiting for me.”

Meek and Tekashi have squared off ever since Tekashi cooperated with the FBI in getting members of the Nine Trey Bloods locked up.

Janet Jackson got more than an apology from Justin Timberlake ... she got a revival.

Janet's 1986 album, "Control," has skyrocketed on the charts since Justin issued his mea culpa Friday over her 2004 Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction. As you know, she was skewered by critics, while Justin remained silent and unscathed.

Well, "Control" hit #1 on the Apple Top 40 U.S. Pop Album Chart a week ago -- before Justin's apology.  It was the 35th anniversary of the album.  But after the apology it's going really strong ... now the 8th most downloaded album on Apple iTunes.

Janet took to social media and said, “I was at home just the other day by myself, and I began to cry. I was crying because I was so thankful for all that God has blessed me with, all that he has given me, and I’m so thankful for him being in my life.”

She went on ... “I’m so thankful for all of you being in my life. You’re so special to me, and I want to thank all of you for making ‘Control’ number one once again. After 35 years, never in a million years would I think that this would happen. I really appreciate you, and I love you so, so much. Thank you.”

Justin's apology was driven by a radio interview that surfaced in the new Britney Spears documentary, where he bragged about taking her virginity. He apologized to Britney, but also to Janet for the Super Bowl incident.

Gwyneth Paltrow's all about the V ... so she's pitching the perfect gift of self-love for Valentine's Day.

Gwyneth's company, Goop, is unveiling its first vibrator, which it's rolling out on Valentine's Day. At first, we thought the timing was a little weird, but we're guessing it's for people who might not have a Valentine but still want to celebrate. Good thinking, we think.

It's priced reasonably in the Goop world -- $95 for a Double-Sided Wand Vibrator.

In case you're in the market, here's the Goop description ...  "Our Double-Sided Wand Vibrator is the ultimate intimate massager: One end has a wonder-ball wand with deep, rumbly vibrations for external stimulation. On the other side, the slim, flexible end provides powerful and precise vibration for clitoral or internal stimulation. Each end of the wand offers eight pulsating patterns that vary in intensity, with subtle, ergonomically placed controls for uninterrupted navigation. And it’s a thing of beauty on a nightstand. Basically, it’s a pleasure all around."

Frankie Staton -- a Nashville musician who's worked to increase diversity and inclusiveness in country music -- doesn't think Morgan Wallen's really getting what he deserves ... and it sounds a lot like what's described as white privilege.

Staton -- who co-founded the Black Country Music Association in an effort to produce Black country stars -- isn't among folks willing to accept Wallen's apology for using the n-word ... at least not so readily.

She suggests Wallen's situation is more of a societal issue, but the consequences he's experiencing demonstrate the difference in a fallout between a popular white celeb ... and someone else.

To prove her point, she mentions how Wallen's popularity and sales are skyrocketing despite dropping a racial slur ... so it seems his career won't be adversely affected by his actions.

We asked if she thinks that's fair -- Frankie says "not really." However, she says she doesn't like seeing other musicians' careers go down the drain because of a mistake ... but as a Black woman, she underscores what Wallen said is unacceptable.

Tessica Brown -- aka 'Gorilla Glue Girl' -- is paying it forward by giving a majority of her GoFundMe haul to a group supporting others going through similar ordeals or any others requiring expensive surgery.

Tessica's manager tells TMZ ... after raking in upwards of $21,000-plus in public donations, Tessica's now decided to pour most of the money into something called the Restore Foundation -- which provides reconstructive surgery services for folks around the world.

The nonprofit is actually the brainchild of one Dr. Michael Obeng -- the L.A.-based plastic surgeon who successfully performed the miracle hair restoration procedure for Tessica herself ... pro-bono.

As for why Tessica's doing this ... we're told she wants others who need this type of procedure (or others) to have the same type of access she did, even if they can't afford it.

Tessica plans to keep $1,000 of the GFM cash to pay for the emergency room visit she made in Louisiana before flying to the West Coast ... according to her manager. She also incurred travel expenses.

That's not to say she really needs much of it anymore -- we're told Tessica's made a small fortune lately by hawking merch related to her experience, and she's doing just fine.

Senators erupted in laughter Saturday morning when Donald Trump's lawyer demanded that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris sit for a deposition, and not on Zoom ... in person -- in PHILEEEEEEEDELPHIA!

Attorney Michael van der Veen got all theatrical when he pushed his demands on the Senate floor. He struggled with Kamala Harris' first name and then just gave up. But, the big moment came when van der Veen mispronounced the home of the Liberty Bell.

The Senate just voted to allow witnesses to testify ... this as word of a damning phone call surfaced between Donald Trump and Rep. Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy reportedly called Trump during the insurrection, pleading with him to call off the rioters. Trump's response -- "Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are." McCarthy, enraged, responded, "Who the f*** do you think you are talking to?!!?"

Tessica Brown finally washed that Gorilla Glue right out of her hair -- thanks to a surgeon -- but the painful drama means her Valentine's Day's gonna be more low key than she hoped.

We got Tessica at LAX Friday after her month-long, rock-hard hairdo saga came to a happy ending, and she tells us it's time to unwind this weekend in Louisiana with her sister ... and a little sippin' and paintin'.

Tessica says she and her sis are going to have a nice steak dinner too, while she enjoys the sweet relief. You'll recall, moments after the procedure ended Wednesday night, she mentioned having big Valentine's plans -- but sounds like she's decided to take time to recover instead.

We broke the story ... Bev Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Obeng performed a $12,500 procedure for free to help Tessica out of her jam. The whole visit took nearly 4 hours, but when it was all said and done ... she was finally able to run her fingers through her hair again.

As for the recovery ... Tessica says she's gotta leave her 'do alone for 6 weeks, but then she can really wig out.

She also suggests she's no longer considering getting litigious about what happened to her, though there doesn't seem to be any love lost with Gorilla Glue either.

Finally, Tessica wants her ordeal to be a very painful and cautionary tale for anyone thinking about getting creative with Gorilla Glue.

Sadly, that should-be-obvious advice comes too late for Len Martin ... a fellow Louisianan who apparently didn't believe Tessica's situation was as dire as she claimed. He paid the price with half of his lip.

A freshman at West Virginia University got arrested for barreling down a snowy street in a laundry cart and nailing a police cruiser ... and yes, alcohol was involved.

Josh Beard was partying with friends in the fresh snow ... a tradition at WVU whenever the town gets blanketed.

Josh turned the laundry cart into a sled, but there was one big problem.  You can steer a sled ... not so with a laundry cart, and the proof's in the pics.

Josh is rocketed out of the laundry car as it strikes the police car, and that's all cops needed to see. Josh makes a run for it but he's no match for the police.

He's been charged with disorderly conduct, underage drinking, destruction of property, fleeing from an officer and playing in the streets. Playing in the streets, seriously?

A wild police pursuit in Kentucky ended in a most unique way ... when an officer hugged the distressed driver instead of slapping handcuffs on her.

Body cam footage captured the conclusion of a cop chase that reportedly spanned 2 counties Wednesday, after cops say Latrece Curry took off from a domestic dispute with her husband ... and fled when deputies tried to track her down.

It has all the makings of an intense confrontation -- several police vehicles surround Curry, sirens blare, cops approach with guns drawn -- but Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson noticed something as he got closer and demanded she open her door ... she was completely terrified.

Chief Richardson says ... "The look on her face was of sheer terror. She was shaking and it was obvious she was scared. I talked to her to calm her down and then she hugged me. That has never happened to me after a pursuit." De-escalation at its finest.

The chief says Curry was shaking so badly she couldn't even get her seat belt off, so he helped her and she started crying and hugged him. He says he didn't perceive her to be a threat in any way.

As for why she fled police, Richardson told the New York Post, "She was just in the zone, she didn’t know what she was doing and she was extremely sorry." He says she simply made a bad choice.