Blueface Makes it Rain on Skid Row for Xmas ... Critics Say Dehumanizing

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Blueface
A LITTLE RAIN, A LITTLE PAIN

Blueface did something which on the surface is awesome -- giving money to the poor -- but on another level, some say what he did is degrading.

The rapper went to Skid Row Monday in downtown L.A. where he jumped atop his SUV and launched an untold number of bills into a crowd that he whipped into a frenzy.

No doubt his generosity was appreciated by those present, but he's getting some blowback on social media, with some calling it demeaning and dehumanizing -- people down on their luck diving for dollar bills.

Blueface posted the video on his Instagram account, simply captioning it, "The season of giving $." That's not the way everyone saw it.

One person wrote, "Some might think that's some 'baller s***.' Many will think he's 'giving back.' What he's doing is DEMORALIZING and HUMILIATING ppl who deserve better."

Mariah Carey Nanny Sues ... All I Want for XMas Is My Unpaid Wages!!!

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UPDATE

4:03 PM PT -- A rep for Mariah tells us, "This is a legally and factually baseless claim that will be defended with vigor."

Mariah Carey works her hired help to the bone, and then kicks 'em to the curb when she's had enough ... so claims her ex-nanny in new legal docs.

MiMi's being sued by a woman named Maria Burgues, who claims she worked for Mariah between late 2017 and early 2018 ... watching over her two kids and, allegedly, flying all over the world with them without getting paid her fair share for the job she was doing.

Burgues alleges in her lawsuit -- obtained by TMZ -- that Mariah and co. wouldn't let her take required breaks she's supposed to get under California law, including rests and meals. Burgues says those just weren't a thing while she was employed.

Burgues doesn't get specific about what exactly her schedule or allotted hours for each week were, but she makes it sound like she was working round the clock for Mariah, often on non-nannying duties and tasks that allegedly didn't involve the kids at all.

Adding insult to injury, Burgues claims Mariah had a bodyguard she reported to who was a scumbag and allegedly treated her like dirt out in the open on more than one occasion. She even alleges the guy almost got them into a major traffic accident for being on his phone.

Ryan Phillippe Defends Promoting Saudi Music Fest ... Other Stars Catch Heat Too

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Ryan Phillippe and a bevy of other high-profile stars are catching tons of flak for promoting a Saudi Arabia event -- but Ryan is digging his heels in and going to bat for the nation.

Here's the deal ... Ryan and a bunch of other stars like Sofia Richie, Armie Hammer, Irina Shayk, Scott Disick and other models and influences all went to this music festival called MDL BEAST in SA over the weekend, and they all seemed down to plug the hell out of it.

Ryan was in a festive spirit, as he rocked traditional Saudi headgear and face paint. While he called it a "cultural exchange," others found it offensive ... for more reasons than one.

The "Cruel Intentions" star's Instagram comments got flooded with people shaming him for promoting a country that's known for their human rights violations -- especially against women and the LGBTQ community, not to mention journalists they don't like.

Ryan didn't seem to care much about all that though -- he fired back early and often.

He responded to several of the comments -- and his message was basically this ... the country's changing, bro! He doubled down in his support of Saudi Arabia, saying he'd feel good about bringing any woman who was important to him for a visit.

On the other side of things, Sofia also caught tons of backlash for what many deemed tone-deaf posts, including one of her and two other ladies, which she captioned as "Saudi girls." The caption has since been deleted, but Sofia was all over the place touting SA and MDL BEAST.

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Ditto for Armie, who likened the event to "Woodstock in the 1960's" and going on to say that he felt things were progressing and moving forward there. Similar messages from most everyone else too, BTW ... who all probably got paid a pretty penny to do this.

Emily Ratajkowski sounded off on the issue, saying she actually turned down payment because she felt the country's practices don't line up with her principles.

Different price points for different folks, we suppose.

Jeremy Roenick NBC Suspends Analyst After Joke About 3-somes W/ Coworker

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NBC has suspended Jeremy Roenick indefinitely without pay ... after the pro-turned-analyst went on a podcast and made sexual comments about his coworkers.

The 20-year vet -- who played for a number of NHL teams including the Blackhawks, Coyotes and Flyers -- appeared on the Barstool Sports "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast when he started talking about his colleagues Kathryn Tappen and Patrick Sharp.

At one point, Roenick discussed going on vacation with his wife and Tappen ... and revealed he joked with a hotel guest about their "situation," saying, “I play it off like we’re going to bed together every night, the three of us.”

Roenick explains that it would NEVER happen ... but added, "If it really came to fruition, that would really be good."

Later in the interview, Roenick praised the host as a coworker, saying she's "one of the most professional sports personalities I know."

As for Sharp, Roenick also gushed about his appearance ... saying he's "so beautiful" and "I'd have to think about it if he asked me ... I wouldn't say no right away."

NBC Sports released a statement on Monday, saying “Jeremy Roenick has been suspended indefinitely without pay for making inappropriate comments about his co-workers."

Jeremy Roenick DECEMBER 2019
SPITTIN' CHICLETS

"We will have no further comment at this time.”

Roenick has been working for NBC Sports since 2010 ... but it's unclear when he'll make it back to the TV screens.

We reached out to Roenick for a comment ... so far, no word back.

Dublin Zoo Tiger Stalks, Lunges at Boy In Wild Video

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KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE TIGER

Thank God for reinforced glass ... because it saved one little boy from becoming a hungry tiger's lunch.

Check out the insane video ... the boy and his father were visiting The Dublin Zoo and stopped for a quick photo-op with the big cat. You can see the tiger slowly start to creep -- then stop when the boy turns around -- and lunge into a full sprint when the boy looks away again.

The tiger is stopped by the glass before it can get to the boy, desperately pawing for a piece, before finally giving up and searching for its next meal.

Lucky for dad, his son's got nerves of steel, and plays the whole thing off pretty well.

Judi Dench Gets Super Handsy in 'Cats' ... No Kitten!!!

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Judi Dench really gave "Cats" the finger ... in fact, she gave the audience 5 of them and a wedding ring to boot, in a major flub/oversight.

If you dared to subject yourself to the 2-hour-long feline flick, you may have noticed a decidedly human feature on Dench ... a human hand with a band of gold.

There have been other flubs in the flick, but this one's pretty hilarious.

Universal reportedly notified thousands of theaters they'd be receiving an updated version of the movie with "some improved visual effects."

Jason Derulo
REVIEWS DON'T MATTER

Jason Derulo, one of the movie's stars has been VERY open in discussing edits. Derulo says his junk had to be CGI'd out of the film because it was just too big ... and looked weird on his cat body.

Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson and James Corden are also in the movie -- which can't be saved on star power alone -- it's currently pulling and 18% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Me-owww.

Bill Cosby to Eddie Murphy Didn't Appreciate Your 'SNL' Jab ... You 'Hollywood Slave!!!'

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Eddie Murphy made a crack on 'SNL' at Bill Cosby's expense -- and the incarcerated comedian didn't appreciate it one bit ... with his rep calling Ed a "Slave" to Tinseltown.

Cosby's rep, Andrew Wyatt, posted a scathing response Sunday to Eddie's joke -- and it's pretty brutal. Wyatt, speaking on behalf of Bill, writes ... "Mr. Cosby became the first Black to win an Emmy for his role in I Spy and Mr. Cosby broke color barriers in the Entertainment Industry, so that Blacks like Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappell, Kevin Hart and et al., could have an opportunity to showcase their talents for many generations to come."

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He went on ... "It is sad that Mr. Murphy would take this glorious moment of returning to SNL and make disparaging remarks against Mr. Cosby," going on to add, "One would think that Mr. Murphy was given his freedom to leave the plantation, so that he could make his own decisions; but he decided to sell himself back to being a Hollywood Slave."

Wyatt continues by comparing Eddie to vaudevillian actor Stepin Fetchit, and said "cooning" equals the destruction of black men in Hollywood. Then ... he offered a truce of sorts.

The guy invites Eddie to meet with Bill in hopes of "having a meeting of the minds" to help the black community instead of tearing it down -- something BC apparently thinks Eddie is doing by taking shots at him on national television.

ICYMI, Eddie joked if you would've told him 30 years ago he'd be this stay-at-home dad like he is now with so many kids (10 of 'em) while the Cos himself was in jail ... he would've taken that bet. He then imitated Cosby's voice, calling himself "America's Dad."

Cosby was found guilty of aggravated indecent assault in 2018, and is currently serving a 3 to 10 year prison sentence.

Alonzo Bodden on Pete Davidson Rehab PSA on 'SNL' Could Be Good/Bad ... Just Get Help You Need

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IT'S DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE

Pete Davidson took many people aback on 'SNL' by seemingly announcing he was going to rehab for the holidays -- and if he's serious ... Alonzo Bodden has some advice.

We ran into the comic Sunday at LAX and asked him to weigh in on what appeared to be Pete implying he'd be checking into a rehab facility soon -- something he danced around on 'Weekend Update' without saying "rehab." It couldn't have been clearer though.

Alonzo -- who's a recovering alcoholic -- tells us he doesn't know Pete, but acknowledges there's usually more going on behind a person's public persona.

That said, he explains how rehab is different for everybody -- as no one goes in for just one thing. So long as whoever checks in gets the specific treatment they need for whatever their issue is, that's all that matters. If Pete falls into that category, AB wishes him the best.

As for whether going public with the potential rehab stint is a good idea, Alonzo's got some thoughts there as well. He says it's a double-edged sword, which can pay off big time.

In Pete's case, it certainly did ... he got an outpouring of love and support from 'SNL' fans online, who commended him for being so forthcoming with his demons.

Kevin Costner Endorses Mayor Pete in Iowa ... But Hollywood 💖 Bernie

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Pete Buttigieg was able to get at least one new Hollywood A-lister to endorse his bid for the presidency -- but his opponent, Bernie Sanders, has him beat in that department.

Kevin Costner showed up to a modest-sized town hall Sunday in Indianola, Iowa and publicly backed the Southbend mayor for Prez ... reportedly telling the crowd of about 1,200 that he didn't wanna tell them who to vote for, but was simply sharing who he supported.

Of course, that's PB. Kevin went on to tout Pete's steady hand among the Democratic contenders, calling him a man of "this moment" and someone who could right the ship.

Kevin then introduced Pete and embraced him in a hug. Pretty cool moment ... but it kinda pales in comparison to the VIP treatment Bernie was met with in L.A. the day before.

Cody Simpson Hangs w/ Playboy Model in NYC ... Miley 'Lonely' for Xmas???

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Cody Simpson and Miley Cyrus are either playing with our hearts before Christmas, or these signs are being misread. Regardless, allow us to ask ... everything alright here?

The Australian heartthrob singer was spotted out Saturday in NYC, walking alongside Playboy model Jordy Murray -- who's actually the December 2019 Playmate. So, yeah -- she's a hottie herself. What's even more curious ... no sign of Miley anywhere for this SoHo stroll.

Speaking of MC, she posted a message discussing a song she wrote about being lonely for the holidays, but it had a positive vibe ... which encouraged folks to love themselves.

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Miley wrote, "In ways that still feels relevant and someone reading this right now could possibly relate! If you feel lonely this season just know YOU ARE COMPLETELY MADE OF MAGIC!" She added, "You are as special as a snowflake , beautifully unique and I hope inside your soul feels light, hope , peace and joy knowing how singularly amazing YOU are!"

She finished her heartfelt message with ... "Love always wins!" Seems simple enough, but in light of Cody surfacing with another woman the same day, it sorta reads differently now.

As for when we last saw these two together in public, it appears to have been about two weeks ago in L.A. -- where Cody tagged along with Miley to a youth homeless shelter.

We also know they might be starting a band, but when it comes to social media -- Miley and Cody haven't appeared much together in couple-y photos for a while. The last thing Cody posted with Miley was on Nov. 23, and Miley put something up in late Oct./early Nov.

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SHE'S JUST BEIN' MILEY

They started getting romantic soon after Miley and Kaitlynn Carter broke things off, and they were hot and heavy for a minute, especially as Miley underwent some medical procedures.

Now, it's a bit unclear where things stand between them. Here's hoping all's well though.

Carrie Fisher Family Woulda Been Fine With Full-Blown CGI Leia in 'Skywalker'

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Carrie Fisher shows up in the new 'Star Wars' movie in the flesh -- without much digital magic -- but her fam says they would've signed off on a complete CGI Princess Leia ... if it was needed.

The late actress's brother, Todd Fisher, tells TMZ ... while director J.J. Abrams and co. told them ahead of time they'd mostly be using old footage of Carrie for Leia's final appearances in 'Rise of Skywalker,' he says he wouldn't have minded a full computer-generated recreation for action sequences.

Even crazier ... Todd tells us he doesn't think his sister would've cared about a CGI rendering either. If anything, he believes she would've given her full blessing, so long as it facilitated the story, and honored the legacy of the character. Todd says, "[B]etter that than nothing."

There's more evidence Carrie would've been on board with a CGI version of herself because one already exists. Princess Leia's young face was superimposed onto another actress in the prequel to 'A New Hope' in 'Rogue One,' which filmed before Carrie died in 2016.

Wyclef Jean Wanna Own Your Music??? HMU, I Got a Co. That Helps with That

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CREATING BETTER CONTRACTS

Wyclef Jean says there's something way more important than just producing or performing on a track, and that's publishing ... a moneymaking well he wants to help new artists tap.

The Fugees rapper talked to us Friday in NYC about his new industry venture -- a publishing and distribution company he started and just got major financial backing for called Carnival World Music Group -- which is meant to give a big leg up to up-and-coming creatives.

The idea behind it is that Wyclef and co. will offer royalty advances to artists, producers and songwriters who want to get their music out there, but without taking copyright ownership.

Check it out ... Wyclef says the focus of the company is for Africans, but that doesn't mean he's excluding anyone who wants to partner up. Come one, come all, pretty much.

As for why he's doing this ... the guy says he's learned a valuable lesson from his many years in the game, and it's basically this -- producing/rapping/singing only makes you so much cash. The real green comes from publishing rights, which are often awarded to the songwriters, composers and the publishing companies those people are affiliated with.

Take, for example, "Killing Me Softly." He says while he produced the iconic cover, he and the Fugees didn't make the millions they should have because they didn't write or compose the new version. Most of that money presumably went to Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel.

Since then, Wyclef's learned the power of publishing and has since reaped the benefits. Now, he wants to pay it forward to young folks, whom he says are prone to sell their rights away.

Mark Consuelos Gets Heated ... At Son's Wrestling Match

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LOSIN' HIS COOL

Mark Consuelos is just like all those parents out there getting a little too involved in their kids' sporting events ... because he caused a scene at his son's wrestling match.

Check out this video of the "Riverdale" star getting heated at a wrestling tournament on Long Island ... you see Mark coming out of the crowd and onto the mat, seemingly incensed with his son's opponent.

Mark makes his move after his 16-year-old son, Joaquin, gets his headgear ripped off by his foe. You hear other concerned parents yelling for Consuelos to get off the mat, and another adult has to push him back towards the stands.

Folks who were there tell us  Mark's wife, Kelly Ripa, was also there and kept her cool while her husband rushed to their son's defense.

While the parents were getting riled up, the kids showed some serious sportsmanship ... shaking hands and resuming their match.

We're told Joaquin's opponent won the match and Mark was vocally and visibly upset, leaving the gym for a few hours to cool off before eventually returning to the all-day tournament.

We reached out to Mark ... no word back, so far.

Army vs. Navy Football West Point Clears Cadets of Hate Speech ... Over 'OK' Hand Gestures

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West Point says it does NOT believe 3 cadets were trying to promote white supremacy by flashing the "OK" hand gesture at the Army vs. Navy football game ... saying it was all a "misplaced joke."

Military officials launched an investigation after the cadets were spotted using the hand gesture multiple times during the ESPN broadcast of the Dec. 14 game.

As we previously reported, the Anti-Defamation League and other watchdog groups have said the hand symbol has been co-opted by white supremacy organizations ... which is why people were shocked to see the cadets flash the sign so proudly on-air.

But now, West Point has released the findings of their investigation -- and they insist the cadets were not trying to promote a racist agenda.

A$AP Rocky As My Penis' Defense Attorney ... Hilarious Response to Leaked Sex Tape

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A$AP Rocky's addressing a leaked sex tape clip allegedly featuring him with another woman in the best way possible -- by being really funny ... and a little cocky.

The naughty clip began making the rounds Thursday and going viral for obvious reasons, but also because folks seem to be a little disappointed in Rocky's ... uh, performance.

Well, the rapper responded in a big way, saying he and his penis woke up to the "alarming disturbance" of the leaked sex vid ... then went to bat for Lil' Rocky.

He says as the defense attorney for his dong, "WE’RE PREPARED 2 DENY ANY SLOW STROKES OR LACK OF KILLIN THE P***Y." A$AP adds there's a long list of satisfied women who'll back him up.

He also seems to find it funny that there's a lot of judgmental folks out there who've never had sex with him rating his sex skills based on a minute and a half clip.

Not sure he's really laughing about it ... but we're certainly laughing at his tweet.

Jason Derulo Picks 'Cats' Fight with Critics ... They Don't Know Art!!!

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Jason Derulo
REVIEWS DON'T MATTER

Jason Derulo's got his claws out, pushing back against critics who ain't feline fine about his new movie, "Cats" ... saying they don't know crap about making movies.

We got Jason in New York City and asked how the "Cats" cast is handling all the negative reactions to the movie adaptation. Ya might have heard -- it's been widely hailed ... an epic stinker.

Jason says critics' opinions don't carry weight ... because the folks giving the reviews have never made movies in their lives -- a classic defense.

Derulo tries to find a positive spin ... saying the Broadway production also opened to terrible reviews way back in the day, and look how that turned out! If you're not up on your theater stats ... "Cats" ran for 18 straight years in the U.S. ... a record at the time.

Jason says the visuals are so stunning -- hello, it's humans mixed with cats for goodness sake -- there's bound to be push back, and it's all part of the game when art defies norms.

Jason's got no problem ripping his critics, but the cat's got his tongue when it comes to his CGI penis, which is much smaller than the real deal.