You Might Want to Rethink

3:30 PM PT -- Lythgoe tells us he strongly denies giving Taylor, or any contestant, the heads-up on results at any time.

Former "American Idol" champ Taylor Hicks says he had inside information about who was getting eliminated each week when he was on the show -- and says he wasn't the only one.

Taylor was on WJOX radio Friday in Birmingham, AL when he dropped the bombshell. As he put it, "I had an 'in' in the whole production of the show" who told him the results before they were revealed during season 5.

Mr. Soul Patrol says the only night he didn't get the info was the finale in 2006 -- where he was up against Katharine McPhee. He did say executive producer Nigel Lythgoe gave him a "wink and a nod" before the results were announced.

To be clear, Taylor's not suggesting the voting was rigged. However, if what he's saying is true ... you'd have to question the shocked looks on contestants' faces when Ryan Seacrest revealed the elimination.

Also ... for how many other seasons was Taylor's source tipping off contestants?

Andy Dick never saw it coming -- an aggressive bodyguard treated him like some crazed Post Malone fan and ripped him off the rapper's Lamborghini ... and we got it all on video.

The "Better Now" rapper was leaving Poppy Thursday night after killing it at the Hollywood Bowl. All seemed fine and dandy as Post was riding passenger side in his Lambo ... window down and signing his John Hancock before splitting.

But then something strange happens -- Andy shows up. He walks up to the driver's side and tries shooting the s**t when, out of nowhere, a bodyguard intervenes in the most bodyguard-ish way.

Judge Joe Brown says President Trump should steer clear of picking a reality TV judge for the soon-to-be vacant SCOTUS seat ... 'cause most of 'em wouldn't come close to cutting it.

We spoke to the now-retired judge a day after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced he was resigning from his post on the Supreme Court, leaving Trump to make a new appointment.

During initial speculation of who the Prez might choose, some journos and pundits half-joked he'd go the TV route, since that's what he knows. Joe says that likely won't happen ... and he has his reasons.

He doesn't specify who exactly he's referring to, but you gotta assume Judy's off that list. She's definitely legit. Ditto People's Court Judge Marilyn, who was a sitting judge before taking the TV gig.

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney is furious the powers that be notified him his office was NOT allowed to buy tampons for his staffers ... and he's blaming a bunch of Republican geezers he says are out of touch with reality.

We got the Congressman from NY at Reagan National Airport and wanted to talk to him about the video he posted Thursday on Twitter ... in which he writes a personal check for $37 after the House Administration Committee told him taxpayer dollars can't be used to buy feminine hygiene products.

11:13 AM PT -- Jessica Peet tells TMZ ... "I want to apologize for what I posted as a 14-year-old teenager. In no way did I mean it in a derogatory nor racial way. I do hope people are willing to forgive, and understand I was immature and I've done a lot of growing up since then."

One of the 'Survivor' contestants from the upcoming season is catching heat before the show even airs ... for using the n-word so much on Twitter, you'd think she was Jay-Z.

19-year-old Jessica Peet is a cast member on "Survivor: David vs. Goliath" and, as it always does ... the Internet scoured her social media, and turned up scores of old tweets where she gratuitously drops the n-word.

She even defends using it, saying, "n***a isn't a cuss word !! Lol" -- and, in another, adds ... "I have a way with words..... N***a." Indeed.

The tweets, which 'Survivor' fans grabbed before they were deleted, are from 2013 to 2015. Many fans online are calling Peet a racist.

Sources close to the production tell TMZ ... CBS is aware of the situation, and Peet apologized by saying she was "young and dumb." She would've been between 14 and 16 at the time.

This drama comes on the heels of a pair of upcoming contestants getting into hot water for breaking their NDAs by posting a pic together ... before CBS revealed the cast.

Kim Kardashian doesn't seem to have the word awkward in her vocabulary, 'cause she asked the guy who cheated on her sister to unblock her on social media ... right to his face.

Kim was celebrating Khloe Kardashian's 34th birthday Wednesday evening in L.A., with none other than Tristan Thompson in attendance. As you'll recall, Khloe and the NBA star seem to have moved past his cheating scandal while she was pregnant with their kid.

Same goes for Kim too, actually. She straight-up asked Tristan to unblock her on Instagram ... and recorded him doing it as well. Talk about Queen of Confrontation, sheesh.

Scarlett Johansson's fired up about a former Scientologist making a claim -- on live TV -- that she once auditioned to date Tom Cruise ... and she's not letting him get away with it.

The 'Avengers' star put Brendan Tighe -- who says he used to work on Cruise's Scientology security team -- on blast after he appeared on Megyn Kelly's NBC show Wednesday and claimed she was on a list of women who auditioned to date him after his split from Nicole Kidman years ago.

Johansson tells The Hollywood Reporter, "The very idea of any person auditioning to be in a relationship is so demeaning. I refuse for anyone to spread the idea that I lack the integrity to choose my own relationships."

She added ... "Only a man aka Brendan Tighe would come up with a crazy story like that."

Tighe also claimed Scarlett's audition must not have gone well, because actress and Scientologist Erika Christensen had to distance herself from her afterward.

Klay Thompson was PISSED after his friend got fouled hard in a pickup game in China -- with the NBA star cussing out one of the players and nearly coming to blows.

What set Klay off was when Klay's pal drove to the hoop and an opposing player took out his legs in midair -- causing the guys to come crashing down HARD on the floor.

Klay's pal was rightfully furious -- and that's when Thompson stormed onto the court to get in the other dude's face.

"Come on, man. That's bullsh*t," Thompson says.

"If you want to fight him, then fight his ass -- don't undercut him. F*ckin' bullsh*t. That's bullsh*t, man. Bullsh*t. You don't do that bullsh*t."

"That's how you f*ckin' ruin somebody's career, god damnit. You don't do that. You don't do that sh*t."

Diane Warren thinks Sarah Huckabee Sanders is reaping what she was sowing by spewing hate and lies, and has zero sympathy for Trump's mouthpiece.

We got the legendary songwriter Tuesday night at Craig's in WeHo Tuesday and asked how she felt about Sanders reportedly getting Secret Service protection in the wake of threats against her and her family. Warren's simple response ... "F*** her!"

Diane -- one of the most prolific songwriters in the world with 9 Oscar nominations -- shreds Sarah for lying to the American people every single day. Diane also calls BS on Trump rallying his supporters against the Left's "bullying."

Ron Howard is taking issue with reports Disney is putting future 'Star Wars' spin-offs on ice after his flick fell short, money-wise.

We got the director of "Solo: A Star Wars Story" Tuesday in Bev Hills just days after it was reported Disney was suspending all pre-planned 'Star Wars' story movies because 'Solo' failed to deliver the studio's desired box office numbers. That includes the Obi-Wan movie. Ron seems to say there are inaccuracies in the reporting, but he's not specific.

You'd think Ron would take the news to heart, considering his flick is being blamed for the rumored decision, but that ain't the case. As far as he knows, 'Solo' got good reviews and a generally decent turnout in ticket sales. Maybe not what Disney wanted ... but he's satisfied.

Donald Trump's cringeworthy comment comparing a murder victim to Tom Selleck didn't upset anyone that truly matters ... so says the deceased man's mom.

Agnes Gibboney -- the mother of Ronald da Silva, whose portrait Trump compared to Selleck "except better looking" -- tells us she took no offense to the President's remark about Ron last week. To the contrary ... she was flattered.

She says tons of people have told her that her late son looks like the famous TV P.I. -- and that if she really thought the comment was distasteful ... she wouldn't have laughed along with everyone else.

Donald Trump wants his supporters to know they're under attack and, in order to take on the vicious bullying from the Left ... he's going to need some more cash.

The Prez sent an email to his followers Tuesday -- with the subject line "Harassment" -- to remind them of some recent incidents he considers examples ... including Sarah Huckabee Sanders getting booted from a restaurant.

He claims the Left is trying to bully their way back into power, and the best way to show them "we will not be intimidated" ... is to crank up the donations.

He adds, "Democrats only care about 'equal rights' if you’re a liberal. But if you believe a country MUST have borders, the Left doesn’t want you to have a voice in America."

Thomas Markle thinks the Royal Family is putting him in the "penalty box" after his "Good Morning Britain" interview a week ago, especially since President Trump is getting to meet Her Majesty before him.

Thomas tells TMZ, he hasn't spoken with anyone from the palace since last week's interview. Not even his daughter, Meghan ... who, of course, has been busy with royal stuff.

Markle thinks he's getting the cold shoulder, and tells TMZ ... “If the Queen is willing to meet our arrogant, ignorant, and insensitive president she has no excuse not to meet me, I’m nowhere near as bad.” Trump's scheduled to meet Elizabeth in the U.K. next month.

Despite the perceived diss ... Thomas says he still has every intention of crossing the pond to see Meghan, and finally meet Harry. As for QE2 ... fingers crossed!

TV personality Rabbi Shmuley Boteach says America is becoming too unforgiving ... and Roseanne's teary apology should warrant some sympathy.

Audio of Roseanne breaking down in an interview recorded with Boteach, just days after Barr blasted out her racist tweet, was released this weekend.

Boteach was on "TMZ Live" Monday and, while he doesn't totally agree with Barr's words, he thinks those attacking her should pull back just a little more.

The way Boteach sees it ... Roseanne has a history of pushing buttons, but not being a racist ... and her apology in the interview with him should be enough for her to be forgiven.

Kim Kardashian was ready to pull the plug on her marriage to Kanye West after his "slavery" remark on TMZ Live ... or so, Kanye thought.

Turns out the biggest backlash Kanye faced after saying 400 years of slavery "sound like a choice" ... was at home. He says, "There was a moment where I felt like after TMZ, maybe a week after that, I felt like the energy levels were low."

Ye told The NY Times, he actually called several family members and asked, "Was Kim thinking about leaving me after TMZ?"

Obviously, they've worked things out.

BTW, the Times asked Kanye if he wanted to rephrase the statement about "slavery." He refused, saying ... "I never said slavery itself -- like being shackled in chains -- was a choice. That's why I went from slave to 400 years to mental prison to this and that. If you look at the clip you see the way my mind works."

No, Rihanna did not get busted for trespassing at Rite Aid ... but one woman pulled out all the stops to try to make it look that way.

According to law enforcement ... the woman was busted last week at the Bev Hills Rite Aid, and didn't have any ID on her. When cops asked her for her name, she said it was Robyn Rihanna Fenty ... which is the singer's government name.

When cops asked her for her birthday, she said it was February 20 ... Rihanna's actual birthday.

The woman made one mistake though -- she said she was born in 1986 ... but Rihanna was born in 1988.