Lizzo Cheesin' at Wintour's Pre-Met Gala Dinner ... After Blasting the 2022 Event
Lizzo looked as happy as ever pullin' up to Anna Wintour's pre-Met Gala dinner, but it's an awkward situation, considering Lizzo had some harsh words about last year's event.
The singer was all smiles Sunday night in NYC, walking into Wintour's private pad ... for dinner with the likes of Kim Kardashian, Penelope Cruz and many other A-listers.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
While she looked thrilled, she might have been gearing up to face the music. ICYMI, Lizzo went on Instagram Live and totally trashed 2022's Met Gala last May ... complaining about everything from the booze to the photogs snapping pics.
She filled her fans in on how unglamorous fashion's biggest night really is, at least to her ... first complaining about the "long f***ing line" she had to wait in. She added there was no place to sit, either -- saying "B***h? Can we get some chairs or some drinks or some hors d'oeuvres?"
It didn't stop there, though ... once she finally got in, a waiter told her they only had red or white wine, which sent her through the roof while looking for some tequila. BTW, she was supposed to rock a flute solo during her red carpet debut but claims she only did part of it -- adding the paps were heckling her.
The Met Gala's going down Monday night, and since she went to Anna's party ... ya gotta imagine she's also going to the Met.
So, the world's dyin' to know -- will Lizzo get served some tequila, or will she bring her own?!
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Josh Peck Jennette McCurdy 'Owes Us' on Pod ... We Nixed Her Episode!!!
Jennette McCurdy owes Josh Peck and his podcast partner for scrapping their debut episode at her request -- so says Josh Peck ... who's now catching flak over this.
The ex-Nickelodeon child star is trending this weekend over an episode of his pod, 'Good Guys,' that aired earlier this month ... which the internet is just learning about right now. The reason he's getting dragged -- JP, according to some, comes across as a bit of a jerk.
Josh Peck suggests that Jennette McCurdy blocked his number after asking him to scrap an unreleased episode of his podcast where they discussed her memoir, ‘I'm Glad My Mom Died.’
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 29, 2023 @PopCrave
Peck reached out several times to get her back on the podcast but got no response:
“She owes us.” pic.twitter.com/T8VCcrmgBh
Here's the context ... Josh and his right-hand man, Ben Soffer, are talking to Tana Mongeau -- who brings up Jennette's memoir from last year, in which she addresses some childhood trauma she went through at the hands of her family and Nickelodeon execs back in the day.
Tana praises Jennette for speaking her truth -- something Josh/Ben say they also tried to do by having her on as their first guest in August ... in an episode that was never released.
Josh and Ben are giving themselves pats on the back for being "good guys" and nixing the episode after Jennette apparently asked them to (unclear why). However, after some time passed, Josh says he reached out to her again in hopes of getting her back on for a redo.
He says it seemed like she'd inexplicably blocked him -- after which, he says he felt like a little quid pro quo was in order since they did her a solid. Twitter doesn't agree, though.
You can go through the "Josh Peck" trend for yourself to see how people are tearing into the guy -- but bottom line ... they feel like he sounds entitled and completely insensitive here.
Jennette doesn't appear to have commented about Josh or his podcast in recent months.
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Sydney Sweeney Shoulder-to-Shoulder w/ Fiancé See? We're Good, Sheesh!
Sydney Sweeney seems to want to put out the fire over the Glen Powell speculation-- so, after a lot of time apart from her fiancé ... they're finally in the same frame again.
The actress stepped out with Jonathan Davino in NYC Friday night, strolling down the street side by side after she attended an Armani Beauty event earlier that day ... giving each other knowing looks here and there, but mostly remaining stoic as paps fired away.
Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney via Instagram 📸
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) April 23, 2023 @FilmUpdates
They will star in an upcoming romcom from director Will Gluck. pic.twitter.com/9HpfzAEyxp
The photos mark the first time we've seen Sydney and Jonathan together in public for a minute -- over the past several days, we've either seen one or the other ... but not the two of them in one picture. Now, they appear to be trying to send a clear message.
Here's the thing ... while they, perhaps, think this should shut down any further rumors that there's trouble in paradise -- they didn't really do a good job at looking like a happy couple.
No PDA here from what we can see ... and, more importantly, still no engagement ring on Sydney's finger -- which is a look she's been sporting a lot lately -- aka, a bare digit. However, considering Jon's still walking her longtime pet on the regular ... it's hard to make sense of what the hell is going on. Like we told you, sources say they're still engaged.
Sydney and Jonathan being together doesn't translate for Glen's sitch ... whose girlfriend dumped him last week on the heels of a lot of flirtatious behavior between the two costars.
Not only were SS and GP looking hot and compatible on set for their "hard-R" rom-com, as Glen put it, but they sure seemed simpatico off-set as well ... whether it was him dipping Syd on the couch and catching her, or on the red carpet -- where they couldn't stop smiling.
At first, it honestly felt like nothing but conjecture from fans and media alike -- but after the Glen split ... some suggested there may, in fact, be flames under all this smoke.
If Sydney wants to extinguish all this full-stop ... she may have to pucker up and plant one on Johnny there. 'Cause a non-touchy-feely date in New York probably won't cut it.
We'll keep our eyes peeled. 👀 speculation -- so, after a lot of time apart from her fiancé ... they're finally in the same frame again.
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Brian Austin Green Ditches Vanessa Marcil Tattoo ... 20 Years After Split!!!
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Brian Austin Green is officially -- or we should say finally -- saying goodbye to a sentimental tattoo ... one he got in honor of Vanessa Marcil before their 2003 breakup.
Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Brian finally went through with the removal about 15 years after first trying to scrap it. We're told he tried deleting it when he and Vanessa split, but never got it fully wiped because the tattoo removal place shut down.
Brian got the ink after she gave birth to their son Kassius back in 2002 -- the piece was the kiddo's name with Vanessa's name shaded inside it.
Y'know what they say about name tats, though ... the young couple called it quits the next year.
The tattoo's remained faint on his arm since his past removal sessions, but he finally went in this month to finish the job. As for honoring Kass ... Brian still has another tattoo of his baby photo on his bicep. Always good to have a backup!
FYI, Brian and Vanessa went through a lengthy custody battle over Kass ... and he also sued her, claiming she owed him roughly $200K in unpaid loans, but it was dismissed due to the statute of limitations.
We're told the nasty ending definitely motivated BAG to finish the ink removal.
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Florida Principal Forced to Resign Over David Statue ... Pays the Big Guy a Visit!!!
An ex-principal -- who was forced to resign after her school showed off the naked David statue to students -- made the trek to Italy ... and was welcomed with open arms.
Hope Carrasquilla paid a visit to the famed Accademia Gallery museum in Florence Friday with her family in tow -- this after the city's mayor had invited her to come see David for herself following her unceremonious ousting last month ... which he called outrageous.
Cecilie Hollberg -- Accademia's director -- gave Carrasquilla and her brood a VIP tour of the place ... which, of course, included an up-close view of Michelangelo's iconic artwork.
She said hosting them was a pleasure, adding ... "I am happy to be able to welcome her and introduce her to the beauties of our museum, besides showing her the David, a sculpture that, I repeat as I have said, has nothing to do with pornography. It's a masterpiece, it represents a religious symbol of purity and innocence, the victory of good over evil."
Carrasquilla also met with Mayor Dario Nardella ... who spoke out on her situation in March, when she got the boot from Tallahassee Classical School. Nardella rolled out the red carpet for her, it seems, and again defended her amid the controversy.
He writes, "A few weeks ago she was attacked for showing her students Michelangelo's David. Today it receives from @comunefi an award in the name of art and culture. Art is civilization and whoever teaches it deserves respect. Welcome Professor Hope Carrasquilla!"
Poche settimane fa era stata attaccata per aver mostrato ai suoi studenti il David di Michelangelo. Oggi riceve dal @comunefi un riconoscimento in nome dell’arte e della cultura. L’arte è civiltà e chi la insegna merita rispetto. Benvenuta professoressa Hope Carrasquilla! pic.twitter.com/ncKYYBptoe
— Dario Nardella (@DarioNardella) April 29, 2023 @DarioNardella
If you hadn't heard ... Carrasquilla stepped down after parents expressed outrage over their children being shown images of David's nude body during a lesson plan on the Renaissance in front of sixth graders. They felt it was inappropriate, and were mad they weren't given a heads-up. In the end, Carrasquilla took the fall ... telling local media she was "saddened."
It's just the latest instance of parents flexing their rights over their children's curriculum in public schools there in Florida ... which has been an ongoing issue for a few years now.
If David's off the table for learning ... ya gotta wonder what else will go. There's a lot of nudity in historical art -- especially in Michelangelo's body of work. Bye-bye, Sistine Chapel?
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Mila Kunis Reportedly in Talks ... To Play Fantastic 4's The Thing?!?
Mila Kunis may just be tapped to play The Thing in the new "Fantastic 4" movie -- that is ... if you buy a rumor that's running rampant on Twitter this morning.
A movie insider named @MyTimeToShineH -- who's credited with getting scoops before trade publications, and generally being in the know on superhero news -- sent the bird app into a frenzy Friday when they claimed Mila was in talks to portray a female version of Ben Grimm.
They are looking at Jewish actors, both male AND female for The Thing in Fantastic Four. Mila Kunis is one of them
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) April 28, 2023 @MyTimeToShineH
Grimm is the name of the dude in the comics who becomes The Thing ... a giant orange rock figure who fights crime alongside Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman and the Human Torch.
MTTSH writes, "They are looking at Jewish actors, both male AND female for The Thing in Fantastic Four. Mila Kunis is one of them." They added that the director of the upcoming 2025 flick, Matt Shakman, insisted Grimm be portrayed be a real-life Jewish actor ... as the character is explicitly depicted as Jewish in the comic books, albeit in later iterations.
Now, in case it went over your head -- The Thing is a male character ... and has always been portrayed as such. Whether it was Chuck McCann in the '90s cartoon, Michael Chiklis from the 2000s flick, or Jamie Bell from the 2010s version -- The Thing's known as a guy.
Now, however, based on this report -- or gossip, more like -- it sounds like Marvel's possibly looking to switch things up with a little gender swap ... or at the very least, considering it.
As you might imagine ... Twitter users, by and large, aren't reacting well to the news. The jokes are flying -- and the consensus seems to be, if Kevin Feige and co. go down this road, much of the fanbase will turn their backs on the studio ... as they view this as a step too far.
Of course, it wouldn't be the first time a woman replaced a role usually played by a man -- it notably happened in "Ghostbusters" ... and more recently, in 'Black Panther 2' and "She-Hulk." among other examples. Point is ... it's been done before, and sometimes with success.
As for Mila potentially being eyed for the job ... she wouldn't be half bad. Big star with name recognition and a good range of films under her belt, including action movies and comedies.
She's certainly more than capable.
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Ex-ESPN Reporter Marly Rivera 'F***ing C***' Diss Caught On Video ... Went Down In Front Of Aaron Judge
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The "f***ing c***" barb that ex-ESPN reporter Marly Rivera hurled at a female journalist earlier this month was captured on video ... and in the footage, obtained by TMZ Sports, you can see it all went down right in front of Aaron Judge.
The incident -- which resulted in ESPN firing Rivera from her role as a national baseball reporter earlier this week -- happened on April 18 at Yankee Stadium ... just before New York took on the Los Angeles Angels in the Bronx.
According to the New York Post, Rivera had set up an interview with Judge ... but grew frustrated when freelance reporter Ivón Gaete showed up at the same time looking to speak with the Yankees superstar as well.
The video shows Rivera got so livid with Gaete -- who the Post reported had been at the stadium to cover Angels star Shohei Ohtani for Tokyo Broadcasting -- she began to raise her voice at the woman in Spanish ... as Judge signed autographs and posed for pics with fans just feet away.
At one point, Rivera rolled her eyes and called Gaete a "f***ing c***."
Gaete was clearly taken aback by the remark -- and asked a nearby camera person if they had caught it on video.
The two reporters then lingered around Judge for several moments. When he finally left the area, it seemed Rivera wanted to apologize ... but it didn't appear Gaete was willing to accept it.
ESPN said on Wednesday it had parted ways with Rivera following the encounter. Rivera, meanwhile, told the Post she fully accepted responsibility for her actions.
"There were extenuating circumstances but that in no way is an excuse for my actions," Rivera said. "I am a professional with a sterling reputation across baseball and I do believe that I am being singled out by a group of individuals with whom I have a long history of professional disagreements."
Rivera has since deleted her social media pages.
For more sports coverage, tune into the TMZ Sports Podcast available on all podcast platforms!
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Tyrese Gibson Yes, I Can Afford the $636K ... But I'm Fighting It for Dads Everywhere!!!
Tyrese Gibson says he can pay the more than half a million bucks for child support and his ex-wife's lawyers -- but he still thinks the judge did him dirty, and that's why he's gonna keep fighting it in court.
Tyrese laid it all out Wednesday at LAX, one day after he was ordered to pay $636K -- with $237K going to his ex-wife Samantha Lee Gibson for back child support and $399K going to her attorneys.
He's got no doubts he can cover the steep fee, and confirms he'll always support his kids ... but insists he won't be takin' this ruling lying down, and instead plans to appeal it.
You gotta see him boldly declare his battle will be one for the ages ... one that actually changes laws for all child support cases in Georgia. He believes you'll be hearing Gibson v. Gibson cited in future court hearings once he gets what he sees as justice.
As we reported, Tyrese refused to pay the $10K/month the judge ordered last August ... which is why he was held in contempt Tuesday in court.
He even ripped Judge Farmer on social media ahead of the hearing ... and the judge certainly clapped back, at least financially, with his ruling.
But, Tyrese says he's not worried about the money, he's purely out for what's right.
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Ex-'Hot Bench' Star Larry Bakman Sues Assault Accuser ... You Cornered Me in Courthouse!!!
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1:13 PM PT -- Larry Bakman is now suing Fari Nejadpour after the latter claimed he'd been battered -- with LB not only defending his actions ... but arguing he had no other option under the circumstances.
In legal docs obtained by TMZ, Larry claims Fari's placed him in a false light by suggesting he was brutally beaten in the courthouse Monday -- because, according to Larry, that couldn't be further from the truth ... claiming Fari's account is grossly exaggerated.
Here's what happened, per Larry. He claims Fari essentially bum-rushed him in the building and was super aggressive by shoving a recorder in his face without permission ... a situation which Larry says he tried to walk away from, but allegedly couldn't as he says Fari pursued him.
He asserts that Fari was harassing him and made him fear for his safety -- and not just that, but was straight up getting into his personal space and essentially obstructing his movement. So, Larry says he did the only thing he could to break free ... claiming he "slightly pushed" him away.
Larry claims the contact was minimal -- just enough to get Fari up off of him -- but that the dude totally milked it ... acting as if he'd been punched in the chest by the Hulk Hogan and claims Larry "intentionally stumbled backward and unceremoniously fell to the floor."
Larry says Fari's responsible for this mess for initiating everything -- and adds that he's actually the one who needs to answer for it, legally. In addition to false light, Larry's suing Fari for assult, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Larry Bakman -- an ex-TV judge on the reality show "Hot Bench" -- might end up having to answer to one himself because an attorney claims he got violent ... and has the whole thing captured on audio.
Fari B. Nejadpour -- who's been repping a woman in a DV case here in L.A. -- tells TMZ ... Bakman is representing the woman's husband. Nejadpour says the case started last fall but things took a nasty turn this week.
According to Nejadpour ... Bakman had filed a motion asking that Nejadpour be disqualified as the wife's attorney due to an alleged conflict -- namely, he'd repped the aunt of a client of Bakman's about a year ago ... something Nejadpour says is completely irrelevant.
He filed an opposition to Larry's motion, which was going to be heard Monday in an L.A. courtroom -- Nejadpour tells us that's when he ran into Bakman in a courthouse hallway.
Nejadpour says he confronted Bakman about his filing, and claims Bakman responded with hostility ... allegedly replying, "F*** you, ass****."
Nejadpour tells us he was shocked and told Bakman he was going to record him to show the judge how he was behaving. He says he turned on the recorder and started following Bakman, who he says was walking away to enter the courtroom.
At this point -- which we're told is when the audio starts to pick up -- Nejadpour claims Bakman quickly turned around and punched him in the chest with both hands ... which Nejadpour says sent him crumbling to his feet and writhing in pain.
He tells us he checked into a hospital that day, where he currently remains. Nejadpour claims to have suffered a laceration to the right side of his chest and an injury to his knee ... he also says he wants Bakman prosecuted.
LAPD tells us a battery report was filed, and they're investigating. We're told Bakman hasn't been arrested.
We also reached out to Bakman, who declined to comment.
Originally Published -- 12:45 AM PT
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Steven Spielberg Says He Regrets Altering 'E.T.' ... To Conform With Societal Norms
Steven Spielberg says he made a mistake when he altered a key scene in his 1982 classic film, "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," to conform to more current societal norms.
The iconic director was interviewed Tuesday at the Time100 Summit in New York, where he made the surprising remarks about editing the scene to show federal agents holding walkie-talkies instead of firearms while chasing after kids.
Spielberg said, "That was a mistake. I never should have done that. 'E.T.' is a product of its era. No film should be revised based on the lenses we now are, either voluntarily, or being forced to peer through."
He went on to say that he made the change from firearms to walkie-talkies because he was trying to be sensitive to the fact that gun-wielding federal agents were approaching kids. But, as the years went by, Spielberg's decision to tinker with the film for its 20th Anniversary special edition didn't sit well with him.
"I should have never messed with the archives of my own work, and I don’t recommend anyone do that." Spielberg said, adding, "All our movies are a kind of a signpost of where we were when we made them, what the world was like and what the world was receiving when we got those stories out there. So, I really regret having that out there."
'E.T.' tells the touching tale of a boy who becomes close friends with an Extra-Terrestrial who appears on Earth. But, the boy must help E.T. find his way home to a galaxy far away, never to see the gentle alien again.
After his E.T. comments, Spielberg also spoke out against censoring writer Roald Dahl's famous book, "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," due to its offensive language by today's standards.
At first, Spielberg jokingly said, "Nobody should ever attempt to take the chocolate out of Willy Wonka! Ever!” But then he became serious, stating, "For me, it is sacrosanct. It’s our history, it’s our cultural heritage. I do not believe in censorship in that way."
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Ex-UFC Star Ben Askren Accidentally Insults Wife's Looks ... Whoops!!!
Ben Askren might be sleeping on the couch tonight ... and it's all 'cause he accidentally insulted his wife in what was supposed to be a super sappy appreciation post!!!
The former UFC star unleashed the blunder on both his Twitter and Instagram pages Tuesday afternoon ... when he was trying to praise his spouse, Amy, for being a great mother.
In his comment -- which was left as a caption on a photo of him with Amy and their kids -- he wrote, "I've seen some guys posting on social media lately about how they are winning bc their wife is attractive, while I don’t disagree I think finding a wife who is a great mother is 500% more important!!!"
He added, "Thanks [Amy] for being such a great mom to our kids."
The problem ... there appeared to be an insinuation in his post that perhaps his wife, who he's been married to for over a decade, isn't attractive.
Fans were quick to note the gaffe -- they slammed Askren on social media for the way he worded his compliment ... with many urging him to take it down before she saw it.
But, a little over an hour after he wrote it ... Askren blasted those who thought he was inadvertently calling his wife ugly.
"For those of you who are too dumb to realize multiple things can be true at once. My wife is both very hot and a great mother," the ex-fighter said. "Being a great mother is way more important as I originally stated."
So far, doesn't seem Amy's taken umbrage with the comment ... she actually just wrote on his post that he's avoided any kind of doghouse -- for now.
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American Airlines Passenger Gets Pissy with Fellow Flyer ... Urine Big Trouble Now!!!
Things got all pissy on an American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi Sunday .. after a passenger urinated on a fellow flyer.
The passenger unsurprisingly was drunk, according to New Delhi TV, and was promptly arrested when the plane landed at its destination.
And here's the thing ... it's become a thing! There have been at least 2 other incidents in the last few months where a passenger peed on a fellow flyer on flights from New York to New Delhi.
The airline spared all the details, saying, "American Airlines flight 292 with service from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) was met by local law enforcement upon arrival in DEL due to a disruption on board."
Although pissing on a plane is newsworthy, it still doesn't hold a candle to last week's Southwest flight, when a passenger threw a hilarious tantrum over a crying baby!
As for the latest incident ... prosecutors may soon be doing a urine analysis.
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Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee Massive Coachella Brawl Backstage In Presence of Infant Son!!!
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Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee's gotta be feeling pretty lucky ... an all-out royal rumble went down with security ahead of his Coachella performance, but he and his baby managed to dodge the blows.
TMZ Hip Hop obtained footage of Swae and his entourage attempting to enter the festival grounds at a security checkpoint behind the stage ... but their path was slowed by several security workers, and that's when things got physical.
You can see Swae actually get knocked back against some fencing as all hell breaks loose ... security guards swarm in like piranhas, pummeling another man in Swae's camp. All the while, one of Swae's guards makes sure his baby -- in a big car seat -- is safe.
Management for Swae tells us ... “As Swae Lee attempted to enter the festival with his newborn son and working crew, overzealous security guards confronted them. As 1/2 of Rae Sremmurd, he was due to perform on Coachella’s Outdoor Theatre stage at 5:55 PM. Security claimed not to recognize the talent and then aggressively initiated contact as they attempted to make their way to the stage."
They continue, "The security guards, which we presume are independent contractors, are seen clearly being the aggressors and then throwing gang signs at end of the video in a celebration."
Swae's team says his own security did a bang-up job protecting him, and more importantly, his baby boy. When the dust settled, Swae and his bro Slim Jxmmi got onstage as scheduled to rock the crowd.
The brothers Sremm just released their "Sremm 4 Life" album and fans will have plenty of time to see them live this year ... just without the WWE-style entrances, most likely.
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Dejounte Murray Hawks Star Suspended 1 Game ... For Bumping Ref
2:24 PM PT -- Dejounte Murray's postgame run-in with a referee will cost him big time ... the NBA just announced it's suspended the Hawks star one game without pay over the bump.
The league said in a statement Monday afternoon it found Murray not only made "inappropriate contact" with an official ... but he also verbally abused the ref as well.
Murray will now not be able to suit up for Game 5 of the Atlanta vs. Boston series on Tuesday ... a big deal, since the Celtics currently lead, 3-1.
The NBA is investigating Hawks star Dejounte Murray for making contact with an official at the end of Game 4 against the Celtics Sunday in Atlanta ... and could be suspended as his team fights for their playoff lives.
As the game clock winded down in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena, Murray and his teammates began leaving the court, but Dejounte made a detour, before heading for the locker room.
Check out the video ... Murray walks up to official Gediminas Petraitis, in his 8th season as an NBA ref, and appears to bump him with his chest. It's unclear if the contact was incidental.
Dejounte also appeared to say something to the ref, before starting to walk away. Seconds later, a visibly frustrated Murray turns around and starts pointing while yelling, ultimately having to be restrained by his teammates before leaving the court.
Dejounte Murray bumps referee at the end of the Atlanta Hawks Boston Celtics playoff game 4 #nba pic.twitter.com/Km0DFU1gSM
— mcbuckets (@creatorjordan23) April 24, 2023 @creatorjordan23
The Celtics took a commanding 3-1 series lead in the first round after defeating Atlanta 129-121 ... and will look to close out the series in Game 5 Tuesday in Boston.
And, they may have to do it without Murray. Per NBA rules, "intentional physical contact with an official" results in an automatic one-game suspension. Again, the question is, was it intentional?
Murray has been one of Atlanta's best players -- alongside superstar pg Trae Young -- averaging 25.3 points per game and 7.3 rebounds through four contests against the C's. Losing Dejounte, one of their most potent offensive threats, would be a considerable blow.
Originally Published -- 7:26 AM PT
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Rick Pitino Forced To Change Phone Number ... After Lip-Readers Nab It
Rick Pitino's phone was BLOWING UP Sunday ... the legendary hoops coach was seen giving out his phone number during the Knicks game, and lip-readers nabbed his digits, and wouldn't stop texting him.
Pitino was at Madison Square Garden to watch the team he coached from '87-'89 take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of their first-round playoffs series.
Rick pitino giving out his phone number here lol 914 451 7277 pic.twitter.com/iYFWCmDtD5
— Warren Buffé (@lord_bbaelish) April 23, 2023 @lord_bbaelish
As is customary, the broadcast showed the vast array of celebrities in attendance at MSG, but when the cameras panned to Pitino, he could be seen mouthing his phone number while having a convo.
"So yesterday I was enjoying the Knicks game n someone read my lips on TV giving out my phone number," the 70-year-old head coach tweeted Monday.
He continued ... "Over 300 plus messages came in - here’s the bizarre news, 95% were nice n positive. I got a lead on 7 new recruits. My new cell is….."
Rick is one of the greatest coaches ever. He won National Championships with Kentucky (1996) and Louisville (2013 -- was vacated for an NCAA violation). His coaching career spans 40+ years, dating back to his time as a graduate assistant at the University of Hawaii (1974).
In March 2023, 70-year-old Pitino was named head coach of St. John's ... after coaching at Iona for three years.
With the Knicks one win away from advancing to the second round, Pitino may be at MSG for future playoff games. Here's hoping he's a little more careful with his new number!
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Megyn Kelly Declares Victory ... Over Bud Light Trans Controversy
Megyn Kelly thinks she and those outraged over the Bud Light team-up with a trans woman scored a W ... 'cause there've been some big changes spurred by the parent company.
The veteran news anchor responded to some news that surfaced Friday -- namely, the fact that there's been a major reported shake-up within Bud Light leadership over the past couple weeks ... including the alleged apparent demotion of a key marketing exec.
Breaking in Beer Business Daily:@budlight Management Changes: Todd Allen Appointed VP Bud Light
— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) April 22, 2023 @JenniferSey
Former Bud Light marketing VP Alissa Heinerscheid, who was at that post for not quite a year, is off the brand.
We understand she has decided to take a leave of absence.
“Today,…
Word is, Alissa Heinerscheid -- who, up until recently, was the marketing VP in charge of Anheuser-Busch's Bud Light brand -- has been replaced by Todd Allen ... Budweiser's global marketing VP. In other words, he's going to handle both brands, it seems, for now.
The other news coming out of this ... Heinerscheid is apparently taking a leave of absence. That's a big deal, seeing how she's been in charge of Bud Light since last June. She was on record as wanting to freshen up the brand and make it modern ... and more inclusive.
Now, in light of all this ... her decisions seem to have backfired. It's unclear if she's coming back to Anheuser-Busch -- or if this is it for her. Either way, her job's been replaced.
A statement from Anheuser-Busch reads in part ... "[W]e have made some adjustments to streamline the structure of our marketing function to reduce layers so that our most senior marketers are more closely connected to every aspect of our brands activities."
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
This seems to be addressing reports that Anheuser-Busch was out of the loop on the whole Dylan Mulvaney campaign ... a notion that Donald Trump Jr. recently backed.
The beer company adds, "These steps will help us maintain focus on the things we do best: brewing great beer for all consumers, while always making a positive impact in our communities and on our country." Megyn, of course, is reveling in this update.
Bud Light waves the white flag, ousting disastrous VP of Mktg, weeks after destroying its own brand by going woke on gender.
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) April 22, 2023 @megynkelly
Let that be a lesson to other corporations.
We’ve HAD IT. https://t.co/KdB3mF4eBH
She writes, "Bud Light waves the white flag, ousting disastrous VP of Mktg, weeks after destroying its own brand by going woke on gender. Let that be a lesson to other corporations. We’ve HAD IT."
On its face, it certainly seems that Anheuser-Busch caved -- in addition to these moves ... they recently trotted out a very traditional Budweiser ad that caters to their usual audience.
Those who followed this from the beginning -- including Anheuser-Busch's initial wishy-washy statement -- probably saw this coming. They weren't very firm in sticking by their decision to partner with Dylan ... and now, it appears the head honchos might've not even been in the loop on it ... and had to deal with the fallout -- and, frankly, there's been a lot.
Reports, of late, have suggested Anheuser-Busch's market cap has, in fact, fallen quite a bit -- and there were even more reports of distributors being spooked by the response.
Of course, a lot of beer-drinking customers did not take the campaign well at all ... accusing the company of going "woke" and purposely antagonizing their core demographic for kicks.
Megyn was one of a handful of public figures leading that outcry, and now ... it looks like they got what they wanted. Bud Light -- easy to drink, easy to cancel too as it turns out.