Former USMNT star Herculez Gomez feels we are headed in a bad direction if President Trump is seemingly calling in favors to FIFA President Gianni Infantino ... because that could mean other world leaders might be inclined to do the same.
Check out the clip ... we spoke with the sports commentator on "TMZ Live" today to ask him what he made of Folarin Balogun's red card suspension ... and he's concerned to say the least.
Not only does he feel FIFA has "opened up Pandora's Box" by entertaining Trump's call to Infantino ... but he also feels this whole situation has brought the United States back to being "that ugly big brother ... that bully," which completely undermines the good work the nation has done as hosts of the World Cup and as a team on the pitch.
Whoopi Goldbergis catching heat for missing "The View" ... literally, 'cause an active volcano has her stranded in Sicily.
Joy Behar was holding down the fort Monday and immediately started roasting her missing co-hosts... joking they're "dropping like flies" before explaining Ana Navarrowas stuck in Miami because of weather, Sara Haines was dealing with storm damage ... and Whoopi was pulling "the old volcano excuse."
Watch the video ... Whoopi sent in a dispatch from Sicily explaining Mount Etna erupted and threw a major wrench into her trip home ... closing airports and leaving her scrambling to get back to the United States.
Taylor Frankie Paul just broke her silence on the renewed custody battle with her ex-husband ... and she got real and raw with her accusations towards Dakota Mortensen and Tate Paul.
TFP posted several pictures of injuries she claims were sustained during fights with Dakota ... and said the two men were ganging up on her, using their three shared children as pawns.
TMZ broke the news ... a Utah judge ordered "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star to undergo drug and alcohol testing, and, if the results are clean, she will get to have unsupervised parenting time with their kids. If there's a positive test for any unprescribed drugs or alcohol, however, her parenting will have to be supervised.
Rick Ross crashed "TMZ Live" today with enough diamonds to light up the studio ... and enough jokes to keep "Hervis" on the ropes.
Watch the antics, they're hilarious ... Rozay stopped by to chat about his upcoming "Port of Miami" 20th anniversary tour, but before the conversation could get too serious, he was already calling Harvey "Hervis" -- a nickname Rick has long reserved just for our fearless leader.
Harvey fired right back, giving Rick grief over the tour's dress code -- and from there, the interview turned into one long laugh ... with lots of bling.
How's this for patriotism ahead of the big 250th birthday ... a HOA in a San Diego area neighborhood is warning homeowners to remove their American flags or get dinged with fees ... but two households are holding firm.
Chris and Amy Cook, and Terri Collins are the California homeowners who are fighting back against their HOA's flag ban ... and they joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and told us why they won't take the stars and stripes down.
It's truly incredible ... the HOA's position is the American flag represents "a political or affiliative view which degrades the common area" ... and the homeowners tell us it's baffling.
The BET Awards brought celebs out to L.A. in droves ... and we were able to snatch one up for our TMZ After Dark Tour -- reality star Ray Cunningham.
Ray kept the vibes high while our tour bounced around to some of the hottest spots in Los Angeles ... including Saddle Ranch, where everyone got a crack at the bull ... plus the nightclub Beaches Tropicana and SweetWater WEHO -- where our group checked out a steamy live drag performance!
Check out the clip ... Ray showed off his own dance moves -- even using a stripper pole to get the whole group excited.
"The Wire" actor James Ransone had a history of suicidal thoughts, but he didn't leave a suicide note when he took his own life ... this according to the Medical Examiner's report.
The report, obtained by TMZ, says James stated he "wanted to kill himself" and needed to go to the hospital.
The M.E. says prescription medications were found at the scene of his death ... but no drug paraphernalia, and no note.
Brooks Nader, Livvy Dunne and co. have the best job in the world ... and we're finally getting our first sneak peak at their "Baywatch" reboot ... and it looks HOT.
A teaser for the new show dropped Wednesday ... showing all the stars and their sex beach bodies ... the fellas are shirtless, and the ladies are rocking tight, one-piece swimsuits.
Check out the clip ... Stephen Amelland Jessica Belkin come sprinting down the sand -- while Brooks has a more casual gait as she surveys her surroundings.
Livvy's got a huge grin and wave as she lays back on the lifeguard tower, and Shay Mitchell jumps down to land on the sand.
Sorry 'Real Housewives of Rhode Island' fans ... Liz McGraw will NOT be returning for the second season of the Ocean State's reality TV series.
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Liz confirmed her departure in a social media Wednesday ... explaining she wants to "take a step back" and focus on her family, work, and passions.
She says she will be "rooting for the continued success of this franchise" ... so it seems like there's no animosity ... despite some majorly unfinished business with Jo-Ellen Tiberi.
Alannah Keyser has obviously received a ton of hate since video of her spewing the n-word came out ... but she says a few fans have also stood by her side -- and they keep her going.
The "Love Island USA" Bombshell appeared on "One Night with Steiny" alongside Ray J where she talked about the public's vitriol.
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Then she brings up the nice messages she's gotten amid the slur video resurfacing ... insisting to a skeptical Ray J those comments help make her feel better.
Paul Flack -- the older brother of late "Love Island UK" host Caroline Flack -- is dead ... and cops have ruled his death a suicide, just like his sister's.
Paul was found unresponsive in his Norwich, England home on June 21 and was rushed to the hospital, where he ultimately was ruled dead ... according to multiple UK-based outlets, including the Daily Mail and The Independent.
Officials reportedly conducted a provisional post-mortem exam and determined Paul took his own life.
Looks like Tom Hardy cut a deal with "MobLand" producers ... TMZ confirmed he's returning to the show for its third season, despite some alleged on-set tension.
With Tom in the fold, the Paramount+ crime series will not be losing anyone from the cast ... with Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan also returning for the next chapter.
Seems a recent meeting in London between Tom and producers Jez Butterworth and David Glasser smoothed things over ... paving the way for the British actor to retain his role.
Darrell Sheets' celebration of life brought out former costars, friends, and family ... and, as you might expect, several notable items from the star's past.
Dave Hester -- Darrell's former costar on "Storage Wars" -- shared photos from the event ... taking photos with Darrell's son, Brandon, as well as Darrell's ex-wife and longtime friend, Kimber Wuerfel.
Faux $30 bills with Darrell's face on them and "The Wow Factor" -- his signature catchphrase on the show -- were apparently handed out at the event ... a touching keepsake for his loved ones to take home with them.
