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News flash ... lab-grown diamonds are REAL diamonds and there's really no difference between man-made rocks and their natural counterparts ... according to a famous jeweler.

Jean Dousset, a descendant of Cartier founder Louis Francois Cartier, joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday and schooled us on lab-grown diamonds ... explaining why they are indeed a diamond in every sense of the way.

JD says even the most seasoned gemologists cannot tell the difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds ... and they're both graded on the same scales under the same rules and principles.

It's pretty interesting to consider ... seeing as there's controversy surrounding engagement rings these days. Based on what Jean's telling us here, it sounds like a man would be able to safely pass off a lab-grown diamond engagement ring as a natural one and the woman would never know.

Of course, Jean says most couples are shopping together for rings nowadays and he's not advocating for people to get engaged on a lie ... but the window of opportunity is definitely there.

Jean's got his own jewelry store in West Hollywood and this year he started selling only lab-grown diamonds. He's previously designed engagement rings for Paris Hilton, Eva Longoria and Amy Adams and says couples can get more bang for their buck with lab-grown diamonds.

Jun Song, the winner of 'Big Brother' Season 4, has been facing every mother's worst nightmare after her son fell seriously ill ... and she's asking the public for help.

The former reality TV star recently revealed that her little boy, Noah, has had a lengthy stay at a hospital lately ... all over a meningitis diagnosis that took its toll and left him in a medical bed for nearly two weeks.

After sharing an image of her 11-year-old hooked up to a hospital ventilator, Song has now sought out financial assistance on GoFundMe ... emotionally reflecting on Noah falling ill with what she thought was the flu -- but which turned out to be mycoplasma pneumoniae that spiraled into the deadly viral infection.

She says the slowest hours of her life were watching him lose consciousness and lay in the children's ICU, where she had no idea if he'd be left with permanent brain damage or whether he'd even wake up.

Song says it took 11 days for Noah to return to everyday tasks, such as going to the bathroom and eating solid food ... and while it sounds like he's been released, their family isn't out of the woods just yet.

As a result of all the work that was done on Noah ... his mom says there's a massive bill she has to deal with -- and her insurance doesn't cover a majority of it. As a single mom, she's now trying to raise money to help with her tab.

3:10 PM PT -- Dana Carvey says Dex Carvey died of an accidental overdose. He and his wife Paula just posted a note remembering their son's talent and passion for life, and says "We will miss him forever."

They add, "To anyone struggling with addiction or who loves someone struggling with addiction, you are in our hearts and prayers."

Dana Carvey's eldest son, Dex Carvey, has died ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us Dex passed away Wednesday night after first responders rushed over to a home that his girlfriend had called from in Los Angeles around 10 PM. We're told Dex was locked in a bathroom, and that he was unresponsive upon discovery.

Our sources say paramedics tried reviving him, but to no avail ... he was pronounced dead on the scene. An autopsy has been done, but Dex's cause of death hasn't been determined ... pending toxicology tests.

Dana and Dex were very close ... in fact, Dex was following in his father's footsteps when it came to comedy -- as he was diving into the stand-up world over the past few years.

Dex actually opened for his father in his 2016 Netflix special, 'Straight White Male' ... during which Dex did a 6-minute set that got some laughs as he worked on material -- touching on a number of topics ... including pride parades, cult stories and his famous dad.

Dana's other son, Thomas, is also an aspiring comedian ... and the former 'SNL' star has spoken fondly of his boys and wanting to help their careers. Dex was only 32.

RIP

Savannah Chrisley's ex-fiancé, Nic Kerdiles, had alcohol in his system when he died earlier this year after a fatal motorcycle crash ... this according to the medical examiner.

According to the autopsy report, obtained by TMZ, the ME in Nashville found evidence of ethanol in Kerdiles' bloodstream after toxicology tests were done ... and they estimate his BAC at about 0.124, well over the legal limit.

Officials note Kerdiles' body was pretty banged up as a result of the accident -- including multiple broken bones, bruising of the brain and other abrasions. The Medical Examiner found the cause of death to be multiple blunt traumatic injuries ... ruling it as accidental. Radar Online was the first to report the news.

TMZ broke the story ... Kerdiles -- a former NHL player for the Anaheim Ducks -- collided with a car while riding late at night one weekend back in September, when cops say he blew past a stop sign and struck the side of a crossing BMW.

It was an absolute tragedy, especially considering his last official photo on social media -- which literally showed him riding his bike, and labeling himself a "Night rider."

Savannah, who'd been engaged to Nic between 2018 and 2020, was devastated by the news ... and posted a tribute to Nic in the aftermath, writing -- "Heaven gained the most beautiful angel today ... I miss you and I love you," while adding, "We loved hard ... and I can't wait to ride bikes with you along the beaches of heaven one day."

Before they ended their relationship, Nic had been featured on her family's show, "Chrisley Knows Best" ... and his proposal to her was even captured on camera.

Brandi Mallory died in a bizarre manner that, for now, remains a total mystery -- although one piece of the puzzle has been answered ... she died after a dinnertime food run, though there's no evidence her Chipotle meal had anything to do with her death.

TMZ has obtained the police report pertaining to the "Extreme Weight Loss" star's death -- and it's fairly shocking to see what cops say preceded her sudden passing. Per the Atlanta PD paperwork, Mallory was last seen alive while buying some grub from a local Chipotle.

The report notes that Mallory's vehicle was spotted in the parking lot of a strip mall early on Nov. 9 -- this while the owner of an adjacent deli noticed it just sitting there all by itself.

The deli owner told cops he also saw a female inside who appeared to be asleep -- but the alarm bells started ringing when he says he saw the car there much later in the day ... which signaled to him something was wrong. As it turns out, there was ... BM was found deceased.

The police report says cops reviewed surveillance footage that showed Mallory pulling into the lot the night prior around 5:53 PM ... at which point, she went into the Chipotle, came out with her food, and then went into her vehicle -- but never left or came out after that.

The cops note there's no sign of foul play, and her exact cause of death is still under investigation.

Kevin Turen, famous for producing HBO shows like "Euphoria" and "The Idol," died after suffering a medical emergency while driving down a California freeway ... TMZ has learned.

The late producer's father, Edward Turen, and close friend, Michael Heller, tell TMZ ... Kevin was driving his 10-year-old son home from a tennis tournament Sunday when the tragedy happened.

We're told Kevin's Tesla was on autopilot when he suffered a medical emergency, and his son was able to navigate the car over to the side of the freeway before calling 911.

Although he was rushed to a hospital, Kevin was eventually pronounced dead there.

While Kevin's father and friend say investigators have concluded drugs and alcohol were NOT involved, we're told authorities are still trying to determine an official cause of death.

Jay Penske, a close friend of Kevin's and CEO of Penske Media Corporation, remembers Kevin as a family man.

Jay released a statement saying ... "Despite his many achievements in Hollywood, Kevin's greatest passion was his family and friends. He was so proud of his children. He and his wife, Evelina, were resolved that their children grow up with great values and ensured they make a difference in the broader world."

Kevin was 44.

Kendall Jenner helped to bring the snowfall to sunny southern California ... pumping a bunch of the fake stuff right onto the set of her photo shoot!

Kendall was spotted on set Tuesday for an unknown new project  ... rocking a skirt, top, boots and a big smile on her face as she took control of the hose.

Unclear if the snow job was part of Kendall's role in the shoot, or if she just wanted to try out the task for herself, but she's clearly loving every minute of it.

If you were wondering, Kendall's boo, Bad Bunny, wasn't spotted with her at the photo shoot ... but we last saw them together grabbing some breakfast near the Beverly Hills Hotel after hosting a massive Halloween party.

11:37 AM PT -- Lisa Kudrow just posted her tribute to Matthew Perry, remembering their time on the "Friends" pilot and thanking him for the decade they spent working together on set.

In her social media post, Lisa says ... "Thank you for showing up at work when you weren't well and then, being completely brilliant. Thank you for the best 10 years a person gets to have."

Lisa adds ... "Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for all I learned about GRACE and LOVE through knowing you. Thank you for the time I got to have with you, Matthew."

Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer are following their fellow "Friends" costars in honoring the death of their pal, Matthew Perry ... saying the loss is one that cuts incredibly deep.

The 2 shared their emotional thoughts on Instagram Wednesday morning -- Jennifer says she's been experiencing an "insane wave of emotions" since losing her friend ... adding, "We loved him deeply. He was such a part of our DNA."

She says Matthew loved making others laugh, and shared a screenshot from a conversation they had over text ... in which Matthew sent Jennifer a throwback photo of them on set, with her laughing while they talked -- writing to her, "Making you laugh just made my day."

Jennifer ends her post, saying "I love you so much and I know you are now completely at peace and out of any pain. I talk to you every day… sometimes I can almost hear you saying 'could you BE any crazier?' Rest little brother. You always made my day ..."

David shared similar thoughts about the late actor -- writing, "You had heart. Which you were generous with, and shared with us, so we could create a family out of six strangers."

He says Matthew's comedic timing and delivery were unmatched ... claiming he could bend a simple line of dialogue and turn it into "something so entirely original and unexpectedly funny it still astonishes."

As we reported, Courteney Cox opened up about Matthew on Tuesday, saying she's "grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day."

Matt LeBlanc did much of the same ... writing, "It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I'll never forget you. Never."

The entire "Friends" gang was in attendance at Matthew's funeral service earlier this month ... saying goodbye to one of their closest people.

We discussed Matthew's legacy on a recent episode of Last Days, available on all podcast platforms.

Brandi Mallory -- a former cast member on the TV show "Extreme Weight Loss" -- has died in Georgia.

Mallory passed away in Atlanta on November 9, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office.  Her cause of death has not been disclosed.

The ex-reality star made her 2014 appearance on season 4 of the ABC series. She revealed why she joined "Extreme Weight Loss" during a 2018 interview uploaded to YouTube.

Mallory told a journalist she was motivated to shed pounds after her overweight sorority sister died at age 29.

She said it played on her mind that she could die too if she didn't do something about her 329-pound frame.

The makeup artist said she went on a casting call for "The Biggest Loser," but was rejected, yet the producers helped her win a spot on "Extreme Weight Loss."

That show featured obese people on their journey to shed weight with a healthy diet and workout routine.

Mallory was 40.

"Mob Wives" star Renee Graziano has checked in to a Texas rehab facility following a drug relapse.

Renee's manager, Chris Giovanni, tells TMZ ... she called him Monday from the treatment center, where she was accompanied by a counselor and only had 10 minutes to talk.

He says Renee told him she overdosed back in mid-September on what she described as a "bad batch" of an unspecific drug she'd gotten from a dealer. She didn't give Chris any other details about the OD.

Chris says what she did tell him, though, aligns with his struggles to get in touch with Renee from September to now ... adding any contact they had during that period was sporadic and brief.

Chris says Renee attributes her relapse to struggles related to the death of her father, Anthony Graziano, who passed away in May 2019.

Renee's life in the spotlight has been marred by hardship -- particularly in January 2022, when she was arrested for driving while impaired after crashing her car into a parked SUV on Staten Island.

Soon after, Renee pledged to kick her sleeping pill addiction by seeking treatment from "The Hills" star Jason Wahler and his Red Songbird Foundation ... in the hopes of getting her life back on track.

Courteney Cox is opening up for the first time about the loss of her late "Friends" star Matthew Perry ... recalling one special moment they shared on their famous TV show.

The actress just posted a video of an old "Friends" episode where Chandler and Monica's relationship begins ... sharing a story of how Matthew whispered a funny line for her to say before the scene began.

In the clip, Chandler is in bed when Ross busts through the door, excited about his upcoming wedding. Ross leaves and then Monica appears from under the covers. The audience goes crazy and after her scripted line, Courteney turns to Matthew and says, "OK, your turn."

Courteney says ... "He often did things like that. He was funny and he was kind."

In breaking her silence on MP's death, Courteney adds ... "I am so grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day."

Courteney's tribute comes on the heels of an emotional post from their fellow 'Friends' costar Matt LeBlanc ... with Matt saying, "The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life."

Remember ... Courteney, Matt, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer said goodbye to the actor at his funeral earlier this month.

Matthew's family also attended his funeral service, and we learned his casket was placed in a secluded area of the famous Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills ... next to the final resting places for other celebs like Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher.

TMZ broke the story ... Matthew was found unresponsive in his jacuzzi last month, and questions about the cause of death remain ... and they won't be answered for several more weeks, at least.

Matthew, we learned, also went to 'Friends' script writers back in the day and got them to cut a storyline where his character was supposed to cheat on Courteney's.

Looks like Kim Zolciak is trying to chip away at her and Kroy Biermann's mountain of debt ... 'cause she's unloading some of her designer wear online in hopes of making a profit.

Kim listed handbags, shoes and more Tuesday -- but it ain't garage sale prices -- she's charging $5,900 for a Chanel Shearling bag, and $4,500 for a grey Louis Vuitton purse!!!

She's also asking $1,250 for a pair of her Gucci mink heels and $600 for her Balmain plastic heels ... so if ya want it, you better bring some serious dough.

The impromptu sale might not just be proof she's working off that debt -- it could also be another sign that things between Kim and Kroy are positive yet again ... kinda like a peace offering to her estranged hubby amid their divorce.

As we reported, Kroy was selling off some of his stuff to tackle their financial woes in the past, and he asked Kim to do the same. However, we were told she sold off some of her things and pocketed the cash for herself instead of helping pay off the debt.

She's also recently changed her IG handle to include "Biermann" as her last name, and they were out to dinner over the weekend to celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary ... an outing you likely wouldn't do with someone you're actively divorcing.

Hopefully, Kim's new sale can help get them outta the hole ... and it better -- because her swag ain't cheap!

Matt LeBlanc is paying tribute to his late "Friends" costar, Matthew Perry ... calling the time they shared together the best of his entire life.

The actor shared his emotional thoughts Tuesday, saying, "It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I'll never forget you. Never."

He continues, "Spread your wings and fly brother you're finally free. Much love." ... jokingly adding at the end, "I guess you're keeping the 20 bucks you owe me."

As we reported, Matt and Matthew's fellow "Friends" castmates -- Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer -- said goodbye to the actor at his funeral earlier this month.

The service looked incredibly solemn, following a week of the entire world in shock by Matthew's unexpected death.

We learned his casket was placed in a secluded area of Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills ... next to other actors like Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.

Remember, Matthew was found unresponsive in his jacuzzi, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions ... ones that likely won't be answered for several more weeks, at least.

Angela White -- formerly known as Blac Chyna -- and Rob Kardashian's daughter, Dream, got back-to-back birthday parties this past weekend -- and the one with her mom was a princess', well ... dream come true.

The bash went down Sunday at Famecast in Santa Monica, where Chyna -- who now goes by her real name -- went all out with a Disney theme ... namely, 'Princess and The Frog,' and Mama Bear didn't spare any expense to make it all very real.

For starters, there were real-life horses in the building -- including one that received a dye job to look like a freaking unicorn! Dream made sure to hop aboard and pose for cute pics.

Speaking of photos, just about everyone who was there -- a hodgepodge mix of a ton of Dream's friends and family members, plus her half-brother King Cairo -- snapped shots with the professional photog on hand ... and everybody seemed to be having a really good time.

Makes sense, considering everything else that was going on ... like the buffet of desserts, party bags for guests and even an appearance from Hip Hop Harry himself (from the children's show). Oh, and yes ... "Tiana" herself from the 'P&TF' flick showed face as well.

Royal Bus Divazz produced the entire event.

Like we said, this was actually the second shindig for Dream ... just a couple days earlier, her dad and aunts -- Kim and Khloe, specifically -- threw a party of their own for the bday girl ... and that one was just as extravagant, with a "spa day" theme running throughout.

Not that it's a competition or anything, but let's just say Angela gave the Kardashians a run for their money when it came to showing out for her little girl.

Larsa Pippen is enraged at her 'Real Housewives' costar, Julia Lemigova ... who had the nerve -- in Larsa's opinion -- to ask Marcus Jordan to take pics of her while they were at BravoCon.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Julia asked Marcus to snap a few photos during last month's big convention in Las Vegas, using his phone. We're told they were innocent, smiling shots.

Our sources say no one around thought Julia's request was odd ... well, no one except Larsa. We're told she seemed a bit jealous, based on the fact she started complaining about the incident to other cast members.

We're told Larsa implied to others the photos were Julia's way of trying to seduce Marcus ... and she wasn't cool with her asking her man to take them, especially on his own phone.

After BravoCon wrapped, Julia asked Larsa if she could get Marcus' pics of her -- but when Larsa went radio silent, the other ladies filled Julia in on what Larsa had been saying ... and now they're giving each other the cold shoulder.

Bottom line, we're told Julia is sick of Larsa's jealousy, and she's sure Larsa is on a giant smear campaign against her.

It's been 9 months since the tragic death of Audrina Patridge's 15-year-old niece, Sadie, and cops are working to find out who may have supplied the drugs that killed the young girl.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Sadie's death has officially been ruled a narcotic overdose. However, they've not yet determined the manner of death as there's currently an investigation for possible criminal charges.

Our sources say cops want to figure out how Sadie was able to obtain the drugs.

One source tells us ... Sadie was able to buy Percocet through Snapchat, and it was laced with fentanyl. Of course, if that's the case ... cops will work to determine who sold it to the young teen and charges will likely follow.

You'll remember, the man who supplied Mac Miller with a fatal dose of fentanyl was sentenced to 17.5 years in May of last year after Mac's 2018 death ... so it's very much a serious offense.

It was back in February when Audrina announced the heartbreaking news that Sadie had died, writing, "My beautiful niece is now in heaven. I know Its not goodbye forever, but it is the hardest to say goodbye for now. We will miss you and cherish every single moment we had with you. Rest in peace Say Say!! We love you forever & ever!"