A former Six Flags Over Georgia operator says it's possible to push a restraint on a ride like Goliath open ... though it would take a tremendous amount of force.
Brycen Whatley -- a former employee at the theme park near Atlanta and a roller coaster enthusiast -- joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday to discuss how Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem might have been ejected from Goliath before falling to his death.
Brycen first ran through the safety measures on Goliath ... explaining the ride can't even move unless pin-and-gear arm restraints are pulled down three notches -- locking a person into place.
Things got a little awkward when Hilary Swank went to sign autographs for fans in NYC ... and it's all on video.
We got the actress Thursday in the Big Apple, but our photog could barely get a question in about her million-dollar baby ... because Hilary was a bit puzzled by an encounter with a fan.
Hilary went to start signing, but was held up when the fan refused to provide a name so Hilary could personalize the autograph.
Tom Arnold went off with a big bang on Chuck Lorre ... calling him a terrible guy and a total hack who looked like a "sad clown" when he was axed from "Roseanne."
The actor and comedian hopped on social media to bash Chuck ... saying the guy might think he's beloved like fellow sitcom giant Norman Lear, when in fact he's "a terrible human ... who lies every time he opens his mouth."
He says Chuck might trash President Donald Trump -- whom Tom has no love for -- but he's really just like the controversial prez ... adding Chuck is a "bitter hack" who thinks his vanity cards are so dang witty when they're really not.
Katie Zachariasays her mind was elsewhere when she took the bar exam in California ... and she failed because she was too distracted by planning her wedding.
Kate Zacharia tells Jack Posobiec that she was distracted when she took the bar exam because she had just gotten engaged, but it didn't matter anyway because passing it was "inconsequential" since she "knew I wouldn’t need the bar in China."
When asked why she never took the bar again, she says it was because she started having kids, and it was "okay and acceptable" to label herself a "lawyer" for the work she was doing.
@justinbaragona
The new White House Press Secretary admitted Thursday that she never passed the bar despite presenting herself as a "lawyer" ... and she went with the wedding-planning excuse in an interview with Jack Posobiec on "Real America's Voice."
Katie says she failed the bar in 2011 after graduating from Pepperdine University's law school ... claiming she was not only distracted by planning her wedding to Tyler Zacharia, but also by her plans to move to China to be with Tyler.
Abdul El-Sayed took a break from pitching voters on equality and human rights ... and got to work pitching TMZ DC on Gatorade Zero.
Jacoband Charliehave boots on the ground in Michigan, and they caught up with the Michigan senatorial candidate at a Detroit gas station as he stopped to refuel. El-Sayed beelined straight for the fridge, where he showed us what's powering his campaign.
El-Sayed pulled out an ice-cold bottle of Gatorade Zero, then stumped for the drink ... schooling our guys on electrolytes and hydration ... and explaining why Glacier Cherry is his flavor of choice.
White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia may not have passed the bar ... but she did work for a multilevel marketing company.
According to WIRED, Zacharia worked as an affiliate of the fitness company Beachbody, and she told the outlet the company ran a multilevel marketing structure that she says was "sort of a pyramid scheme."
The outlet used a database of leaked online material from District 4 Labs, which included Zacharia's since-deleted LinkedIn profile that displayed Beachbody email addresses as her points of contact.
Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed hung out with the TMZ DC crew ... even sharing a Gatorade, though the trio made sure to waterfall it.
Check out the new YouTube collab between TMZ and the New York Post, "The Low Down," where we bring you stories that are gripping, outrageous, and sometimes scandalous.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating who supplied the ketamine used during the alleged Cornell gang rape.
Usher had a magical, star-studded birthday celebration ... and Hollywood showed up big time for the singer's big day ... the celebs enjoyed a magic show, and we have it on video.
Usher posted up at Speakeasy Magick in NYC, where he and his famous friends were wowed by magicians.
Anna Faris' friends have her back after Chuck Lorre threw some serious shade her way ... and they're calling him out for saying he was right to doubt her casting in "Mom."
People close to Anna tell TMZ … Chuck's comments were "s****y," considering Anna gave 7 years of her life to his show.
They feel it's absurd that Chuck claims his reservations were "proven right" after Anna spent seven years making people laugh, building an audience and helping create a successful series.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Tana Mongeaudressing up as Bethenny Frankelat Burning Man is beyond iconic!
Last month, Bethenny (left) debuted this desert-ready look in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, and Tana's (right) recreation was so spot-on that even Bethenny herself reposted it!
So, we've got one important question here for you ...
Prison officials insist Diddy did not get into a fight that resulted in a head injury last weekend ... but they are tight-lipped on how, or even if, he was hurt.
A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons tells us, "We can tell you that the story you are referring to is false and did not happen."
TMZ broke the story ... Diddy was taken out of Fort Dix FCI early Saturday morning by ambulance to receive emergency medical treatment for a head injury. Multiple sources inside Fort Dix told us he sustained that injury during a clash with fellow inmate Christopher "Dudus" Coke.
Can you score the sexy rapper showin' off her curves in these pole dancing shots?! Here are your hints:
Before her rapping days, she rose to fame from a viral TV moment with Dr. Phil.
"These Heaux" is her breakout song, but when she's not in the studio ... you can catch her outside inside riding a pole in a thong ... how 'bout that?!
Trump supporter Eric Deters is suing Kimberly Guilfoyle ... and he says things that might come out in the legal process could seriously damage the president's administration.
The former Kentucky congressional candidate released a video Thursday ... in which he said he filed a defamation suit against the former U.S. Ambassador to Greece.
Deters claims he's got a recording of a phone call he plans to play for the world on Friday ... which he says may topple this administration and sink JD Vance and Marco Rubio's chances of winning the 2028 presidential election.
Justin Bieber ain't saying sorry for his newest honor ... gleefully accepting the White Boy of the Year Award from NBA star Anthony Edwards.
Here's the deal ... Edwards and his pal Nick Maddox hosted the second annual Believe That Awards -- which they joke is an awards show where "no one is safe." Edwards' new teammate on the Minnesota Timberwolves,LaMelo Ball, also participated in the stream.
The pair handed out the White Boy of the Year Award ... nominating a crowded field of white stars who had big years in 2026 ... including actors Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson, professional athletes Erling Haaland and Travis Kelce, and the Biebs.
Joe Manganiello is giving his followers a firsthand look at what he was dealing with during his yearslong health battle ... and the hospital pics are pretty gnarly.
The actor shared a shot sitting in his hospital room, where he's hooked up to all sorts of machines and you can see he's significantly slimmer.
Joe explained in the caption that he'd lost 60 pounds in the 2 weeks after his surgery ... and notes you can see part of his ostomy bag if you look close enough.
Abdul El-Sayed says Donald Trump doesn't realize it, but he's actually praising the Michigan senatorial candidate by mocking his name, but the first order of business Tuesday night was chowin' down on some Red Hot Cheese Flavored popcorn!!!
Our TMZ DC guys, Jacob and Charlie, are now in Michigan and caught up with El-Sayed at a Detroit gas station. El-Sayed cracked open a bag of the Red Hots, which Jacob clearly couldn't handle, so the 3 then shared a bottle of Gatorade to bring down the heat.
Then they got serious. Jacob mentioned he spoke to a guy in Kalamazoo who felt if El-Sayed got elected, he wouldn't be as progressive as he sounds now because of his religion. El-Sayed explains why he's progressive BECAUSE of his religion.
