Little Girl Drifts Out to Sea on Inflatable Unicorn ... Rescue Mission Successful

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SHIP SAVIORS
ViralHog

A little girl got swept away by the ocean's current off the coast of Greece while floating on top of an inflatable unicorn -- but, thankfully, she was rescued before going full Wilson.

Check out this wild video of what's said to be a 5-year-old being rescued by a ferry in the town of Antirrio as she drifted out about half a mile or so in the Gulf of Corinth. At first, one of the guys on the boat captures what appears to be just a tiny speck in the distance.

As the ferry gets closer, however, you can clearly make out the figure of a small child calmly sitting on top of the blow-up beach toy. Eventually, they get close enough to reel her in.

It's unclear how the kid got so far away from shore without someone noticing, but reports say her parents panicked when they realized how far out she was and got in touch with port authorities for the rescue. Luckily, this ferry was willing to kick into gear and save her.

This scary moment went down just a day or so after another freak drifting sitch out in North Wales ... where a little boy had floated out a couple hundred meters on a giant plastic swan and was initially found unconscious, no less, before he was resuscitated back to life.

Beware the waves, y'all ... they might look like they're coming at us, but they'll apparently suck you in before you know it.

NBA's Ben Simmons Joins FaZe Clan as Investor ... Call Me 'FaZe Simmo'

Ben Simmons has a new team -- no he hasn't been traded (yet) ... the NBA superstar has joined the world-famous FaZe Clan!

Simmons -- a hardcore gamer -- is the newest celebrity investor and even got a new FaZe nickname to go along with it ... FAZE SIMMO!

The Philadelphia 76ers big man will serve as an "ambassador to the organization for content as well as an advocate for gaming and esports and the expansion of FaZe Clan globally," the company says.

FaZe Clan also notes it will not disclose the amount of Ben's investment, though it's probably fair to assume it's a sizable number.

Simmons first started gaming with FaZe talent in 2018 -- mostly playing Call of Duty with FaZe Temperrr.

The two recently participated in a COD celebrity pro-am which raised nearly $125,000 to help people affected by COVID-19.

"Gaming is an important part of my life, and so it was a natural progression to personally invest in this industry,” Simmons said.

"FaZe Clan represents the pinnacle of the gaming culture, and I am really looking forward to connecting with new fans around the globe."

FaZe is one of the largest and most influential companies in gaming -- recently passing the 1 BILLION view mark on its YouTube channel.

Simmons joins a celebrity investment group that already features stars like Offset, Juju Smith-Schuster, Swae Lee, Pitbull, Nyjah Huston and more.

Black Lives Matter Protesters Showdown With Armored Truck ... 'Here Comes The Gas!!!'

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FULLY ARMED
John Fusca/Facebook

Wisconsin looks like a war zone, or Tiananmen Square ... Black Lives Matter protesters defiantly blocked an armored truck in the streets, until cops unleashed tear gas.

The showdown went down Sunday night in Kenosha, where people were protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake -- the unarmed Black man who was shot 7 times in the back by a white cop in an incident captured on video.

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SHOCKING AND BRUTAL
Raysean White via TMX.news

Some BLM protesters in this face-off are armed with assault rifles, and others are unarmed as they block the truck's path with a human chain ... but the real firepower rests in the hands of the sheriffs. The police have the armor, and the gas.

Protesters make their stand and send their message, but they know what's about to hit them ... tear gas, and a lot of it.

BTW ... tear gas has been banned in war since 1925, but it's often unleashed on American citizens for riot control. Go figure.

Trump Supporter Xenophobic Attack Blunted by Loose Dentures

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RUNNIN' HER MOUTH
UPDATE

8:55 AM PT -- The woman apparently has a pattern of being fired up and getting in people's faces at these kinds of rallies.

UPDATE
UPDATE

Over the weekend, Carla went to a rally in Bev Hills and was in the thick of an argument over defunding the police. Only this time, she was behind the camera calling another women a "Karen" and didn't have any denture issues.

A woman decked out in Trump 2020 gear unleashed a hateful, xenophobic attack at a counter-protester, but her efforts were blunted by some loose dentures.

It seems this all went down at some sort of Trump rally. The woman who says her name is Carla ... tells an Asian woman to go back to where her ancestors came from.

Problem is ... Carla's dentures keep falling out. She struggles in her verbal attack ... it's hard to keep a stiff upper lip when your chompers aren't secure.

Boy ... this tirade was so bad even her dentures wanted a quick escape.

Originally published -- 7:26 AM PT

Milwaukee Protest Group Fired Upon by PA Rifle Owner ... In BLM March to D.C.

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UNDER FIRE
Frank Nitty/Facebook

A group of Black activists were shot at -- and apparently hit at least once -- by a gun-toting Pennsylvania home-owner with a long-range rifle.

Activist Frank Nitty documented the incident on social media live Monday night, when he and several other protesters were marching/caravanning from Milwaukee to D.C. ... and stopped through a town in PA along the way, where things got deathly scary in a flash.

In Frank's video, you see he and other fellow marchers making their way through what appears to be an open residential street ... when, all of a sudden, you hear a loud shot ring out somewhere from a relatively close distance. It sounds almost like a sniper rifle round.

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RUSHING TO THE HOSPITAL
Frank Nitty/Facebook

The video is a bit jumbled, but for a brief moment ... you can see the camera aimed at a house across the road with at least two to three men staring down the group. One of the men appears to be holding a long object in his arms, perhaps a firearm.

You hear one other gunshot and then you hear screaming and chaos. One of the marches can be heard telling the men they're leaving and that there's no need to get violent.

Frank and the rest of his group jump into vehicles that were accompanying them and race to the hospital. In a separate video, you can see him holding somebody in the car who appears to have a bloodied shirt. They arrive to the hospital and end up talking to cops about it.

The status of the person who might've been shot is unclear at this point -- but one thing that is clear ... this is eerily reminiscent of another time in our history, the Civil Rights era.

Kimberly Guilfoyle Delivers Bizarre Speech ... You Gotta See This!!!

To paraphrase George W. Bush after hearing Donald Trump's Inauguration speech, Kimberly Guilfoyle's speech at the RNC was some crazy s***!

Guilfoyle's delivery was all fire and brimstone, which might have worked well if there were 5,000 people in the audience, but she was speaking in an empty hall. It sounded like something out of 'GOT' or WW2.

The former FOX News Anchor and current GF of Donald Trump Jr. laid out her vision if Trump gets elected, as well as if Biden gets elected.

She warned, "They [Democrats] want to steal your liberty ... and control how you live." She claimed Democrats would send jobs back to China while those Dems got rich. She said Biden/Harris and co. would destroy law enforcement with their "socialist agenda."

And, she had some choice of words for California, saying the state used to be pristine, but "The Democrats turned it into a land of discarded heroin needles in parks, riots in the streets and blackouts at home." BTW ... she used to be married to California's Governor.

Jacob Blake Shooting Uncle Wants Attempted Murder Charge for Cop ... Shot Him for Being Black

Jacob Blake was shot 7 times by a white cop for the "crime" of being black ... so says Jacob's uncle, who's deeply distraught over what went down in Kenosha, WI.

Justin Blake tells TMZ ... the police officer who shot his nephew has absolutely no justification for what he did, and he should be charged with attempted murder.

Jacob's uncle says Jacob's 3 kids -- who were in the car when their dad was shot -- are severely traumatized and in the care of relatives. They don't really understand what happened, but they know their dad was hurt badly.

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SHOCKING AND BRUTAL
Raysean White via TMX.news

Justin says he's been at the hospital with Jacob's mother, sister and close relatives, but they were not able to see him because he underwent surgery and was recovering.

Justin says cops were called to the scene for an altercation between 2 women, and Jacob was trying to break it up ... which is how he got mixed up with the police.

As for the outcry, protests and unrest following the shooting ... Justin says it's necessary because he feels it's the only way to be heard and get the attention of the government.

Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash Island Express Sues Air Traffic Controllers

Island Express, the company that operated the helicopter that killed Kobe Bryant and 8 others, is suing the 2 air traffic controllers who they claim caused the crash.

The helicopter company claims the 2 air traffic controllers who were guiding the pilot to the Mamba Academy, The controllers were asked by the pilot for radar guidance, presumably because of the heavy fog. According to the lawsuit, one of the controllers responded by saying, "I'm going to lose radar and comms [communications] probably pretty shortly so you can just squawk V-F-R [visual flight rules] and when you get closer go to Camarillo tower."

The company claims the controller denied the pilot the use of what it believes is life-saving radar, despite the fact that radar guidance had not yet been lost.

Another controller then relieved the first and according to the suit, less than 2 minutes later the pilot radioed in, but the new controller was unhelpful and uninformed.

According to the suit, the pilot believed he was still operating on radar because the tower operators did not clearly say it was being terminated. Nevertheless, the company claims the helicopter did suddenly lose radio and radar contact in the fog.

The suit claims at some point -- presumably when the pilot was in the fog -- radio contact came back, and the controller tried reaching the pilot repeatedly, and that caused the pilot additional stress. What's unclear ... it would seem the controller was calling to guide the pilot.

Short story ... the helicopter company says the tower operators caused the pilot stress and distraction which ultimately caused the crash.

Usain Bolt Tests Positive for COVID-19 ... After Bday Bash

The results are in ... and Usain Bolt has COVID-19, officials say.

Jamaica's minister of health -- Dr. Chistopher Tufton -- confirmed Bolt's test results with the media late Monday, according to multiple outlets.

Bolt had been self-isolating since taking his test on Saturday -- and will continue to do so until he tests negative.

Earlier in the day, the 34-year-old Olympic legend had posted a video responding to a premature report he had COVID ... saying he had been tested but was awaiting results.

Bolt says he had chosen to quarantine himself out of an abundance of caution ... and now, it seems that was the right move.

There is still major concern about Bolt's massive 34th birthday party, thrown by his girlfriend Kasi Bennett in Jamaica on Friday.

The event was MASSIVE -- with tons guests, including a bunch of Jamaican celebrities.

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UPDATING THE FANS

The concern ... video purportedly taken at the event appears to show a bunch of people dancing close without wearing masks or taking any real precautions to avoid spreading the virus.

Usain's girlfriend just gave birth to their daughter, Olympia Lightning Bolt (greatest name ever), back in May.

Jamaica hasn't exactly been a hotbed for COVID so far -- with only 1,413 reported cases and 16 reported deaths since the pandemic began.

Originally published -- 8/24, 9:57 AM PT

Joey Fatone 'NSYNC Would Beat Backstreet Boys on Verzuz ... This I Promise You!!!

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NO CONTEST
TMZ.com

Joey Fatone says it's game if 'NSYNC and Backstreet Boys ever square off in a battle of the boy bands ... and he thinks it wouldn't even be close!!!

We got Joey out at LAX Monday and our camera guy asked him about the possibility of 'NSYNC and Backstreet battling it out on Verzuz, the Instagram Live pandemic phenomenon usually reserved for rappers. So far, it's seen showdowns between Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, Lil Jon and T-Pain, and Snoop Dogg and DMX.

Joey tells us how he really feels ... he says 'NSYNC would win in a landslide no matter what!!!

A potential Verzuz showdown would be a huge hit, but Joey says there are some huge hurdles before the two bands ever go toe-to-toe.

Joey's giving 'NYSNC the edge, but he tells us why Backstreet could give them a run for their money, depending on the ground rules.

Check out the clip ... and dream about what an epic showdown it would be!

Nikki Bella Not Secretly Married To Artem ... 'GMA' Jumped The Gun!!!

Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev did not get hitched ... despite what you may have heard on a morning talk show.

Here's the deal ... "Good Morning America" referred to Nikki as Artem's "wife" in a promo clip announcing his return to "Dancing with the Stars." Fans quickly caught on, with lots of folks under the false impression they got married on the low.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... Nikki and Artem are NOT legally married and it was just a funny accident on 'GMA.'

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GUESS WHO
ABC

Our sources say Nikki and Artem both still want to get married, but they don't have a date for the wedding due to coronavirus restrictions. They're far from alone there.

We're told the engaged couple does not want a socially-distanced wedding, so Nikki and Artem are just gonna ride things out until the pandemic passes and then start planning their special day for friends and family.

With wedding plans in a holding pattern, our sources say Nikki and Artem are focusing on his return to 'DWTS' and their newborn baby.

We broke the story ... Nikki listed her home in Arizona after only 3 months living next to her sister, Brie ... and now we're told she's relocating back to Los Angeles, where Artem is shooting 'DWTS.'

Our sources say Nikki found she was spread too thin between L.A and Arizona -- commuting during a pandemic with a baby became a major issue -- and she wants to be closer to Artem so they can raise their baby together.

Earl Thomas' Wife's Court Date Set ... In Dom. Violence Case

As Earl Thomas deals with his own drama on the football field ... his wife is gearing up for a big hearing in her domestic violence case.

According to court records obtained by TMZ Sports, Nina Thomas' next court date on the matter is set for Sept. 3 in Texas at 1:30 PM CT.

Of course, there's a possibility the hearing could be pushed to a later date -- but the fact that it's on the calendar means, for now, the case is still very much alive.

We broke the story, Nina is accused of storming an Airbnb home in Texas and holding Earl at gunpoint after she allegedly caught him cheating.

But, the pretrial process has moved at a snail's pace ... with several hearings on the matter having already been pushed due to COVID-19.

For now, next week's hearing is still on ... although it's unclear if any resolution will come from the court date.

As we previously reported, it doesn't seem Earl wants to move forward with charges regardless ... he said in a video statement shortly after the incident that he and Nina have been talking, adding, "Stuff like this happens."

Earl Thomas MAY 2020
EARL'S STATEMENT

Nina also bought Earl a new diamond chain for his birthday back in May ... which the NFL player thanked her for publicly on social media.

Earl, meanwhile, is now an NFL free agent after the Ravens cut him on Sunday ... this after he reportedly got into a fight with a teammate at Baltimore practice last week.

Guess Who This Little Explorer Turned Into!

Before this nature lover was making her way through the wild life in the entertainment world, she was just another little lady loving the great outdoors growing up in Rio de Janeiro, before moving to New York City and attending The Juilliard School where she received a degree in theatre.

This famous female with a cool cap has been featured in a number of televisions shows over the years including "Gotham" and "Homeland". In the more recent years, she has found herself in large blockbuster roles, one being in the superhero comedy, "Deadpool."

Can you guess who this kid is?

Jacob Blake Shooting New Angle Shows Struggle with Cops ... From Other Side of Car

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WALKING AWAY
Michelle Smith via TMX.news

Jacob Blake was in some sort of a tussle with police officers before breaking free and trying to walk away ... and before one of those cops fired 7 shots into his back.

New footage has emerged of the moments leading up to Blake being shot this weekend in Kenosha, WI -- and it shows a different angle than the viral clip captured from a home across the street. This time, the camera's rolling just a few yards away.

The angle depicts what was happening shortly before Blake stood up and walked around the side of his car and opened the door ... and then ultimately getting fired upon at point-blank range. While it's a bit hard to fully make out, you can clearly see a struggle between Blake and officers. Nonetheless, he's unarmed and unthreatening as his back is turned to the cop who repeatedly shoots him.

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SHOCKING AND BRUTAL
Raysean White via TMX.news

The full official details about what led up to the shooting are still hazy, but it appears Blake was already involved in some sort of altercation with police. Reports say witnesses claimed he was breaking up a fight between two females, nothing more.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while an investigation continues. Meanwhile, protests have erupted ... and more violence has broken out.

Blake miraculously survived the gunshots, and is currently in critical condition in the ICU.

LeBron James Rocks Kobe Bryant Tribute Jersey To Lakers Playoff Game

UPDATE

6:44 PM PT -- The Lakers have taken the court decked out in their special Mamba jerseys ... and they look sharp.

UPDATE

Oh, and get this -- L.A. got off to a HOT start, taking a commanding 24-8 lead.

UPDATE

Mamba would be proud.

UPDATE

LeBron James has that Mamba Mentality on Kobe Bryant day ... wearing a Mamba tribute jersey on his way to play the Blazers in game 4 of their playoff series.

LBJ walked into the building sporting a limited-edition Bryant tribute jersey ... with #24 on the back and #8 on the front.

Nike only offered a small number of these custom jerseys on its website on Monday -- but James has some pull over there.

The Lakers have a much bigger tribute planned for the game -- the entire team will wear special Black Mamba jerseys, which were actually designed by Kobe a few years before he passed.

The jerseys feature a snakeskin pattern and a special patch on the shoulder to honor Gianna Bryant.

LeBron and Kobe were extremely close -- James famously got a Kobe tribute tattoo on his thigh in the wake of his death. He also gave an emotional address to Laker Nation in the first home game following the tragedy.

But, don't expect the Portland Trail Blazers to just let the Lakers run 'em over -- Damian Lillard is also hoping to honor Kobe tonight by playing his ass off and fighting for a victory, just like Kobe would have wanted.

Originally published -- 4:36 PM PT