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Pandemic be damned ... the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will go forward, regardless of COVID.

The Veep of the IOC, John Coates, just said the Olympics will be the "games that conquered COVID."

The games will take place next year, and it doesn't matter the state of Japan or the world with respect to coronavirus. The games were postponed in March because of the pandemic ... the first time the Olympics have been put on ice other than wartime.

It seems Coates is turning a blind eye to the virus, saying, "It will take place with or without COVID."  He vows the games will kick off July 23, 2021.

The games initially were to be themed, the Reconstruction Games ... this after the earthquake and tsunami that hit Tohoku in 2011. But, things are different, and Coates says, "Now very much these will be the games that conquered COVID."

Tiffany Haddish wants to be just like Tyler Perry ... because she's ready to start her own production studio!!!

The actress and comedian joined us on "TMZ Live" and we asked her if she's got aspirations to be like Tyler and one day start a movie studio in her name.

Tiffany says she would love to follow Tyler's lead and tells us he's actually been teaching her how to start a studio from scratch. Tiffany's already got a name picked out, and it's pretty catchy and appropriate.

As you know ... Tyler just officially reached billionaire status, thanks in large part to owning Tyler Perry Studios, so his words of wisdom carry serious weight.

Speaking of billionaires, Tiffany tells us she's been hanging with other members of the triple comma club, and picking their brains about business. Smart woman.

Brian Austin Green is leading by example when it comes to truly appreciating school teachers ... 'cause he's put his money where his mouth is.

The "90210" star made one preschool teacher's life in Collingswood, NJ a helluva lot easier when he dug into his own pocket and paid off her Amazon Wish List of school supplies, and the awesome gesture couldn't come sooner with kids beginning classes next week.

The preschool teacher, Amy Hoffman, tells TMZ ... a few days ago she was watching Brian's first Instagram Live show that went on for almost 40 minutes. But, in the final 6 minutes or so, Brian talked about his kids and how they're handling virtual learning. He emphasized, now more than ever, the important role teachers play in our everyday lives.

And, with that in mind, Hoffman -- who normally has around 15 kids in her class -- says she decided to tag BAG on social media and direct him to her Wish List. And, get this ... Hoffman says that same day, Brian paid off her list, which came out to a little under $500.

Hoffman tells us with the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers are in desperate need of more school supplies because, unlike normal times, kids can't and shouldn't be sharing supplies.

Hoffman tells us she usually has a school supply budget of about $250 ... but teachers, on a good day, still have to pay out of pocket expenses to cover what they need. But, in the midst of the pandemic, teachers need individual tool kits more than ever -- crayons, markers, paper, etc. -- for every student to avoid potential spread of the virus.

We're told supplies started trickling in soon after BAG covered the expense.

There are TONS of teachers out there who need the exact same kind of help. And, just like Hoffman, one teacher in Illinois tried a similar approach ... but she hit up Amazon's head honcho, Jeff Bezos.

Chasten Buttigieg's coming out experience didn't get off to a good start, but thanks to his parents it turned out well, and speaking of things working out ... he's focused on the bright side of his husband's unsuccessful presidential bid.

Mayor Pete's husband joined "TMZ Live" to tell his story about confiding in his family that he was gay, the difficulty and pain that followed ... and the life-changing call from his Mom that helped them heal.

Chasten tells us he's thankful for his parents' allyship, and describes what has to be done to make sure people like him are protected and supported ... something he says he's striving to do for others.

As for his famous hubby and the disappointment of not becoming the Democratic nominee for Prez ... Chasten says it was a bummer, but it's not all bad.

He points out that they've been able to regain a little anonymity in their lives while still focusing on their dreams and goals, and reminds us that they are both still very young ... and the future is bright.

Of course, Chasten believes the outlook will be much better if a certain person is elected president in November ... you can probably guess who, but watch the clip anyway.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jacob Evans is honoring the memory of slain LSU basketball player Wayde Sims ... in the form of a custom pendant.

Evans and Sims grew up in Baton Rouge -- and Evans was devastated when he learned Sims was shot and killed at a party near the Southern University campus on Sept. 28.

Officials say Sims was trying to defend a friend in a fistfight when another 20-year-old man pulled out a gun and opened fire on the LSU hoops player.

The alleged shooter is now being prosecuted for 2nd-degree murder.

23-year-old Evans wanted to pay tribute to his friend -- so he hit up Courtney Roy of Clarity Custom Jewelry to order a custom piece featuring Sims and Ja'Cardo Hawkins, another friend who passed away in 2019.

Hawkins was also a college basketball player who was and All-CCAA Honorable Mention in 2018.

It's a beautiful tribute to two young men who died way too young.

Harry Shearer is definitely trying to poke the bear that is Donald Trump with a hilarious spoof album that's got the President singing show tunes ... and kissing Jared Kushner's butt.

The legendary voice actor and comedian -- who's played countless characters on "The Simpsons" -- came on "TMZ Live" to talk about his new album, "The Many Moods of Donald Trump," which he's been teasing with new single drops throughout the summer.

His first one was a banger -- it's called "Son in Law" ... and it's all about singing the virtues Jared. It also features Harry playing DT (with some incredible motion-capture animation tech) as he goes through a show-stopping number in the Oval Office. It's an awesome music video.

Now, as for whether this one was aimed at Donnie or Jared, Harry tells us they can split his mockery right down the middle. And, as far as praise, HS says the ultimate compliment would be if 45 himself hate tweets about 'TMMDT.' That'd be like hitting #1 on the charts!

Today's Summer Hot Shots are coming to you from sun-drenched shores of Tulum, Mexico where fitness guru Hope Beel flexed her flawless physique in a white-hot string bikini. That is the ultimate ending to the Labor Day Weekend.

When Hope Beel isn't bouncing back and forth between Tulum and the Lone Star State and sharing blazing body shots on social media ... the Texas treat is soaking up all things local including the Dallas Cowboys, country music and munching Tex-Mex food.

Hope you enjoy!

This year’s Summer Hot Shots were done a little differently … we teamed up with smoke shows from around the world to create some eye-popping photo galleries with a DIY flare (social distancing, duh!) just for you.

St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Lou Brock has died ... this according to the St. Louis-Post Dispatch.

Reporter Rick Hummel says Brock passed away Sunday afternoon, adding he was battling multiple medical conditions near the end of his life. The exact circumstances of his death remain unclear.

Brock was a living legend in Missouri, as he's best known as one of the greatest Cardinals players ever who helped lead the franchise to a World Series title in 1964 ... the same year he was traded to the team from the Chicago Cubs. He was a major factor to them winning the fall classic again in 1967, racking up a then-historic number of hits and stolen bases.

Speaking of the latter, Lou will perhaps be best remembered for exactly that ... the dude could steal anything out on the diamond. The guy leads the National League as the all-time greatest base stealer (ever) with a whopping 938 stolen bases through his 19-year career.

There are other milestones he hit along the way, but just to sum up his achievements ... the guy was a 6-time All-Star, 2-time World Series champ, had over 3,000 hits to his name and was a first-ballot HOF inductee. He goes down in the books as one of the greats.

He's survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and his son, Lou Jr. Brock was 81.

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic had a chance to make history at this year's U.S. Open ... but he squandered it away after hitting a judge with a ball out of frustration.

Djokovic was defaulted (disqualified) from the rest of the tournament Sunday in the middle of his fourth-round match against Pablo Carreno Busta -- who was up 6-5 in the first set and had just scored a point -- when ND angrily and haphazardly smacked a ball that hit a lineswoman.

It doesn't appear he tried to hit her, but the fact he struck her (in the neck, no less) and got her removed from the action was enough for him to get booted. You see him immediately run over to check on her, but the damage was done.

Once he was instructed he couldn't play anymore, he quickly grabbed his things and exited the court ... not before giving some handshakes to his opponent and the main judge.

Djokovic was the #1 seed heading into the tourney -- and he was in line to join some elite company if he would've advanced further and racked up more wins. He'd already hit a huge milestone prior to Sunday's match, with 600 hard-court wins ... 3rd most behind Roger Federer (775) and Guillermo Vilas (670). Unfortunately, any further accolades will have to wait.

As for the line judge ... she was escorted off the court, but seemed to be more or less okay. Before sending Djokovic on his way, she made sure to give him a knowing look of unease.

Caption ... "WHAT THE HELL, DUDE!!!"

President Trump once hired a Black actor to impersonate Barack Obama, just so he could get him in his office and fire him "Apprentice" style ... and the whole thing is on video.

The scene was reportedly filmed around 2013, and was supposed to air during the 2016 RNC -- but it never saw the light of day ... until just recently, that is. It's cringey -- you see Trump bring his "Faux-Bama" into his office in Trump Tower, and belittle him to no end.

Check it out ... in the clip, you see the actor who is no doubt supposed to be Barack sitting there and just taking Trump's disparaging comments -- which range from bashing his job rates numbers, criticizing how he's handled the economy ... and mentioning how often he golfs.

In the end, DT, sure enough, dishes out his signature slogan ... and BO is sent on his way.

It's awful, frankly, but apparently ... this is something the RNC seriously considered running. At any rate, it's just an example of how much disdain Trump has for Obama ... so claims his ex-attorney, Michael Cohen, who recounted this anecdote in his new book.

The book -- 'Disloyal: A Memoir' -- also included a photo of Trump filming the scene with the Black actor he hired ... simply to humiliate on camera. In other words, yeah ... this happened.

Cohen's book is set to be published for the masses Tuesday, and it reportedly contains several other damning stories about the President, including alleged racist remarks and other sordid comments.

Now, this is one lucky duck -- a Mama waterfowl unwittingly taught her brood the perils of a storm drain ... only to be reunited after a human stepped in to help.

This seems to have gone down somewhere in Eastern Europe -- possibly Russia -- where someone was filming a mother duck walking around an unoccupied road with several of her ducklings in tow, only to have one slip through the cracks of a drain they waddled past.

When she realizes she's lost one of her own brood, she circles back to find them ... but unknowingly walks right past the same drain that sucked down her baby. As a result, many of the others fall through as well, as they follow their mom's lead -- until only one is left.

The mama duck turns around, and then the final duckling falls through as well. You can see her start to panic as she tries to figure out where they've gone ... and how to get them back.

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending -- 'cause everyone thought Mama had lost her kids for good. Not the case! A good Samaritan actually went down there and scooped the ducklings out, bringing them back up above ground one group at a time.

Up and coming beauty influencer Ethan Peters -- AKA, Ethan is Supreme -- has died ... according to those closest to him.

Peters appears to have passed away this weekend from an apparent overdose of what might be Percocet (an opioid) ... this according to his best friend and musician Ava Louise, who claims the guy had an addiction that he developed over the past couple years or so.

She says she wishes she would've done more to curb his drug usage -- which she describes as pill-popping. Ava went on to mourn his death in several Twitter posts. She describes his addiction as being fueled by fame at a young age. She said he cried out for help, but tragically it didn't prevent his death.

Ava also took the opportunity to lend a helping hand to anyone else struggling with addiction -- posting phone numbers to hotlines and saying the disease shouldn't be shamed, but rather discussed openly so folks can get the help they need before it's too late.

Ethan's death drew a strong reaction in the beauty and YouTube community -- people like Tana Mongeau, Manny MUA and Grace Auten, among others, posted tributes to their late friend who was just getting his feet wet in the biz. He had upwards of 500k followers on IG, and was steadily growing his fan base with makeup tutorials and fashion line shoots.

Ethan was 17.

A woman who briefly escaped the custody of two undercover officers in San Diego had a seizure as they chased her down ... a wild scene that played out on camera.

It happened Saturday during protests near the San Diego County Jail. At one point, you see an unmarked, civilian-style car posted outside a gate to get inside ... when all of a sudden, a lady springs out from the back seat in shackles and makes a run for it.

She screams for help as she tries to escape, and people around her are clearly confused before they put it all together. Two men in plain clothes -- who are presumably law enforcement agents -- run after her and eventually catch up just a few yards away.

As they begin to apprehend her, a crowd forms around all of them with most everyone's camera whipped out and recording. Some people try yanking the men off of her, and at one point ... she's literally being pulled by the leg and hair in mid-air. It's horrifying to watch.

It gets worse though ... the woman goes into a full-blown seizure during all the chaos, and the two guys eventually give up and start walking back to their car. Everyone's asking them to identify themselves, but they refuse ... and simply leave the scene, hand on gun too.

The Village People, with the exception of the cop, are outraged Donald Trump supporters have jacked their most-famous song and changed the words as an homage to their candidate.

Members of the group tell TMZ, they hate the idea the song is being used to promote Trump's re-election. They say, "Other than to antagonize Biden supporters, we really don't get Trump supporters fascination with 'Y.M.C.A.'" They go on to say ... "To say that we are annoyed by this type of use of 'Y.M.C.A.' is an understatement."

Problem for the group ... Victor Willis, a founding member, lead singer and songwriter, controls the copyright and he's not going to block it.

Victor has previously said, "I will continue to criticize the President when he says or does something I disagree with. And I disagree with most of his politics. But I am not a Trump hater. Therefore, I will not take the next step of bringing suit against the President simply because he loves 'Y.M.C.A.' and won't stop playing it at his rallies."

It looks like the same applies when Trump supporters jack the song.

A man who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at cops got way more than he bargained for when the explosion caught him on fire, and it was all chronicled on video.

Cops declared a riot Saturday night, during the 100th day of protests in the city of Portland, Oregon.

The man appears from the flames with his lower extremities ablaze. He is in clear distress as others nearby try to help him extinguish the flames. He's urged to roll on the ground and eventually the flames disappear.

It's unclear how badly the man was burned.