Austin Rivers Ben Simmons' Sixers Career Is Over ... Doc Wanted To Keep Him

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NOT HAPPENING
TMZSports.com

Ben Simmons' time in Philadelphia is up ... at least that's what Austin Rivers truly believes, telling TMZ Sports he doesn't see the 3-time All-Star suiting up for the 76ers ever again.

Of course, the Denver Nuggets guard's dad, Doc, has been trying to mend the relationship between Ben and the Sixers org. for months now ... but BS has yet to play a minute of hoops for Philly this season.

And when we asked Austin about the situation, he says he doesn't see Simmons playing for the Sixers ever again.

"No man, probably not. I don’t think so," Rivers answered. "If he hasn’t suited up by now, then I don’t think so."

Austin says his dad and the team have done everything in their power to retain the 25-year-old ... despite Simmons' desire to be traded.

"S***, they tried, bro," he said. "Look how long it’s been. I think they tried to keep him. He wants to go somewhere else obviously."

Rivers ultimately wishes BS well saying ... "I just want the young man to be happy. He’s talented. He’s a great player."

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BEN'S A BEAST
TMZSports.com

As we previously reported, Doc told us he'd love to have BS back with the Sixers. But so much has transpired since then ... and with neither side budging, it certainly feels like Austin's right.

BTW -- Austin recently got engaged ... so we asked him who would be a dream performer he wants to see at his wedding ... and he's got some big names in mind.

Janey Briggs in 'Not Another Teen Movie' 'Memba Her?!

East Coast actor Chyler Leigh was still a teenager when she was cast as the nerdy girl Janey Briggs -- who has her swan moment at John Hughes High School and transforms into the school hottie -- in the super funny 2001 spoof film "Not Another Teen Movie."

Jaime Pressly as the rude cheerleader, Priscilla, Eric Christian Olsen as the bro-y best friend, Austin ... and of course Chris Evans as the hunky football star in a whip cream bikini, Jake Wyler.

Leigh can more recently be spotted on top TV shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Supergirl."

Guess what she looks like now at almost 40!

Kevin Hart, Meek Mill, Michael Rubin Team Up For $15 Million Donation ... Aid to Thousands of Philly Kids

Kevin Hart's now on a Philly dream team -- joining Meek Mill and Michael Rubin to give back to their community with a $15 million donation to benefit students in the greater Philadelphia area.

The "Championships" rapper and 76ers partner added Kevin to the mix for another big charitable push -- pooling their funds to support 5,000 students from underserved communities who are attending private and parochial schools.

We're told the $15 mil donation will back the students at 110 schools for the 2022-23 school year.

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CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY

As we've reported ... Meek's made a tradition out of playing Santa for Philly kids each Christmas -- but he's also put forth a year-round effort to support education in his hometown.

He and Michael launched a $2 million scholarship fund for Philly students back in December 2020, providing youth with critical resources during the pandemic.

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GIVIN' BACK

The duo partnered with REFORM Alliance just last month, hosting a special VIP experience for more than 25 children negatively impacted by the criminal justice system -- the kids went to a 76ers game, and even got to shoot around on the court.

Now, Kevin -- another born and raised Philly guy -- is in on the charitable efforts, and together they're upping the ante ... big time.

Machine Gun Kelly Engaged to Megan Fox ... 'and then we drank each other’s blood'

UPDATE

10:19 AM PT -- 1/13 -- We spoke with Stephen Webster who tells us MGK came to them about 3 months ago to start work on the ring ... a surprising timeline considering the two have only been together a year and a half.

UPDATE

Webster says the ring was "created in 18ct white gold with a D color antique-cut Diamond, and an untreaded Columbian Emerald, perfectly matched pear-shaped gems, surrounded by colourless natural Diamond pavé”

UPDATE

We were approached by Colson to create a very special ring that had true connections to both Megan and himself. Over the three months of working together on the ring Colson mentioned that Megan’s birth stone is Emerald which he wanted to incorporate in some way along with a Diamond, his birth stone.

UPDATE

The resulting ring actually consists of two rings which, by the use of magnets buried within the Gold, are attracted to each other and sit together perfectly on the finger, a detail that is both modern and quite extraordinary. Created in 18ct white gold with a D colour antique-cut Diamond, and an untreaded Columbian Emerald, perfectly matched pear-shaped gems, surrounded by colourless natural Diamond pavé” - Stephen Webster, MBE

Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox are soon to be Mr. and Mrs. ... getting engaged with a pretty baller ring and allegedly celebrating by drinking each other's blood???

MGK made the announcement Wednesday, with the caption, "yes, in this life and every life” beneath the same branches we fell in love under, i brought her back to ask her to marry me."

The whole thing went down at Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton in Puerto Rico ... a spot the two have visited before.

Megan too posted a video of the engagement, saying, "Somehow a year and a half later, having walked through hell together, and having laughed more than I ever imagined possible, he asked me to marry him."

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

But, it's how she ended her post that has people confused "…and then we drank each other’s blood."

It's certainly not the first time these two have swapped some bodily fluids, MGK has worn a necklace in the past with a drop of his now-fiancees blood in it.

He says he designed the ring with Stephen Webster, with Megan's birthstone, the emerald, and his birthstone, the diamond. Continuing, "set on two magnetic bands of thorns that draw together as two halves of the same soul forming the obscure heart that is our love."

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ROCK FROM THE ROCKER
@machinegunkelly / Instagram

Megan and MGK met in 2020 while filming the movie "Midnight in The Switchgrass" and have seemingly been inseparable ever since.

Megan was previously married to Brian Austin Green, the two have three kids together. MGK has never been married, but has a daughter.

Originally Published -- 1/12 3:23 PM PT

Joe Judge Needs Beer & Pizza After Giants Firing ... Gets Massive Order Delivered To NJ Home

Forget ice cream and movies ... Joe Judge is getting over his New York Giants breakup with beer and pizza -- and a whole hell of a lot of it!!!

The former G-Men head coach -- who was canned on Tuesday following two abysmal seasons with the team -- ordered a boatload of 'za and suds to his New Jersey home on Wednesday, presumably to help drown out his newfound sorrows.

Pictures, taken by a photo agency, show the newly unemployed 40-year-old had nine boxes of pizza as well as several cases of Michelob Ultra and Coors Light delivered to his place. We're also told Judge had flowers arrive on his doorstep as well.

No word yet on if anyone is joining Judge in the pity party -- or if the massive amounts of food and booze are strictly for Judge.

But, if the latter is the case, and it seems excessive -- it quite frankly might not be.

Judge had a brutal two-year stretch as head man of the Giants -- going 10-23 -- and things got so bad, New York co-owner John Mara said Wednesday this year was his "lowest moment" with the team.

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TOTAL EMBARRASSMENT
New York Giants

It doesn't get much rougher than this to start off the New Year ... here's to hoping the beer buzz and the pizza food coma help out!

BRANDY NORWOOD SUED DESIGNER CLAIMS $45K RING IS MISSING ... Brandy Denies Involvement

UPDATE

12:59 PM PT -- 1/13 -- Brandy is denying all involvement, with a rep for the singer telling TMZ ... "Brandy never saw the ring and has no knowledge of it ever being in her presence. It was never a part of her look for the event."

UPDATE

9:01 AM PT -- A rep for Ashley Thomas tells TMZ they deny the allegations and that he "looks forward to presenting the facts in the appropriate forum."

Brandy Norwood is being dragged to court over a $45,000 ring she was supposed to wear at the American Music Awards ... a ring that's allegedly gone missing.

Brandy and her stylist, Ashley Sean Thomas, are being sued by Elle B. Mambetov, a fashion designer and Beverly Hills store owner.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Mambetov claims Brandy's stylist approached her last year about borrowing jewelry and clothes for the singer to wear at the November Awards show ... and the designer let them borrow some outfits and a Dreamboule Big Bang Diamond Ring.

Brandy and her stylist allegedly never returned the ring ... and the designer claims it's valued at around $45k. She says in her suit Brandy's stylist told her it was last seen on the piano at Brandy's Calabasas estate.

Brandy didn't wear the ring or the outfit to the AMAs ... but we're told it's not all that uncommon, because stylists usually put together many different options for celebs.

The ring is 18-karat rose gold, with a sapphire crystal dome and black volcanic stone.

The designer's going after Brandy and her stylist for the value of the ring plus other damages ... claiming she's suffered financial losses and emotional trauma.

We reached out to Brandy and her stylist ... so far, no word back.

Originally Published -- 1/12 4:35 PM PT

'Rust' Armorer Sues Halyna Would Be Alive If I Was in That Church ... Live Ammo Not My Fault!!!

The head armorer on "Rust" says the fatal shooting would never have happened if she was in the church with Alec Baldwin and Halyna Hutchins ... according to a new lawsuit.

Hannah Gutierrez Reed just filed suit against Seth Kenney, the man whose company supplied the ammunition used on the set ... but she's also laying some blame on Alec and assistant director Dave Halls.

While Alec and Halls are not defendants, Hannah claims in the docs ... Baldwin did not respond to her request to schedule a cross draw training session for the movie's gun scenes. As we've reported, Alec was doing exactly that -- a scene where he draws the gun across his body -- when Halyna was killed.

According to the suit, filed by attorney Jason Bowles, Hannah claims she loaded the gun used in the church scene with what she believed were dummy rounds, and gave the gun to assistant director Halls, who told her he would be sitting with the gun during rehearsal.

Hannah claims she left the church, and within 15 minutes, Halls handed Baldwin the firearm. That's when Halls called out "cold gun" ... signifying it was not loaded with live rounds.

In the docs, Hannah claims it was not a scheduled rehearsal with Baldwin, and it was protocol for Halls to inform her if Baldwin was going to be filming or practicing the gun move. She says that didn't happen.

Instead, Hannah says Alec began practicing the cross draw from his shoulder holster to get the proper camera angles with Halyna ... and that's when the shooting happened.

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I AIMED AS DIRECTED
ABC News

She claims Alec would have learned safe gun practices with the cross draw, but he never responded to her request to train him on that move.

Hannah also says she would never have let Alec point a gun at Halyna -- but she wasn't in the church to do so.

She's suing Kenney because she believes he had access to the set and knew the code to the prop safe where guns were stored.

In the suit she claims he and his company, PDQ Arm & Prop, were the production's primary supplier of ammunition -- so they alone should be liable for the live ammo that clearly found its way onto the set.

Ronnie Spector of The Ronettes Dead at 78

Ronnie Spector, the lead singer of the famed, girl group, The Ronettes -- famous for songs like "Be My Baby," has died.

Ronnie's family said she died Wednesday after a brief battle with cancer, in the arms of her husband.

The Ronettes were trailblazers ... the group formed in 1957 with Ronnie, her sister, Estelle and her cousin, Nedra.

Here's how big the Ronettes were ... in 1965, they were voted the third top singing group in England, trailing only The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

The group's trajectory soared when they hooked up with legendary music producer, Phil Spector, who created the famous "Wall of Sound."

Among their hits, in addition to the 1963 smash, "Be My Baby," they scored with "Walking in the Rain," "Baby, I Love You," and "Chapel of Love." They also did a number of hit XMAS songs, including, "Frosty the Snowman," "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."

The Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

Ronnie married Phil Spector in 1968, but it was short-lived ... they separated in 1972. The way the story goes ... she fled their home barefoot because Phil had hidden all of her shoes to prevent her from leaving. He also put barbed wire around the perimeter of their home to keep her from escaping.

Ronnie, along with the other members of the group, sued Phil Spector in 1988 for unpaid royalties.

Ronnie had a resurgence of popularity in the mid-'80s... she sang on Eddie Money's hit song, "Take Me Home Tonight."

And, get this ... The Ronettes scored their second, top 10 hit just 2 weeks ago, when "Sleigh Ride" reached #10 on the Billboard Charts.

Ronnie remarried in 1982 to her manager, Jonathan Greenfield. They have 2 sons.

Ronnie was 78. RIP

Kim & Pete Ya, They're for Real ... Very Serious Date Night Embrace!!!

This should erase all doubt Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson are the real deal -- the kinda PDA they put down during date night is the kind that screams: This. Is. Serious.

The couple was all loved-up -- holding hands, chatting and hugging each other tightly while waiting for ice cream Tuesday in L.A's Fairfax district. Nothing high falutin either -- they stopped by a Rite Aid after dinner for an ice cream dessert.

Interestingly, we really hadn't seen much in the way of PDA between the two during previous dates -- but what we saw last night was a clear sign their relationship is getting more comfortable and more intense.

TMZ broke the story ... Kim and Pete grabbed pizzas at Jon & Vinny's on Fairfax Tuesday night -- sitting at a back table and using the private entrance -- before heading out for Thrifty's ice cream at the Rite Aid.

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DESSERT DATE
BACKGRID

When things were still fresh with Pete and Kim back in November, lots of people assumed it was a publicity grab, but it's almost impossible to keep arguing that point now.

As we've reported, Kim's friends love Pete ... telling us he's charming, and Kim has a lot of fun with him. We're told the duo's still taking things relatively slow, but to us, a pizza and ice cream night on the town is as relaxed as you can get -- so things are going well. Very well.

Young Thug Goes Off on Pilot Cops Called for Runway Dispute

Young Thug's travel plans were quickly shifted after one man in his party allegedly didn't have the proper ID to fly -- causing the rapper to blow up on the pilot -- and ending with cops getting the call to the runway.

Young Thug was traveling with friends, including Gunna, Wednesday when the altercation went down. The group was supposed to take a private jet from Miami to New York, but that itinerary apparently hit a speed bump when one of the men traveling with TY didn't have the proper docs to fly.

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FEELIN' DISRESPECTED
@thuggerthugger1 / Instagram

As you see in the video, the pilot asked him to step off the plane before it took off ... but that wasn't the end of the problems.

The pilot informs YT someone traveling in the group made the flight attendant feel uncomfortable, and therefore they can't fly. It's never explained in the video exactly what happened to the flight attendant.

Cops were called to the scene, and law enforcement sources say everything was sorted out, and Gunna and Young Thug booked another plane to their destination.

No one was detained or arrested.

Nicki Minaj Harassment Lawsuit Dropped ... Lawyer Vows to Go After Accuser!!!

Nicki Minaj can breathe easier -- a lawsuit claiming the rapper harassed and threatened the woman who accused Nicki's husband of sexual assault has been dropped ... and Nicki's planning to go after the woman to recoup money lost in legal fees.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the lawsuit against Nicki was voluntarily dismissed Wednesday by Jennifer Hough. A source close to the case tells us there was not any sort of financial settlement reached to make it go away. Nicki's husband, Kenneth Petty, remains a defendant.

In a blistering response, Nicki's attorney, Judd Burstein, tells TMZ Jennifer and her lawyers thought they could shake Nicki down for some easy money, trying to financially settle it from the beginning.

We've seen an email Burstein sent to Hugh's lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, which reads, in part, "In my view, your conduct in pursuing this case against Nicki represents the worst of our legal system: bottom-feeding lawyers who pursue frivolous actions against a celebrity assuming that they will be paid off if they throw enough dirt."

Judd continues, "You forced my client to spend over $300,000 in fees to defend a case which even my labradoodle, Gracie, could see was frivolous on both the facts and the law."

Kenneth was convicted of trying to rape Jennifer in 1995, and she's since spoken publicly about the ordeal.

TMZ broke the story, Jennifer sued Nicki in August, claiming Nicki and her legal team had offered to pay Jennifer to change her story about what happened with Kenneth.

That lawsuit against Nicki is officially no more.

Chris Dickerson First Black Mr. America Dead at 82

Chris Dickerson -- the first Black Mr. America and first openly gay man to be Mr. Olympia -- died after a reported heart ailment. He was 82 years old.

Dickerson's friend, Bill Neylon, told the Washington Post Chris had died at a hospital in Fort Lauderdale, FL on December 23 ... after struggling with complications to his heart.

Neylon added Chris had been staying in a rehabilitation center in Florida prior to his death.

Dickerson -- who stood just 5'6" inches tall -- was a pioneer in his industry ... winning the crown of Mr. America in 1970 and Mr. Olympia in 1982.

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Some of his most notable wins were victories at Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Grand Prix competitions in multiple states.

The legendary bodybuilder had a storied career spanning more than three decades ... winning 50 titles during that time.

Chris had suffered a broken hip in 2020 -- he also experienced a heart attack and contracted COVID-19 before his passing, Bill told the outlet.

#RIP

Fat Joe Celeb Pals Help Bronx Fire Victims ... Much More Aid Needed

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WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
TMZ.com

Fat Joe says his famous friends are chipping in to make sure victims of that historically deadly Bronx apartment fire aren't left out in the cold -- but adds it's gonna take more than celebrities to get the job done.

Joey Crack joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live" and told us what inspired him to team up with NYC Mayor Eric Adams to help survivors and those who lost loved ones and property in the deadly blaze.

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THE TRAGIC INCIDENT
FOX 5

As we reported ... the inferno engulfed a 19-story apartment building in the Bronx, killing 17 people -- including 8 children -- the city's deadliest fire in more than 30 years.

Fat Joe says most of the people living in the building are immigrants, and they're now homeless amid freezing cold winter temps. He's used his contacts to help jumpstart fundraising, shouting out donations they've already received from Jay-Z, DJ Khaled, LL Cool J, Nas and former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey ... among others.

It's the first big crisis for Adams, who took office on Jan. 1, and Fat Joe tells us why the new mayor can cut through political red tape to make a difference here.

He also explains how regular folks can help out too -- fatjoe.me/donatebronx -- and says 100 percent of donations go toward hotel rooms, new homes and funerals.

Kanye's Manager Bu "That’s King Ye, Why not?”... All For Kanye Meeting with Putin

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PARTYING WITH PUTIN
TMZ.com

Kanye West is plotting on Putin -- he wants to have a sit-down meeting with the Russian leader, that is ... and his team is rooting for the ultimate link up.

We caught up with Ye's manager Bu Thiam, and he's definitely here for a Vladimir Putin meets West sit down ... despite many folks who are side-eyeing the whole situation.

Bu says he looooves the idea of the two men sitting down and having a conversation... “That’s King Ye, Why not?” he asked. Well, depends on who he's asking ...

While many people have suspicions about the Russian leader's alleged brutal tactics ... when it comes to Putin, Bu says that he loves him and backed him up by saying most leaders have to make tough decisions.

He dusted off any backlash saying, in America "we hate" everybody that’s not American ... he even doubled down on that by claiming Putin is loved by his own people.

As we previously told you ... Kanye reportedly wants to have a meeting with the Russian leader. He also is planning to start doing his Sunday Service shows in the country starting in the spring or summer.

Ye's team is divided on the topic, with some saying none of this is happening. His business associate told Billboard about the plans, but then his PR rep shot down the story, saying it was "entirely fabricated."

While Bu didn't give us any insight on WHY Ye is adamant about a meeting with Vladimir ... the Billboard story claims Kanye plans to make the country his "second home".

Young Dolph COPS SAY SUSPECTED KILLER CARJACKED GETAWAY CAR ... Week Before Murder

At least one of Young Dolph's murder suspects also used his gun to carjack the Mercedes-Benz used as a getaway car in the fatal shooting ... according to cops.

The suspected killer's alleged crime spree is all laid out in new legal docs obtained by TMZ ... and police say the carjacking went down in Memphis, a week before Dolph's murder.

In the docs, cops say a woman in a white Mercedes-Benz told them she was approached by 2 men armed with AR-style guns and they demanded her car. She also told cops one of the men hit her with the muzzle of a gun before she got out of the car and fled on foot.

And, get this ... cops say the woman told them one of the men ended up chasing her down because he couldn't start the car, forcing her back inside the ride at gunpoint and hitting her on the back of the head with his gun and demanding she starts the car.

Police say one of the men drove off in the white Benz, while the other followed in a dark-colored sedan ... and the Mercedes was used in a series of crimes, including Dolph's murder.

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WANTED WHIP

Remember ... detectives tracked down the getaway car to a Memphis-area home shortly after Dolph was killed.

In the docs, police say they dusted the car for fingerprints and got a match for Cornelius Smith.

As we previously reported, the other suspect, Justin Johnson, also has a connection to the Benz ... because he shot a music video at the home where the car was found.

Smith and Johnson were taken into custody by law enforcement Tuesday, following a manhunt ... and both Johnson and Smith have been indicted for murder.

Kim & Pete Pizza Dinner Date ... Ice Cream for Dessert!!!

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson appear to be spending as much time together as possible, grabbing some hot eats followed by a cool treat on their latest date night.

The couple hit up Jon & Vinny's on Fairfax Tuesday night -- an Italian-inspired spot famous for pizza and pasta -- where they dove in on some 'za. The two were pretty discreet, sitting at a table in the back and entering and exiting from the restaurant's rear entry.

From there, we're told Pete and Kim journeyed on over to a local Rite Aid where they each grabbed some Thrifty ice cream for dessert.

The pair has been inseparable over the last few weeks -- spending time in L.A. before Christmas and heading down to the Bahamas with some friends after NYE.

Pizza seems to be a popular date choice for Kim and Pete, it was back when the two first started dating when Pete took Kim to a favorite spot of his in Staten Island for pizza and pasta.

Of course, Kanye's been doing some coast-to-coast dating of his own -- going from Miami to NYC to L.A. with actress Julia Fox -- our Kim sources say she's happy if Kanye's happy, and it's up to him to find a partner that'll work ... not for Kim to judge.