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Barack Obama says he's contracted COVID-19 -- but the good news is that he's doing alright ... attributing that to the fact he's vaccinated.

The former President announced his status Sunday, writing ... "I just tested positive for COVID. I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise. Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted, and she has tested negative."

He adds, "It’s a reminder to get vaccinated if you haven’t already, even as cases go down."

BO is the second living president to have tested positive for the virus -- of course, Donald Trump caught it in 2020 (right in the thick of the pandemic) and seemed to be quite ill for a bit ... as he had to take a pause on campaigning to get treatment and to quarantine.

Luckily, Joe Biden hasn't contracted COVID himself -- neither has Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush or Bill Clinton, FWIW -- even though he was at a high risk of doing so due to Trump attending that September debate, at which point he'd reportedly already tested positive.

While it's pretty shocking to hear Barack is positive, it's not all that surprising or worrisome -- especially at this point in the pandemic ... when lots of people (including politicians) have also caught it, only to come back at 100% shortly thereafter.

We've seen fully-vaccinated senators and representatives announce their COVID breakthrough cases in recent months ... and just about every one of them kicked it quickly, attributing their mild to nonexistent symptoms to the jab.

Kanye West is at it again -- rapid-fire posting multiple videos and screenshots to prove what he claims is a raw deal on how his kids are being raised ... without much say from him. And one thing is for certain, Pete Davidson isn't biting his tongue anymore.

Ye posted several videos with allegations against Kim Kardashian, claiming she's pulling the rug from out under him as it relates to letting their kids come to Sunday Service -- specifically, with North.

Turns out Pete was watching Kanye's Instagram activity, because a string of text messages between the two -- all sent this morning -- popped up on social media.

Pete gives Kim credit for being an awesome mom, telling Kanye he should be thankful she's the one taking care of the kids ... but then he sets his sights on making things work with Kanye. Pete invited Kanye for a one on one chat, at his hotel and without cameras.

Pete tells Ye he's been more than respectful over the last few months as Kanye bashed him, but he's done being nice ... either the two work things out, or it's no more mister nice guy.

As for his posts, Kanye's angry about a new video on Kim and North's TikTok account -- in which North sings along to the lyrics of a song about liking emo girls ... Kanye doesn't think that's okay.

Kanye also claimed Pete had bragged about being in bed with "his wife" -- which the texts prove was legit -- but as we told you, Kim's now legally single.

BTW, during this rant, Ye also seemingly threatened D.L. Hughley with violence and even made allegations of drug use -- but at this point, it seems like he and Pete might come to blows before anything like that happens. 😬

Kyrie Irving is throwing NYC's vaccine mandate policy right back in its face on primetime TV -- taking in a home game, maskless, from the stands ... but not able to step onto the court.

The awkward scene played out live Sunday during the Nets' home game against Knicks ... which was being carried by ESPN. During the 2nd quarter, the camera panned to KI, who was shaking hands with people down near the bottom of the stands, and then going up to his seat a few rows up.

In this capacity -- as a spectator -- he's totally okay to not wear a mask and move about ... as that is now NYC's policy on events like this, regardless of vaccine status. However, their rule pertaining to private employees hasn't changed -- namely, those folks have to be vaccinated, and Kyrie isn't.

Still ... the irony of the sitch reeks of hypocrisy, but more importantly ... it reeks of a lack of common sense, something that Doris Burke and other announcers broached with trepidation ... because, if we're being honest, the regulations here just don't make sense anymore.

Kyrie's former teammate, LeBron James, was not as shy about expressing his indignation over NYC's backwards thinking. In response to someone pointing out what a joke this is, he wrote ... "FACTS FACTS FACTS!! It literally makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO SENSE!!! They say if common sense was common then we’d all have it. Ain’t that the truth."

LBJ has been outspoken on the pandemic, especially the further into it we've gotten. Remember, it was just in December that he suggested the latest strains were more like the flu or the cold than anything else ... something he was slammed for at the time, as some felt he was downplaying the seriousness of the virus.

Taraji P. Henson is coming out in full defense of Jussie Smollett -- but is making a strange comparison ... invoking the Emmett Till case to try and describe what's happening to him.

The "Empire" star -- who obviously appeared opposite Jussie through much of the show -- took to IG this weekend with an impassioned plea on behalf of her friend, posting a photo with the hashtag #FreeJussie ... accompanied by a lengthy caption.

She writes, "I am not here to debate you on his innocence but we can agree that the punishment does not fit the crime. Emmett Till was brutally beat and ultimately murdered because of a lie and none of the people involved with his demise spent one day in jail, even after Carolyn Bryant admitted that her claims were false."

Taraji adds, "No one was hurt or killed during Jussie’s ordeal. He has already lost everything, EVERYTHING! To me as an artist not able to create that in itself is punishment enough. He can’t get a job. No one in Hollywood will hire him and again as an artist who loves to create, that is prison."

Finally, she finishes her sentiment with this ... "My prayer is that he is freed and put on house arrest and probation because in this case that would seem fair. Please #freejussie."

As we told you, Jussie's brother told his followers that his sibling had been placed in the psych ward wing of Cook County Jail -- which we've learned is, in fact, true ... but it's not for the reasons that Jocqui suggested ... namely, that he was there against his will.

Our law enforcement sources tell us it's simply where they house high-profile inmates ... and not just that, but he'll also be in protective custody while there, under a watchful eye.

Scott Hall -- one of WWE's biggest superstars from the 20th century -- is reportedly on life support ... this after major surgery complications.

The news was reported Sunday by PW Torch, which says Hall is clinging to life at a hospital in Georgia ... following a procedure to work on his broken hip. According to the outlet, SH suffered three heart attacks Saturday night.

PWT reports the heart attacks come on the heels of his hip surgery last week, which they say caused a complication when a blood clot got loose in the midst of operating.

Hall is one of the bona fide living legends of pro wrestling still active today. He rose to prominence in the '90s through the WWF playing the character Razor Ramon ... and then went on to assume his actual name in the WCW.

He's also one of the founding members of the wrestling stable New World Order (nWo) ... alongside Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash -- who portrayed themselves as wrestling outcasts looking to take the sport over in street gang, tough-guy fashion.

Hall is a multi-time champ -- he's won multiple titles with the WCW, including several tag team championships, and at least four with WWF. He's also competed in multiple WrestleMania events over the years ... and was even due to appear at this year's showdown.

Despite stepping away from WWE in the early 2000s, he continued to wrestle professionally until about 2010, at which point he semi-retired ... but still stayed active within WWE. He was inducted into their Hall of Fame twice ... once as a solo act in 2014 and again as a new member in 2020.

Naomi Osaka lost her tennis match Saturday, but that wasn't the worst part of her day ... a heckler set off a chain of events that reduced the tennis star to tears.

Naomi was playing Veronika Kudermetova at the Indian Wells Tourney outside Palm Springs, when a woman in the stands screamed, "Naomi, you suck!" The fans started screaming at the woman, and rocked Naomi.

She was losing 3-0 in the first set when she begged the ump to let her take the mic and talk to the audience, promising, "I just want to say something. I'm not going to curse. I don't curse. It's just weighing on my heart."

Officials would not oblige, but vowed to boot the heckler if she dared tried it again.

It was too late for Naomi ... she lost the first set 6-0 and the second 6-4.

After losing, Naomi asked again, and this time she got the mic, telling the crowd, "To be honest, I've been heckled before. It didn't really bother me. But heckled here, like, I've watched a video of Venus and Serena get heckled here, and if you've never watched it, you should watch it. I don't know why, but it went into my head and got replayed a lot."

Jussie Smollett has been placed in the psych ward at the Cook County Jail, and his brother says it's because the official paperwork says Jussie is at risk of self-harm.

Jocqui Smollett hopped on Instagram Saturday, saying, "So Jussie is currently in a psych ward at the Cook County Jail. What's very concerning is that there was a note attached to his paperwork today saying that he's at risk of self-harm."

Jocqui then called B.S. ... "I want to make it clear that he is in no way, shape, or form at risk of self-harm. He wants to let folks know that he is very stable, he is very strong, he is very healthy and ready to take on the challenge that... has been put up against him."

A law enforcement source tells TMZ, the reason Jussie is in the psych ward is because it's also the area where they house high-profile inmates.

The former "Empire" actor is now serving his 5-month sentence for faking a racial and homophobic attack on the streets of Chicago. When he was sentenced he told the judge repeatedly that he was not suicidal, so if anything happened to him behind bars it was not self-harm.

Patrick Mahomes is a married man -- the NFL superstar quarterback just tied the knot with his high school sweetheart, Brittany Matthews ... and the ceremony looked incredible!!

The Mahomeses had their closest friends and family in attendance for the wedding ... including Patrick's Chiefs teammates.

The QB's younger brother, Jackson, was best man ... and All-Pro bestie Travis Kelce was also a groomsman.

Brittany's closest friends were part of her bridal party ... and Kelce and his GF, Kayla, were spotted dancing it up with the happy couple at the reception -- with both NFL stars wearing colorful outfits.

Patrick and Brittany first started dating back in high school ... and have been together ever since.

The newly wedded couple welcomed their 1-year-old daughter, Sterling Skye, in 2021 ... who adorably served as flower girl for the ceremony.

'SNL' managed to walk the line Saturday night, with a hilarious cold open about TikTokers making the trek to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., advising the Prez on how to fight the Russians.

The premise -- President Biden meets TikTok stars in the Oval for a brainstorming meeting on how to fight the Russian disinformation campaign and Putin himself.  After all, these are influencers, so maybe they can influence the right folks.

It's actually a real thing ... White House officials briefed 30 social media influencers this week about the Russian invasion.

Well, in the skit, a CW actress goes all AnnaLynne McCord and suggests the best way to tame Putin is with a poem.

Not to be outdone, another TikToker suggests the solution is a prank ... throwing Putin down a flight of stairs.

Another influencer seems to swing far right, as she suggests Hunter Biden started the war.

There's a hysterical mix-up when a dude named Charles D'Amelio said he didn't know why he was there, but he assumed they meant to invite Charli. Honest mistake ... on his way out he asked if there were any extra stimi checks.

And then the influencer with the plunger ... you just gotta watch it. Super funny.

Jussie Smollett will almost certainly escape federal charges for allegedly faking another part of the elaborate hoax that just got him sentenced to 5 months behind bars ... the infamous hate letter.

Federal law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... barring any major future development in the fake hate mail case, the feds will NOT charge Jussie.

As we reported ... the studio received a threatening letter directed at the "Empire" star 8 days before the "attack," with scrapbook-style letters with the warning ... "You will die black f**," along with an image of a noose.

Some authorities believe Jussie sent the racist and homophobic letter to himself, hoping it would put him smack in the middle of the social justice movement.

The feds seem content with the sentence Jussie received after a jury convicted him on 5 felony counts for lying to cops about the incident. He was just sentenced to 150 days in jail with 30 months of felony probation.

Our sources say the feds feel it would be "piling on" to hit Jussie with more charges.

Katt Williams pulled the plug early on his Nashville show Saturday night, after the venue received a bomb threat.

Katt was in Tennessee for his "World War III" Tour -- yeah, we get that it's jarring -- when 10 minutes before it was supposed to end someone on the crew told him about the threat.

Williams had to make a tough decision ... tell the crowd about the threat or just end the show and let them naturally walk out.

You gotta think Astroworld was on his mind ... worrying that full disclosure might result in a stampede, so Katt just left the stage without saying why. The venue was cleared without incident.

Security took it seriously enough that they escorted Katt off stage and hustled him out of there. Katt left the venue without drama.

There had been rumors of some sort of threat online ... both a bomb threat and a gun threat.

The fans apparently learned of the threat after the fact. One tweeted, "Just left Katt Williams' show in Nashville, where security escorted him off stage mid-joke. Then the lights came on and everyone was told to leave."

Princess Love says the door is always open on getting back with Ray J ... but she says it's no skin off her teeth if he wants a divorce.

We got Princess at LAX on Friday and our photog asked about recent comments that love isn't always enough to save a troubled marriage.

Princess signals she's open to working on her union with Ray ... but she also says it takes a commitment from both parties.

TMZ broke the story ... Ray filed divorce docs back in October, marking the third time the couple's tried pulling the plug on their marriage. They ended up back together the first two times ... the jury's still out on the 3rd.

Princess says she doesn't really know what she wants ... but she says if Ray keeps calling for divorce she's going to let it happen.

Edgar Berlanga is back ... the first-round knockout king from Brooklyn is returning to the ring after tearing his bicep last year, and Fat Joe's walking him to the squared circle next Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

The 24-year-old power puncher told TMZ Sports headlining in his hometown of New York, after rehabbing to come back from a torn left biceps injury, feels surreal.

"It still feels fake," Edgar told us. "I still feel like I'm the undercard of another fighter, but I'm a happy man."

And, he won't just have Joe -- a NYC legend -- by his side as he makes his way to the ring ... 'cause Edgar says a bunch of celebs, from musicians to hoopers, have hit him up for the ticket hookup.

"All the celebs is coming out," Edgar said. "They hit me up like 'yo, we tryna be there, I wanna support.'" "Knicks players [Obi Toppin] is hittin' me, so I'm like 'aight.'"

"Sup with the tickets?" Toppin asked Edgar.

"I said 'like bro, that's your home,' and he's like 'nah bro I need to be there.'" "I'm like 'say no more, I gotchu.'"

The New York native tells us rappers Fabolous, Jim Jones, Maino and Dave East are pulling up to MSG to watch him fight, too.

We last saw Edgar -- aka "The Chosen One" -- in a ring back in October 2021 ... when he defeated Marcelo Esteban Coceres in 10-rounds via unanimous decision, after surviving a knockdown earlier in the fight.

Edgar -- who started his pro career with 16 consecutive first-round knockouts (unreal) -- says he knew the day would come when the streak would end, but he's not sweating it because he wants the ring time.

Berlanga will put his undefeated 18-0 (16 KO's) record on the line when he steps inside the ring against his opponent veteran boxer Steve Rolls.

"March 19 I'm looking to explode, bro! Getcha popcorn ready like I always say, 'cause it's fire coming, for real."

Luann de Lesseps' striking looks have us saying, "money CAN buy you class!"

Here's a 41-year-old version of the countess back in 2006 hanging out backstage at New York Fashion Week (left). This was two years before Luann snatched her 'apple' and became a leading cast member of "The Real Housewives of New York City."

And, 15 years later ... the now 56-year-old ex-countess is still making a splash, she recently posted a shot as she prepares for her next cabaret tour which kicks off next month (right).

To think her iconic mug shot went viral just five years ago ... she has come a long way! "Feelin Jovani?" ... absolutely!

But, the real question here is ...

Things are really heating up between 'Joe Millionaire' star Steven McBee and his new lover, Calah Jackson ... cause we're told they're gonna be shacking up in his new home.

ICYMI, Steven chose Calah and gave her a promise ring on the season finale, and he's already making an even bigger commitment by dropping $772,565 on a Kansas City, MO love nest.

Our sources say, Steven bought the place in his name, but the couple's decided to move in together. It's a bigger move for Calah -- she's from Dallas -- but they won't be too far from Steven's family in the rural town of Gallatin, MO.

We're told, the house is still under construction, but should be finished by the end of this month. These photos -- taken by photographers Mark and Cyndi McCombs -- of a replica model give you an idea of what their new pad will look like.

From the looks of it, it'll be pretty nice and they'll have lots of space in their 4 bedroom, 4 bath pad. It's a sweet "starter" home for the couple, but then again ... he's a millionaire.

The lovebirds seems to be having better luck than the other Joe on the show. As we've told you, Kurt has already split from Amanda, who he picked in the finale.

Hidden under this smooshed face is a scramble celeb who definitely knows how to work a camera.

She may have clothes on in this picture, but that hasn't stopped you from seeing her nude hot shots ... with blurred lines of course.

And, don't let this distorted picture take away from her iconic magazine covers, which include Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Paper Magazine.

If the skewed eyebrows are still throwing you off, think back to when she told her followers just exactly how she goes about tweaking her brows.