Ben Affleck Shoots Love-Locked Eyes To J Lo During Award Acceptance Speech

"L" is for the way you look at me ... so says Jennifer Lopez as BF Ben Affleck longingly admires her during the singer's acceptance speech.

J Lo was onstage at the iHeart Music Awards Tuesday night, accepting this year's Icon Award. While thanking her fans for their support over the years, the crowd went nuts, including Ben -- with his 10-year-old son Samuel and her 14-year-old daughter Emme by his side.

His look says it all ... the two have been going through some changes together -- including putting around $55 million down for a massive estate -- so his excitement for a future with her really shows.

TMZ broke the story, the couple is in escrow for a 10-bed, 17-bath home, with a theater, multiple kitchens, and a pool. After scoping out the house this weekend, the two were off to McDonald's, chowing down on some value meals after the big purchase!

After her award speech, J Lo took the stage again, performing a couple of her songs ... including her 2005 hit, "Get Right." The crowd must've loved watching her live, but we know one superfan that enjoyed it even more ...

Prince William & Kate We're Jammin'!!! Go Full Reggae During Jamaica Tour

032322_william_middleton_kal_2
TRENCH TOWN TOUR
AP

Prince William and Kate Middleton sitting in the middle of a Rastafarian drum circle and banging away in the birthplace of reggae -- yeah, this is NOT your typical Royal tour!

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were in Kingston, Jamaica's Trench Town neighborhood Tuesday, and were fully immersed in the culture. Awkward as it might seem, Kate and Will each played a drum in a traditional Nyabinghi drum session. This was just the latest stop on their tour of several Caribbean nations in the British Commonwealth.

The royal couple visited the former home of reggae legend Bob Marley and met with other well-known local musicians.

They also celebrated some of the island's favorite sports -- hopping into a Jamaican bobsled and taking pics with the latest Olympic team. Later, William even played a little pickup soccer match and met national team stars Raheem Sterling and Leon Bailey.

But, not everyone is thrilled about their visit. The royal tour was met with backlash from many folks and Jamaican leaders, who are demanding reparations.

This is kind of a last hurrah for the royals ... in Jamaica, anyway. The country is starting the process of becoming an independent republic, which means removing Queen Elizabeth as its head of state.

The goal is to cut ties by August 6, which is Jamaica's Independence Day.

Before landing in Jamaica, William and Kate also soaked up some local culture in Belize ... another Commonwealth nation.

Damon Dash Who Are Grammys to Judge Kanye!?! Let's Make Our Own Awards

032222-dame-dash-kal 3/22/22
THEY HAVE NO RIGHT
TMZ.com

Damon Dash isn't here for the Grammys yanking Kanye West from its performance lineup ... insisting the Recording Academy has no place judging him or any other hip-hop artist.

We caught up with the rap mogul Tuesday at LAX, and he's so pissed about the Ye-Grammys situation that he says it's time to kick the whole award show to the curb ... telling us, "We make our own Grammys."

Remember, even though he can't perform, Ye can attend the show -- so, we asked what he thinks would happen if he wins and gets on stage to accept his Grammy. DD says it shouldn't ever come to that, because he's encouraging Ye to skip it altogether.

Damon's embracing the theory the Grammys are outdated and out of touch with hip hop -- and tells us he didn't go either when he was nominated.

He's clearly over Academy execs judging who's hot and who's not in the industry.

As Dame puts it, "They gotta respect our culture."

As we reported, Kanye was barred from performing at this year's award show, due to his "concerning online behavior" ... ya know, his online attacks against ex-wife Kim Kardashian, her new bf Pete Davidson and a slew of others.

Lots of folks have jumped to Ye's defense, including Grammys host Trevor Noah -- at whom Kanye fired some online shots -- saying he wanted the rapper to get counseled, not canceled.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Damon's idea is picking up steam. On Tuesday, J. Prince called on hip-hop artists -- including Ye, Drake and Nicki Minaj -- to protest the award show, and get together to perform an anti-Grammys concert.

He's going for the Recording Academy's neck, too ... he wants to do the concert in Las Vegas on April 3 -- the same night and location of the Grammys.

No doubt he can count on Dame's support.

Jennifer Hudson's Engagement Ring Up For Auction!!!

Jennifer Hudson's 10-year engagement to WWE wrestler David Otunga is a thing of the past with lots of hard feelings ... and now the bling is hitting the auction block.

David had Neil Lane design the 5-carat cushion cut diamond ring for Jennifer back in 2008, which has an estimated retail value of $45K.

When they broke up in 2017, Jennifer returned the ring to David. FYI ... in legalese, an engagement ring is a "gift in contemplation of marriage." If the marriage doesn't go through, in most states the person who gave the ring -- in this case David -- gets it back.

So David has now teamed up with IDoNowIDont.com to unload it. We're told David plans to give a portion of the proceeds to a fathers' rights org.

The ring has a pretty cool history ... the pop singer wore it when she snagged a Grammy in 2009 ... a Grammy presented to her by none other than Whitney Houston. And yes, it's the real deal ... meaning it's GIA certified and comes with official certification docs signed by Lane.

Jennifer and David share a 12-year-old son, David Daniel Otunga Jr., together. Their custody war was brutal, but they both seemed to have moved on separately.

Now the size 7 diamond rock is up for grabs ... if you've got thousands to spare, of course!

Machine Gun Kelly Hotel Lobby Rockin' After Deadly Storm Cancels Concert

032322_mgk_kal
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
TMZ.com

Machine Gun Kelly's turning hotel bellmen into tour roadies and proving the ol' show biz adage is true ... even in the face of a deadly storm in South America.

Yeah, the show totally went on for MGK Tuesday night just outside the lobby of his hotel in Paraguay ... where the rocker set up giant speakers, cranked it up to 11 and grabbed a mic. Fans had swarmed the building after his scheduled concert venue was flooded out, forcing promoters to pull the plug on the show.

Megan Fox was right by her fiance's side when he came out to greet the fans, and then decided to give 'em a mini-concert.

Paraguay was rocked by a storm that tore roofs off buildings and had rivers overflowing their banks. Five people reportedly died and more than 80 were injured in the severe weather.

MGK was supposed to play at the Asuncionico Festival, and Miley Cyrus was on the bill too. As we reported, Miley's flight to the gig was disrupted by an emergency landing when it was struck by lightning from the storm.

Taylor Lautner Finds Buyer For $5.2 Million Mansion

Taylor Lautner is one step closer to unloading his multi-million dollar estate ... because he's found a buyer.

According to real estate records, there is a pending sale on Taylor's $5 million home in the Agoura Hills area of Los Angeles.

Taylor's custom mansion is 5 bedrooms and 5,647 square feet ... and it's decked out with a 45-foot long infinity pool and spa, plus firepits, a BBQ area and a bocce ball court ... all with panoramic views of picturesque Lobo Canyon.

The place was built in 2020 and is super secluded ... the home sits on 9 acres in a small gated community, where there are only 11 properties. He bought it in 2020 for $3.8 million.

The primary suite is on the first floor, along with 2 other bedrooms and an office. There's a floating staircase leading to the second floor, which is home to a sports room, bedroom and a speakeasy lounge.

Taylor's pad also features a modern kitchen with imported Italian cabinets, French oak floors, and 12-foot ceilings ... not to mention a 6-car garage, security system and smart home technology.

Jordan Cohen of RE/MAX One has the listing.

Colin Kaepernick Several NFL Teams Have Inquired About QB ... Workout Partner Says

032222_david_robinson_kal
EXPECT HIM BACK
TMZSports.com

David Robinson -- a famous football trainer who works with some of the NFL's best -- says multiple NFL teams have contacted him to inquire about Colin Kaepernick following a recent workout he had with the QB.

Robinson -- who's trained NFL stars like Dez Bryant and Antonio Brown over the years -- tells TMZ Sports "at least" five different teams have reached out to him in the last few days after he helped run a training sesh for the former 49ers star in Dallas earlier this month.

"A few teams have reached out to me and asked how his arm looked," said Robinson, who declined to get into which specific teams have called. "They have reached out and asked about him."

It's interesting, considering no NFL team has given Kaepernick a roster spot since the 2016 season.

Robinson, though, said members from orgs across the league called and appeared to have a legitimate interest in getting his take on the QB -- after the 34-year-old threw in front of him for several hours at a Texas H.S. last week.

As for what Robinson told them -- he said he was very impressed with what he saw from Kaepernick, despite the signal-caller's lengthy time away from NFL action.

"He definitely has the ability to play on somebody's roster -- like, right now," Robinson said. "Like, a couple of the guys that were in the session that were on NFL teams were saying that his arm is just as strong as guys' that we got on our roster right now and can play."

"So, yeah. He looked real good."

Robinson added Kaepernick hasn't lost his fastball, and insisted the guy still has "a cannon" for an arm.

Kaepernick has been traveling all over the country this month with the hopes of catching NFL teams' eyes -- working with NFL QBs and wide receivers and posting the footage of the workouts on social media.

Robinson tells us he believes it's all been a success so far ... saying, "I definitely think that this go-around, he may get a shot."

GUESS WHO THIS TEETHING TODDLER TURNED INTO!

Before this little girl with pigtails was cutting her teeth in the entertainment biz as a soap actor, she was just a typical happy gal taking a bite out of Stratford, New Jersey.

After marrying one of Hollywood's hottest soap studs, she and her hunk of a husband often co-host together on a morning talk show and talk about how much they embarrass their 3 children.

This bubbly girl with iconic big cheeks and deep dimples is well known for discussing her very public life and enjoys spending her free time with her loved ones in the Hamptons.

Can you guess who she is?!

Smash-and-Grab Jewelry Store Hit in Brazen Heist

This is a first ... a Bev Hills jewelry store was hit by robbers who smashed the window that displayed super expensive bling right in the middle of the day and made off with everything inside.

It went down at Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills just after 1 PM. The store was open when 5 people showed up and took some kind of instrument to the window, shattering it .... the thieves grabbed everything in the showcase and took off.

A source at the Beverly Hills PD tells TMZ they have never seen such a brazen robbery like this ... even with all the smash-and-grabs around town.

032222-store-robbery-kal BEVERLY HILLS
THE MESSY AFTERMATH

The robbers never went inside ... they just took what was in the display window and split.

They are still all at large.

'Vanderpump Rules' Katie Maloney Files For Divorce From Tom Schwartz

"Vanderpump Rules" star Katie Maloney has officially filed for divorce from Tom Schwartz ... ending their marriage.

Katie filed court docs Tuesday in L.A. County Superior Court. The two have no children together.

We last saw the two at Mister O's Saturday in the San Fernando Valley, with eyewitnesses saying they seemed uninterested in each other ... rarely holding eye contact while speaking.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Last week, the couple announced their split with a lengthy post on Katie's Instagram. The text was paired with photos of the two of them -- showing happier times.

Katie and Tom had a wedding on their Bravo show back in 2016 ... but some speculated it may not have been official because they flew to Vegas 3 years later ... apparently to officially tie the knot.

The two seemed to have a dramatic relationship at times, with things like angry texts and cheating allegations creating difficulties. But, Katie jumped on the "You're Gonna Love Me" podcast Friday and said their breakup was very low-drama.

'Gay' Dog Fezco Adopted by Gay Couple in N.C. ... He's over the Hump!!!

The so-called "gay" dog that was given up by its owners over perceived homosexual behavior now has a new home -- and that pad is very LGBTQ-friendly ... as is his new name!

North Carolina's Steve Nichols tells TMZ ... he and his longtime partner, John, adopted Fezco Tuesday after hearing the story about him getting abandoned by his former human parents ... all because they caught him humping another male pooch.

Nichols says they felt an immediate connection to Fezco, as he explains both he and John have faced discrimination in their own lives. So, they applied ... and were actually chosen.

Now, get this ... Nichols says they've actually gone ahead and rebranded Fezco with a new doggy tag, now calling him "Oscar" instead of his old moniker. We're told they chose that to honor the Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde -- who was also gay.

It's probably for the best, because Nichols tells us his new pet was apparently not well taken care of by his previous owners ... saying the dog wasn't neutered, and had heart worms -- which he's taking care of now by sending Oscar straight to the vet, where he'll be for a bit.

Nichols says the application wanted to make sure that whoever would embrace Oscar would be committed to nursing him back to health, and both he and John certainly are. Word of Oscar's availability came courtesy of WCCB's Morgan Fogarty, who broke the news.

Looks like Oscar will have some company ... the couple already have a furry friend named Harry, who's a Terrier-Chihuahua mix. They expect their two boys will get along just fine.

Enjoy your new life, Fez/Oscar!!!  You're now in a judgment-free hump zone.

Hillary Clinton Catches COVID ... Bill Ducks the Virus

Hillary Clinton is the latest bigwig politician to come down with coronavirus -- but like many before her, she says she's gonna be just fine ... all thanks to being vaccinated.

The former Sec. of State and two-time presidential candidate made the announcement Tuesday, saying she'd contracted COVID-19. HC writes, "Well, I've tested positive for COVID. I've got some mild cold symptoms but am feeling fine. I'm more grateful than ever for the protection vaccines can provide against serious illness."

She adds, "Please get vaccinated and boosted if you haven't already!"

Of course, since Hillary's married to the former President himself ... everyone was wondering how he might be holding up -- and she answered their curiosity, saying Bubba's currently in the clear.

Hillary explains, "Bill tested negative and is feeling fine. He's quarantining until our household is fully in the clear. Movie recommendations appreciated!"

She's just the latest politico to be hit with COVID -- just last week, Barack Obama declared he, too, had finally caught it ... and over the past several months, different U.S. senators and congress members, including AOC, have announced the same.

The good news ... they've all recovered just fine, and have attributed their resilience to having gotten the jab. So, to be frank, it's not all that concerning when we hear news like this anymore ... albeit, still startling considering their stature in the country.

It's certainly not as scary as early on in the pandemic, when then-President Donald Trump caught the damn thing ... but vaccines weren't available yet, and he seemed to be in bad shape.

In any case, it's great to hear Hil is doing alright. And, as far as what to watch while isolating ... we hear the new 'American Crime Story' is great!

Amanda Bynes Judge Ends Conservatorship ... She's Officially Free!!!

Amanda Bynes can now make personal and financial decisions on her own ... after a judge just officially put an end to her 9 year conservatorship.

As we reported, the judge issued a tentative ruling on Monday, saying that the conservatorship was "no longer required" ... and now it has been made official, at today's hearing.

032222_amanda_bynes_kal_1
AMANDA'S FREE!
SplashNews.com

Amanda's attorney, David A. Esquibias, tells us, “Amanda appreciates the love and support of her fans during this time. She thanks her family for never giving up. Now that the conservatorship has ended, she looks forward to completing her bachelor’s degree and living her life.”

The former child star filed the docs in L.A. in February ... asking for her mother to no longer serve as Amanda's conservator.

Amanda was placed under conservatorship back in 2013, when it became clear that she was struggling with her mental health. She had a string of bizarre episodes, including one when she set her neighbor's driveway on fire. AB attributed the episodes to bipolar disorder and also opened up about her addiction to Adderall ... but has since gotten help.

Amanda says, she's been sober for several years now, and she surely seems to be doing a whole lot better. She's gotten a degree from Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and has also gotten engaged to her fiancé, Paul Michael.

On top of all her progress ... Amanda's petition for personal freedom was supported by her mom and dad ... so, this result comes as no huge surprise but is still a big win for AB.

Now, she's free to live her life and we know she has some big plans are in the near future ... like getting a place with her soon-to-be hubby.

Amanda's didn't appear in court, but her "All That" costars Leon Frierson and Christy Knowings showed up to support.

Congrats Amanda!!

Ben & Jen We're Loving It ... Mickey D's with Side of Mega Mansion

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez may soon be the new owners of a massive estate in Bel-Air -- but they're still humble in their dining choices -- grabbing McDonald's while out for a drive.

Ben and Jen hit up the golden arches for lunch ... for a little value meal on the same day we broke the story of their huge pending purchase, a more than $50 MILLION estate in ritzy Bel-Air.

J Lo was riding shotgun as Ben pulled up to the drive-thru Saturday at a Mickey D's in Beverly Hills ... and she was seen chowing down on one of those famous burgers, fries and washing it down with a fountain drink.

Ben grubbed down too ... possibly with a Big Mac, we can't really make out his sandwich in the photos.

TMZ broke the story ... Ben and Jen spent a couple hours at their new mansion over the weekend, so it appears they went from their $50 million+ home to the home of the $1 menu ... or vice versa.

You get it, right? Gotta save up when making big purchases!

In any event, no animal style for Bennifer 2.0 ... leave that to Kim and Pete.

Colby Covington Masvidal Punched Me Twice & Broke My Tooth ... In Miami Attack

UFC star Colby Covington told cops Jorge Masvidal punched him in the face twice and fractured his tooth in an attack outside of a Miami hotspot on Monday night ... police documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, show.

In the docs, cops say Covington told them as he exited Papi Steak restaurant, Masvidal "ran up to him from his left, and without notice, punched him with a closed fist two times in the face."

Cops in the report say Covington told them one punch landed on his mouth, while the other connected with his left eye.

According to the docs, cops say Covington heard Masvidal yell, "You shouldn't have been talking about my kids."

032222_covington_masvida_kal
HOLD ME BACK
TMZSports.com

Several other males then allegedly tried to get involved, though cops say Covington told them he pushed one of the men away and ran back into Papi Steak, where he called police.

Cops say Covington told them he fractured his front left tooth in the attack, and also suffered an abrasion on his wrist. Police in the documents say Covington's watch was damaged as well.

Masvidal is listed as a suspect in the docs. The incident type is described as a battery/felony. Police added an investigation into the allegations is underway.

"No additional information is currently available," a police spokesperson said in a statement.

Rachel Zegler Finally Gets Oscar Invite ... As a Presenter

The Academy is finally trying to do right by Rachel Zegler ... not only inviting her to be at the show ... but to present one of the night's Oscars.

A report says the "West Side Story" actress was recently contacted and offered the gig -- of course, the series of events over the last few days to get to this point have been awkward ... to say the least.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

As we reported, the 20-year-old Best Picture star spilled the details Sunday, replying to a comment from a fan that was excited about her Oscar debut.

In response, Rachel wrote, "I'm not invited so sweatpants and my boyfriend's flannel." She later added, "I hope some last-minute miracle occurs and I can celebrate our film in person but hey, that's how it goes sometimes, I guess."

It's still unclear what the mix-up was ... seeing as costar Ariana DeBose is nominated and predicted to win Best Supporting Actress, the movie is up for Best Picture and Steven Spielberg is up for Best Director.

Rachel is currently on set in London, shooting a live-action remake of "Snow White," but according to The Hollywood Reporter, who broke the story, production is reportedly attempting to work around her schedule to ensure she makes it to L.A. for Oscar night.