TMZ.com Home

Before this kneeling athlete became a popular television personality, an entrepreneur and a father of three, he was an outside linebacker for The University of California.

Because of his strong physique and stature, this teenager became a bodyguard for bands Soundgarden, Slayer, and singer-songwriter Glenn Danzig. He is definitely most known for his welding abilities in addition to his mechanic skills when it comes to cars, which led him to hosting Discovery Channel's "Monster Garage."

Need one more nudge towards who this baller is? You may have seen him on the hit show "West Coast Choppers."

Jared Leto leaning into the 'Morbius' jokes didn't work out so well -- apparently, nobody was actually all that eager to see it again in theaters ... so say the box office numbers.

Sony re-released the comic book flick on the big screen anew this weekend -- this after a horrid domestic run in the spring, with a total haul of just $73 mil -- but it wasn't entirely clear why ... that is, until JL posted this video earlier in the week where he winked at fans.

The video shows Jared reading something that he's trying to hide from the camera person ... but when it's revealed what he's looking at, it turns out to be a script called "Morbius 2: It's Morbin' Time!" The 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' music plays right after ... closing the loop.

Essentially, the running gag over 'Morbius' these past few months was addressed head-on by the man himself -- folks online had been vey enthusiastic about the movie, albeit jokingly ... pegging it as this great film with a legion of supporters, despite how bad it actually was.

There were people sarcastically demanding a sequel be made while throwing out a ton of puns that incorporated the movie's titular character. It would seem Leto and the studio were clued into this ... and thought a re-release could score them a windfall of ticket sales.

Unfortunately for them ... they were wrong. According to Forbes, 'Morbius' only pulled in around $85k on Friday alone. It's unclear what the total weekend gross was -- but probably not much better.

The lesson ... a viral phenomenon over something like 'Morbius' doesn't always translate into actual interest when push comes to shove, and doesn't always have to be touched by the subjects themselves. Sometimes, a joke is just a joke -- and should be left as such.

Alec John Such — the original bassist for Bon Jovi — has died.

Jon made the announcement Sunday, writing … “He was an original. As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band.”

He adds that Alec was also, by and largely responsible for Bon Jovi coming together in the first place — mentioning how he was friends with Tico Torres and Richie Sambora at the time and introduced everyone.

JBJ says the memories bring a smile to his face and a "tear to my eye." No details about the circumstances of his death were released.

As Jon noted, Alec was there since the beginning — he played with Bon Jovi from 1983 through 1994, including their heyday. He contributed to hits like "Livin' On a Prayer," "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Wanted Dead or Alive," "Bad Medicine," and "Keep the Faith," among many others.

While he departed from the band in the '90s, Such rejoined them for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

He was 70.

Tampa Bay Rays players refused to wear the Gay Pride logo on their uniforms this weekend -- saying their religious beliefs wouldn't allow it, but also saying they accept everyone.

The players are all pitchers, and there's 5 of them -- Jason Adam, Jalen Beeks, Brooks Raley, Jeffrey Springs and Ryan Thompson. On Saturday, during the team's Pride Night celebration, they reportedly ditched the custom jerseys/hats featuring rainbow-colored lettering and instead opted for standard unis.

The reason ... "faith-based" purposes. Adam explained ... "So it’s a hard decision. Because ultimately we all said what we want is them to know that all are welcome and loved here."

He adds, "But when we put it on our bodies, I think a lot of guys decided that it’s just a lifestyle that maybe -- not that they look down on anybody or think differently -- it’s just that maybe we don’t want to encourage it if we believe in Jesus, who’s encouraged us to live a lifestyle that would abstain from that behavior, just like (Jesus) encourages me as a heterosexual male to abstain from sex outside of the confines of marriage. It’s no different."

Manager Kevin Cash said the players' decision had sparked some conversation in the clubhouse, but it doesn't sound like things have gotten heated ... and that the team understands.

Adam concluded ... "It’s not judgmental. It’s not looking down. It’s just what we believe the lifestyle he’s encouraged us to live, for our good, not to withhold. But again, we love these men and women, we care about them, and we want them to feel safe and welcome here."

The team was certainly in support of hyping the fact that it was Pride Night, as they've even changed their official logo on social media to reflect the month (as do many companies).

Prince Louis might be fifth in line to the throne, but he's already a king of one thing -- expressive faces in public that the world loves to see ... just like these.

Louis had a front-row seat at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant Sunday, where he was seated next to his mom, Kate Middleton, and his siblings. It seems the 4-year-old got a little bored and/or distracted during the parade though ... evident in his many looks.

Take a gander for yourself ... the kid appeared to be a bit of a handful for his mum, teasing her with a classic thumb-to-nose taunt -- this as she appeared to try and get him to behave.

It was all in good fun -- and made for great shots. At one point, he was standing up, at another he was turned around and talking to another child behind him, Mia Tindall ... even getting handsy at times (playfully, of course). Her dad told him ... I'm watching you, kiddo!

He even told his mom to zip it when she was trying to get him to settle down ... putting his hand over her mouth. Yeah, this is the definition of a little rascal -- on the biggest of stages.

While all of these faces might've been hilarious to see, none perhaps stack up to his now-viral screaming pic with his ears covered ... all while standing next to his grandma, the Queen. Apparently, he wasn't digging the loud noise from the fly-over at Buckingham Palace.

Metro Boomin is in the throes of a horrific family tragedy -- he's lost his mother at the hands of her husband, who took his own life thereafter ... TMZ has learned.

The producer -- who's cranked out hits for Future, Young Thug, Gucci Mane, Migos, Travis Scott, Drake, Kanye West and 21 Savage, just to name a few -- received the tragic news this weekend after his mother's body was discovered by cops just outside of the Atlanta area.

Sources connected to the investigation tell TMZ ... MB's mom, Leslie Joanne Wayne, appears to have been murdered by her spouse -- not Metro's father -- who then killed himself. We're told this happened Friday night, but further details are hazy.

An autopsy will be conducted for an official cause of death. Metro's rep confirms Leslie died this weekend -- adding that he and his family request privacy during this difficult time.

Leslie raised Boomin and his 3 siblings in St. Louis. Word is, she was one of the first people to notice her son's musical talents ... and encouraged him to pursue his passion through adolescence and early adulthood. She'd even drive him from STL to Atlanta so he could collaborate with artists he was connecting with, all in hopes of getting his career started.

She and her boy were incredibly close -- even when Metro achieved international stardom, she was always at the forefront of his mind.

Pete Davidson is in full-blown stepdad mode -- at the ripe young age of 28 -- 'cause the guy already feels comfortable enough to grab a hold of Kim and Kanye's son's hand.

The 'SNL' alum was at The Grove shopping plaza in L.A. Saturday with 6-year-old Saint West, who was holding on tight to Papa Pete while they perused the shops and right before they went into the Cheesecake Factory ... with what appears to be a lone bodyguard standing by.

Eyewitnesses tell us that hat Saint's wearing is actually one PD bought for him ... which the kid seemed to appreciate, seeing how he let Pete guide him through the paved Grove paths.

We're told there was no sight of Kim here, or the other children. And no -- Ye wasn't around either ... as you could imagine. He'd probably flip his lid if he saw this with his own two 👀.

Unfortunately for him, he might just have to get used to it ... because it's becoming clearer the longer this relationship lasts that Pete has certainly met the children already, and will continue to be around. Not just that, but he's pretty cozy with them ... and they with him.

We already saw North sitting in Pete's lap a few months ago while he was driving her around in a golf cart ... which is the sort of thing that, y'know, actual fathers do usually.

Of course, there's also the issue of the apparent neck tattoo he got that bears all the children's first name initials (plus Kim's) ... which caused a lot of controversy in and of itself.

It would appear Kim's all good with it though ... and again, it just speaks to how serious they are as a couple. It's been less than a year that they've been together -- and yet, they're almost looking like a blended family these days. Especially with moments like these.

Something tells us that if Pete and Kim are still together through the holidays, this year's Kardashian Christmas card is going to potentially look very different via a new addition.

Johnny Depp was in Beatles territory Saturday night -- both in geography and reception -- as fans mobbed him in Manchester following his latest concert.

Johnny performed again with Jeff Beck at the Manchester 02 Apollo. Of course, fans inside went wild, cheering their approval over his stunning courtroom victory against Amber Heard.

Outside the venue, Johnny was mobbed. Fans were shouting, screaming their support as they tried to get a coveted selfie or even a John Hancock from the "Sleepy Hollow'" star.

One thing's for sure ... Johnny was loving it, as he interacted with fans in a very loud shirt!

He was wearing a bracelet that said it all ... "INNOCENT."

Johnny's been in the UK for a week now. As you know, he missed the verdict, although he certainly celebrated and continues to celebrate his win.

It's interesting ... Johnny has said the jury gave him his life back, and a big part of his life has been music. In fact, when Johnny came to Hollywood, his goal was to become a rock star, not an actor. He kinda fell into the acting thing.

Another day, another mass shooting ... that is what our nation has become.

This time the horror played out in Philadelphia ... 3 people dead and at least 13 injured Saturday night after gunmen opened fire on a crowded street.

It happened just before midnight ... Police Inspector D.F. Pace said there were "several active shooters shooting into the crowd."

One of the cops got close to one of the shooters and fired at him ... it's unclear if the shooter was hit, and he apparently dropped the gun and fled the scene.

The shooters chose an area that is at the heart of the entertainment section of Philly ... and an area with lots of bars and restaurants. Hundreds of folks were doing what they routinely do on the weekend ... eat, party and enjoy the company of fellow Philadelphians when shots rang out.

Pace said 2 handguns were recovered, including one that had an extended magazine.

So far, no arrests.

Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee celebration was epic Saturday night ... with the likes of Elton John, Diana Ross, Alicia Keys, Duran Duran and other awesome acts.

Queen E wasn't there for the festivities ... seems like she's been struggling since the first day, missing most events.

Nevertheless, Buckingham Palace was rocking during the Platinum Party, which celebrates the UK's offerings to fashion, sports, music and the environment.

There was also a skit with Paddington the Bear!!!

BTW ... Harry and Meghan were nowhere to be seen. They say they're spending the day celebrating Lilibet's first birthday, but that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to miss an event like this if they flew to England for all the festivities. Besides, it was at night so you'd think the kid would be asleep.

Queen -- with Adam Lambert fronting -- performed "We Are the Champions." It was inspiring enough for William, Kate and the kids to waive the Union Jack flags.

Elton performed a pre-recorded, "Your Song," and the crowd loved it. He wasn't able to be there in person because he's touring, but people loved it nonetheless.

The only weird thing ... Alicia Keys sang "Empire State of Mind" ... maybe a little too American for the Queen's Jubilee. The crowd was less confused when she sang "Superwoman" and "Girl on Fire."

And then there's Diana Ross, who said, "I have had the honor of meeting The Queen many times throughout my life, including when I was with my family." She went on ... "Her Majesty has and continues to be such an incredible inspiration to so many across the world. I was absolutely delighted to receive an invitation to perform on such a momentous and historic occasion." And then she performed a few songs, ending with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

Prince Charles tipped his hat to the Queen Saturday at a splashy Buckingham Palace concert celebrating her 70 years on the throne.

It was pretty sweet ... he was speaking at the BBC's Platinum Party at the Palace when he began with this ... "Your Majesty, Mummy."

The Queen was noticeably absent from the televised event, citing "discomfort" following Thursday's trooping the colour. Charles told the crowd, "I know what really gets my mother up in the morning is all of you -- watching at home." He thanked his mom, referring to her reign as a "lifetime of selfless service," adding, "You continue to make history."

He went on ... “You have met us and talked with us. You laugh and cry with us and, most importantly, you have been there for us, for these 70 years. You pledged to serve your whole life – you continue to deliver. That is why we are here.”

Prince William had some words earlier in the evening, pleading for action to save planet earth. He called our specific people who have been environmental activists, praising them as "an amazing and united generation of young people across the world."

He said, "Congratulations to all of them – they won’t accept the status quo, they won’t accept that change is too difficult to deliver. Never before have we had so much power to change the big things."

Stoney Westmoreland, famous for his work on the Disney Channel, will spend a couple years in federal lockup after prosecutors say he tried to entice a minor into sex.

The actor struck a deal in the case ... pleading guilty to a lesser charge of using interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor, and a judge gave him 24 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release.

Stoney's lawyer, Wendy Lewis, tells TMZ ... Westmoreland was originally charged with enticement of a minor over the Internet, which carried a potential 10-year prison sentence.

As we reported ... Stoney was busted in Utah back in 2018 after authorities say he arranged online to have sex with someone who was only 13 years old, allegedly communicating via an app used for dating and setting up sexual encounters.

Stoney's lawyer tells TMZ ... he was using Grindr and was actually communicating with an undercover officer posing as someone else, and the lawyer says a doctor who evaluated Stoney concluded Westmoreland thought the exchange was roleplay with an adult online and that Stoney didn't actually believe he was communicating with a 13-year-old.

As part of the plea deal, obtained by TMZ, Stoney must cooperate with DNA collection and register as a sex offender.

What's more, all of Stoney's computer devices will be subject to random search and inspection and he has to report all of the accounts he uses for electronic communications and storage, including email and social media.

Kobe Bryant's game-worn Lakers jersey from his first playoff series -- the only one publicly known/available -- just sold for a riiiiiiidiculous amount of money ... $2,735,546 million, to be exact!

The threads were on the block at SCP Auctions ... and after 26 bids, the purple and gold Lakers home jersey went for 7 figures.

As we previously reported, Bryant wore the jersey on at least five occasions ... including two home games during the 1996-1997 NBA playoff series against Karl Malone, John Stockton, and the Utah Jazz.

The playoff games were played on May 8 and May 10, 1997. On the 8th, the Lakers won 104-84. Bryant dropped 19 points in just over 19 minutes.

During game 4 on May 10, 1997, L.A. -- down two games to one -- was defeated 110-95. Mamba, who came off the bench that series, had a down game, scoring 9 points in 28 minutes.

It was some of the last losing Bryant -- who ultimately won 5 NBA titles -- would experience in the postseason.

SCP also had a rare -- likely one-of-one -- signed 1997 Precious Metal Gems Kobe card on the auction block ... which sold for over $403K!

The identity of the fan who put in the winning bid for the jersey is currently unknown ... but, we can confirm the person's wealthy.

Disguised in this scramble is an off-the-cuff influencer, model and mom who is known for giving zero F's and speaking candidly on her social media platforms.

Aside from gracing the covers of many magazines, this Sports Illustrated model went to culinary school and has a few cook books to show for it! When she's not tending to her two adorable kids or working her tail off, she is often raving about her singing hubby.

She was iconically filmed falling asleep during the 2017 Oscars.

Howie Mandel's partnering with a unique tech company that's making life a lot easier for a germaphobe like himself -- instead of showing up in person, he can be displayed anywhere ... as a hologram in a box.

To quote Howie, now he's "the Jew in the box!!!" That's his funny take on his new gig, but more technically, he's been named an advisor for Proto Inc. ... inventors of the world’s first 4K, volumetric, self-contained holoportation machine.

The video gives you a better idea of how it works, and Howie's already having tons of fun!

On top of keeping away from germs, he also sees it as a great way to work more efficiently -- this tech makes it possible for him to do stand-up at multiple venues, all in real-time.

Proto's been in the game since 2019 and has seen a ton of celebs use their hologram tech. Diddy wasn't able to be at his son's 23rd birthday party last year, so the company hooked him up with a box and the ability to virtually wish him a happy birthday.

Country star Walker Hayes was even able to play some of his hits live for a crowd, thanks to Proto.

Mandy Moore's looks over the years are sweet like Candy!

Here's the 16-year-old version of the singer and songwriter posing for a snap at the '13th Annual Kids Choice Awards' at the Hollywood Bowl back in 2000 (left). This was just one year after the debut of her first album "So Real" which featured her Billboard Top 100 track "Candy."

And, 22 years later the now 38-year-old mom and actress continues to showcase her glowing looks, recently attending and posing for the cameras at the "This Is Us" series finale in Los Angeles, California (right).

Missing you like candy!

The question is ...