Matthew McConaughey We Need Gun Reform To Honor Lives Lost in Uvalde, TX Shooting

MAKE THEIR LIVES MATTER

Matthew McConaughey is serious about making a real change when it comes to guns in The United States ... meeting with politicians and speaking from The White House after a shooting that killed 19 elementary students in his hometown.

The actor joined the White House press briefing Tuesday, urging politicians on both sides to take action following the Uvalde shooting -- saying making a difference in the safety of our country is the best way to honor the lives lost.

McConaughey says he and his wife, Camila, spent a lot of time on the ground with the families of victims of the shooting -- sharing stories, tears and memories ... and now he is urging those in the highest office to make a change.

060722-matthew-mcconaughey-kal
MATTHEW IN D.C.
TMZ.com

Matthew's words come following a short meeting with President Biden ... and a second day of meetings with lawmakers, as Congress mulls over new gun safety legislation this week.

Of course, his speech at the WH isn't the first time the actor has spoken out on this issue. He took to social media, pleading for gun reform just hours after the shooting.

Well, now it seems he's taking matters into his own hands ... directly pleading with the folks in power to make this time different.

Lil Nas X It's 'F*** BET Day' Teases Disrespectful Diss Song!!!

060722_lil_nas_x_kal
LOUD AND CLEAR
UPDATE

7:54 PM PT -- BET has shared a statement with TMZ Hip Hop pointing out their love for him ... despite what he clearly feels.

UPDATE

"We love Lil Nas X. He was nominated for a Best New Artist BET Award in 2020, and we proudly showcased his extraordinary talent and creativity on the show twice: he performed "Old Town Road" with Billy Ray Cyrus at "BET Awards" 2019 and his "BET Awards" 2021 performance was a highlight of our show. No one cheered louder that night than BET."

UPDATE

"Unfortunately, this year, he was not nominated by BET’s Voting Academy, which is comprised of an esteemed group of nearly 500 entertainment professionals in the fields of music, television, film, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, influencers, and creative arts. No one from BET serves as a member of the Voting Academy."

UPDATE

"At BET, we are passionate advocates for the wonderful diversity that exists within our community. We are committed to using all of our platforms to provide visibility and inclusion for all of the many intersections of the Black community."

It appears Lil Nas X isn't going to let the 2022 BET Awards skate after snubbing him of any nominations this year ... to the point, he's created a diss track going after the network.

A topless Lil Nas X posted a snippet of an upcoming new song on Tuesday we'd be surprised is called anything but "F*** BET."

After starting the song off with the disrespectful phrase on repeat, LNX goes into an auto-tuned flow where he brags about his riches and even proclaims he has "100 sticks" at his disposal.

Following the announcement of nominations last week, LNX went haywire when he realized he missed the Best Male Hip Hop and Pop Artist categories and no mention of his hit singles "INDUSTRY BABY" or "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)."

060322-queen-latifah-kal
INCLUSION IS KEY
TMZ.com

He blamed discrimination and Queen Latifah even agreed he should have been nominated for at least something.

LNX's gripes feel a bit heavy-handed seeing he was nominated in 2020 and got primetime exposure in June 2021 when he kissed his boyfriend.

But, there's no putting the genie back in the bottle … apparently it's "F*** BET" if you're Team Montero until further notice.

Originally Published -- 3:17 PM PT

Migos Axed Performance Doesn't Spell Split ... Just a Schedule Conflict

Migos is still a rap group ... the trio has NOT split up despite a recent removal from an upcoming festival, which only fueled existing rumors of a potential breakup.

A label rep for Migos tells TMZ ... the reason the group is no longer performing at this week's Governors Ball is because Quavo is busy filming a movie, and they couldn't work around the schedule conflict.

While the rumor mill went into overdrive following Tuesday's announcement Migos would no longer be part of the Governors Ball lineup -- instead being replaced by Lil Wayne -- we're told the group is NOT breaking up.

It's the first official comment on the breakup rumors since rumblings began online last month ... when the buzz was Quavo and Offset were on the outs again.

Quavo Dodges Questions About Offset, Migos Break-Up MAY 2022
UP IN THE AIR
BACKGRID

Photogs asked Huncho about the band's future, but he didn't say much and instead talked about his new collab with Takeoff, "Hotel Lobby."

There's also been a rash of social media unfollowings between Quavo, Offset and Cardi B ... with Takeoff remaining neutral. He's still following all of them.

As far as their label's concerned, though ... Migos is still hanging tough.

Kanye West Splits with GF Chaney Jones

Kanye West and Chaney Jones are no more ... the couple has gone their separate ways.

Sources connected to the former duo tell us they ended things shortly after a lengthy trip to Japan ... unclear who broke up with who. The split news also comes on the heels of photos that popped up this weekend of Kanye at a movie with another woman.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Kanye and Chaney first started hanging out back in February -- just as things were cooling off between Ye and Julia Fox. The model and Kim K look-alike started popping up at 'Donda 2' events Ye was hosting.

It wasn't long before they started showing up in the same photographs together, and eventually -- they stopped hiding their relationship ... going public as boyfriend and girlfriend.

While their romance ended up being short-lived, they sure did a lot in each other's company ... jet-setting all over the country for different events -- mostly between Miami and L.A., though -- and even took the international trip to Japan.

Not much was known about Chaney for a long time other than the fact that she was a dead ringer for Kanye's ex -- and eventually, amid all the speculation, she introduced herself to social media -- highlighting differences between her and Kim.

She said she was a COO of a mental health org, and not just that -- but added she was in school getting her Master's. Chaney also noted she'd never had any surgery done on her face.

Things seemed to really be getting serious between the two -- Chaney got a "ye" tattoo on her wrist. So from the outside looking in -- they were all about each other.

Of course, she's also much younger than Kanye -- he's 44, and she's in her mid-20s. It's a similar age difference to what Kim and Pete Davidson share, but they're going strong.

A rep for Kanye had no comment on the split.

'Black-ish' Creator Kenya Barris Files For Divorce

Kenya Barris, famous for creating the ABC sitcom "black-ish," is once again pulling the plug on his marriage ... because he just filed for divorce for a second time.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Kenya beelined it to a Los Angeles courthouse this month and filed to end his marriage to his wife of over 20 years, Dr. Rania "Rainbow" Barris.

In the docs, Kenya says the couple has been separated since Sept. 9, 2020, and he cites the usual irreconcilable differences as the reason behind the split.

The couple, who tied the knot way back in 1999, have four minor children together ... including a 16-year-old daughter and 3 sons who are 14, 12 and 5 years old. Kenya is asking the court for joint physical and legal custody of the kids. He also checked the box indicating spousal support would be payable to his estranged wife.

Kenya and Rania have been down this road twice before ... she previously filed for divorce back in 2014, but withdrew the request a year later after they reconciled. Kenya filed for divorce in 2019 but later called it off.

Ice Cube Be Like Snoop, Big3 Fans ... Buy-In To Basketball Crypto History!!!

060722_ice_cube_kal
GETTIN' EVERYONE INVOLVED
TMZ.com

Ice Cube is pumped for the upcoming sixth season of his BIG3 basketball league, and given the news he's delivering ... fans should be too!

The legendary rapper and movie-maker hit TMZ Live Tuesday to spill the deets on Snoop Dogg's BIG3 involvement, as Tha Doggfather is now a part-owner of the team “Bivouac."

Cube revealed fans can be like Snoop -- by buying into teams with their custom cryptocurrency known as Forever Experience Action Token (FEAT) -- which he says is better than an NFT.

Boasting former NBA stars like Nick "Swaggy P" Young, Joe Johnson, Leandro Barbosa and several Hall of Famer coaches, Cube feels like the BIG3 is at its absolute strongest ... and he's firing on all career cylinders in 2022.

The BIG3 news comes on the eve of the release of "Bad MF," the debut album from hip hop supergroup Mt. Westmore (Cube, Snoop, E-40 and Too $hort).

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Sporting 14 new songs between the hip hop legends, the album is now available for preview on Gala Music, a blockchain-based platform because Meta makes the world go round, now!

Johnny Depp First TikTok Goes Out to My Fans!!! Thanks for the Trial Support

060722-johnny-depp-kal
A MESSAGE TO THE FANS

Johnny Depp is officially on TikTok -- which, of course, had folks riveted to his trial -- and his first order of biz on the platform is thanking folks for sticking by his side during the legal war with Amber Heard.

Depp already has 4.4 million followers on TikTok, just a few hours after creating his account, and he's posted a video montage showing footage of himself arriving at court to cheers, as well as clips of his UK tour.

He also wrote an open letter to his "most treasured, loyal and unwavering supporters."

Johnny tells his fans ... "We've been everywhere together, we have seen everything together. We have walked the same road together. We did the right thing together, all because you cared. And now, we will all move forward together."

He adds ... "You are, as always, my employers and once again I am whittled down to no way to say thank you, other than just by saying thank you. So, thank you."

Johnny's message is short and to the point, and he signs off with this ... "My love & respect, JD."

The video, with a reggae tune from the Love Joys playing in the background, also shows Johnny pounding away on a typewriter, working on his music and playing guitar on stage with Jeff Beck.

060622-johnny-amber-trailer
FROM LOVE TO HATE

Johnny says he got his life back after his resounding courtroom victory over Amber, and he hasn't forgotten his biggest supporters.

FOX Network is airing a new TMZ-produced special tonight about the case. It's called "Johnny vs. Amber: From Love to Hate," and it airs at 9/8 CT.

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon Sonny And Phil!!! ... Actors Begin Shooting Sonny Vaccaro Biopic

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon transformed into Phil Knight and Sonny Vaccaro for the first time on Monday ... and the moment was apparently so big, Jennifer Lopez had to pop by to show her support.

The A-list actors officially kicked off the first day of filming for their new Vaccaro biopic this week in Burbank, Calif. ... with both donning costumes to get into their roles.

Affleck -- who's playing Knight in the untitled movie -- wore a wig and a button-down shirt, while Damon got into Vaccaro character by poppin' on a polo and some khakis.

J Lo, meanwhile, was seen on set supporting her man and his best buddy ... looking on during filming and hanging with Ben during breaks.

As for the movie itself ... it's got no official release date yet, but it promises to tell the story of Vaccaro, Knight and Nike's pursuit to sign Michael Jordan to a shoe deal back in the 1980s.

If you're unfamiliar, Vaccaro -- a sneaker salesman -- ultimately helped Nike land Jordan through a relentless chase of the hoops star ... paving the way for the apparel company to become the giant in the shoe industry that it is today.

Affleck, in addition to starring as Knight in the movie, is also directing it ... while Damon is writing and producing the flick as well as playing the role of Vaccaro.

Zoo Attack Wild Video of Orangutan Grabbing Man at Enclosure

Orangutan
NEEDY FRIEND
Newsflare

Orangutans are known for being aggressive, especially with humans, but one animal was clearly pissed off ... and one guy learned just how strong the great apes really are.

Check out the video -- the guy gets too close to the cage -- and the orangutan quickly grabs him by the shirt, pulling him closer and closer, and possibly trying to bite the man.

From there, it's a tug of war between the ape and the man's friends ... and his friends are losing.

At one point, the animal grabs the man's leg, and he's totally horizontal ... the strength is incredible. Unclear exactly when and where the vid was taken, but supposedly the man was ok in the end.

As you might imagine, the insane video is sending social media into a frenzy. One user wrote, "Google people who have been attacked by apes. They are strong enough to rip you to pieces. And they go for your face and your hands first."

Lesson learned.

Pete Davidson Come On, Saint ... Let's Hit Walmart!!!

Turns out Pete Davidson and Saint West's day of bonding -- without Kim Kardashian -- goes much deeper than a fancy mall excursion because they also explored the wonderful world of Walmart together!

Pete and Saint headed to a Walmart in Woodland Hills Saturday for some more shopping ... no word on their full haul, but at the very least we know a big tub of cheese puffs was on the menu for the family.

We're told Pete got the true stepdad experience when 6-year-old Saint wanted to wander around the store, as kids do, instead of staying by Pete's side.

He finally had to remind him mama bear Kim would be pretty pissed if he lost her child in a Walmart.

Pete at Grove 6/4/22
PETE PLAY DATE
TMZ.com

Of course, this was just the first stop on what now seems like a busy day for Saint and his mom's bf. As we reported, Pete also went to The Grove in L.A. where he was seen holding Saint's hand while strolling around the outdoor mall.

There's been no public reaction from Kanye West to Saint's outing -- but it's clear Kim, and her kids, trust Pete enough to fold him into the fam.

Travis Scott Books First U.S. Festival Since Astroworld ... Day N Vegas Comin Up!!!

UPDATE

9:08 AM PT -- The festival just released its full lineup -- J. Cole and SZA will act as the other headliners -- Playboi Carti, H.E.R, 21 Savage, T-Pain and Summer Walker are some of the other big names who will hit the stage during the festival.

UPDATE

Travis Scott has accomplished a lot of "firsts" lately since Astroworld ... but his latest accomplishment might be the most important indicator his career is back in full force.

Sources close to Travis Scott tell TMZ, he's been booked at the Day N Vegas Festival in Las Vegas. The date for 2022's edition of the festival is slated for September 2-4 weekend.

While the rest of the lineup hasn't been announced, we're told TS will be there ... this news comes on the heels of a few wins for the rapper, including a shoe deal with Nike that got over a million people gunning for them in under 30 minutes.

051522_travis_scott_kal MAY 2022
RETURNING TO THE STAGE
NBC

Travis also had a comeback TV performance at the Billboard Music Awards last month ... fans seemed to love it, and the crowd cheered as he was introduced, and was roaring when finished up.

He also teased a collab with Dior on his Instagram story Monday ... so clearly, there's a lot in the works for Travis.

Safe to say the rapper's moving back into public life little by little these past few months ... although it's gotta be hard to shake off the events at Astroworld that went down last year.

As we reported, Travis still has a lot of litigation his legal team is dealing with regarding Astroworld, but it appears TS is full steam ahead on everything else.

Originally Published -- 8:14 AM PT

Harvey Weinstein Sues Chrysler ... Jeep Accident Left Me Paralyzed!!!

UPDATE

12:17 PM PT -- A rep for Chrysler tells TMZ ... "We do not comment on pending litigation. We intend to vigorously defend our product against these claims."

Harvey Weinstein is blaming Chrysler for being relegated to a walker in recent years ... going after the vehicle manufacturer for what he says was a shoddy braking system in a new lawsuit.

The disgraced movie producer just filed suit against the car manufacturer, claiming that in August 2019 ... he was involved in a nasty wreck near Bedford, NY while riding in one of their Jeeps -- which he says the company provided so it could make an appearance in one of his films he was working on at the time. Unclear which flick it might've been.

Anyway, per the docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Weinstein says he was driving the Jeep when he had to swerve to avoid hitting a deer on the road. Weinstein claims that when he attempted to miss the deer, the brake system failed him ... and sent the car rolling.

Weinstein says he was wearing his seatbelt but still suffered serious injuries and was "rendered paralyzed" as a result of the accident.

Harvey Weinstein 12/6/19
ASSISTANCE REQUIRED
BACKGRID

We'd been told back in late 2019 -- before HW went to trial, and was eventually convicted -- that the reason he was in a walker now and needed back surgery was because of some car accident he'd been in that summer ... and now, we know what exactly that incident is.

Weinstein was accused of playing sick and frail for the cameras -- but according to his suit here, he's anything but ... the man insists he got this way directly because of the Jeep's defects. So now ... he's suing and wants at least $5 million in damages.

Originally Published -- 8:06 AM PT

Rapper Trouble Murder Suspect Turns Himself In After Mom Encouraged Him

Popular Atlanta rapper Trouble was murdered over the weekend ... prompting his accused killer Jamichael Jones to turn himself in after his own mother talked him into it.

Rockdale County Sheriff's Officers say they connected with Jones on the phone and they set up an arrest point in the parking lot of Clayton County hospital. The 33-year-old was denied bond and faces charges of murder, aggravated assault and home invasion.

060722-jamichael-jones-kal
SUSPECT IN CUSTODY
WAGA Fox 5

Trouble, whose real name is Mariel Semonte Orr, was found at the Lake St. James Apartments Sunday morning suffering from a gunshot wound -- he was then transported to the hospital where he died.

According to investigators, Trouble was visiting a woman at the Conyers apartment complex when he was shot once in the chest. Police are describing it as a "domestic situation," as Trouble and Jones did not know one another but the woman and Jones have prior history.

Trouble was a beloved, standout figure in the hip hop community, stemming from his 2011 debut mixtape "December 17th" and his outspoken presence on social media that often offered jewels of wisdom.

Upon his death, he was mourned by dozens of fellow rappers including Gucci Mane, T.I., Boosie Badazz and Drake, who he collaborated with in 2018 when he signed to Mike WiLL Made-It's "EarDrummers" label imprint.

Trouble was 34.

RIP

Wounded Uvalde Teacher I Lost All 11 of My Students ... I'll Never Forgive Police for Abandoning Us

060722_uvalde_teacher_kal 6/7/22
NOBODY DESERVES THIS
ABC News/GMA

Robb Elementary School teacher Arnulfo Reyes is mourning the deaths of every single student in his classroom, and is especially angry at police in Uvalde for standing by while they were massacred.

The 4th grade teacher, who was shot twice, is speaking out for the first time, recounting the horrifying moment the shooter entered his class. Arnulfo says his students heard gunfire and asked him what was happening ... he was unsure at first, but told the students to get under their desks and pretend they were sleeping -- just as they'd practiced in drills.

He told ABC News' Amy Rohrbach that's when he turned and saw the shooter ... the beginning of 77 minutes of carnage. When it was over all of Arnulfo's students were dead, in addition to 8 others and two of his fellow teachers.

Make no mistake, Arnulfo feels the police abandoned his students, and he spoke directly to them, saying ... "You have a bulletproof vest, I have nothing. You are supposed to protect and serve. There is no excuse for their actions, and I will never forgive them."

He tearfully added, "I feel so bad for the parents because they lost a child, but they lost one child. I lost 11 that day, all at one time."

He is now a man on a mission, vowing to be active in the national debate about gun control and demanding new legislation.

Arnulfo says, "The only thing that I know is that I won't let these children and my co-workers die in vain. I will go to the end of the world to make sure things get changed."

Bon Jovi Bassist Alec John Such Asked Friend for Help Before Death ... Died of Natural Causes

Alec John Such, the original bassist for Bon Jovi, knew something was wrong in the hours leading up to his death, asking a friend for help in the middle of the night, TMZ has learned.

It was around 2:15 AM Saturday when Alec woke up at his South Carolina home to use the bathroom. On his way back to bed, Alec called out to a friend who was staying with him, the friend helped Alec get back into bed and then left the room, when the friend came back later to check on John, he was dead ... according to Tamara Willard, Chief Deputy Coroner for Horry County.

We're told EMS was called to the scene and performed life-saving measures but couldn't revive Alec. It's believed he died of natural causes ... no accident or foul play is suspected.

As we've reported, Jon Bon Jovi announced the tragic news Sunday ... saying he was heartbroken about Such's passing. As Jon noted, Alec was largely responsible for Bon Jovi coming together in the first place and introducing everyone from the very beginning.

Alec played with the band from 1983 through 1994, including their heyday. And, of course ... he contributed to many of their big hits. He ended up leaving BJ in the '90s, but rejoined them for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

He was just 70.

Sen. Ted Cruz We Can Debate Gun Control But Don't Disarm Law-Abiding Citizens

060622-ted-cruz-kal
DON'T DISARM THE GOOD GUYS
TMZ.com

Sen. Ted Cruz is sticking to his guns, literally and figuratively, when it comes to potential gun reform in the wake of so many mass shootings -- insisting any solution should disarm bad guys, and not the good.

Cruz was at Reagan International Airport Monday, when we asked about the Uvalde massacre and what the Senate intended to do about the rash of mass shootings in America. The Senator from Texas quickly rattled off the Robb Elementary School casualties, and then dug in his heels against any bans on firearms.

Of course, in the wake of Uvalde and Buffalo, many have renewed calls for Congress to pass stricter gun control measures ... starting with banning assault rifles like the ones the shooters used in both tragedies.

Cruz, however, tells our photog most of his Texas constituents don't think that's the right way to decrease casualties in mass shooting incidents. Instead, he argues, we ought to focus on ways to get firearms out of the hands of those who never should've had them to begin with ... like the Uvalde shooter, for instance.

He says he's proposed legislation that would enforce stricter background checks on would-be gun seekers -- something that he seems eye-to-eye with Dems. He also wants new measures to beef up law enforcement at schools, a position Cruz and others have championed since the Sandy Hook massacre ... and, keep in mind, there was an armed guard in Uvalde too.

Fact is, several polls have shown the majority of Americans support common sense gun reform, including a ban on assault weapons -- but Sen. Cruz pushed back at any such notion, telling us Texans feel otherwise.

What's troubling is how quickly Cruz shuts down any point of view differing from his. It is, unfortunately, what happens nearly every time Congress attempts to debate gun laws ... and we know where that's left us.

Old news is old news!
Be First!

Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser!