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Lia Thomas, the openly transgender NCAA championship swimmer, has been nominated by the University of Pennsylvania for one of the most prestigious awards in college athletics ... NCAA Woman of the Year.

UPenn nominated 22-year-old Thomas for the honor ... designed to recognize "female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in their community, in athletics and in academics throughout their college careers."

Thomas, of course, was dominant this season for the Ivy League school -- even winning the 500-yard freestyle event at the NCAA championship meet (she defeated Olympic silver medalist Emma Weyant by nearly 2 seconds) ... but it wasn't without controversy.

Lia, prior to transitioning, was a member of the men's swimming team at UPenn ... however, Thomas didn't enjoy nearly the same success.

Many people, including 16 people from Lia's own team, penned a unanimous letter to university officials asking them to support stricter rules for Thomas and other future transgender athletes.

"However, we also recognize that when it comes to sports competition, that the biology of sex is a separate issue from someone’s gender identity," the letter read, "Biologically, Lia holds an unfair advantage over competition in the women’s category, as evidenced by her rankings that have bounced from #462 as a male to #1 as a female.”

As a result of the backlash, the NCAA did alter rules governing transgender athletes ... however, the regulations -- which would've prevented Lia from competing so soon after transitioning -- were not in effect last swim season.

The mother of Kamala Harris' stepdaughter has been granted a temporary restraining order that protects both her and her daughter ... after she claims a man tried to use her to get letters to the VP.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, film producer and Prettybird CEO Kerstin Emhoff -- who used to be married to Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff -- was granted the TRO last week, which requires 68-year-old Ralph Manning Scott to stop all contact and stay a football field away from both her and her 23-year-old daughter Ella.

Kerstin claims Scott approached her front door last year, handing Ella an envelope and asking her to deliver it to "Kamala."

Kerstin says she doesn't know him at all, nor did she give him her address info ... making her so frightened, she sold her home and moved somewhere else.

She claims Scott found out she was moving and says she saw him outside her home just a day after moving into the new place.

Kerstin also claims Scott's been sending a bunch of letters, greeting cards, and packages to both her home and work addresses, appearing delusional as he writes about his supposed connections to JFK and Tom Hanks ... and says he's lonely and without a family.

NBA YoungBoy has just been found not guilty in his federal gun case.

The verdict, confirmed by both NBA's lawyer Andre Belanger and the U.S. Attorney's Office comes after a 3-day trial ... the jury found him not guilty of a charge of illegal firearms possession over a loaded handgun found in his car last year.

As we reported, LAPD and the feds attempted to pull over a vehicle the rapper was in last March on an outstanding federal warrant.

The guy apparently didn't give up easily -- a short pursuit went down, but once the car stopped, cops said the rapper bolted on foot. Police set up a perimeter and brought in a K-9 to help find YoungBoy. The gun in question was found in his vehicle.

He was released on a $500K bond from federal prison back in October, but the judge ordered him to sit in home confinement in Utah until his trial date.

Brittney Griner, wearing a Nirvana T-shirt, was back in court Friday, where the WNBA star's attorney told the judge BG, who's being tried on a drug charge, was prescribed cannabis for medical use ... the same substance she was caught carrying.

Griner's lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, told the court on Friday, "The attending physician gave Brittney recommendations for the use of medical cannabis."

"The permission was issued on behalf of the Arizona Department of Health," she added.

Blagovolina also submitted tests to the court ... showing 31-year-old Griner underwent testing to ensure she complied with anti-doping regulations, and the results revealed the hooper didn't have any prohibited substances in her system.

Griner appeared in court last week, bringing a photo of her wife, Cherelle, to the proceeding ... where she plead guilty to drug possession.

While addressing the court, Griner told the judge it wasn't her intent to break the law ... she simply packed hastily, and forgot about the cannabis.

Griner faces up to 10 years in prison ... but reps for the Phoenix Mercury star told us they're hopeful her guilty plea will be the beginning of getting Griner freed from Russian custody.

For now, Brittney's detention has been authorized to go through Dec. 20, according to the Associated Press, and although she plead guilty at last week's court hearing, Russia's justice system differs from the United States ... meaning the trial is to go through the beginning of August.

Griner's next hearing is scheduled for July 26.

It's becoming more and more apparent ... MTV's "Jersey Shore 2.0" won't resume production for a while -- at least not in the intended house -- as a ton of equipment was pulled from the location.

Sources tell TMZ ... production crews were back at the Atlantic City pad Wednesday taking down lights and removing cameras from the home. Our sources say it only took the production crew about 4 hours to get everything out.

We're told producers were also seen taking down no parking and permit signs that were dated from the beginning of July to August 6 ... and cases were loaded up with gear behind the home. Two security guards were stationed outside the house as producers and crews moved quickly to pack up.

Our sources say even the house next door, where show producers were shacked up was seen getting packed up and cleared out.

Golf fans, try not to get teary-eyed watching this ...

Tiger Woods broke down while out on the golf course Friday morning, appearing to cry on the 18th fairway just before formally missing the cut at The Open -- and video from the scene is very emotional.

Woods -- who made it a goal to return to St. Andrews this year for the British Open after badly injuring his leg in a Feb. 2021 car crash -- struggled throughout the first two days of the tournament, and did not qualify for weekend play.

So, on his last hole of his second round on Friday, he received a massive ovation from the crowd in the stands -- and he couldn't hide his emotions.

Cameras captured Woods wiping away tears for several moments as he walked toward his ball near the green.

Tiger was eventually able to gather himself, and he went on to make a par -- finishing the event with a score of +9.

It could be the last time Woods ever competes in another Open at St. Andrews -- and he said afterward that's why he got so emotional out on the course.

"I don't know if I'll be physically able to play another British Open here at St. Andrews," said the 46-year-old, who's previously won two Opens at the famous course. "I certainly feel like I'll be able to play more British Opens. But, I don't know if I'll be around when it comes back around here."

"So, the warmth and the ovation at 18, it got to me."

Nick Cannon's sending shockwaves through social media feeds, appearing to propose to one of his lady friends ... just days after he openly yearned for his ex-wife Mariah Carey.

This hugged-up pic with someone who looks a little like Bre Tiesi -- although, we're told it's not her -- included the caption, "I said I would never do it again but…Finally doing what the world wants me to do…"

His post also had a shot of a massive diamond ring.

The post threw Lil Jon and even Nick's former publicist for a loop in the comments section ... especially since Nick recently admitted all his baby mothers don't always see eye to eye.

Of course, Nick being the ultimate hustler of promotion, is more likely simply setting the stage for his "I Do" single rollout, which features Chris Brown.

Released in May as part of his latest album "The Explicit Tape: Raw & B," the song opens up virtually the same way with Nick admitting his dreams of marriage haven't completely faded and Breezy crooning heavy in the melody.

Boosie Badazz claims the car he was riding in got pulled over and cuffed because he's famous ... but cops in Georgia say the traffic stop wasn't a case of the hip hop police hard at work.

Here's the deal -- Boosie was riding shotgun in a black Cadillac SUV when police pulled the car over for heavy window tint and concealed tags. During the traffic stop, officers handcuffed the rapper ... which sent Boosie on a wide-ranging rant against police, at one point saying he was being targeted because he's a celeb.

Fairburn Police Department Deputy Chief Anthony Bazydlo tells TMZ ... the officer who slapped the cuffs on Boosie says it was for officer safety.

We're told police were planning to search the car, claiming they smelled marijuana, and the chief says it's common for folks to be cuffed when cops are searching a car.

As for Boosie's claims he was being targeted because of his celebrity, Bazydlo says that's not the case ... telling us the car's temporary license plate, which was allegedly obstructed and couldn't be checked, was the main reason for the stop.

We're also told the officer involved in the stop claims Boosie's criminal history did not play a role in him being cuffed.

William "Poogie" Hart, the Grammy-award-winning lead singer of the R&B band The Delfonics, has died, TMZ has learned.

His son, Hadi, tells TMZ ... William was having trouble breathing so he was recently taken to Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he passed away Thursday from complications during surgery.

William and his brother, Wilbert, launched the Philly-based group in the late '60s with Randy Cain, Ritchie Daniels and Thom Bell. The group would have a major impact on the development of the Philadelphia sound, known as T.S.O.P.

William and Thom exclusively wrote all of the songs, including such hits as "La-La (Means I Love You)," "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," "Break Your Promise," "I'm Sorry," and "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)."

In 1971, The Delfonics won a Grammy Award for "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group, Vocal Or Instrumental.

'Didn't I' and 'La-La' were also featured in Quentin Tarantino's film "Jackie Brown." Other movies that have popularized their music were Spike Lee's "Crooklyn" and "The Family Man" with Nicolas Cage.

Their songs "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)" and "Funny Feeling" were played in the video game "Grand Theft Auto V" on a fictional radio station The Lowdown 91.1.

The original band split in 1975 after achieving twelve top-20 hits on Billboard's R&B and Soul Single Chart. Former members created splinter groups that continued to perform through the '90s and 2000s.

William was 77.

NYPD's on the lookout for a guy who tried to snatch up a French bulldog -- an incident that was caught on camera, and will look painfully familiar to Lady Gaga's dog walker.

The man followed a woman and her pup into a revolving door in Manhattan's Financial District ... and then the guy suddenly blocked the door, and started reaching for the dog and its leash. The footage, released by NYPD Thursday, shows a man blocking the door as he reaches for the dog.

He tried to tug the Frenchie away from its owner during this struggle, which happened last month, but cops just released the footage. You can see the suspect slam the woman against the glass door, and NYPD says she suffered a head injury.

Luckily, the guy didn't get the dog, and after getting treatment at a hospital ... its owner is okay too. Cops are still searching for the suspect.

French bulldog thefts have become a nationwide issue ... as you recall, attackers stole Lady Gaga's 2 pooches last year from her dogwalker, Ryan Fischer, and shot him in the process.

TMZ broke the story ... Ryan called out for help as the group jumped out of a car, grabbed the dogs and shot him in the chest.

Talk about first-world problems ... Tom Brady just revealed the toughest thing he has to deal with as a parent is trying to keep his kids grounded despite their rich and famous lifestyle.

TB12 opened up about being a dad to Ford honcho Jim Farley on the "DRIVE" podcast earlier this month ... and he explained one of his biggest parenting struggles is teaching humility to his kids while also being one of the most wealthy families in the nation.

"We have people that clean for us," said the Tampa Bay Buccaneers star, who's made over $300 MILLION in NFL contracts alone. "We have people that make our food. We have people that drive us to the airport if we need that. We get off a plane and there's people waiting there for us and we get ushered in."

"And it's just, that's my kids' reality. Which is the hard part to say, 'Guys, this is not the way reality really is.'"

Brady -- who has two sons and one daughter -- called balancing it all "probably the hardest thing for us as parents."

Of course, the words were met with immediate backlash -- as there are certainly millions of people across the globe who would happily take those issues.

But, Brady said they are real problems for him and his wife, Gisele -- and they're things he says he has to deal with daily.

"I know that I've screwed up a lot of things -- that's the reality of being a parent," he said. "You just hope you can show them enough things to realize that when they are doing things that are selected for Mom and Dad to make our lives more convenient that that is a treat. You know, that is something that is not what every kid goes through."

Sami Sheen says her OnlyFans account is creating a house divided ... telling us Denise Richards is super supportive, but Charlie hasn't exactly come around to the idea.

We got Charlie and Denise's 18-year-old daughter at Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills Thursday and asked her about the parental support behind her OF account, or lack thereof.

Sami says Denise, who also has an OnlyFans page, has been incredibly supportive from the jump ... and she's grateful to have mom in her corner.

As for Charlie, Sami tells us her dad hasn't seen the light yet ... which is a departure from some of her father's public comments.

Remember ... Charlie claimed last month he was withdrawing his objections to Sami's presence on the X-Rated site, in order to present a united front with his ex-wife Denise.

But based on what Sami's telling us ... it sounds like it's proving easier said than done for Charlie.

Sami says she doesn't really mind if her father isn't gung-ho about her new revenue stream -- she's charging her 11,600 followers $19.99 a month to see her content -- and tells us why she likes the OnlyFans life.

Denise is getting in on the OF action too ... charging $25 a month ... and Sami says she's happy to see her mom fully embrace the site.

Not everyone is here for Ray J's newest leg tattoo ... a homage to his sister, Brandy, but he's got quite a few words for all those haters.

We caught Ray at LAX Thursday and he proudly told us all about his fresh ink, while also delivering a message to the people sounding off, largely in disapproval, of the piece.

The "Sexy Can I" singer told us ... he got the tattoo of Brandy to show his love and appreciation for her. Ray J says, without her he wouldn't be who he is today.

And, he clearly wasn't phased by the standard social media shots, some of which -- hilariously -- came from Brandy!

Ray says she was a bit uneasy about the style of the tat -- which depicts Brandy with blood-red eyes and the words "Best friends 4 ever" on her face -- but he likes it and that's all that matters to him.

In fact, he doubles down saying anybody who doesn't approve is trippin'. In simpler terms ... "It's my leg, and my sister".

When Ray posted the image of his tattoo, he called it the "holy leg" and said it was "real gothic-like." For anyone asking, he says that's just the artist's style.

Of course, this comes a few months after Jack Harlow admitted he didn't know Ray J and Brandy were siblings, which stunned lots of folks on social media ... given that Brandy helped Ray J start his career.

Prosecutors have hit Duane Brown with a criminal charge stemming from his arrest at LAX last weekend ... and now, the NFL star could be facing up to 1 year behind bars if he's convicted.

We broke the story, the five-time Pro Bowler -- who most recently played for the Seattle Seahawks -- was busted at the airport in L.A. on July 9 after authorities said he tried to go through TSA with a gun in his luggage.

Now, TMZ Sports has learned Brown has been charged by Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, a longtime national leader on gun violence prevention.

According to court documents, Brown was hit with one count of carrying a concealed weapon, a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to 1 year in jail.

For his part, Brown -- through his attorney -- called the incident "an accident" in a statement to media members earlier this week.

"To err is human, and this clearly was an accident," Brown's attorney, Kennard McGuire, said. "As a law-abiding citizen, Duane will continue to exercise proper judgment and continue education on gun safety measures."

Before this munchkin getting washed up was known for her rapping skills, she was just blowing bubbles, making big splashes and growing up in Santa Clara, California.

She tapped into the music industry by posting her talents on Instagram. Just years later, her song "Icy Grl" made big waves and accrued millions of views on YouTube. The rap star sensation has collaborated with other icons in the music industry including Post Malone and DaBaby.

Still not sure who this cute kid is? She owns the fact that she's a tad high maintenance but always sweet.

Six Univ. of Southwest student-athlete golfers were not killed by a 13-year-old boy driving a pickup truck -- as originally suspected -- it turns out the teen's dad, who had meth in his system, was behind the wheel during the horrific, fatal accident.

The crash occurred in West Texas in March around 8:17 PM ... and left six athletes -- age 18 to 22 -- and one 26-year-old male coach dead after a 2007 Dodge pickup truck veered across the center line and into the Ford van carrying the team, who just competed in a tournament. Two students survived, but were seriously injured.

Shortly after the accident, authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the 13-year-old, who did not have a license, was driving the pickup at the time of the head-on collision.

However, after a more thorough investigation, the NTSB is revising its story in a new preliminary report ... indicating the teenage boy's 38-year-old father was actually the driver, and when authorities tested his blood, they found methamphetamine.

They did not specify how much of the drug was in his system ... or whether it would've impacted his ability to operate a vehicle.

The NTSB say they used DNA to reach the new conclusion.

Both the 13-year-old and the father also died.

The NTSB also points out there's no evidence to suggest the crash was caused by a sudden flat tire, or any other catastrophic incident that could've caused the crash.