Kevin Samuels Died from Hypertension

Kevin Samuels died as a result of hypertension ... eliminating any possible suspicious circumstances surrounding the 57-year-old's death.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office just released findings into Samuels' death, telling us he died due to hypertension -- high blood pressure. The ME says, "Evidence of hypertension includes a heart whose chambers are thicker than normal."

It appears Samuels was also taking a medication called Atenolol, because the ME notes in their findings that the medication is used to treat hypertension.

Samuels's death is classified as due to natural causes.

TMZ broke the story, Samuels, who was known for his controversial -- and sometimes not-so-appropriate -- dating advice died back in May.

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At the time of his death, Samuels was with a mystery woman, and collapsed in his home. We obtained the 911 call the woman placed, and it was clear, she was desperate to help save his life ... performing CPR in order to try to help Samuels.

Social media buzz at one point thought maybe Kevin's death was suspicious, but according to the medical examiner's findings ... that just isn't the case.

Johnny Depp Everything's Going My Way ... Including Hot Red-Head!!!

Johnny Depp is a man about town -- perhaps even more so now that the Amber Heard drama seems to finally be in his rear-view ... and on the horizon, maybe a new flame!

JD was seen stepping out in Italy Sunday, where he's in town to perform for the Umbria Jazz Festival alongside fellow rocker Jeff Beck. As you know ... the duo are kind of a two-man band right now -- and they've been ensconced in performance for a month-plus.

Here, we see Johnny getting out of a van on his way to rehearsals, ahead of his set -- and would you looky here ... he's got an attractive female companion tagging along for the ride.

Indeed, this mystery gal seemed to be the only one cruising with Johnny here ... handing him a bag at one point. Could just be a staffer/roadie who's working with him on tour -- or, of course, it could be a love interest ... although there isn't too much evidence to prove that.

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There's no clear PDA we can see, but this woman does look to be happy to be in Johnny's presence. Everyone seems to be fascinated by who Johnny may or may not be dating these days -- first it was the Camille Vasquez speculation, which was BS, and now ... this.

In any case, it's great to see Mr. Depp is still in good spirits -- frankly, he has every reason to be. Amber's plea to have the verdict set aside was just shot down by a judge ... so if she wants one last chance to fight this thing, she'll have to appeal -- which will cost her money.

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Johnny, meanwhile, continues to bask in the sun -- getting his fill of Europe and then some.

Curt Schilling Brittney Griner Should 'Pay The Penalty' In Russia ... 'Obey The F***ing Law'

Curt Schilling clearly has no problem seeing Brittney Griner's detention in Russia drag on ... the ex-MLB star said Sunday night he believes the WNBA player should "pay the penalty for breaking another country's laws."

Schilling wrote the controversial statement on his Twitter page -- in a response to LeBron James' plea to bring Griner home.

"I know this may seem like a stretch," the 55-year-old said. "But something like 300 million people understand 'OBEY THE F***ING LAW', why is that such a challenge?"

"And why on earth should she NOT pay the penalty for breaking another country's laws?"

Griner has been locked in a cell in Russia since mid-February, after authorities said they found hashish oil in her luggage at an airport in Moscow. At a hearing in the case earlier this month, Griner pled guilty to the charges ... telling a judge at the time, "I didn't want to break the law."

Schilling obviously believes her plea and subsequent statements are justification for her to remain behind bars as long as Russia sees fit.

"She, as far as I know from every quote of hers," Schilling said, "has NEVER denied committing the crime, not once."

The United States government, meanwhile, has classified Griner as "wrongfully detained" and is in the process of negotiating with Russia to bring her home.

Griner is facing a punishment of up to 10 years behind bars following her guilty plea. Another hearing in her case has been scheduled for next week.

Uvalde Mass Shooting 376 Cops Responded to the School ... Lawmakers Highlight 'Poor Decisions'

Texas lawmakers digging into the Uvalde disaster seem astounded 21 people were killed after so many cops -- nearly 400 -- responded to the shooting scene, and they're blaming “egregiously poor decision-making.”

The 80-page investigative report, released by a committee from the Texas House of Representatives Sunday, reveals a total of 376 officers responded in May to the tragedy at Robb Elementary School, yet it's “almost certain” at least 100 shots were fired inside before they entered.

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According to the report, no one assumed command once arriving on the scene, despite there being hundreds of officers from all over the area.

A commander of a Border Patrol tactical team also waited for a bullet-proof shield to arrive for them, as well as a master key for the classrooms, further delaying the response inside.

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Pete Arredondo, the now-former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief, tried locating keys as well, but no one checked to see if the doors were locked, according to the report.

The report says he also considered the shooter a “barricaded subject,” because he didn't have visual contact with the gunman.

One Uvalde officer said he heard about 911 calls coming from inside a classroom -- his understanding was that police on a certain side of the building were fully aware that victims were trapped inside, yet nothing was done.

The report puts the blame on law enforcement, saying "they failed to prioritize saving innocent lives over their own safety.”

Following the release of the report, Lt. Mariano Pargas -- Uvalde's acting police chief during the incident -- has been placed on administrative leave.

'90 Day Fiance' Star Stephanie Matto Guess Who Bid $2,700 For Date With Me??? Another '90 Day' Stephanie

A couple of Stephanies from "90 Day Fiance" are going on a date together ... after Stephanie Davison won the auction to wine and dine Stephanie Matto.

Matto, the '90 Day' star famous for selling farts in a jar, tells TMZ ... she auctioned off a 1-hour private virtual candlelight date with her, resulting in a bidding war between one of her super fans and someone going under the username 'stephiejosinbox,' who scored a win with a $2,700 bid.

SM says she was completely blindsided when she was messaged by fellow '90 Day' star by the same first name, Stephanie, on Instagram ... informing her she was the winning bidder.

Matto and Davison have never met, and SM says Davison told her she wants an hour of her time to talk about marketing ideas. Matto also sells her boob sweat -- and is especially interested in a potential fart jar collab.

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We're also told 10% of Davison's $2,700 winning bid is being donated to the Be The Match Foundation, which helps people find donors for lifesaving bone marrow.

'JERSEY SHORE 2.0' Go Inside the Shore House ... Oh What Coulda Been!!!

Here's a look inside the mansion that was supposed to be the setting for MTV's "Jersey Shore 2.0," and judging from the pics .. the cast is missing out on one helluva summer.

Before production on the reality show was put on ice, producers picked this historic 8-bedroom home in Atlantic City -- a 4,000 sq. foot pad primed for some classic 'JS' moments.

The four-story home, nestled just a few steps from AC's famous boardwalk and its casinos and nightlife, features beautiful ocean views and huge decks to keep the party going. Well, it would have kept the party going.

There's a huge living area for the gang to hang out by the fireplace, plus a dining table with room for 10 ... perfect for those Sunday family dinners we used to watch the OG cast have.

There were plenty of bedrooms for the cast to choose from -- 4 on the second floor, each with their own bathrooms, and then 4 smaller bedrooms on the third floor. One of 'em seems ready-made to be the new "smush room." 😉

The place looks cool on its own, but it's likely producers added some additional touches to the interior ... a la the duck phone from the OG series.

We broke the stories ... the show came to a halt less than a week after production started, and all the filming equipment's already been cleaned out of the joint.

The mansion is a rental that goes for $1,300 a night on Airbnb. It was booked all through July to film the show, but not for nothin' ... come August the home appears to be wide open for rent.

Someone's gonna have a "Jersey Shore" summer there, just not the next wave of MTV reality stars.

Nick Young I'm Going To KO Blueface ... It'll Only Take Seconds!!!

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Better get to your seats early for the Nick Young vs. Blueface boxing match later this month ... 'cause Swaggy P tells TMZ Sports the fight is going to be over in a matter of seconds!!

The ex-Lakers star made the prediction to us out in L.A. earlier this week ... saying it'll only take him about 15 ticks to knock out the "Thotiana" rapper.

Nick said he's confident for a myriad of reasons ... but explained he believes Blueface's lifestyle is ultimately why he'll dump the 25-year-old in Round 1.

"He's a rapper," the former hooper said. "They've got to be in the studio all night. You've got to drink, you've got to smoke. We don't do that type of stuff."

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Blueface, meanwhile, was just as confident that he'd beat Young when we spoke to him out in L.A. this week -- telling us he has plans to actually toy with the 37-year-old in the fight to make him "look bad."

As for post-fight plans, Blueface says he's going to box further after the Young tilt, telling us he's already got a match planned for late August.

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Young, meanwhile, says if the money's right ... he'll continue boxing -- adding, "I'm just going on a knock-a-motha-f***as-out tour."

Fight night is July 30. Getcha popcorn ready.

Ne-Yo New Album Took 4 Years ... Because of COVID Struggles

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Ne-Yo just dropped his first album in 4 years, and he says the hiatus is largely because COVID took a massive toll on his emotional state and creativity.

The R&B singer joined "TMZ Live" to talk all about his 8th studio album, titled "Self Explanatory" ... an album that was put on the back burner when the pandemic hit. Ne-Yo says music was not on his mind nearly as much as survival -- the survival of his family.

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He says even after quarantine was lifted, it took time getting the "funk" removed from his psyche.

The album does not reference COVID ... he says he has nothing new to offer since we all went through it. Ditto the Black Lives Matter movement ... he says it has been so well-documented that the album would not move the ball forward.

The album is much more about his personal life ... especially the ups and downs he experienced with his marriage. We get into all of that, and more, in the full interview, which airs on Monday's "TMZ Live."

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Ne-Yo has been in an on-again, off-again marriage to his wife, Crystal Renay. You'll recall, the two got remarried in Vegas back in April ... nearly 2 years after she filed for divorce and then withdrew the petition.

All 13 songs on "Self Explanatory" are available now.

Medium At 'RHOBH' Dinner Party From Hell 'Memba Her?!

American medium and psychic Allison DuBois was 38 years old when she lit up her electric cigarette and sparked up the verbal brawl on season one of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

Accompanying Allison to the 'Dinner Party From Hell' included the leader of the pack, Kyle Richards, Kyle's partner in crime, Faye Resnick, the intelligent restaurateur, Lisa Vanderpump and the 'queen of Malibu,' Camille Meyer (formerly known as Camille Grammer).

Allison's professional success landed her the television mystery series 'Medium,' starring Patricia Arquette which ran for 7 seasons.

Guess what she looks like today at 50 years old!

Drake Okay, Fine ... I Did Have a Run-In w/ Swedish Cops

Drake's kinda doing an about-face after his team denied he was busted in Sweden -- confirming he did have some sort of run-in with cops ... but the details are still hazy.

The rapper posted a series of photos Sunday, apparently documenting his recent adventures -- one of which was a shot of a print-out he'd been given by Swedish authorities ... addressing the mass speculation from the past few days that he'd landed in trouble.

The document was issued by Swedish authorities, aka Polisen, and it's titled ... "Information for Those Suspected of a Crime and Subsequently Detained." Well, at least it's thorough.

It goes on to explain Drake's rights under Swedish law -- which are pretty similar to Miranda rights someone received when they're taken in by cops here in the States. As you can see, Drake has the right to know what he's being detained for, and the right to legal counsel.

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He actually has a few more rights, it seems, than the average American ... or even Swedish citizen. The doc notes he can contact his country's consulate and have messages sent and received on his behalf. However, it doesn't appear things got that serious in this matter.

The rumor was that Drake was arrested on marijuana related charges while partying at a Swedish club this week ... and it sounds like he's since been released in connection to that -- hence him posting this update. Unclear if he'll have to go back and deal with this in court.

The strange thing ... Drake's team denied there was any truth to this story, amid speculation and the hashtag #FreeDrake going viral. Maybe they were splitting hairs over semantics -- like whether he was arrested or detained -- but it's obvious something did in fact go down.

In any case, he seems to have had an easier go than A$AP Rocky did. Thank goodness for that.

Brad Pitt I'm Going Out with a Bang, And in Style ... Orange You Glad?!?

Brad Pitt says he might be bowing out of movies -- or at least appearing in them, anyway -- which could be a big mistake, 'cause the guy's still as magnetic as ever ... just look at this!

Here's the legendary A-lister hobnobbing on a boat while cruising the Seine River in Paris this weekend ... the first stop for his latest press run to plug his new film, 'Bullet Train' -- a high-voltage action flick that sees Brad fighting bad guys in and out of transit in Tokyo.

While the movie looks great -- it's actually just the second flick he's headed up as a straight-on lead in at least a few years. Yes, he had a supporting role in 'The Lost City,' which was hilarious, but before that ... it was 'Ad Astra' way back in 2019 when he got top billing.

As fans of his have certainly noticed, he's been doing a lot less films in recent years -- picking and choosing roles wisely ... which paid off with an Oscar 2 years ago.

But it's also a sign of his movie stardom slow-down. He addressed this recently in a GQ interview ... saying he figured he was on his "last leg" of acting, going on to say he was in the final stretch of that particular chapter -- and musing on what might be next for him.

The dude's got his Plan B production co., which continues to crank out great films with accolades to boot ... but on the thespian front, this might be one of his ultimate go-arounds.

He's got a few more gigs on the horizon, it seems -- but if this is, in fact, a closing glimpse of him doing the Hollywood thing ... we gotta say, he's going out with a bang. These shots are emblematic of what many have said about Brad's on-screen presence -- home boy's just got it, even at his age now. Take a gander through these pics ... they're gold.

Assuming Brad is walking away from acting, he's got quite the resume to be proud of -- so many great projects over the years, and a helluva career. 'Bullet Train' hits theaters Aug. 5.

Shaq DJ Diesel is Baaaack Moshes at Tomorrowland

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Shaquille O'Neal has returned to form -- at least in the EDM sense -- because the dude is out here in Europe head-banging with a bunch of normies ... at a festival he's performing in.

The NBA great was spotted moshing at Tomorrowland in Belgium -- where he's slated to hit the stage as his music persona, DJ Diesel, in a set that's sure to rock the crowd. Seems Shaq wanted a head start though ... 'cause he immersed himself in the crowd beforehand.

Check out this awesome video, shot by photojournalist Adam Glyn, in which Shaq is being mobbed by festival-goers ... this as he towers over them and matches their energy.

It's pretty surreal to see -- but then again, maybe not ... SON has proven time and again that he's very much so of the people, and Tomorrowland seems to be no exception. Of course, Shaq has done this before -- but not for a while ... last time he was out there was 2019.

We already know Shaq is a renaissance man -- with his hand in a lot of different ventures, business and otherwise -- so him in a setting like this really isn't all that crazy if you think about it.

Of course, the kids out there can't get enough of him ... and we're sure he's gonna kill this gig. WOMP WOMP WOMP WOMP WOMP.

Kid Cudi Replaces Kanye as RL Headliner ... Amid Ongoing Feud

Kanye West is out, and Kid Cudi is in at Rolling Loud Miami -- an interesting swap, considering the two have been beefing these past few months.

Festival organizers made the announcement Sunday, saying that -- for reasons beyond their control -- Kanye wouldn't be performing at their event later this month as one of the three headliners ... and in his place, Scott would be stepping in to take up the mantle.

Rolling Loud Co-Founders Tariq Cherif and Matt Zingler further tell TMZ ... "We were looking forward to Ye headlining Rolling Loud Miami 2022. We spent months working with him and his team on the performance. Unfortunately, Ye has decided that he will no longer be performing. This is the first time a headliner has ever pulled off our show and though we don’t take it lightly, we wish him the best."

They add, "We look forward to welcoming Kid Cudi as a headliner in Miami and we can’t wait to see what he has in store."

Kid Cudi himself confirmed the news, posting the new lineup on his IG story. It's unclear why Ye bailed, but that's kinda his M.O. lately -- you'll recall, he also pulled out of Coachella last minute, with no explanation. There, too, they had to scramble last minute for a new act.

The backdrop to this latest news, of course, is the fact that Cudi has officially disavowed Ye ... publicly declaring that their friendship is over, this after Ye took some swipes at him for being friends with Pete Davidson.

He even clarified afterward that he and Kanye still weren't cool, despite the fact they collaborated on a song of Pusha T's -- which KC said would be the last time they worked together. So, him being the guy to fill Kanye's shoes is almost coming full circle on all that.

As for Ye ... he's been laying relatively low lately. While he did make an appearance for Diddy's big moment earlier this summer -- the guy hasn't been nearly as visible as he was at the start of the year ... which we suppose some might consider a good thing.

Ben & Jen We're Hitched ... Here's Pics/Vid/Deets!!!

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3:01 PM PT -- Jennifer Lopez just posted a massive dump of photos and video from her surprise wedding to Ben Affleck -- showing herself in her dress, and BA in his tux ... both looking amazing.

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The pop star threw up a ton of content on her website/newsletter -- OnTheJLo -- where she and her team have spilled all the deets about their nuptials. Jen writes, "We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient."

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She goes on to say this ... "Exactly what we wanted. Last night we flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same journey to the wedding capital of the world. Behind us two men held hands and held each other. In front of us, a young couple who made the three hour drive from Victorville on their daughter’s second birthday—all of us wanting the same thing— for the world to recognize us as partners and to declare our love to the world through the ancient and nearly universal symbol of marriage."

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Jen explains that they barely made it to the wedding chapel in time before it closed up, and while they wanted Elvis to officiate ... he was unavailable. They moved forward anyway, taking pics in front of their witnesses -- who appear to have been some of their respective kids.

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J Lo calls it their dream wedding, one they wanted long ago -- and ends by saying ... "They were right when they said, “all you need is love”. We are so grateful to have that in abundance, a new wonderful family of five amazing children and a life that we have never had more reason to look forward to."

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She finishes here ... "Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at twelve thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with. Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things-and worth waiting for."

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are married -- and wouldn't you know it ... they did it like a couple of kids looking to elope, saying "I do" out in the desert.

According to court records, obtained by TMZ, the couple got a marriage license in Clark County, NV -- which was taken out and processed on Saturday, July 16. It's in both of their names -- their legal ones at that ... Benjamin Geza Affleck and Jennifer Lynn Lopez.

A source connected to Bennifer tells TMZ ... they did, indeed, get hitched ... and the license is a signal they are now man and wife.

TMZ broke the story ... earlier this year, J Lo was spotted wearing an engagement ring when furniture shopping with her 14-year-old child, Emme.

Soon after, Jennifer shared the news with her fans via a video message on her newsletter, she's teary-eyed and simply says, "You're perfect" before you can catch a glimpse of her beautiful green diamond ring.

Ben and Jen first got engaged in late 2002, but called things off in 2004 before they got married. They both went on to have separate relationships, including marriages and kids, but the exes reunited almost a year ago ... and have been seemingly inseparable ever since.

The signs of them tying the knot have been there all along -- as we've reported ... they've been house hunting together -- often bringing their kids along -- and signaled they were aiming for a blended family situation. Despite some of their real estate deals falling through, the couple seems to have settled down in a Beverly Hills estate.

Last month, Jen's car was spotted at a massive estate in Beverly Hills. There were also 4 moving trucks outside the estate -- plus, moving trucks at both Ben and Jen's current homes in the L.A. area.

The house was not listed for sale -- we're told he bought it for around $60 million. It was previously owned by Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman. Now, they're moving in as bride and groom.

Congrats!!!

Originally Published -- 10:35 AM PT

Billie Eilish Credited for 'Sad Girl' Pop Genre ... Fiona Apple Fans Rage

Billie Eilish might be responsible for crystalizing what you could call "sad girl" pop in this day and age ... an argument that's got fans of Fiona Apple, and others, up in arms.

Here's the deal ... a fan account that chronicles Billie music news tweeted Saturday that the Recording Academy -- which, of course, is responsible for the Grammys -- credited BE with creating the above-mentioned genre ... also employed by Olivia Rodrigo, Tate McRae, etc.

They're referencing an article from the Recording Academy that was written a few days ago, titled ... "The Psychology Of "Sad Girl" Pop: Why Music By Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, Olivia Rodrigo & More Is Resonating So Widely."

While the Billie fan account isn't quite accurate in characterizing what the article actually says -- namely, that Billie has more or less popularized "sad girl" pop into its own subgenre, especially for a new generation -- it does sorta capture the spirit ... which seems to be giving artists like Billie and all the other Gen-Zers a bit more credit than they perhaps deserve.

That's where Fiona fans are coming out in force against this narrative ... dive into the "Fiona Apple" trend on Twitter right now and you'll see what we mean. They're sour over this.

A lot of them are pointing out that musicians like Fiona and Alanis Morissette are the actual trailblazers that the Recording Academy thinks Billie, Olivia and other young'ns are -- and there are other names getting thrown in the mix too as pioneers.

There's Lana Del Rey ... who's been in this lane for years. Others who've been mentioned as stalwarts of "sad girl" pop -- Michelle Branch, Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne, Marina Diamandis, Lorde, Hope Sandoval ... and even older acts like Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell.

While the article in question DOES actually shout out a lot of these ladies, they also seem to kinda downplay their impact a bit. Of course, the other argument is ... maybe Billie and co. actually did help turn all this sad girl stuff mainstream??? The debate rages, no doubt.

Vegas Strip Tourists Stampede Out of MGM Grand ... After False Reports of Gunfire

It's a sign of the times ... a glass door shattering was enough to turn the Vegas strip into full-blown panic.

Tourists heard loud sounds Saturday night on the Strip, which they mistook for gunfire ... and it created a domino effect, sending hundreds of terrified folks running for their lives.

Turns out it was just a glass door shattering, but that was enough to send people scrambling. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said, "There is no evidence of gunfire in the area and the event is under investigation."

People ran out of the MGM Grand and New York-New York. One person suffered minor injuries after falling during the stampede out.

One person was detained ... the one who broke the glass door. That individual was stopped on suspicion of destruction of property. Unclear if there were any arrests.

It's really a scary situation ... you see cops descending on the area with guns drawn as they try to figure out if there is indeed an active shooter.

The World Series of Poker was interrupted by the incident but the gamblers soon returned.

Mass shootings are all too familiar, but especially in Las Vegas, where 58 people were slaughtered in 2017 during a music festival -- it has the dark distinction of being the deadliest mass shooting in American history.

Old news is old news!
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