LLWS' Easton Oliverson Takes Steps Days After Skull Injury ... 'We Are At A Loss For Words'
Easton Oliverson just crossed another huge milestone in his road to recovery ... the Little League World Series player is now walking -- just days after he suffered severe head injuries in a fall from his bunk bed.
Oliverson's family shared a video on their social media page on Friday showing the Snow Canyon Little League pitcher/outfielder standing up and walking with the help of medical personnel.
"We are at a loss for words," the family said in the caption. "There are none that seem fitting other than: God is Good. SO GOOD!🤍"
"We love our Easton so much. Thank you for loving, and supporting him with us. Keep the prayers coming- he’s getting stronger every day!"
The 12-year-old initially fractured his skull on Sunday after falling off his bed at the players' dormitory complex in Williamsport, Penn.
Things looked dire for Easton the night of the accident -- he was actually placed in a medically induced coma -- but, he's since shown a ton of progress, and appears to be on his way to a full recovery.
As for his team, it's slated to play in its first game of the LLWS later Friday -- and Easton's little brother, Brogan, is expected to take his spot in the lineup for the big contest.
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Vanessa Bryant Breaks Down In Tears At Trial ... 'Disgusted' With Officials Over Kobe Photos
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Vanessa Bryant just talked about Kobe Bryant, Gianna, the crash and the photos that officials took of their bodies while on the stand -- and she was overcome with emotion while trying to explain how awful it all has truly been for her.
Using a handkerchief to wipe away tears after nearly every sentence -- Vanessa said she first learned of the crash after an assistant informed her of it at her home. She said L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva was the one who eventually told her there were no survivors.
Vanessa said on the stand that she begged him to secure the area, as she was concerned about paparazzi. She testified he didn't tell her at the time that his deputies had photographed her family members' bodies.
She later said she learned of the graphic photos through the Los Angeles Times report -- and, while speaking through sobs, she said it gutted her.
"I felt like I wanted to run down the block and scream," she said in the courtroom. "I can’t escape my body. I can't escape what I feel."
She added that she was "blindsided, devastated, hurt and betrayed" to know that authorities had snapped pics at the scene.
"I trusted them," she said. "I trusted them to not do these things."
Vanessa told the courtroom one of the most disturbing things to her was that because of where Gianna was located at the crash scene, she believed officials had to have moved the 13-year-old's body in order to photograph it.
"They took advantage that Daddy couldn't protect her," she said. "He was at the morgue."
Kobe Bryant Photo Trial, Bartender Allegedly Laughed After Seeing Crash Pics
Vanessa testified that if the photos ever got out, and if she were to somehow see them, it'd rip her apart.
"I don't ever want to see my babies in that way," she said, explaining to the courtroom that she lives in constant fear that the photos could surface. "Nobody should ever have to see their family in that way."
Vanessa Bryant arrives at the federal courthouse for her civil trial against LA County, over photos taken of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and their daughter Gianna. She is expected to testify this morning. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/cGzhpPs5JU
— Tina Patel (@tina_patel) August 19, 2022 @tina_patel
As we reported, Vanessa arrived at the courtroom earlier Friday morning in a black dress, black coat and dark sunglasses. She wore a "Mama" necklace -- and appeared to be confident, flashing a smile on her way into the L.A. building.
The 40-year-old is suing L.A. County officials after learning deputies had taken and shared graphic photos from the wreckage scene.
Vanessa claimed in her suit the officials, and their actions, caused her severe emotional distress. She's suing for unspecified damages, including punitive damages ... and during her testimony on Friday, she said she's willing to "go through hell and back" to get justice for Kobe and Gianna.
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NBC's Ali Vitali Here's Why America Hasn't Elected a Female Prez
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NBC's Capitol Hill Correspondent Ali Vitali says our political system was not set up to elect a female president ... but understanding the bias might help the nation finally cross that hurdle.
Vitali joined "TMZ Live" Friday ... to talk about her upcoming book, "Electable: Why America Hasn't Put a Woman in the White House ... Yet," and she's very clear ... a big reason why women haven't inhabited the Oval is misogyny. Fact is ... many countries have had female heads of state -- Germany, Finland, England, Argentina, India, Israel, among others.
Ali says the Hillary Clinton is living proof women are viable candidates .. .but they seem to hit a wall when it actually comes to getting elected.
We ask about one woman in particular ... Michelle Obama, who has said as clear as day she's not interested in the job, but Ali has opinions.
And what if the first female president is a conservative Republican -- would this be celebrated among women and men of a different political persuasion? Ali's answer is interesting...
"Electable: Why America hasn't Put A Woman In The White House...Yet" drops Tuesday.
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Marcell Ozuna Arrest Video ... MLBer Told Cops He Was Celebrating Braves Win Before Stop
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2:07 PM PT -- New police video shows Ozuna told a cop he had celebrated the Braves' big win over the Mets on Thursday night with a few beers before he was ultimately arrested for DUI on Friday morning.
In the footage, you can clearly hear Ozuna tell an officer, "We win today and we just kind of celebrated." He did add, though, that he thought he was completely fine to drive.
"I'm good, my man," he said.
Multiple times during the stop, according to the video, Ozuna referenced his status as a Braves player -- even saying at one point, "I'm just famous."
The footage also shows Ozuna -- who had roughly $8,000 worth of cash in his right front pocket -- needed to pee so badly following his arrest, officers let him out his cuffs so he could relieve himself on a bush.
1:32 PM PT -- Ozuna just addressed the arrest with reporters a few hours before the Braves' Friday night game ... and he said he was "disappointed" about it all.
Marcell Ozuna’s statement. He did not take questions pic.twitter.com/I6MyVpZhfC
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) August 19, 2022 @mlbbowman
"I disappointed my team, disappointed my family," he said. "And I don't have anything to say more, and it's a legal matter."
Marcell Ozuna pulled the celeb card during his DUI arrest on Friday morning -- telling a cop during the stop, "Sorry, I'm Ozuna from the Braves" ... this according to a new police report obtained by TMZ Sports.
In the docs, a Norcross Police Dept. officer said he pulled over Ozuna -- who was driving in a black 2021 Mercedes-Benz -- at around 3:35 AM after he says the MLB slugger was speeding in a 35 MPH zone while failing to stay in a lane.
Moments after being stopped, Ozuna allegedly told the officer, "Sorry, sorry, I'm Ozuna from the Braves." The baseball player's car reeked of booze, the police officer said in the report. The officer also claimed Ozuna had red and watery eyes.
Ozuna told the cop, according to the docs, that he was in Norcross heading to "the party." The officer said that he later learned the 31-year-old was on his way to "a nearby after-hours nightclub."
When Ozuna went to hand his driver's license to the cop, the officer said in the docs he also handed over an MLB ID card showing that he played for the Braves.
According to the report, just before administering field sobriety tests on Ozuna, the outfielder admitted he had drank "like three or four" beers before getting behind the wheel.
"If I'm drunk, if I can't drive, I do like this," the officer said in the docs, claiming Ozuna -- who allegedly had $8,000 in cash in his pocket -- "motioned for me to take his car key."
After administering three tests, the officer arrested Ozuna. But, according to the cop, Ozuna refused both a breath test and a blood test.
Records show he was eventually booked on charges of DUI and failure to maintain lane.
Hours before the arrest, the Braves had won a huge game over the Mets in Atlanta -- but Ozuna did not play in the contest.
This is the second time Ozuna has been arrested in the last 15 months -- he was previously taken into custody in May 2021 after he was accused of roughing up his wife in an incident in Sandy Springs, GA.
Ozuna -- who agreed to enter into a pretrial diversion program to close out the case a few months after the incident -- was suspended 20 games by the MLB over it all.
He later said before this season began that he apologized to his teammates, adding, "I made a mistake."
Marcell Ozuna on returning to #Braves after last year’s arrest on domestic violence charges. pic.twitter.com/cmH4MPpzoW
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) March 14, 2022 @DOBrienATL
Ozuna has played in 107 games for the Braves this season ... batting .214 with 20 home runs.
Originally Published -- 7:36 AM PT
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Ben and Jen Wedding Setup Starts ... Ben's Estate Gets Luxury Makeover for Event
It appears Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are setting up more than just a fancy party at his estate in Georgia, 'cause based on pics, it looks like a full-blown wedding is going to happen.
Ben's place in Riceboro, Georgia is crawling with activity Friday, with construction crews hard at work putting up a huge marquee on the grounds, which is connected to the main house by a very long aisle for J Lo to walk down in what we can only imagine will be a beautiful wedding dress.
The temporary structures going up at Ben's place aren't the only giveaway this star-studded weekend is more wedding than party, caterers and event crews keep showing up to the house in droves.
No sign of Ben and Jen at the house yet, but we already saw them Thursday in Savannah ... where they did some low-key shopping in town.
As we told you, Bennifer 2.0 is welcoming their closest friends and family to a weekend celebration at Ben's estate, which was supposed to serve as the location for their wedding 20 years ago when they first got engaged.
So, this second wedding is truly a full-circle moment ... and it looks like Ben and Jen are pulling out all the stops here after a more modest wedding in Las Vegas.
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Travis Barker I've Got COVID ... But I'd Rather Be Drummin'!!!
Travis Barker is the latest celeb to catch COVID -- a diagnosis that comes just two months after he was hospitalized for a serious case of pancreatitis -- but he's doing his best to keep his spirits up.
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Travis broke the news on Instagram Thursday, with a caption that reads, "Covid sucks🤬 I'd rather be playing drums." He was recently on tour with his buddy MGK, and posted some BTS footage a couple days before his announcement ... so it's possible he caught the disease on the road.
Unclear when exactly Travis tested positive, we saw him out earlier this week in L.A. hitting a studio.
Of course, the diagnosis comes two months after his hospitalization. TMZ broke the story, the drummer had a colonoscopy that triggered pancreatitis in June, Travis told folks on social media he had a polyp removed in a sensitive area, which "damaged a critical pancreatic drainage tube" and led to the medical emergency.
Interestingly enough, Kourtney Kardashian was noticeably absent from family events both Wednesday and Thursday to promote Kendall Jenner's 818 Tequila ... unclear if she decided to play it safe or if she's feeling under the weather as well.
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Alec Baldwin I Was Afraid Trump Supporters Would Kill Me ... After Rust Shooting
Alec Baldwin says Donald Trump incited his January 6th mob to murder him ... by falsely claiming the actor intentionally fired the shot that killed the cinematographer on the "Rust" set.
Baldwin told CNN Trump's comment -- that "He [Baldwin] probably shot her [Halyna Hutchins] on purpose" was itself a trigger for his mob to put a target on his head.
As Baldwin put it, "Here was Trump who instructed people to commit acts of violence and he was pointing the finger at me and saying I was responsible for the death."
Alec Baldwin's Attorney Disputes FBI Findings on Trigger, He Speaks Out
Baldwin had lots to say ... CNN says the interview lasted 2 hours, although only a small portion has been aired. He reportedly said the stress from the shooting has "taken years off my life," adding, "If I didn't have my wife, I don't know where I would be right now ... If I didn't have her, I probably would have quit, retired, gone off, you know sold everything I owned, got a house in the middle of nowhere and just you know did find something else to do, sell real estate."
Baldwin also says he hired a P.I. and got recon that he almost certainly would not be prosecuted, nor does he think anyone else will be as well. He does, however, lay the blame squarely at the feet of Chief Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and Assistant Director Dave Halls, for allowing him to handle a gun with live ammo. Baldwin didn't know the gun was loaded with a live round and says it was their responsibility to check it.
Halls' lawyer says Baldwin is trying to deflect blame, saying "Baldwin is pointing the finger at others because the evidence is pointing at him."
As we reported, Baldwin has maintained he didn't pull the trigger, but the FBI reportedly begs to differ, saying the gun couldn't discharge a bullet without pulling the trigger.
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'Big Brother' Houseguests Knockin' Boots On A Pool Floatie!!!
Two "Big Brother" contestants did the deed on a butterfly-shaped pool floatie ... but it doesn't sound like their evening of romance lasted very long!
Kyle and Alyssa are houseguests on the latest season of the reality show, and they've been hooking up, forming a showmance.
Things got hot and heavy in the "Have-Not" room -- the show swapped out beds with pool floaties on the hard floor ... but that didn't stop the two from getting it on.
After their hook up was over, Kyle jumps into apology mode -- confessing he lasted a grand total of 10 seconds.
Alyssa didn't seem to mind ... although she sounded a little embarrassed when talking to housemate Turner after.
She does, however, call the quickie a "really nice moment."
What did the butterfly do to deserve this #bb24 pic.twitter.com/p0S7e6EXgf
— Tooms (@ToomsBB_) August 14, 2022 @ToomsBB_
Fans went wild online after the hook up ... but some had more sympathy for the floatie than Kyle and Alyssa.
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Anne Heche Salon Owner She Visited Before Crash Feels Guilt, Anger
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Richard Glass may have been the last person to see Anne Heche before she careened into a house in her car ... and he's riddled with guilt because he didn't save her -- he's also furious at people on social media who are blaming him.
Richard, who owns Glass Hair in Venice, tells TMZ he can't believe people think he's the one who supplied Anne with cocaine and fentanyl ... drugs that were present in her system after the crash. Richard says he's never done drugs, and the folks accusing him are just hateful.
Anne Heche In Memoriam Being Added to One of Her Final Films
He also thinks a higher power may have sent Anne to his salon so he could somehow save her from death. He's clearly beating himself up for something over which he had no control, but he feels it so in his mind it's real.
It's an emotional conversation ... Richard thinks he might need therapy to make things right again.
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Frank Grillo L.A. Crime is a Real Problem ... My Boxing Trainer Was Victim of Senseless Murder
Actor Frank Grillo is speaking out about the senseless murder of his beloved boxing trainer ... and he's not pulling punches when it comes to what he views as L.A.'s crime problem.
Grillo, who played Crossbones in Marvel's 'Captain America' films, was visibly upset as he spoke about the death of Azuma Bennett during an interview at Fortune Boxing Gym in Hollywood on Thursday.
"He made everybody feel good about training," Grillo told KNBC. "I don't know what's happened to Los Angeles that a beautiful guy like this gets shot and killed over nothing."
Police say Bennett died en route to the hospital after he was struck by at least 8 bullets outside a marijuana dispensary in Windsor Hills last Friday. Detectives are still searching for the shooter, and there's not yet a motive.
Bennett was a centerpiece at Fortune Gym with a roster of celeb clients, including Grillo, UFC fighter Jason "Mayhem" Miller and musicians Kiana Ledé and Eddie Benjamin.
The staff at Fortune Gym released a statement in Bennett's honor, "Azuma was our family. One of the best of the best. We are all so broken."
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to help Bennett's family.
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Finnish Prime Minister I Took A Drug Test!!! After Clubbin' Backlash
Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin might be a party animal, but it's all drug-free ... so says the PM herself who says she can prove it!
The 36-year-old PM dropped the news she took a drug test Friday. She said he's expecting the results sometime next week.
As we reported, the PM found herself in hot water after a video leaked of her going hard at a party with other musicians, TV stars, and fellow politicians. The vid was posted on a private IG Account ... and it caused quite the stir.
Finnish Member of Parliament Mikko Kärnä called her out on her party animal behavior ... insisting that she take a drug test. The PM said she was drinking but never took drugs. BTW, she said she was not drinking heavily.
Marin said, "Everyone needs a fun and relaxed evening," adding "I have danced, sung, celebrated, done legal things."
In Friday's conference, she said, "I did nothing illegal ... even in my teenage years I have not used any kind of drugs."
Stay tuned ...
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Trapboy Freddy Busted On Weapons Charges ... Feds Seize His Pet Tiger Cub!!!
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Dallas rapper Trapboy Freddy was arrested by cops for a weapons charge ... but it might've been a good idea for officers to bring a zookeeper along, too.
Officials say they discovered a tiger cub Wednesday caged inside Freddy's Oak Cliff house. Officials seized the cat, but at this time, he hasn't been charged with anything in relation to having the animal.
The Dallas rapper was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and is due to appear in court on Friday.
As for the tiger, it was transported it to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
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It wasn't exactly a secret that Freddy kept a tiger ... the rapper stunted in a Burberry fit with the cub on Instagram a couple of months ago.
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'Love is Blind ' Shake Chatterjee Producers Begged Me To Come Back ... I Told Them To Kick Rocks!!!
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"Love Is Blind" star Shake Chatterjee tells us he will NOT be on the 'After the Alter' episode ... blasting the reality show as a failed experiment seeking to exploit contestants.
Shake tells TMZ ... he's pissed at how he was portrayed on the hit Netflix reality dating series, and he told producers he wanted nothing to do with the franchise, despite being begged to come back for one last hurrah.
The experience clearly left a bad taste in Shake's mouth ... and he's ripping the hosts, Nick and Vanessa Lachey, for not staying neutral in his case, questioning their motives and explaining why he passed on participating in the upcoming "Love Is Blind: After the Alter."
In "Love Is Blind," contestants date in pods, conversing through speakers while unable to see their date. In order to meet in person, two contestants must first get engaged.
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Shake lets it all out ... telling us he sees the Netflix series as a "failed experiment" primed for a downfall. The guy says it's not how people should find love, and he practices what he preaches, because he met his girlfriend, Emily Wilson in real life. They now live together in Miami and are recording season 2 of the "Life is Blurry Podcast" together as co-hosts.
He also shared his thoughts on Kyle Abrams and his ex-Deepti Vempati getting together after the show... doesn't sound like he is buying it.
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Jason Oppenheim 'Selling Sunset' Just Fine Without Christine Quinn!!!
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Jason Oppenheim is NOT stressing about Christine Quinn leaving "Selling Sunset" ... he says there are no hard feelings and has "zero concerns" about how her exit will affect the show.
We got Jason leaving Equinox Thursday and he was chill about Christine's departure ... at least on the surface.
Jason says he has no doubt that the current cast members will hold it down for season 6 and 7 ... but he was a little cagey about who's gonna stir the pot now that the villain has left the building.
He slyly explained there are 2 new women on 6 and 7, but wouldn't characterize them as villains ... only that they created an "interesting dynamic." He says there's a natural drama that evolved and he insists these are the best seasons of the run.
TMZ broke the story ... Christine and the producers came to a mutual decision that she'd leave the show. As we reported, she's signed with IMG Models.
Christine ruffled lots of feathers prior to her exit. She skipped the show's reunion after claiming she had COVID ... that turned out to be super sketchy, because she was seen shooting a commercial for a video game around the same time.
Jason insists there's no beef between him and Christine and he's even sent her a few texts to compliment her on all her fashion projects.
Jason's good at selling "Selling Sunset" ... for sure!
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Ex-Cleveland GM Michael Lombardi Hey, Browns ... Get Jimmy G & 'Save Your Season!!!'
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Deshaun Watson out ... Jimmy Garoppolo in?!
If Michael Lombardi was still the general manager in Cleveland ... he tells TMZ Sports that's exactly the move he'd make following Watson's newly announced 11-game suspension.
Lombardi, who was the GM in Berea, Ohio for one season back in 2013, said because of the new length of Watson's ban ... he isn't sure the QB will be ready for game action for at least a few weeks after his suspension concludes.
So, he tells us his solution to the problem is simple -- go trade for Jimmy G.
"I know this is a little bit of a disruption," Lombardi said, "but you can go get Garoppolo and save your season."
Browns execs say the move isn't happening -- they're content to have Jacoby Brissett fill in for Watson for the next few months -- but Lombardi clearly believes that's a mistake.
"The offense being run in Cleveland is the same terminology as the offense in San Francisco," Lombardi said. "Garoppolo could walk into Cleveland tomorrow, and within about a week he would be able to execute their offense."
With Garoppolo set to become a free agent at the end of the year -- Lombardi described the move as a "no-lose situation."
"Look," he said, "this notion that Deshaun is just going to come back in Week 12 and all of the sudden magically score, throw four touchdown passes and dominate the NFL, that's unrealistic. That's not even remotely accurate."
Season starts in just a couple weeks ... could a trade actually go down? Stay tuned.
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J Lo & Ben Low Key Strollin' Before Weekend Wedding Bash!!!
It's party time for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez -- the newlyweds just touched down in Georgia -- and are taking in the sights and sounds before their weekend bash.
Ben and Jen were spotted in Savannah Thursday hitting local shops and walking with at least one of their kids ... a pretty low-key stroll considering what's still to come.
As we told you, the couple is welcoming their closest friends and family members to a celebration this weekend at Ben's estate he owns in the coastal town of Riceboro, Georgia. The property is close to 100 acres, with several homes on site, so there's plenty of space for festivities.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's Wedding Party Location Has History with Couple
TMZ broke the story, the estate was supposed to serve as the location for Ben and Jen's wedding 20 years ago when they were first engaged ... so the party this weekend will serve as a full-circle moment.
It's currently unclear which of the couple's A-list friends will be there, you gotta imagine Matt Damon will attend, but it's sure to be quite the event.
Of course, Ben and Jen got hitched in a small ceremony at a chapel in Vegas back in July -- with only their kids in attendance -- so it's time to let loose and do it big this weekend.