Poet Amanda Gorman Biden Inauguration Poem Banned From FL Elementary School ... Parent Claims Filled With Hate, Written By Oprah

A school in Florida has put the kibosh on its younger students reading Amanda Gorman's powerful poem -- the one she read at President Joe Biden's inauguration -- after one parent claimed it was riddled with hate ... also claiming it was penned by Oprah.

The Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes imposed the prohibition on Gorman's "The Hill We Climb," making it available only to middle schoolers at the K-8 school.

Daily Salinas, the complaining parent, filed a complaint in March, claiming the poem could cause "confusion and indoctrinate students" with "hate messages" ... adding a specious claim Oprah was the writer and not Gorman.

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PRESIDENTIAL POETRY

After learning about the ban, the 25-year-old poet took to social media to call out Salinas ... saying, “So they ban my book from young readers… fail to specify what parts of my poetry they object to, refuse to read any reviews, and offer no alternatives." She says she's "gutted" that it takes only 1 complaint to get works of art removed.

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Gorman now says publisher Penguin Random House is teaming up with PEN America -- an org that defends free expression through literature -- to fight back against book bans with a lawsuit.

For the record ... Gorman's poem is about unity in America and the hope that the country can come together in a time of such divisiveness -- you'll recall, Gorman read the highly-praised poem on Capitol Hill just weeks after insurrectionists stormed the exact same location.

Carrie Fisher Princess Leia Dress Hits Auction ... May Force and $1 Million Be with You!!!

Carrie Fisher fans now have a shot at an iconic piece of "Star Wars" history ... Princess Leia's dress is up for grabs, but it's gonna take way more than Obi-Wan's help to snag it!

The one-of-a-kind costume has hit the auction block at Propstore Auction. It was worn by the late actress in the OG 1977 film, "Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope" ... and the auction house estimates it will fetch between $1 mil to $2 mil.

The 3-day auction also features several other non 'Star Wars'-related pieces of Hollywood memorabilia. For instance, Batman's Batpod -- used by Christian Bale in "The Dark Knight" and "The Dark Knight Rises" -- is also up for grabs, and will likely draw a similar price as Leia's gown.

Other items on the block include the evil clown doll from Steven Spielberg's classic 1982 film "Poltergeist", which is expected to go for $200K to $400K.

And film fans can also bid on props from modern hits, like Chris Pratt's light-up "Star-Lord" helmet from the 2014 flick, "Guardians of the Galaxy".

Harry Potter's distressed costume, worn by Daniel Radcliffe in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is up for grabs, and figures to go for at least $75K. Steep price, for sure, but it does come with the glasses.

The auction starts June 28 and ends June 30 ... good luck!!

New York Yankees Squirrel Terrifies Fans At Game!!!

Several Yankees fans nearly got a lapful of peanuts, Cracker Jacks and squirrel out at the old ballgame Tuesday night -- and the Pinstripes supporters couldn't have been more mortified by it!!!

The Animal Planet-like scene all went down during New York's tilt against the Baltimore Orioles ... when, somehow, a squirrel broke into Yankee Stadium and took an in-game jaunt around the outfield.

First, it was seen posted up near the Yanks' bullpen ... then it was spotted in the center field grass. But, when it made its way near the stands, that's when all hell broke loose.

Check out video of rodent's run across an outfield wall -- fans were absolutely terrified to be so close to the creature!!

You can see most of the guys in the area had alarmed looks on their faces -- which is not too surprising ... considering New York is, after all, known as a concrete jungle.

Don't worry, no one was bit by the creature -- and as far we know, no squirrels were harmed during the game. Plus, the Yanks seemed to get some good mojo by it all ... going on to beat the O's, 6-5, in a walk-off thriller.

Go nuts, Yankees fans!!!

Deon Cole Jay & Bey Dropping $200M is Motivation ... Haters Gone Hate!!!

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LET THEM LIVE
TMZ.com

Jay-Z and Beyoncé can do whatever they please with their money, and anyone who has an issue with their new $200 million pad should try taking notes, instead of shots ... so says, Deon Cole.

We got the comedian out in NYC, where he had a message for all the naysayers calling their massive new Malibu mansion a gross exhibition of wealth.

As we first reported, the power couple dropped $200M in cash for the spectacular home -- and Deon's suggesting their haters quit critiquing, and get out into the world and achieve their own version of success.

He's realistic -- we can't all spend like the Carters, after all -- but the bigger point is, find your own level of success.

TMZ broke the story ... the couple purchased the 30,000-sq-ft estate from renowned art collector William Bell and set the record for the most expensive home ever sold in California. It sits on 8 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu's Paradise Cove neighborhood, aka Billionaires' Row.

As you know, they are still hanging on to their mansion in Bel-Air, which they snagged for $88M in 2017.

Deon's take on Jay and Bey's eye-popping real estate portfolio is ... they've worked hard to earn their coins, and can spend it however they'd like. He also notes, $200M is still a relative drop in the bucket, considering their collective wealth.

Forbes says Jay-Z is worth $2.5 billion, and Beyoncé's was estimated around $500 million. Of course, she also just kicked off her "Renaissance" tour, which is expected to gross over $1 billion.

So, while they can more than afford the new crib, DC does say for $200 mil, it better come with some amazing technology. Automated TP service, anyone?

Perhaps it does!😅

Wayne Gretzky Record-Setting Jersey Hits Auction ... From Final NHL Game

Brace yourself, hockey fans ... the last jersey NHL legend Wayne Gretzky wore during the final game of his historic career is being offered publicly for the first time, and the threads could be yours -- if you've got deep pockets!

TMZ Sports is told Gretzky's jersey -- which he had on in 1999 when he racked up his 2,857th point with an assist -- is now up for grabs at Grey Flannel Auctions.

Gretzky wore the jersey, which features his handwritten signature on the tag and the game date, "4-18-99", against the Penguins at Madison Square Garden, and although Wayne's Rangers team came up short, losing 2-1 in overtime, it was the "Great One's" emotional farewell that stole the night.

GFA says the iconic blue #99 jersey -- complete with the word "Rangers" on the front and "Gretzky" on the back -- shows signs of game use. John Rosasco, the Rangers' long-time Senior Vice President of Public Relations, authenticated the jersey with a letter to GFA.

Of course, Gretzky, who made 18 All-Star games, is widely considered the greatest hockey player of all time ... and one of the best athletes to ever play a sport.

Just how amazing was he?

Wayne, the only player to score over 2,000 points, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame just months after retiring ... after officials waved the usual 3-year waiting period. The NHL also retired number 99 leaguewide ... making WG the only player in the NHL to have achieved that honor.

Bidding has already started. Good luck!!

OG YouTuber 'Venetian Princess' 'Memba Her?!

OG YouTuber Jodie-Amy Rivera aka Venetian Princess was 23 years old when she first started making song parodies and reenactments of popular culture events on her YouTube channel back in 2007.

Some of her most viral vids include Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me, Just A Zombie", Lady Gaga's "Poker Face, Outer Space" (which has 60 million views), and Britney Spear's "Womanizer."

She also gained popularity with her series, "The Princess Chronicles"... known for its intricate editing, unique fashion, and transitional visual effects.

Venetian Princess was the #1 subscribed YouTuber in the world in 2009-2010.

Guess what she looks like now!

'American Idol' Winner Just Sam I'm Singing In NYC Subways Again ... Embarrassed, But I Need $$$

Former "American Idol" winner Samantha "Just Sam" Diaz is living a bad case of deja vu ... singing in New York City subways for money.

Just three years removed from winning "Idol" in 2020, the non-binary singer says they're back to showing off their pipes in subway stations ... making a living off the cash and coins folks leave in their donation box.

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SUBWAY SOUL
Instagram / @samanthadiaz

Just Sam is documenting the full circle moment on social media ... posting clips on Instagram showing themself covering different songs in NYC subway stations.

In a since-deleted caption, Sam says they were embarrassed to be reverting back to subway singing after winning the famous reality singing competition.

According to The Sun, Sam's deleted caption said, "Back in 2021, I was super embarrassed to be going back to the trains. I didn’t want people to know that I legit needed the money. I didn't want people to know that it wasn't optional. I was disappointed in myself for allowing myself to fall so low after winning Idol, but then I had to take it easy on me and remember that I started my journey with Idol at 20 years old."

Sam won "Idol" at the height of the pandemic, during a 2020 season that went remote midseason, and contestants performed while isolated. Sam beat out runner-up Arthur Gunn to win the show's 18th season.

While Sam's voice still sounds great, it's pretty sad to see them singing for straphangers.

SHAWN MENDES & CAMILA CABELLO Still Going Strong, Now in NYC ... After Coachella Reunion

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello are definitely giving their relationship a real second chance ... because they're still going strong after making out at Coachella.

Shawn and Camila were out for a coffee date Tuesday in New York City, holding hands and looking super happy as they strolled around the Big Apple.

The rendezvous comes a little over a month after we last saw Shawn and Camila together ... when they were holding hands in Santa Monica on the heels of their music festival hookup.

Remember ... Shawn and Camila started dating back in 2019 and they stuck together through the pandemic, even quarantining together.

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COACHELLA KISSES
BACKGRID

But, they broke up in November 2021, and there were plenty of rumors -- and some photos -- suggesting Shawn was moving on ... potentially with his chiropractor, Dr. Jocelyne Miranda.

That is until last month when the exes met up at Coachella and ended up kissing, hugging, and dancing in the desert.

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HAND-IN-HAND
Instagram/@jessicarendall

BTW, Dr. Miranda had a front-row seat for the couple's Coachella PDA ... so, that rumor looks like it was empty calories.

However, Shawn and Camila 2.0 is the real deal.

Aaron Rodgers I Love 'Jersey Shore' ... 'One Of The Greatest Shows!!!'

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JERSEY JETS
New York Jets

You knew Aaron Rodgers liked ayahuasca, darkness retreats, and crystals ... but did you know the quarterback got down with gym, tan, laundry, and T-shirt time too?!?

It's true ... the new NY Jets star admitted Tuesday out at organized team activities that he was, indeed, a superfan of "Jersey Shore."

In fact, the 39-year-old called it "one of the greatest shows" ever!!!

Rodgers' talk with reporters about the classic MTV hit all came about because he said he knew next to nothing about New Jersey prior to his trade from Green Bay -- outside of what he had seen Pauly D, Snooki, and The Situation get into on the NJ-based show.

"The only Jersey I kinda knew about besides Teterboro was 'Jersey Shore,'" Rodgers said with a laugh. "I was assured that was not a proper representation of this state."

Then he explained he couldn't have been a bigger consumer of the reality TV hit -- telling media members he had actually chastised his 30-year-old teammate, C.J. Uzomah, earlier in the day for not being aware of JWoww, Ronnie, Sammi Sweetheart, and all the other cast members who made the show legendary.

"I said 'How can you not watch the show?!'" Rodgers said.

Rodgers went on to say he was such a big supporter of it all, he used to go see Pauly D perform DJ sets in Las Vegas back in the day.

For now, Rodgers' focus is all on offseason workouts with his new team ... but there will be a lull coming soon just before training camp -- which means plenty of time to bring back the fist pumps?!?

Sanchezos Jeff Popped the Question in Spain!!!

Jeff Bezos clearly timed his big proposal to Lauren Sanchez to align with the maiden voyage of his spectacular superyacht and their grand arrival in the French Riviera ... because shortly after landing in Spain last week, he did the deed!!!

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Jeff pulled out the 20-carat sparkler on dry land, somewhere in Spain ... we believe either Ibiza or Mallorca. We're told the proposal was private -- just the 2 of them -- and boy, did they keep a secret for a few days.

Check out our gallery. Sanchezos arrived in Mallorca by private jet on May 15 and that's where they first boarded the ship.

They headed to Ibiza May 17 ... check out the photo -- she has a ring, but it's turned around so you can't see the enormous rock.

Fast forward to May 20, when the yacht pulled into French waters, where they headed to Antibes. This is the now-famous butt-slapping pic with the newly-engaged couple.

From there they headed the next day to Cannes, and this is where we see Lauren with her hand on the railing of the ship. The ring is impossible to miss.

As for why Lauren finally turned the ring so the rock was visible ... the secret was out once their guests arrived ... guests including her ex, Tony Gonzalez.

Sanchezos celebrated Monday night on dry land, looking very much in love and super swanky.

CONGRATS!!!

Odell Beckham Jr. Prosecutors Decline To Charge NFL Star ... Surveillance, Witness Contradicts Women's Story

Odell Beckham Jr. is off the hook in his assault case ... prosecutors said this week they will NOT hit him with criminal charges after concluding their investigation into the allegations against the NFL star.

The probe initially kicked off back in April -- after a woman alleged Beckham put his hand around her neck during an encounter at Delilah, a popular restaurant in Los Angeles.

The woman, according to law enforcement, claimed the 30-year-old Super Bowl champion went up to her and grabbed her throat with light pressure.

But, prosecutors said on Tuesday surveillance video from the lounge "contradicts the complaining witness' account of events."

"The video does not capture any battery," prosecutors added.

Officials also said there were no other witnesses who could corroborate the alleged victim's story ... explaining that even a friend of the complainant -- who they said was standing next to Beckham and the woman during the alleged incident -- did not see an assault take place.

According to prosecutors, there was simply "insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt."

As we reported, Beckham was adamant all along that he had done nothing wrong. The restaurant's owner, John Terzian, called the claims bogus as well.

Beckham can now turn his full attention toward performing for the Baltimore Ravens -- as he tries to return to the field for the first time since tearing his ACL in Super Bowl LVI.

Claudia Conway I'm a Playboy Bunny Now!!!

Claudia Conway -- daughter of Kellyanne Conway -- is taking up a new trade ... launching a career as an online Playboy model.

The famous brand made the announcement Wednesday from its official IG account with a photo of Claudia ... captioned, "Introducing your newest Bunny: @claudiamconway 🐰 See her exclusive content, only on @PlayboyCenterfold Subscribe at the link in stories..."

The DailyMail first reported ... 18-year-old daughter of Donald Trump's former advisor reportedly launched her account back in April, and so far, she's posted several photos posing in bikinis. Folks can also buy more risque online photos, like cleavage close-ups, with prices ranging from $5 to $99.

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CONWAY CHAOS
@claudiamconway / TikTok

Claudia, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, gained popularity from her TikToks and her tumultuous relationship with her mother.

The two have gotten into several on-camera spats, and Claudia has had no problem airing it all out online.

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IN A BETTER PLACE

As we told you, the mother-daughter duo has since been working on their relationship, and seem to be in a much better place now.

You'll recall, she auditioned for "American Idol" back in 2021 and shocked a ton of fans with her vocals, despite eventually getting eliminated.

Now though, seems like she's made an about-face from singing and is showing off a different side.

Kanye West Gap Sues For $2 Mil ... You Created Huge Mess!!!

Kanye West and Gap are still beefing in the wake of their failed partnership ... and now things are getting nasty in the form of a $2 million lawsuit.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Gap wants Kanye to foot the bill for any damages it might incur in a lawsuit it's facing ... because Gap feels Ye and his company are responsible for putting them in this mess.

As for that mess -- Gap is being sued by Art City Center, a company that says it owns a building in downtown L.A. that was leased to Gap as a storefront for Kanye's Yeezy clothing line.

Art City Center says the building underwent a ton of unapproved alterations when Gap was hawking the Yeezy collab in 2021 and 2022 ... and the company is suing Gap over the cost to restore the premises. So, Gap is, essentially, trying to pass that buck to Kanye.

In the suit, Gap says its contract with Kanye called for Gap to not be held liable for any claims like this that might be brought against them.

Gap is going after Kanye for more than $2 million ... which includes the amount the company thinks it's about to get dinged for over the Yeezy store -- plus a little extra for Gap's attorneys' fees, of course.

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GOIN' AFTER GAP
CNBC

As we reported ... Kanye pulled the plug on his partnership with Gap back in September, claiming the company double-crossed him with empty promises.

We reached out to Kanye's camp ... so far no word back.

For more on Kanye's new legal debacle, check out the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast available on all podcast platforms.

Damar Hamlin Puts In Work At Bills Practice ... Looks Sharp!!!

Damar Hamlin is continuing to make steps in his road to returning to NFL action -- on Tuesday, the defensive back got in some work at Bills practice ... and he looked GOOD!!!

Just over four months after he went into cardiac arrest on the field during a "Monday Night Football" game ... Hamlin was out at Buffalo's organized team activities -- and while he didn't fully participate in the practice, he still showed off some athleticism at the workout nonetheless.

According to reporters on the scene, Hamlin did some calisthenics with his teammates, got in some agility work ... and even hit some drills with his fellow DBs.

Video from the sidelines shows the guy doesn't appear to have lost a step at all since his Jan. 2 medical episode ... he caught the ball with ease and flashed some big-time burst.

Following the practice, Bills head coach Sean McDermott insisted Hamlin didn't do a whole lot on the field ... telling reporters they're taking things very slowly with the 25-year-old.

"We're taking it one day at a time and just support Damar in every way possible," McDermott said.

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ONE DAY AT A TIME
Buffalo Bills

For now, there's no public timetable for an official return to practices -- or games, for that matter -- for the Bills safety ... though docs have cleared him to play, and it seems like only a matter of time before he's got a helmet and shoulder pads strapped on.

That's a sight we're sure everyone -- not just Bills fans -- will be very happy to see once again.

Ron DeSantis Declaring Presidential Bid On Twitter with Elon

Ron DeSantis is making his presidential run official with the help of Elon Musk, jumping on the bird app with its owner to make the big announcement -- something the tech mogul is, no doubt, seeing as a MAJOR win.

TMZ has confirmed ... the current Florida Governor will join Elon in a Twitter spaces chat Wednesday to announce he is, indeed, throwing his hat in the 2024 presidential race.

Tech entrepreneur David Sacks will moderate the meeting, and DeSantis will drop his first campaign video around the same time.

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TUCKER RETURNS

As you know, Elon's been pushing to get Twitter to become more like mainstream TV ... after ex-FOX News host Tucker Carlson took to the platform earlier this month to say he'd be launching a "new version" of his show on Twitter ... which Elon quickly embraced.

Following Tucker's announcement, Elon called out Don Lemon -- who's also out of a gig -- to have him come over to the same app and start his own show ... digging at CNN's ratings by adding, "Maybe worth a try. Audience is much bigger."

Looks like Elon's tryin' hard to get as many eyes on his platform as possible, and if recent history is any indication ... politics is the perfect way to do that.

As for Gov. DeSantis, announcing on Twitter seems like a shot across the bow of Donald Trump's campaign ... as the ex-Prez used to be Commander-in-Chief of tweeting. Y'know, back before the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Ariana Madix Still Living in House with Tom ... 'Move' Was Staged for $$$

Ariana Madix is still living under the same roof as her ex-boyfriend, Tom Sandoval ... turns out her "move" out of their home was just a clever way for her to make some money off the "Scandoval."

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Ariana has NOT moved out, as it appeared yesterday, and that whole scene with her carrying boxes out of the house was sponsored content.

The "Vanderpump Rules" star pulled out all the stops Monday to make it look like she was moving out of the Valley Village home she shares with Tom ... she had a U-Haul truck parked in the driveway and she recruited some friends to help her move boxes.

Paparazzi snapped photos as Ariana smiled while carrying boxes labeled "finances" out of the house ... loading them in the U-Haul truck and a black SUV.

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ALL PACKED UP
Instagram / @arianamadix

Ariana even paused to relish the moment with an upbeat selfie video on Instagram, which she captioned, "ready to dip out 😏."

But, Ariana has since revealed the real truth behind it all -- she made subsequent posts, first hinting ... and then revealing she was in a bed with a finance company.

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"UP, NOT OUT"
Instagram / @arianamadix

In the ad, Ariana says ... "I'm moving up, not out. Well not yet at least. It's time to get my financial house in order. I will have more to share with you very very soon."

So, Ariana and Tom are still living in the home where they each own 50 percent of the property ... though they're sleeping in separate bedrooms and avoiding communication as much as possible in the wake of Tom's affair with their 'VPR' costar Raquel Leviss.