Paris Hilton Pride Month Celebration Show With Some Famous Pals!!!

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PARIS' HOT PARTY
BACKGRID

Paris Hilton has solidified herself as a world-famous DJ, and is now working to do the same as a vocalist ... kicking off Pride Month in her own very special way, with a live concert, featuring some of her super-famous pals.

The TV personality/entrepreneur hit the stage Wednesday at the Fonda Theatre in L.A. -- pumping out some fan favorites like 2006's "Stars Are Blind" during the sold-out show. Paris had a lot in store throughout the night, including special guests like Saweetie and Kim Petras.

What was equally impressive was her celeb guestlist ... Dylan Mulvaney, Elle Fanning, Tiffany Haddish, Will.i.am, Lance Bass, Sia, Winnie Harlow, Jessica Simpson's little sister Ashlee Simpson and her husband Evan Ross, trans influencer Gigi Gorgeous, RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 15 winner Sasha Colby and Jonathan “Foodgod” Cheban.

Paris' mom, Kathy Hilton, and some of her family members were also in attendance there to witness it all!

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After the concert she raved about the night on IG, saying ... "This show is truly such a dream come true. 💕 I am so grateful for all of the support and love I felt on stage, the energy from the crowd was absolutely electrifying ✨ It's always been a dream of mine to perform live and share this experience with my incredible fans, and I can't wait for my next show!!! 🌈 ✨ 🎤..."

Paris also raised money in helping to support the LGBTQ+ community ... with $1 of every ticket sale going to one of the largest advocacy groups, GLAAD.

'Vanderpump Rules' Reunion Finale Tom And Raquel Admit They're Still In Love ... Ariana Reacts With Disgust

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DEEP IN LOVE
Bravo

The "Vanderpump Rules" reunion reached its climactic conclusion Wednesday night as Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss professed their love for one another -- doing so right in front of Tom’s jilted ex Ariana Madix.

The dramatic sequence went down halfway through the third and final part of the 'VPR' Season 10 reunion when Bravo host Andy Cohen asked Raquel why she didn't slam the brakes on her affair with Tom.

Raquel said it was "almost impossible" to turn away from their relationship, prompting Andy to explore if she was in love with Tom at the time. After a tense moment, Raquel nodded and said, "Yeah."

Predictably, Ariana lost it and did some name-calling, but Raquel stayed composed and went on to admit she was still in love with Tom.

Andy then turned to Tom and questioned whether he had the same feelings for Raquel. Tom took a deep breath and thought about it for what felt like an eternity ... then he finally blurted out, “I’m sorry. Yes.”

Of course, Ariana reacted with disgust, labeling Tom and Raquel "grody" and their expressions of love as "the most pathetic thing I've ever heard." Earlier, Ariana promised to never see or speak to Raquel again after the reunion and compared her to an evil "Dementor" creature from the 'Harry Potter' films.

The other 'VPR' cast members -- Lala Kent, James Kennedy, Tom Schwartz and Lisa Vanderpump -- chimed in from time to time, but it was mostly the Tom, Ariana and Raquel show.

As for Scheana Shay, she watched the fireworks on TV from a nearby trailer because of Raquel's restraining order against her. That matter has since been resolved after Raquel dropped the whole thing.

Jay-Z Gets $7.2 Million Payment!!! Closes Parlux Perfume Saga

Jay-Z is at least $7 million richer than he was one day ago, and the money means he can finally put a more than 7-year-long legal battle behind him.

TMZ Hip Hop has learned Paralux Fragrances sent $7,259,061.31 to Jay's team on Wednesday -- that's what the company owed him after losing the lawsuit it filed, way back in January 2016, claiming the mogul hadn't lived up to promotional obligations for the cologne Gold Jay-Z.

As we reported, a jury ruled in favor of Jay more than a year ago, but Parlux had filed an appeal ... which it lost last week. As a result, the company was on the hook for the court-ordered amount of $6.8 million plus interest.

Here's a little perspective on how long the Parlux battle dragged on -- when the lawsuit was filed, Jay-Z was worth about $610 million, according to Forbes. Seven years later, he's more than quadrupled that!!!

While the $7 mil would be like hitting the lotto for most of us, it's a drop in the bucket for someone as successful as Jay.

TMZ broke the story ... he and Beyonce just paid $200 million -- CASH, no less -- for their new Malibu mansion. It's the most expensive real estate deal in California history, and the 2nd biggest in U.S. history, and on top of that, they also have a $100 million Bel-Air home.

So, when it's all said and done, $7.2 mil should cover their steep L.A. County property taxes ... for about a year.

Don Lemon CNN Return Wouldn't Be Surprise After Chris Licht Firing

Don Lemon might be able to make a return to CNN after the firing of former CEO Chris Licht ... as folks in Don's world would not be surprised if the network reaches out in the near future.

Sources familiar tell TMZ ... the potential reversal of fortune wouldn't be shocking due to the well-documented and long-standing tensions between Chris and Don.

As we reported, Chris took over as CNN's head honcho in May 2022 and clashed with Don many times about things Don said on-air, as well as an outfit choice Don made for the premiere of "CNN This Morning."

You'll recall, Don claimed he was completely blindsided by his April termination after 17 years with CNN, coyly saying ... "It is clear that there are some larger issues at play."

Many insiders saw that as a not-so-subtle way of saying Licht was fighting for his own job. Obviously, it's been less than a day since his ouster, so none of the execs at CNN have reached out to Don or his people just yet.

What's more, Amy Entelis, CNN's Executive VP for Talent and Content Development, has been tapped as one of the network's interim leaders, and she's someone Don's been close with for nearly 15 years.

Meanwhile, Don's doing exactly what he said he would ... taking the summer off from work, but we're told he's still entertaining all meetings, and is open to hearing out all options.

Never say never.

Sgt. Slaughter Emotional Over Iron Sheik's Death ... 'I Love You Forever'

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IT FUELED THE FIRE
TMZSports.com

"I love you, Sheik. I love you forever."

That's Sgt. Slaughter on the death of his rival turned stable partner, and most importantly close friend, The Iron Sheik ... who passed away at the age of 81 on Wednesday.

TMZ Sports talked to the WWE Hall of Famer about his friend's passing ... from Sheik's impact on the sport (and some of its biggest stars like Hulk Hogan) to how they met decades ago.

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SHEIK'S LEGACY
TMZSports.com

"I met [Sheik] when he was going through the training camp in Minnesota with Verne Gagne, along with Ric Flair," Slaughter explained, talking about his first interaction in the 1970s with the Iranian-born wrestler.

FYI, Gagne was a trainer and promoter who ran the Minneapolis-based American Wrestling Association (AWA).

Sgt. says he became fast friends with Sheik and the guys even worked together at his dad's roofing company.

The Iron Sheik was one of the greatest heels pro wrestling has ever seen and, although he was playing a character, fans take this seriously. We asked Slaughter if the hate ever got to Sheik.

"Never difficult [on Sheik]. It fueled the fire. It just fueled the fire," the HOF told us.

Slaughter also talked about Sheik's love for his family -- his wife and kids.

"He was a character. I was a character. But we both had families and we loved our families."

Tragically, Sheik lost one of his daughters in the early 2000s ... and despite missing his friend, Sgt. Slaughter, fighting back tears, says he's happy knowing he'll finally be reunited with his child.

"God bless him. He's finally gonna see his daughter that he lost. Love you Sheik. Love you forever."

We discussed The Iron Sheik's legacy in a recent episode of the Last Days Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Dr. Abby On 'ER' 'Memba Her?!

American actress Maura Tierney was in her mid-30s when she first started playing the role of Dr. Abby -- the once modest nurse who evolves into a confident doctor -- on the medical drama series "ER" back in 1999.

Tierney shared the screen with Noah Wyle as the ambitious medical student, John Carter, Laura Innes as well-accomplished doctor Kerry Weaver and throwin' it back to his big break ... George Clooney as the devoted pediatrics physician, Doug Ross.

Maura also played the role of Lisa Miller on the sitcom "News Radio" in the late '90s.

Guess what she looks like now!

'VANDERPUMP RULES' REUNION Ariana Rages at Raquel ... 'F*** Yourself with a F***ing Cheese Grater'

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NO HOLDING BACK
Bravo

Ariana Madix coming face-to-face with Raquel Leviss is absolutely bonkers ... and the f-bomb-heavy rant over the affair with Tom Sandoval finally plays out on tonight's "Vanderpump Rules" reunion finale.

In a preview of the episode, Ariana and Raquel argue back and forth about the 'Scandoval' before Ariana explodes ... "You had already f***ed him at that point so shut the f*** up!"

It doesn't end there ... Ariana gives Raquel this very graphic piece of advice, "Go f*** yourself with a f***ing cheese grater. F*** you. You f***ing suck."

Tom tries to defend Rachel Raquel saying, "We don't live our lives by logic," and that sets off wild laughter in his face from nearly the entire cast.

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TRASHING TOM
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Round 3 of the 3-part reunion seems to pick up right where it left off ... you''ll recall, Tom got roasted by his castmates over his affair, and clearly they have a lot more to say to him and his partner in crime.

Expect both of them to play the role of piñatas for the rest of the show. Hopefully, Andy Cohen doesn't have too much trouble with the clean-up.

We covered the 'Vanderpump Rules' drama in a recent episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Bam Margera Released From Psych Hold ... Headed to Lamar's Rehab

Bam Margera is headed in the right direction ... getting released from a psychiatric hospital, and going straight into treatment at Lamar Odom's rehab center.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ the former "Jackass" star was released from a psych hospital Wednesday, and Lamar was there to greet him as he exited the facility. We're told Bam is now in detox at one of Lamar's locations before he heads to rehab at another spot owned by the former NBA star.

Lamar's been insistent on helping Bam for weeks, and even visited him in the hospital Tuesday to offer Bam treatment at one of his Odom Wellness Treatment Centers.

Bam's motivating factor in getting clean is definitely his young son, Phoenix, who he hasn't been able to see much during his battles with substance abuse.

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EXTENDING THE INVITE
TMZ.com

TMZ broke the story, cops in L.A. tracked Bam to a Trejo's Tacos location over the weekend and placed him on a 5150 psychiatric hold. There was growing concern Bam was not only a danger to himself, but to others as well -- especially given the fact he threatened to end his life if he couldn't see his son.

We were also the first to tell you when Lamar opened his 3 treatment facilities -- Gold Bridge Addiction Center in Louisburg, KS, Wavelengths in Huntington Beach, and Project West in San Diego.

Here's to a successful road to recovery for Bam.

Pat Casey T.J. Lavin, BMX World Pay Tribute ... After Tragic Death

The BMX community is devastated after rider Pat Casey's shocking death on Tuesday ... with stars like T.J. Lavin, Daniel Dhers and more sharing their condolences.

29-year-old Casey passed away after crashing his motorcycle while attempting a ramp jump at Slayground Motocross Park near Ramona, CA which is owned by X Games gold medalist Axell Hodges.

Police and fire responded around 2:45 PM and attempted life-saving measures ... but unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is now under investigation.

Lavin, MTV's "The Challenge" host, shared a touching tribute to Casey ... saying, "The world lost one of the baddest to ever do it. I’m so sorry for his wife and kids."

"@patcaseybmx will forever be remembered for the down to earth sweetheart of a guy that he was. #bmxfamily."

Dhers also shared a pic of Casey with the caption, "Descansa en paz Pat."

6-time X Games gold medalist Kyle Baldock gave a heartfelt farewell ... adding, "I can’t believe I’m writing this, today we lost an Icon! Pat thank you for blessing all of us with your kind and loving personality."

"You are the toughest person I have ever met, we have been friends since ASA days which is like 10 years ago and you always have inspired me to go harder. We all will miss you so much it doesn’t seem real."

"I love you bro and my thoughts are with your whole family and friends. Rest Easy Pat ❤️❤️"

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The X Games also posted ... saying, "We are deeply saddened by Pat Casey’s passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, children, parents and siblings."

"A true legend in the action sports community, Pat will always be a member of the X Games family and an inspiration to everyone’s life he touched."

Pat had a decorated career ... going pro at just 14 years old. He was known for nailing and creating tricks that many thought were impossible.

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Pat is survived by his wife, Chase, and their two children.

RIP.

Tupac Gets Star on Walk of Fame ... Sister Gives Teary Tribute

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FULFILLING HIS DREAM
Walk Of Fame

Late rap icon Tupac Shakur has officially been honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ... and the occasion brought out his fam, friends and everlasting supporters.

Tupac's sister Sekyiwa Shakur held back tears as she addressed the massive crowd Wednesday while speaking on her brother's accomplishments ... summing up his legacy as one filled with passion and perseverance.

Fans and friends -- including YG, Mike Epps, Naughty By Nature's Treach, and ceremony MC Big Boy -- completely shut down part of Hollywood Blvd to pay their respects to Tupac, who is still hailed as one of the best rappers of all time.

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Tupac was previously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 and has a pair of Diamond albums to go along with his 75 million records sold and the Hollywood star simply dots the "i" in Thug Life!!!

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ALWAYS BEEN A STAR
TMZ.com

News of Tupac's star traveled all the way to the East Coast -- TMZ Hip Hop caught up with beatboxing legend Doug E. Fresh, who told us the "Dear Mama" rapper was a star on Earth so he deserves the honor tenfold!!!

Blueface Arrested in Court Cops Say He's Involved in Vegas Robbery

Blueface is in hot water with the law yet again, this time showing up to court for one issue and getting arrested for another ... after police claim he was involved in an alleged robbery.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, BF was taken into police custody Wednesday and charged with a felony. As for why he was in court in the first place, he was supposed to have a preliminary hearing for his attempted murder charges.

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SLAMMED INTO THE WALL
TMZ.com

TMZ broke that story ... BF was arrested back in November after prosecutors claimed he discharged a firearm into a house, building, vehicle or craft. In the new case, the alleged robbery was a direct violation of the stipulations the court placed on him after that case.

The rapper's attorneys, Lisa Rasmussen and Kristina Wildeveld tell us they're currently in the dark on the specifics behind the new arrest, but say, "We look forward to vigorously defending him on both cases."

Attorney Ben Crump Ajike Owens Shooting Was Murder ... Says Manslaughter Charge Too Light

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A TERROR TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
TMZ.com

The white woman who shot and killed her Black neighbor -- a mother of 4 -- is getting off easy when it comes to charges ... so says attorney Ben Crump and the victim's mother, who both say race is very much a factor.

Crump and Pamela Dias joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live," to reveal everything that led up to Friday's tragedy. Police say 58-year-old Susan Louise Lorincz opened fire through her front door, killing 35-year-old Ajike Owens, who was knocking on the door to defend her kids.

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SUSPECT ARRESTED

Lorincz was arrested Tuesday night, and charged with 2 counts of assault, battery, culpable negligence, and manslaughter. That last charge is offensive to Pamela, as she firmly believes her daughter was murdered.

Crump pointed out prosecutors still have the discretion to upgrade the charges against Lorincz, and he says that's warranted in this case.

Pamela and Ben claim Lorincz has been tormenting neighborhood kids -- including Ajike's -- for years about an open field where they play. They say her anger was completely unwarranted as Lorincz didn't own the land, which is adjacent to her apartment.

Perhaps most tragically, Pamela says 2 of her grandkids witnessed their mother get shot.

And, Crump says he has no doubt racism is a critical factor in this case -- he claims Lorincz has hurled epithets and insults at kids on previous occasions.

Right now, Pamela says she's focused on trying to give her 4 grandchildren as much normalcy as possible, but also realizes her family will never be the same again after the brutal slaying of her daughter, Ajike.

MLB Postpones Yankees & Phillies Games ... Over Wildfire Smoke

UPDATE

1:41 PM PT -- The MLB just postponed the Yankees vs White Sox game over the air quality. The league also said it's rescheduling the Phillies vs. Tigers game at Citizens Bank Park too.

UPDATE

"These postponements were determined following conversations throughout the day with medical and weather experts and all of the impacted Clubs regarding clearly hazardous air quality conditions in both cities," the league said.

UPDATE

Both games will now be made up on Thursday.

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SMOKY STANDS
Newsday

Yankees and White Sox fans might have to wait another day to watch their teams play ... TMZ Sports has confirmed the MLB is considering postponing Wednesday's game due to smoke coming from ongoing wildfires in Canada.

A spokesperson for the league tells us ... the contest between the two squads is still on for now, but if the conditions get worse or become too dangerous for the players and fans, they will postpone the game.

The rep also told us the league is communicating with health and weather experts ... and will make a decision based on their recommendations.

As you know, smoky conditions from the Canadian fires have dramatically affected the air quality in NYC (and the Northeast), prompting the National Weather Service to warn residents that the air quality is "unhealthy."

In fact, video shot from inside Yankee Stadium earlier Wednesday shows the venue and the sky above it were hardly recognizable.

An MLB postponement due to air quality is not unprecedented ... back in Sept. 2020, the Mariners vs. Giants game in Seattle was moved after wildfire smoke had seriously impacted the Pacific Northwest.

The Yanks-Sox game is currently slated to go down at 7:05 PM ET. The two -- who played their series opener in New York on Tuesday night -- are scheduled to wrap up their three-game set on Thursday.

Originally Published -- 12:53 AM PT

'Vanderpump Rules' Tom Schwartz I'm Taking a Break from Sandoval ... Haven't Spoken to Him!!!

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KEEPING MY DISTANCE
When Reality Hits with Jax and Brittany / Podcast One

Tom Schwartz seemed to be one of the only folks sticking by Tom Sandoval's side in the wake of the affair but now, even he's taking a step away ... saying he hasn't seen or spoken to his pal in a while.

The "Vanderpump Rules" star was on Wednesday's episode of "When Reality Hits with Jax and Brittany", and he got candid about where things stand with his longtime buddy and business partner ... now that the whole 'Scandoval' has hit the fan.

Schwartz tells the hosts, he pretty much felt caught in the middle of the entire thing and became an "unfortunate confidant" for Sandoval while he was having an affair ... but that's no longer the case.

He made it clear, he feels super-exploited by someone he called a friend ... adding, he hasn't seen or spoken to Sandoval in quite some time. Schwartz says he still loves Sandoval but the bottom line is, he can't support what he did.

It doesn't sound like the Toms are on great terms right now ... because Schwartz flat-out says Sandoval made a huge mess and needs to take more accountability for his actions. He also added, Sandoval needs to drop his ego and apologize without making up excuses.

As you know, Sandoval has come under fire since word got out he was cheating with his girlfriend of 10 years, Ariana Madix, with their friend/costar Raquel Leviss.

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A MIDLIFE CRISIS
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Up until this point, Schwartz was one of the few people to maintain a friendship with Sandoval ... despite other castmates pressuring him to cut him off.

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TIMELINE TROUBLE
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You'll recall, things got super messy when the other 'VPR' stars found out Schwartz may have known more about the affair than he led on.

Now though, he's picking a side and he's making it super clear.

The Iron Sheik Wrestling Legend Dead At 81

Wrestling legend The Iron Sheik, a former heavyweight champ and WWE Hall of Famer, has died at the age of 81, reps for the wrestler announced.

"Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling. It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik, but we also take solace in knowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come," a statement on his social media page read.

Sheik, real name Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, was born in Iran in 1942 and was known as one of the biggest heels to ever step foot in the squared circle. He was also a former champ, beating Bob Backlund in 1983 and securing the title.

The Iron Sheik was one of Hulk Hogan's first rivals ... and it was Hogan who ultimately defeated Sheik for the belt, giving rise to Hulkamania.

Sheik was also a WWF Tag Team champion, winning the strap with Nikolai Volkoff in 1985.

In 2005, Sheik was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Sgt. Slaughter, longtime rival and former partner.

World Wrestling Entertainment released a statement on his passing, saying "WWE is saddened to hear of the passing of WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik, and extends its condolences to his family, friends, and fans."

The Rock posted a heartfelt tribute to Sheik, recounting a story back when he was a rookie wrestler.

Booker T also weighed in, offering condolences, writing, "My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of @the_ironsheik. He is one of the very best to ever to do it. God speed."

Actor Ken Jeong also shared a personal interaction he had with Sheik ... saying, "Will never forget when @the_ironsheik checked in at the start of the pandemic. Rest in peace, and much love to his family."

In true Sheik fashion, the last tweet sent from his account, just hours before his passing, was "F*** THE WILDFIRES"

Sheik is survived by his wife of 47 years, Caryl, and his children.

R.I.P.

We discussed The Iron Sheik's legacy in a recent episode of the Last Days Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Justin Bieber Dad Posts Offensive LGBTQ Message ... 'Thank a Straight Person'

UPDATE

9:39 AM PT -- Jeremy Bieber just offered up a half-assed apology, writing, "Acknowledging the nuclear family is offensive? My apologies to those offended. Was not my intent. Not that my opinion matters."

UPDATE

Justin Bieber's dad, Jeremy, is letting everybody know exactly how he feels about Pride Month, posting dismissive messages about the celebrations happening this June.

Jeremy, who has children with 3 different women, took to Twitter Wednesday to post a meme of a Pride flag and the message, "Don't forget to thank a straight person this month for your existence."

The meme comes on the heels of his posting Monday, which read, "We need to celebrate families. U know the reason we’re all here! The things this generation glorifies is unbelievable!"

Jeremy's messaging is pretty clear ... he's not about celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, and Justin's fans have certainly let him have it with their responses.

One wrote, "Don't forget to thank Justin Bieber this month for your paid bills" another said, "Yes! thanks straight man, who left your woman at the time raising your child alone. You are definitely the best person to something about family, respect and love."

Jeremy had Justin with Pattie Mallette when the two were 18 and split shortly after. Pattie raised Justin on her own with the help of her own parents ... though Justin and Jeremy maintained a relationship as he got older.

Of course, Jeremy's posts come on the heels of heightened tension and anti-LGBTQ legislation over the past several months. As we reported, a brawl broke out in California last night as a school board met to discuss including LGBTQ curriculum.

We covered it all in the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Originally Published -- 7:21 AM PT