Lil Baby Come Sea Me in ATL!!! Seafood Restaurant Opens

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GRAND OPENING

Lil Baby is officially a restaurateur now, after cutting the ribbon on his own Seafood Menu Restaurant & Lounge in his hometown!!!

The Quality Control rapper was flanked by a huge audience of supporters as Atlanta City Councilman Byron Amos commended Baby for opening the establishment in his old neighborhood ... which, if you're in the ATL, is located at 880 M.L.K. Jr Dr. SW.

Baby was holding his son Loyal and nodded as others received their credit for enduring the construction obstacles that delayed and threatened the restaurant's creation.

Baby's said to have been inspired by many restaurants' resilience to stay open during the trying times of the pandemic and created a spot custom to his tastes.

Baby and his partner Chad Dillon intentionally want to disrupt the local scene, and the restaurant's hook is its 7 unique custom sauces, with Baby particularly raving about the Caribbean jerk.

Putting food for thought like tax education in his rhymes has been Baby's m.o. as of late ... and now it's putting food on the plate!!!

Raquel Leviss Out Of Mental Health Facility ... Astronomical Bill

Raquel Leviss has been out of the mental facility she called home for 2 months, and the bill is staggering.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Raquel checked into The Meadows in Arizona where she underwent intensive therapy for 2 months.

As for the bill ... our sources say $200,000.

There were lots of folks who never believed she was ever in a mental health facility, but the reality for this reality star ... she was.

She's been out for a week and has been holed up in a friend's house, and is uneasy about venturing out. One source who has spent time with her in the last week tells TMZ, "She is like a totally different person."

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DEEP IN LOVE
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She planned on heading to the facility before taping the explosive "Vanderpump Rules" reunion episode, but chose to wrap up the season before heading there.

A rep for Raquel told us she wasn't going to the center for any sort of rehab, but "rather mental health and trauma therapy." Of course, Raquel's taken quite the beating, both online and on the show, over her and Tom's affair.

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STOP THE HATE
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Lisa Vanderpump told us folks should probably back off  ... especially considering Raquel's call to check herself in.

Scheana Shay -- who Raquel claimed attacked her in the midst of Scandoval -- spoke out, too ... with her lawyer telling us, "We obviously recognize mental health is an important issue and wish Rachel all the best in her recovery, but we’d also like her to own up to her false allegations and publicly come out and acknowledge that she lied."

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SETTIN' 'EM STRAIGHT
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Raquel's former 'VPR' costars -- namely Peter Madrigal and Dayna Kathan -- shared doubts about the seriousness of her mental health treatments ... but Tom called them out, reassuring folks this is the real deal.

The reality series also jumped into filming its latest season last month without Raquel ... but sources told us her team's been in negotiations with Bravo and production to talk about a new contract.

SAG-AFTRA PREZ FRAN DRESCHER Studios Dragged Feet Before Strike ... Public Has Power Now!!!

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WE WILL GET WHAT WE WANT
TMZ.com

Fran Drescher is ripping Hollywood studios, saying their negotiation strategy was all a ploy to have extra time to promote upcoming blockbusters.

We got the actress and President of SAG-AFTRA on Friday's picket line outside Netflix HQ, and she said the studios duped the union leading up to Thursday's strike.

Fran says her union was sincere in extending the strike deadline 12 days in hopes to avoid a nasty standoff ... but she's convinced the studios weren't negotiating in good faith and only wanted to use the extension to hold premieres for some upcoming flicks, like "Barbie."

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SAG-AFTRA ON STRIKE
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Fran's not holding back ... ripping the studios' negotiating tactics as "thoughtless, insensitive and not compassionate." She says they straight-up don't care about the actors who make this whole industry go forward.

As we reported, Fran went nuclear Thursday in announcing the strike ... the union's first walkout in 43 years, with actors joining already striking writers on the picket lines.

Fran sees an end to the standoff, even though she has said both sides are far apart ... telling us the public has the power to make this whole thing go away.

The way Fran sees it ... public opinion and the way people spend their money will dictate a lot of the outcome, and she's asking folks to stand tall with the folks in front of the cameras to give them some leverage against the studios and their CEOs.

Fran's really fired up ... and this has all the makings of a nasty fight in Hollywood.

Kevin Costner Estranged Wife Can't Remove Art, Appliances or Furniture ... Without Kevin's Consent

Kevin Costner's estranged wife Christine Baumgartner better think twice before removing a sofa or fridge from the family home, because we've learned a judge has just laid down the law.

The judge in the bitter divorce case just issued a ruling this morning -- Christine is permitted to remove and take all her clothing, toiletries, handbags and jewelry when she vacates the family beach club compound at the end of this month, but she shall NOT remove any other property without coming to an agreement with Kevin.

Among the things Christine can't take on her own ... furniture, furnishings, appliances and artwork. She also can't take it upon herself to remove items from their storage units.

TMZ broke the story ... Kevin claimed in legal docs Christine has been fleecing him by taking Kevin's property and cash post-split without his consent.

Among the things, he alleged ... Christine bought a fancy new car a month before she filed for divorce. Kevin's lawyer says it's curious because they only leased cars, and the lawyer believes Christine hatched a plan to get various items and cash even before she filed.

We're told Kevin's MO is to honor the prenup both he and Christine signed, and he's frustrated she and her lawyers are challenging that document at every turn.

Golden Retrievers 450+ Gather in Scotland ... Adorable Family Meet-Pup!

If this doesn't make ya smile, nothing will today -- more than 450 golden retrievers are romping around a single Scottish estate for the cutest stinkin' family reunion you'll ever see!!!

Loads of the fluffy and distant relatives shook paws at the Guisachan Estate Thursday -- all posing for a photo op in front of the ruins of a home where the breed originated.

This is where Sir Dudley Marjoribanks bred the first-ever golden retriever way back in 1868.

The huge gathering came after a week of workshops, discussions, and demonstrations, all put on by The Golden Retriever Club of Scotland ... with the goal of keeping folks informed on the background of the popular breed.

Marjoribanks, later known as Lord Tweedmouth, created the dog by breeding a water spaniel and a wavy-coated retriever ... with historians claiming the animals would be given out to family and close friends in the early years of its creation.

One thing's for sure, the guy sure knew how to make a damn cute dog!

'Teen Mom 2' Nathan Griffith Sister Says He Strangled Her ... Allegedly Threatened Suicide During Vegas Arrest

Horrifying details surrounding the arrest of "Teen Mom 2" star Nathan Griffith ... allegedly strangling his own sister before making suicidal statements.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, Griffith's sister called Vegas cops Wednesday night to report the incident. Officers say when they arrived, Nathan was outside the home yelling, saying he never touched his sister ... he also allegedly smelled like booze.

However, when cops made contact with Griffith's sister, they observed visible red marks on her neck and redness on her eyelids -- indicative of someone who had been strangled.

Cops say Nathan's sister was scared and frantic as she described what happened -- alleging Nathan got pissed when she called him out for his aggressive past with his family and significant others.

The sister says Nathan grabbed her by the throat, pushed her down onto the kitchen floor and got on top of her -- releasing his grip at times to give her some oxygen before tightening his grip again -- while allegedly stating, "You're going to submit to me."

The claims and evidence were good enough for officers ... who arrested Nathan for battery by strangulation.

However, they say during transport Nathan was banging his head into a rear window and making suicidal statements ... and screaming and yelling while he was booked.

Nathan and Jenelle Evans have one child together, a son, but called off their engagement years ago.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Leonardo DiCaprio Fun in London ... Maya Jama, Neelam Gill Nearby 👀

Leonardo DiCaprio knows how to keep the model rumor mill in high gear -- his fun night out in London had him in close quarters with Maya Jama and Neelam Gill -- 2 women to whom he's already been linked.

Here's the deal ... Thursday night Leo hit up the Chiltern Firehouse -- it's kinda his HQ in London -- for the Vogue x Self Portrait party, and he brought along his mom Irmelin Indenbirken, who was no doubt having a blast.

But, Maya and Neelam were also in the building while LD was partying, and while there's no photo evidence they hung out, it certainly wouldn't be giving "strangers" vibes if they bumped into one another.

All 3 were at the Chiltern back in February as well, for Leo's pre-BAFTAs party, and Maya -- the "Love Island" host -- also went to the same BAFTA after-party as him.

Maya also was spotted wearing a "Leo" necklace, which made fans go nuts over the implications -- but she denied any connection, saying on social media it's just her zodiac sign.

As for Neelam ... we're told the British model is dating one of Leo's friends, so that's why they keep ending up at the same events.

She was spotted grabbing dinner with Leo and his pal, Tobey Maguire, in Paris last month -- and she even was at, you guessed it, the Chiltern, in May ... leaving right behind Leo and Irmelin.

Of course, Leo's been linked to countless models this year alone ... but it still doesn't look like the dude's ready to settle down.

Gilgo Beach Murders Suspected Serial Killer In Custody

There's been a breakthrough in the Gilgo Beach murders case ... a suspected serial killer is now in police custody on Long Island.

Rex Heuermann, an architect from Long Island who works at a firm in New York City, was taken into custody Friday in connection with some of the killings from over a decade ago ... according to multiple reports.

You may recall, the Gilgo Beach murders case started capturing national attention way back in 2010 ... when police discovered four bodies wrapped in burlap during a search for Shannan Gilbert, a sex worker who vanished on Long Island.

The bodies, known as the "Gilgo Four," were ultimately identified as Amber Lynn Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman and Melissa Barthelemy. The woman were all reportedly sex workers in their 20s.

Police have long believed a serial killer was responsible for the women's deaths ... but the investigation never really turned up much over the years, until Friday's arrest.

In total, 11 sets of human remains have been found on Gilgo Beach ... including Gilbert's and those of Valerie Mack, a sex worker who had been missing for over 2 decades ... plus a man and a toddler.

Heuermann was arrested after being matched with DNA, according to the New York Post, and he's expected to be arraigned later today.

Police have cordoned off Heuermann's home in Massapequa ... and the place is crawling with law enforcement.

The district attorney is set to address the arrest around 4 PM ET Friday during a news conference.

Stay tuned ...

Gustavo Badell Star Bodybuilder Dead At 50 ... Went Head-To-Head W/ Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler

Bodybuilder Gustavo "the Freakin' Rican" Badell -- who faced off against some of the greatest bodybuilders of all time and twice finished third in the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition, has sadly died at the age of 50.

Details surrounding the death are currently unclear.

Fellow competitor and friend Eddie Abbew confirmed the news on Thursday ... and shared photos of the men together during their bodybuilding careers.

"I woke up this morning to information that Gustavo has passed away. My heart goes out to his family and friends," Abbew wrote.

"Gustavo was ten years younger than me. It is always sad when a young person is taken away long before their time. Rest in peace Gustavo and know that you will be missed."

Badell started his bodybuilding career when he was 19 and won his first competition in 1991 at the Junior Caribbean Bodybuilding Championship.

He went on to compete in many huge competitions, including the Atlantic City Pro, which he won, the Ironman Pro, Arnold Classic, and the World Pro Championships.

His most iconic moments came in 2004 and 2005 when he finished third at Mr. Olympia, right behind bodybuilding G.O.A.T.'s Ronnie Coleman (8 consecutive Olympia titles) and Jay Cutler (won 4 Olympias).

After retiring in 2012, Badell continued to stay in shape ... and was still involved in the fitness community, often interacting with fans online.

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It's no surprise hundreds of fans paid tribute on Badell's IG page ... with one writing, "I'm very sorry Gustavo, you surpassed us, your legacy and passion will stay forever. Rest in Peace."

Britney Spears Undecided On Recording Audio Version ... For 'Woman in Me' Memoir

Britney Spears has a big recording decision to make -- not about new music, but about whether she will personally read the audio version of her upcoming memoir.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Britney remains undecided on doing the audio portion of "The Woman In Me," though it's unclear why she hasn't made a decision either way.

One theory floated to us -- Britney might simply feel it's too much to record all 288 pages of her life story.

The clock is ticking, though ... the memoir is set to be released Oct. 24, and there's already huge demand for the book -- it's among Amazon's best sellers based solely on pre-orders.

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BRITNEY'S BIO
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Our sources say Britney's team is scrounging up a list of names for possible candidates in case she decides against recording it herself.

Meanwhile, we're told her manager, Cade Hudson, is in Mexico right now with Britney where they're trying to reach a decision.

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SLAP HAPPY
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Remember, Britney recently finished the book, and was in Las Vegas to celebrate her accomplishment when the Victor Wembanyama slapping incident happened ... and we know she's still fuming about that.

So, that might be a factor in her decision too.

Future Appears To Diss Russell Wilson ... With 'F*** Russell' Lyric

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TAKIN' SHOTS AT RUSSELL

Time apparently doesn't heal all wounds for Future ... 'cause the rapper just seemingly dissed the hell outta Russell Wilson in his latest song.

The Atlanta M.C. dropped the controversial bar in his "Turn Yo Clic Up" collab with Quavo on Friday ... rapping in his verse, "I got it out the field, f*** Russell."

Future hasn't shied away from his thoughts on his ex-fiancée and mother of his child, Ciara, moving on with the NFL quarterback ... going in on the now-married couple multiple times in interviews.

Remember, Future Hendrix bashed Ciara for having Russell around Future Jr. early in their relationship ... telling "The Breakfast Club" in 2015, "You don't bring a man around your son."

"You've known this man for a few months and you're bringing him around your kid? Who does that?"

He later went in on Russell in 2019 ... saying he's not a real man in their relationship.

"He not telling her, 'Chill out with that on the internet. Don't even talk to him. I'm your husband. You better not even bring Future's name up!" he said on Apple Music.

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"If that was me, she couldn't even bring his name up. She know that. She couldn't even bring her exes names up."

Russell and Ciara have been married since 2016 ... and they have two kids of their own.

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QB IN TRAINING

Wilson has since become a father figure for Future Jr. as well ... even spending a lot of time working on their football skills together.

Russell doesn't seem bothered by Future's constant gripes -- this past Father's Day, he said, "Future, Sienna & Win ... I Love You Forever! Glad we get to raise them together Momma! @ciara."

Dylan Mulvaney Surfaces Back in U.S. for Event ... After Vacation In Peru to 'Feel Safe'

Dylan Mulvaney is back on U.S. soil after leaving for Peru "to feel safe" from all the Bud Light backlash ... posing for pics with all worries seemingly behind her at an L.A. film festival.

The transgender influencer -- dressed in a sheer striped top -- popped up Thursday at Outfest, an LGBTQ+ film festival at the Orpheum Theater ... showing up for the screening of "Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe."

Dylan's not in the flick, but it's directed by trans filmmaker Aitch Alberto -- marking the first time in Outfest's 41 years projects made by trans artists have both opened and closed the festival, so it's a pretty big deal.

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PEACE IN PERU

If you haven't been following along, Dylan's resurfacing comes after she took a solo trip to Peru to do some healing ... shedding light on how messed up she felt it was she had to leave her native country just to feel safe.

Remember, folks went into a frenzy after Dylan and Bud Light partnered up for some promotion, with Anheuser-Busch reportedly losing more than $27 billion amid the outrage.

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LEFT HIGH & DRY

Dylan later claimed the company didn't have her back when a slew of hate came her way ... although, a spokesperson for AB said it is committed to the partnerships it's forged over the years -- including the LGBTQ+ community.

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

'Wicked' Movie Cast & Crew Go 'Poof' From Set ... Who'll Mourn The Wicked??

There's nothing but an empty set behind the wizard's curtain on the set of "Wicked" ... looking more like a ghost town as the SAG-AFTRA strike begins.

The Buckinghamshire village that Universal transformed into some vibrant sets for the Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo-led musical has become a dreamland for the cast and crew hard at work on the production ... but as the actors' strike went into effect Friday morning, the hundreds of cast and crew are nowhere to be found.

FYI, this movie has been brewin' since first announced back in 2016 -- obviously COVID was a big setback, but things were finally moving smoothly for the blockbuster before the strike.

HBO's "House of the Dragon" is also a project that's shooting overseas, but while that production's still going forward, don't think that makes the stars a bunch of scabs.

For those unaware, the actors in the 'GoT' prequel operate under the UK's local union, Equity -- which has strict rules against striking in solidarity with other unions like SAG-AFTRA.

"Wicked" is slated to come out next November ... but who knows if the team will be able to defy the gravity of the strike in time for its release.

We covered the SAG-AFTRA strike on the latest episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

SAG Prez Fran Drescher Hits Back At Criticism Over Kim K Selfie, Italy Trip

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I NEED TO WORK
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Fran Drescher is clapping back against criticism she hung out with Kim Kardashian at a publicity event in Italy amid contract negotiations between actors and studios.

The President of SAG-AFTRA addressed the controversy -- specifically a 'selfie' she took with Kim K --  during a press conference Thursday announcing thousands of actors were going on strike while bringing all TV and film production to a grinding halt.

Drescher insisted, "That wasn’t a selfie," adding, "I’m a brand ambassador for a fashion company and so is Kim. I had only met Kim seconds before that publicity picture was taken."

Fran continued, "It had nothing to do with being at a party or having fun – it was absolute work … We work, that’s what we do."

The photo, snapped at the Dolce & Gabbana soiree, was shared on social media and it quickly went viral, causing all the turmoil.

One actor tweeted, "We're asking to be better compensated by the studios and Fran Drescher is mugging for the cameras in Italy. The optics look f---king terrible."

Another one wrote, "Hey @frandrescher, why are you gallivanting around when our strike is looming? Super bad look."

During her speech Thursday, Drescher -- former star of the sitcom "The Nanny" -- also mentioned she regularly stayed in touch with SAG-AFTRA colleagues in L.A. while she was in Europe.

At one point, Drescher said, she even left the gathering to get on a Zoom call with her union reps. She also claimed she was texting with her peeps during her flight.

Lionel Messi First Order Of Business In Miami ... Cereal Shoppin' At Publix!!!

Lionel Messi's move to Miami apparently didn't come with a personal shopper ... 'cause the soccer legend was spotted out at a Publix on Thursday -- roaming with the normies to make sure his cupboards were stocked with cereal.

Just two days after he touched down in Florida to begin his new career in the MLS ... Messi evidently needed some food for his crib so badly, the $600 million man took it upon himself to hit up a local supermarket to nab some groceries.

The 36-year-old soccer G.O.A.T. pushed his own cart and traversed through some gawking fans to make the run ... and at the end of it all, he walked away with what appeared to be several boxes of sugary breakfast treats.

The footballer, though, seemed to have a relatively easy time being out in public ... while he did pose for a selfie with at least one fan at the store, most seemed to let him go about his business without bothering him.

Of course, that's a stark contrast from his usual norm in Argentina ... where most of his nights out involve being swarmed by hundreds of fans.

But, Messi is still getting the VIP treatment, at least in some parts of his new home ... while out at a dinner earlier this week, he had to deal with several people who had lined up to get a glimpse of him on his way to his car.

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MESSI IN MIAMI
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Messi is slated to be formally introduced by Inter Miami on Sunday ... so it might be another few days before the mania around the soccer player really kicks off in South Beach.

So, until then, enjoy the Reese's Puffs, Lionel!

Robert De Niro's Grandson Woman Arrested in Connection with Leandro's Death

Cops have a woman in custody who they believe is directly tied to the overdose death of Robert De Niro's grandson, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez ... and TMZ has learned the feds are now on the case too.

Law enforcement sources tell us the 20-year-old woman was busted Thursday in NYC by a joint NYPD and federal task force -- and they believe she sold drugs to Leandro before his death ... which his mother has said was due to a fentanyl OD.

We're told the suspect is being processed at this moment, and we don't know yet what charges she will be facing.

As we reported, the 19-year-old was found dead inside an apartment on July 2. He had appeared in the 2018 film, "A Star is Born" ... playing the son of Bradley Cooper's best friend, George "Noodles" Stone, played by Dave Chappelle. Leandro also appeared in "Cabaret Maxime" in 2018.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ Leandro's death is being investigated as an overdose. We're told the teen was house-sitting, and both drugs and drug paraphernalia were found near his body.

While authorities have yet to release an official cause of death, his mother, Drena De Niro, said last week, "Someone sold him fentanyl laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him."

Story developing ...