Carnell Tate Mother Of OSU Receiver Killed ... In Chicago Drive-By Shooting

Ohio State freshman receiver Carnell Tate's mother was tragically killed in a shooting on Sunday. She was just 40 years old.

Law enforcement says the fatal incident happened around 2 AM in the Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago ... where a woman was shot multiple times in an alleged drive-by.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital ... where she, unfortunately, succumbed to her injuries. She was later identified as Ashley Griggs, Tate's mother.

Four others, aged 38 to 42, were also injured in the shooting. Reports say they are in fair condition.

Chicago PD says one of the injured victims claimed the shooter was "traveling in a vehicle at the time of the shooting."

Tate -- a Chicago native -- moved to Florida to play at IMG Academy, where he averaged 20.3 yards during his senior year in 2022. He was 247Sports' 22nd-ranked player in the country.

The 4-star prospect committed to OSU that December ... and is considered one of the best incoming freshman receivers.

Ashley was excited about Tate's upcoming season -- in fact, one of Griggs' last posts was about his No. 17 Buckeyes jersey going up for sale online.

OSU football released a statement ... saying the program is incredibly saddened about the terrible tragedy, and will support Carnell during the difficult time.

'The Chosen' Jesus Series Gets SAG Waiver ... Show Goes on Amid Strike

A miracle came down on behalf of one Hollywood show that can now continue to work with its actors amid the SAG-AFTRA strike ... and it benefits none other than Jesus, or at least fans of his story.

Showrunners for the popular Christian-based TV series "The Chosen" announced Sunday they'd gotten the green light to move forward with production ... including their main cast, several of whom are in the actors' union. It's the first show to catch this break.

The reason ... they received a waiver from the Screen Actors Guild, which essentially gives them an exemption to keep filming -- even though the rest of the major productions in town are shut down. Deadline was first to report the news.

The folks who run "The Chosen" Twitter account had actually been pleading with SAG to cut them some slack ... and luckily, it came in record time. They were worried they'd have to pause things in Utah -- where they're in the middle of shooting a new season -- unless they got the waiver ... and since they received it in just a few days, they're not totally off schedule.

Now, as for why they're getting the waiver while other productions have to wait in the wings ... it actually has nothing to do with what you may think -- namely, some kind of religious loophole. On the contrary, it has more to do with whether the show/movie is independent ... aka, not having major ties to a TV or movie studio as far as funding.

"The Chosen" certainly has a grassroots background -- it initially got off the ground via crowdfunding -- but has since kinda gone mainstream ... with licensing deals being struck among a number of major studios like Netflix, Amazon, CW, Peacock, and others.

Despite that, it'll be allowed to resume ... so, fans of the show gotta be stoked. Praise be!

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

Ariana Grande, Dalton Gomez Separated, Heading for Divorce

Ariana Grande and her husband Dalton Gomez have been separated since January, and they are heading toward divorce ... sources connected to the couple tell TMZ.

As we reported, Ariana was not wearing her wedding ring at Wimbledon over the weekend ... in fact, she's been ringless a lot these days.

We're told a few months back the 2 tried a reconciliation, but it failed.

One source with direct knowledge told TMZ, their relationship "is heading for divorce."

Ariana and Dalton have been thousands of miles apart since December, when she started filming "Wicked." Our sources say they were having problems even before that.

We're told they remain friends and still talk on the phone regularly, but, according to sources, the marriage is kaput.

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It was early 2020 when we first saw the two of them making out at dinner at Bar Louie in Northridge, CA. At the time, no one really knew who Dalton was or how serious the couple's relationship had gotten.

The couple tied the knot in May 2021 in a very private ceremony at Ariana's home in Montecito.

Miranda Lambert Stops Show, Berates Fans ... No Selfies, Listen to the Music!!!

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ENJOY THE SHOW

Miranda Lambert wants people to listen intently during her concerts -- which she made clear at her concert, in pretty dramatic fashion, no less.

The country singer was performing at her Vegas residency Saturday night, and right as she was about to launch into her song, "Tin Man," she hit the pause button to address some ladies near the front, who were apparently snapping photos ... of themselves!

As Miranda explains, she was upset by the fact that the unidentified women were taking selfies instead of listening to her sing ... so much so, she felt she needed to say something.

She told her band, "I'm gonna stop for a minute" ... the music cut off, and Miranda actually motioned to the women to stop and put their phones away. Presumably, they did, because she started over and got into the vocals.

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TMZ.com

Still, it was clear she was quite peeved by what she perceived as a couple of rude fans.

BTW, the crowd cheered her on during this ... so we're sure NO ONE else in the audience took a selfie! 🙄

Alex Murdaugh Shirtless Selfies From Prison

Alex Murdaugh's two life sentences in prison are going by in a flash, and by that ... we mean the flash of a camera, 'cause the guy's apparently taking pictures of himself in the clink.

The convicted murderer -- who was found guilty of killing of his wife and son earlier this year -- has had selfies he's taken from inside his prison cell leaked to the public ... and they're quite something to look at, especially since a handful of them feature AM shirtless.

It appears he's using a smart tablet, which inmates in protective custody -- something he's been relegated to in a South Carolina maximum security facility -- get to use for leisure.

According to the YouTube account Phone Calls from Prison, which obtained these photos, Murdaugh appears to have snapped a number of selfies anytime he logged on to use the tablet ... and they run the gamut of cringe. There's a handful of ones where he's without a top -- and his bare chest is exposed -- and others where he's lying down making weird faces.

The pics are somewhat insightful into his current state of affairs ... his cell looks tiny, but it also seems he's made it his permanent home -- with homemade knickknacks hanging about.

Gotta say ... as far as prison goes, the guy appears to be quite cozy in his situation.

As we reported, Murdaugh's not going to be getting out anytime soon as a result of the double-murder conviction. And, he's got even more crimes he'll be prosecuted for as well ... only, of the financial kind. Also, seems like his relationship with his surviving son has soured.

NFL's Russell Okung Loses 56 Pounds In 40 Days ... After Water-Only Diet

Ex-NFL star Russell Okung just revealed he lost more than 50 pounds after going 40 days without food for a SECOND time ... and the results are nothing short of jaw-dropping.

The former sixth overall pick in the 2010 draft has completely transformed his life in retirement ... embarking on a mental and physical journey through long-term fasting.

Okung -- who weighed more than 300 pounds during his playing days with the Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers and Panthers -- went on his first fast earlier this year, in which he lost more than 100 pounds.

The former offensive lineman is now 192 pounds after completing his second round of fasting over the weekend ... but he makes it clear the challenge is not all about losing weight.

The 34-year-old explained his decision to go through with the process for a second time ... saying, "Ultimately, I was still transitioning out of the NFL, I had a lot of questions about the world."

"My entire worldview was completely shifting. There's still a lot of questions that I have. I don't want to say that they went away, but I do want to acknowledge that I have much more clarity, peace and acceptance that there are things that I cannot change," he added.

"There are things that I can change and I am really [interested] in bringing my entire self to every experience that I encounter. I'm very happy 'cause I feel rooted. I feel grounded. I know why I'm here."

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Russell shared a video of his first meal on Sunday ... and he was overcome with emotion as he sipped juice.

"Oh my goodness, this feels amazing."

Howard Stern Takes Over Radio Station ... With Bon Jovi, Fallon & RDJ Singin' Live!!!

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The Howard Stern Show / SiriusXM

Howard Stern gave fans a big shock, going live on his own station without warning ... and he brought some of Hollywood's biggest names along with him to hijack the airwaves.

Stern's SiriusXM show went live Sunday night -- it was NOT a promoted show -- and said he was going back to his roots to spin some tracks, but he wasn't alone in the studio.

Howard's pals Jimmy Fallon, Drew Barrymore, Robert Downey Jr., Brooke Shields and Jon Bon Jovi all jumped on the mic with him, making the surprise airing a real star-studded event.

Sounds like the gang was having dessert together when the idea came up for the radio host to play some tunes -- which is why his celebrity takeover was so spur-of-the-moment.

They all picked out some of their favs, with JBJ choosing The Eagles' "Hotel California" -- and the rock legend even belted out the hit with Jimmy and Robert!

Truly an incredible moment -- especially for anyone who caught the impromptu airing live!

Elton John Singer Testifies on Behalf of Kevin Spacey ... Challenges Accuser Over Alleged Groping

Kevin Spacey got an assist from a famous friend in his sexual assault trial ... Elton John.

The Rocket Man appeared remotely Monday from Monaco, essentially challenging the testimony of one of Spacey's accusers who claimed he was groped by the actor while driving to Elton's annual White Tie and Tiara Ball.

The accuser said the incident happened either in 2004 or 2005, but Elton testified Spacey was only at one party -- in 2001. Elton said Spacey spent the night at his home after the party.

Elton's husband, David Furnish, also testified Spacey was only at the 2001 bash, and said he had checked photographs of the events which backed up his testimony.

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Spacey has pled not guilty to 12 sexual assault charges that could end in life in prison if convicted.

Tour de France Fan Taking 'Selfie' Causes Huge Crash ... Wiped Out 15+ Riders

An oblivious fan seemingly trying to take a selfie caused a massive crash at the Tour de France on Sunday, extending their arm/phone and making contact with a competitor, wiping out over a dozen riders!

It all happened about 30 miles into the 15th stage (there are a total of 21 stages) of the world's most prestigious cycling event, when the fan hit American rider Sepp Kuss, sending him careening to the ground. Then, cyclists behind Kuss fell when they ran into him/his bike.

Thankfully, none of the cyclists appeared to suffer serious injury -- just bumps and bruises.

Sepp talked to Cycling News about the accident, saying ... "There was a spectator leaning into the road, I guess. It just happened suddenly, and that’s part of the Tour, there are a lot of people. Ideally, that wouldn’t happen, but it’s the biggest bike race in the world and a lot of people don’t know exactly what’s going on."

The U.S. rider added ... "unfortunately, somebody wanted to get a selfie. I didn’t really see it coming."

After the stage, which Wout Poels won, a number of different riders and teams cautioned fans ... don't interfere.

"I’d like to tell the spectators to enjoy the race and be there to cheer for us without standing on the road or pouring beers on us," Jonas Vingegaard, the overall race leader told reporters.

“Please be careful, so that the party remains a party for the racers but equally for you. You don’t need a phone to create mind-blowing memories,” Team Confidis tweeted.

It's reminiscent of 2021 ... when a fan, like this weekend's incident, caused a massive pileup after their sign made contact with a rider.

Pay attention!!!

Bebe Rexha Puts Boyfriend On Blast ... For Weight Gain Text

Bebe Rexha is putting her boyfriend on blast for fat-shaming her while they were texting.

The singer posted a message on her Instagram Sunday, containing a screenshot of Keyan Safyari's text, critiquing her body in the most unflattering way. Keyan told Bebe she was beautiful and he loved her, but that he would always be honest because he cared about her.

Then he wrote, "Would you rather I lied to you? You gained 35 pounds obviously you gained weight and your face changes?" Keyan then justified his hurtful words by saying Bebe calls him "chubbs" whenever he packs on 3 pounds.

Keyan also encouraged Bebe to seek out a therapist and do the "retreat thing" to get to the root of the possible issues in their relationship.

The couple started dating in 2020, but their current status is unclear. And they don’t seem to be in a good place.

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

Cardi B & Offset Mario-Themed Bday Party For Kulture ... All Smiles After Nasty Cheating Claims

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PRINCESS PEACH PARTY
Instagram / iamcardib

Offset & Cardi B are lookin' to be back to normal after some explosive cheating claims ... because they were both having a blast at their daughter's 5th birthday party.

It was a Mario Bros.-themed bash for Kulture Sunday, and Cardi shared all the highlights on her social media -- which included her kiddo meeting Princess Peach.

There was a ball pit for the little ones, a castle bounce house, and an impressive birthday cake themed perfectly to the iconic video game ... all tying into the theme, "Super Kulture."

The birthday girl's parents were having fun together, too -- Cardi rocked a sparkly gown while Offset kept things casual. Their 1-year-old, Wave Set, was also in the building ... lookin' fly with an iced-out chain!

Safe to say, things between Cardi and Offset have calmed down ... as we reported, the Migos rapper put his wife on blast last month, claiming she's been sleeping around.

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C'MON NOW

Cardi didn't take that lying down -- going on Twitter Spaces to call him out for the post. She even said she'd hit him with a bottle if he tried saying that to her face.

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BLISSFUL @ BALENCIAGA

The 2 looked to be heading in the right direction earlier this month, though ... gettin' close and personal in Paris outside the Balenciaga fashion show.

Lionel Messi Grand Intro At Inter Miami ... Despite Horrible Weather

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Inter Miami CF

A bunch of rain couldn't kill Lionel Messi's vibe at his big Inter Miami introduction on Sunday -- the soccer superstar was happy as ever as he made his grand entrance with his new team.

The lavish celebration was delayed two hours due to a pestering thunderstorm ... but there was no way the thousands of fans at DRV PNK Stadium were going to miss out on seeing the Argentinian striker's first appearance with the MLS club.

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Inter Miami CF

Messi cracked a joke about the downpour while addressing the crowd .. saying, "Tonight, we’re doing this Miami-style in the rain. This is holy water!!"

He also got serious during his speech ... saying he's thankful for all the local fans giving him a warm welcome ever since he touched down in the States.

"Truthfully, I'm very excited, very happy to be here in Miami and be with you," Messi said. "I'm eager to start training and to compete. I come here with the same desire to compete, desire to win and help the club to continue to grow."

Messi -- who's reported to make up to $150 million overall during his time with Inter Miami -- also doubled down on his decision to venture to MLS ... saying it's going to be a positive experience for both sides.

Team owner David Beckham also took the mic to share a few words ... saying it's a "dream come true" to have Messi join the family.

The whole event was filled with fireworks, flashing lights and music ... but it's safe to say the party is just getting started.

Quavo & Lori Harvey Not Dating, L.A. Run-In Just Coincidence ... He Was All About Biz

The Quavo and Lori Harvey dating rumor's been fueled by a couple of misleading photos -- and we've learned all they really have in common right now is the same taste in restaurants.

The buzz is the celebs had a hot lunch date at the San Vicente Bungalows -- an exclusive L.A. hot spot -- and while it's true they were there at the same time this week, they were not together.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ Hip Hop ... Quavo was sitting at a different table from Lori, and he was having a lunch meeting. We're told he was focused purely on business, and not Lori.

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YOU GO, GIRL
TikTok / @_lexxdanielle

Even Lori's tried to squash it by commenting on the TikTok post that claimed they must be dating. She explained she was there with friends, and Quavo co-signed ... calling the post "cap."

Real talk? We're told the pics of them leaving the joint were taken 10 minutes apart. While that's a common tactic celeb couples use to throw off paps, this time it's just a coincidence.

Lori is still dating "Snowfall" star Damson Idris, and Quavo is putting the finishing touches on his "Rocket Power" album, which will feature his collab with Future -- the one with that direct shot at Russell Wilson.

Sorry folks, just a very cold cup o' tea when it comes to Lori and Quavo.

Kylie Jenner & Jordyn Woods Dine Together At Sushi Restaurant In L.A. ... Besties Once Again?

Kylie Jenner appears to have buried the hatchet with Jordyn Woods years after the former besties stopped talking to each other over a cheating scandal involving Tristan Thompson.

The women were spotted headed for dinner together at a sushi restaurant in L.A. Saturday night ... according to the Daily Mail, which published photos and a video of Kylie and Jordyn on their big night out.

The two got all dressed up for the occasion with Kylie in black shades leading the way and Jordyn cracking a smile just steps behind her. They seemed as if nothing had ever happened between them and everything was just hunky dory.

That's a far cry from where they were in 2019. As we reported, Kylie had a major falling out with Jordyn after Jordyn was accused of hooking up with Tristan, Khloe Kardashian's ex-boyfriend and baby daddy. Kylie felt Jordyn had betrayed her and her sister, Khloe.

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ONE KISS, NO PASSION
Red Table Talk

Things got even worse after Jordyn sat for an interview with Jada Pinkett Smith on the show, "Red Table Talk," and revealed Tristan had kissed her, but denied there was any passion. Kylie totally cut Jordyn out of her life after that.

Now it appears they've patched up their relationship. You know what they say ... time heals all wounds.

Adin Ross Unloads $5M L.A. Home ... Movin' Out After Swatting

YouTuber and live streamer Adin Ross has sold his beautiful L.A. home for a pretty penny ... this after his pad was repeatedly swatted.

The social media mogul unloaded the space for $4,999,999 -- he was originally asking just under $5.5 mil when he put it on the market back in March. He paid $5M last year, so he's probably losing a bit.

Before Adin moved in, it was home to the likes of NBA star Kelly Oubre Jr. and Charli D'Amelio's fam.

The pad is pretty sweet ... multiple fireplaces, a 3-car garage, a saltwater pool, and spa. It also has lots of privacy, backed up against a hill.

TMZ broke the story, Adin was the victim of repeat swatting pranks at the house. It got so bad, cops needed a workaround -- contacting his security team to confirm if the call was real or bogus before sending officers and choppers to the scene.

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Anna and David Solomon of Douglas Elliman held the listing and Brendan Brown of Westside Estate Agency repped the buyer.

Carlee Russell Boyfriend Says She Was Kidnapped ... Fought for Her Life

Carlee Russell's boyfriend is explicitly stating what most everyone has assumed about her disappearance -- declaring definitively that she was, indeed, kidnapped.

Thomar Simmons made the claim in a Facebook post Sunday, in which he both thanked supporters for their ongoing prayers and offered more insight into what he says happened to his significant other since she vanished Thursday in Hoover, Alabama ... this after pulling over on the I-459 highway on the heels of her reporting seeing a lone child walking at night.

He writes, "All I asked from everyone right now is to be respectful of Carlee’s situation. She was literally fighting for her life for 48 hours, so until she’s physically & mentally stable again she is not able to give any updates or whereabouts on her kidnapper at this very moment."

Simmons adds, "I also want to thank the people on social media who has been understanding & respectful about what she’s been through in these past few days. Once again I can’t thank you guys enough for helping us bring Carlee home! God bless you all."

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Carlee's mother echoed similar sentiments, saying they were overjoyed to have Carlee back -- and that they would provide more details to the media in due time. Interestingly, Carlee's mom also had this to say ... "Just as we made a commitment to not entertain negative thoughts during the time our daughter was missing, we surely will not entertain negative thoughts/statements, unvalidated opinions, or sheer ignorance at such a joyous time."

What she may be referring to is the fact that people are already jumping to conclusions and floating conspiracy theories about this case ... as some feel like info doesn't line up.

For example, the police's statement about how exactly Carlee came to be found -- in which they said they got a call that she had shown up to her residence on foot -- fails to mention the fact that dispatchers in the Hoover-Vestavia Hills area were talking about Carlee possibly being at a nearby motel well beforehand ... a convo captured around 6:53 PM CT.

As you can hear ... the dispatchers describe a caller saying Carlee's family had reached out to say they had gotten a call from Carlee herself -- who apparently told them she was at the Red Roof Inn along the Montgomery Highway ... only about 5 miles north from where she disappeared. The wording's a little confusing, but it seems the caller was a Red Roof worker.

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CARLEE'S VEHICLE
WBRC Fox 6 News

The first responders also say the front desk staff said they had no one checked in under Carlee's name. It also sounds like Carlee's family was itching to get to the Red Roof Inn to see if she was actually there. It's unclear if they did or not, but cops certainly responded ... as heard in the audio, where somebody gets on the radio to say units have arrived.

Bottom line ... there are still a number of unanswered questions, but it's clear her family/loved ones are leaning toward the notion that she was abducted by a still-to-be-discovered culprit.

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