Viola Davis Hits Pause on New 'G20' Movie ... Despite Snagging Waiver

Viola Davis might be setting a tone for A-listers -- because, despite recently receiving an independent film waiver, she's stopping down on her new movie ... all to support the strike.

The actress told Deadline Saturday that she was bowing out of her Amazon flick, "G20," for now -- saying ... "I love this movie, but I do not feel that it would be appropriate for this production to move forward during the strike."

She adds, "I appreciate that the producers on the project agree with this decision. JuVee Productions and I stand in solidarity with actors, SAG/AFTRA and the WGA."

It's a bold move, and speaks volumes on where Viola's priorities are. Like we said, just the other day ... the producers behind "G20" got the green light to go ahead and continue with production -- even though Amazon is obviously a major studio. The fact an independent production company, MRC, is also behind it appears to be the reason it got a pass.

In any case, it would seem moving forward while thousands of other actors are on the picket lines wasn't sitting well with her ... which is interesting, because a lot of other big stars are also attached to independent flicks right now that got SAG waivers as well.

Those names include ... Anne Hathaway, Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd, Matthew McConaughey, Mark Wahlberg, Sigourney Weaver, Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Kingsley, Dave Bautista, Ice Cube, Dakota Fanning, John Malkovich, Sean Bean, Rebel Wilson ... to name a few.

Again, them being attached to indie films -- with no direct ties to AMPTP -- is why they can keep trucking (especially overseas) ... but some have raised an eyebrow regardless -- viewing their continued work as a betrayal. That's, perhaps, unfair, but it's a real POV out there.

Now that Viola is putting her foot down ... it may be a signal for other mega stars to do the same -- even though they can technically proceed through the SAG indie loophole.

The principle of the matter could be why Brad Pitt reportedly stood down on filming as well. There was word that his F1 movie, "Apex," was continuing to film in Hungary last week -- with some claiming BP himself even got behind the wheel at one point for some scenes.

Since then however, he's said to have stopped production on the whole thing ... again, to stand with SAG and WGA. It's good optics, of course -- but it also seems to be the right thing to do. Time will tell if others begin to follow suit ... the scab accusations are flying. 😬

Oliver Stone Slams Biden Over Russia-Ukraine ... We're Headed for WWIII!!!

Oliver Stone thinks President Biden is leading us right into a looming Armageddon as it relates to Russia's war with Ukraine -- while also lamenting ever having voted for the guy.

The famed director went off on POTUS during a recent interview he did with Russell Brand -- who has tended to lean right in his political views these days. That was echoed in Oliver's diatribe ... where he accused Biden of being on the verge of starting World War III.

Check it out ... OS says Joe is repeating historical missteps with his foreign policy, especially as it relates to how he and his administration are dealing with the ongoing conflict.

He doesn't really get into specifics -- at least not in this lone clip -- but he seems to be alluding to the fact that the U.S. continues to support Ukraine through funding and weaponry ... which he seems to think is only further antagonizing Putin, maybe for the worse.

Stone also had this to say about having buyer's remorse on election night ... "I voted for him – I made a mistake, I was thinking he was an old man now that he would calm down, that he would be more mellow and so-forth, I didn’t see that at all. I see a man who maybe is not in charge of his own administration. Who knows."

The filmmaker has a long history of movies that are critical of the federal government -- and it seems he's down to bash Dems as well as Republicans. Harsh words here, no doubt.

Jeremy Allen White Cooking Up Some Co-Parenting ... Family QT Amid Divorce

Jeremy Allen White might be getting divorced, but he's still on great terms with his estranged wife -- as seen in these pics ... which show them playing nice with their cubs.

The 'Bear' star hit up a park in L.A. Saturday, where he reunited with Addison Timlin and their 2 young daughters, Ezer and Dolores. We're hearing there was some kind of soccer practice going down ... and that Jeremy showed up for what seems to be a little daddy time.

As you can see, he was playing with their kids ... and the 4 of them actually walked to the parking lot together. More importantly, though -- JAW embraced Addison ... quite lovingly.

The exes were seen hugging it out a few different times, and it looks like Jeremy even planted a kiss on Addison's head at one point as they were departing. On its face, it looked like they were all kumbaya -- and yes, this is a very clear example of solid co-parenting.

We know that, for now, they're going their separate ways ... but it's just evidence that not every Hollywood divorce has to be ugly. They oftentimes are (see Costner), but it looks like Jeremy and Addison got this thing figured out, at least when it comes to their little ones.

Jeremy and Addison married in 2019, but were together for a while before that. Of course, Jeremy's star is on the rise because of his hit show ... but it's still all love for the fam.

That's how you do it, cousin.

Kyle Richards Shops w/ Morgan Wade in Aspen ... All Business!!!

update

12:55 PM PT -- As it turns out, there's a perfectly good explanation for why Kyle is hanging with Morgan in Aspen of all places -- and it's strictly business, as TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us Morgan's actually got a show in town later this weekend, which explains why she's there herself. As for Kyle, we're hearing she's actually shooting a docuseries in Aspen as well ... so, it seems like their paths naturally crossed.

Folks are, no doubt, going to still speculate about KR and MW -- seeing how they've been hanging out a lot lately -- but on its face, it would appear they're just good friends.

Kyle Richards isn't putting out the fire over speculation about her and Morgan Wade -- in fact, she's kinda throwing gas on ... 'cause now, they're out in Colorado, just the 2 of 'em.

The 'RHOBH' star was spotted hitting the town in Aspen Friday with none other than Morgan tagging along, right by her side. In photos obtained by TMZ, you can see them cruising into a shop and perusing the shelves ... eyeing jewelry and other knickknacks strewn about.

We're told that while Kyle and Morgan did have a little entourage with them ... they were mostly left to their own devices, and didn't really leave each other's side during the pop-in.

Now, while they were definitely rolling together ... eyewitnesses say there were no clear signs of PDA between them during this outing. Still, though -- them continuing to hang out as much as they do (which is a lot) is further fueling rumors that they're a romantic item.

They've publicized their close friendship for about a year and a half now -- going on vacays together and whatnot ... but folks are thinking they're actually dating now, especially in the wake of Kyle's current separation with her longtime husband, Mauricio Umansky.

Kyle recently made it seem like she and Mauricio were working things out -- but in this instance ... the guy is nowhere to be found. So it's unclear where things stand, TBH.

Whether Morgan is Kyle's girlfriend or not ... at least she's in good company through all this.

Happy bargain hunting, you two.

Originally Published -- 12:03 PM PT

Stephen A. Smith Sorry for Kim K 'Prostitute' Tweet Still Talked Topic on Podcast

Stephen A. Smith deleted a tweet where he rhetorically asked if Kim Kardashian/Kris Jenner were involved in turning tricks -- despite talking about exactly that in his latest podcast.

Here's the deal ... SAS went live Friday night with the latest episode of "The Stephen A. Smith Show" -- where the ESPN personality talks about a number of issues, unrelated to sports. In the one from last night ... he decided to bring up Kim and Kris as a topic.

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if the shoe fits ...
The Stephen A. Smith Show

Specifically, he discussed a clip from back in September -- in which Candace Owens was digging into Ray J's claims that Kris brokered the infamous sex tape between him and Km.

You'll recall ... he went into all the alleged nitty-gritty about what he claims went down way back then -- saying Kris was fully privy to what they were doing, and claiming she essentially orchestrated it all behind the scenes. Ditto for Kim, he says ... alleging she was in on it too.

At the time, Candace talked about that on her own show (again, back in September) ... and she floated the blunt allegation that, in her view, Kris had operated as a "pimp" in that instance. She also called Kim a "prostitute" in that clip ... and now, for some, reason Stephen thought it'd be a good time to weigh in on this himself. Objectively, it's old news.

He got into a little bit of trouble, though ... because, in teasing this episode, he tweeted ... "Is Kim Kardashian a 'prostitute'? Is Kris Jenner a 'pimp'?" He followed that tweet up with yet another, trying to add context, in which he explained that's what Candace Owens thinks.

Unfortunately, the damage was done ... because none other than Patrick Beverly came to Kim's defense -- saying she's a mother, and that SAS shouldn't talk about her like that.

Stephen replied, saying Pat was right ... and attributing his tweet to a "clerical error." He deleted the tweet -- but the actual clip of him talking about this exact topic is still up on YouTube ... and guess what ... the dude appears to somewhat agree with Candace, assuming what Ray J says is, in fact, true ... as he clarifies in his breakdown of her argument.

His sister, who was on as a guest, also kind of agreed on that front. She said if the claims against Kris were true ... she can see where Candace was coming from. She does defend Kim though. All in all ... it's not a great look. Not only do they entertain the topic, but they seem to support Candace's take.

Stephen has publicly supported Kim in the past, calling her a good mom, etc. But here ... he seems to be leaning into bashing her a bit -- and, again, very much so out of nowhere.

Ariana Grande Giving BF Ethan Space ... To Work Things Out with Estranged Wife

Ariana Grande hasn't seen her boyfriend Ethan Slater in person for awhile ... because he's preoccupied with his estranged wife and their divorce, and she's giving him space to work things out.

.Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Ariana and her 'Wicked' costar haven't been in the same city for several weeks. Ethan's currently in New York, trying to navigate the end of his marriage with estranged wife, Lilly Jay.

Our sources say Ariana is coming to Los Angeles this weekend. We're told she and Ethan want to see each other, but that's not in the cards for the immediate future.

Ethan's got a lot to work out with Lilly ... they share a child together and, as we first reported, he "desperately" wants to co-parent their baby son. We've been told Ethan and Lilly have been talking daily, mostly about their little boy.

Remember ... Ariana and Ethan started dating several months ago while filming 'Wicked' together, a romance that came as a surprise to Lilly, who is feeling betrayed and heartbroken.

To be clear, sources close to Ariana and Ethan have maintained they were both split from their spouses -- Dalton Gomez and Lilly -- when they first got together.

Ethan's since filed for divorce ... and divorce docs are on the horizon for Ariana and Dalton.

While Ariana and Ethan haven't spent time in person for a minute now, our sources say they are 100% still dating.

Mark Zuckerberg Takes Daughters to Taylor Swift Tour ... Girl Dadding 101

Another unlikely drop-in for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour -- this time it's Mark Zuckerberg who paid a visit to her big show, and it looks like he's on dad duty in the process ... x3.

The Facebook founder hit up Taylor's concert Friday in Santa Clara at Levi's Stadium -- where he, his wife and his three daughters (plus a pal, it seems) had their own private box overlooking the stage below. Indeed, they're fantastic seats ... and he can afford it.

Anyway, as excited as the kids surely were ... it seems Mark himself was stoked too, evidenced in the fact that he kinda bedazzled himself for the occasion, literally.

Take a look ... the guy had sparkles and rhinestone-like jewelry plastered on his face, and yes -- he was also rocking one of those multi-bead friendship bracelets that Swifties wear.

It seems Mark was having a little meme-ish fun as well. He posted a filtered shot of himself decked out in the T-Swift-inspired gear and checking his phone -- with the caption, "Checking 13 emails on the way to the concert." Yeah, he was in the spirit of things.

MZ's far from the only celeb who's crashed a Taylor show over these past few months -- several others (who you normally wouldn't consider Swifites) have done it time and again.

LeBron James Dinner In L.A. With The Fam ... Bronny Looking Strong

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11:12 AM PT -- LeBron just posted a video of Bronny playing the piano, seemingly further confirming that his boy is doing alright.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

LBJ wrote, "GRAND RISING!! God Is Great! @bronny YOU ARE AMAZING!!! Simple as that! Keep going Young 🤴🏾!!! We’re here right with you every step of the way!"

LeBron James took the whole fam out for dinner in L.A. Friday night ... and his son, Bronny, was right there by his side looking better than ever.

The Lakers legend was spotted heading inside Giorgio Baldi restaurant in Santa Monica with his wife, Savannah, and his kids Bryce, Zhuri and, of course, Bronny, who was the main attraction after his medical scare this week.

Check out these photos, obtained by TMZ, which show LeBron arm in arm with Bronny, who appears strong and alert.

This is great news after what happened Monday when 18-year-old Bronny went into cardiac arrest while working out at the University of Southern California's Galen Center.

TMZ broke the story ... and the 911 audio revealed just how frightening and chaotic the incident was for Bronny, who initially fell unconscious, but was awake by the time paramedics transported him to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment.

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911 AUDIO

Bronny, who signed on to play for USC's basketball team in the spring, felt well enough to be released from the hospital Thursday.

LeBron has said Bronny is doing well, although doctors are still trying to determine what caused the teen's health issue.

Originally Published -- 5:52 AM PT

Travis Scott's Attorney Police Tried to Sink 'Utopia' ... With Release of Astroworld Investigation Report

UPDATE

8:12 AM PT -- A rep. for Travis provided an additional statement, "The timing of the Houston Police Department report’s release, coinciding with the launch of Travis Scott’s highly anticipated album, is anything but coincidental.

UPDATE

"Travis Scott and his team were, as anticipated, fully cleared of any wrongdoing associated with the Astroworld tragedy by a grand jury based on the very report released today. It is outrageous that HPD has chosen to resort to tactics that attempt to discredit Travis and his team, casting doubt on how the unfortunate events at Astroworld actually transpired while deflecting blame from their own critical failures.

UPDATE

"Travis's commitment to his audience's safety and well-being is well-documented. As reported countless times, he actively stopped the show three separate times. Contrary to the HPD report’s inaccuracies, the concert did end at the exact time communicated to Travis. Meanwhile, Houston police officers present at the event did not intervene during the unfolding situation. They were observed throughout the show standing by idly, buying merch and even filming the concert in its entirety.

UPDATE

"We encourage the Houston PD to make peace with the fact that Travis Scott and his team were found innocent of any wrongdoing and to focus on what really matters – making sure tragedies like Astroworld never occur again under their watch."

At least one of Travis Scott's attorneys believes Houston police intentionally timed the release of their report on the Astroworld tragedy ... in order to hurt sales of his new "Utopia" album.

Kent Schaffer tells TMZ ... it's no coincidence Houston's PD's full investigation report came out Friday, the same day as Travis' latest album.

Travis' lawyers says cops were well aware "Utopia" was dropping Friday -- it was highly publicized as Travis made an official announcement early in the week. Schaffer believes their motive for precisely timing the 1,266-page release was to hurt Travis' sales, and take some heat off law enforcement for not charging Travis with a crime.

For the record, Houston PD has said it is simply a "coincidence."

While Schaffer isn't buying that, he thinks the report won't have much impact on Travis' fans ... or hurt his album sales, for that matter.

Travis' lawyer is also pushing back on some of the report's contents ... including a statement from a security guard who claims he tried to get Travis' team to stop the show during Drake's set, but was told Drake had to finish first.

Schaffer flat out denies that, claiming all the crowd injuries happened 30 minutes before Drake hit the stage, but no one brought it to Travis' attention ... and he says police could have stopped the concert sooner if they wanted.

Travis told police he was told in his earpiece to stop the show after Drake left the stage ... and his attorney says Travis followed all directions and that's one reason he was not charged with a crime.

Travis' attorney says he was in communication with HPD throughout the investigation, which lasted over 18 months, and the opinions expressed to him were that police did not see any criminal liability on Travis' part.

That's exactly what a grand jury decided last month, refusing to indict the rapper for the 10 deaths at Astroworld. However, he's still facing several lawsuits from victims and families of victims.

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PLEAS FROM THE CROWD
TikTok/@cpvris_

Schaffer says the size and scope of the released documents is unusual ... and he thinks police wanted to show the public and the victims' families that they conducted a very thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, an attorney for a family whose child died at the concert tells TMZ ... "The release of this report only reminds the family about the terror, the devastation and the horror which took away their child. The feelings are mixed between sadness, anger and determination to continue pursuing justice regardless of whether it’s in a criminal courthouse or a civil courthouse."

Originally Published -- 12:50 AM PT

Ohio Bank Job Gone Awry Burglar Busted On Body Cam Video ... Cops Scream Get Down, Guns Drawn

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LOOK OUT BELOW

Things didn't work out as planned for a suspected bank burglar in Ohio ... he came crashing down from a ceiling as cops surrounded him with their guns drawn, and it was all caught on film.

Police body cam footage, obtained by NBC News, captured every dramatic moment outside Federal Credit Union in Huron, about 50 miles west of Cleveland, in the early morning hours Wednesday.

In the shocking video, Tristan Heidl is at first obscured from view as he tries to push open a door hatch from inside the roof in the bank's drive-thru area.

Little does Heidl know, officers already responded to an alarm that got tripped and were standing nearby waiting for him to make his appearance.

Pretty soon, the hatch flies open, and Heidl drops down into a garbage bin.

The cops rush up to him, aiming their guns at his head while screaming for him to get on the ground.

Heidl could only say, "Aw f—k," as officers arrested him for breaking and entering and possession of criminal tools and safecracking.

Nascar Champion Jimmie Johnson First Remarks On Triple Murder-Suicide ... Devastated By Family Tragedy

Jimmie Johnson is speaking publicly for the first time about the apparent murder-suicide that claimed the lives of three family members.

The NASCAR driver posted a statement on Instagram Friday, saying he's devastated by the loss of his 11-year-old nephew Dalton and his wife Chandra's parents, Jack and Terry Lynn Janway. Jimmie also thanked well-wishers for their outpouring of love and support during his time of grief.

What's interesting is that Jimmie made a point of mentioning Terry in his heartfelt message, showing compassion for his in-law despite police naming her as the suspect in the fatal shootings of Dalton and Jack before turning the gun on herself.

As we reported ... police responded to the family's Oklahoma home in June after receiving a 911 call from a woman who said she saw someone with a gun.

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"SHOTS FIRED"

Cops found one person sprawled out dead in the hallway near the front door moments before a gunshot was heard elsewhere inside the house, where two more bodies were later discovered.

Johnson -- a 7-time NASCAR Cup champion -- tied the knot with Chandra in 2004 and they have two daughters together, Genevieve and Lydia.

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

Stars and Scars You Be the Judge

Who knew Biden's pooch Commander was terrorizing The White House? And, Kylie's had a change of heart about her chest. So we gotta ask ...

Prez Biden's Biting Dog Commander ...

Kylie Regrets Boob Job

Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater ...

Tom Brady Dating Irina Shayk ...

Rachel On 'Vanderpump Rules' ...

More Fun Vacation For The Costner Kids ...

Kevin Spacey Found Not Guilty ...

There Are Aliens Among Us ...

What I Fear More ...

Mike Tyson Spence Vs. Crawford??? I Guarantee It's Ending In A KO!!!

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EXPECT A K.O.
TMZSports.com

Mike Tyson might not know who will win the Errol Spence vs. Terence Crawford fight, but he is sure of one thing ... it's definitely ending in a knockout.

TMZ Sports got Iron Mike's prediction on the massive match just before the two star boxers officially square off Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas ... and he seemed to kind of like Bud to win it.

Then again, he wasn't super confident about it all ... telling us a recent talk he had with Spence was changing his mind a bit.

He did, however, have one guarantee about the tilt ... and that's that it ain't going all 12 rounds.

"After seeing them both fight, I know it's not going to last," the boxing legend said. "I think it's going to end in a knockout."

Fight night kicks off at 8PM ET/5PM PT on Showtime PPV ... and now that you're armed with some knowledge about it from one of the sport's GOATs -- getcha betting slips in now!!

What's The Big Frigin' Difference?!

Emily Ratajkowski has been rockin' the new red hair for just over a week now, but there seems to be some other changes in these two recent shots of the stunning star. Take a walk outside, and see if you can put your hand on the minor switch-ups ... hold onto the railing 😜 !

The actress took her cool style (and pups) for a stroll in NYC earlier this week, but not without bringing all her accessories! With the lift of a leg, can you mark your territory on the minor modifications?

**HINT: There are THREE differences in the above Emily Ratajkowski photos!**

Lisa Marie Presley Beloved Last House Up for Sale

The house Lisa Marie Presley lived in until the day she died is up for sale ... TMZ has learned.

Lisa Marie moved into the Calabasas house in 2020 ... she rented but had an option to purchase it, which she planned to do.

The house is listed for $4,679,000. Her realtor and friend, Robb Friedman, significantly renovated the property after she died back in January.

The house is a skosh under 7,500 square feet with 6 bedrooms and 7 baths, and has all the bells and whistles, including a home theatre, a wine cellar, the obligatory California pool and great canyon views.

We're told when Lisa Marie first saw the house, she fell in love with it, as did her twins and ex-husband Danny Keough, who lived with them. In fact, after Lisa Marie rented it, she loved it so much she cajoled the landlord into giving her an option to buy it, which she jumped at.

TMZ broke the story ... Lisa Marie was found unresponsive at her home January 12. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she died. Lisa Marie was 54.

The house is listed by celeb realtors Robb and Nikki Friedman.

Courtney Stodden Engagement With Chris Sheng Dunzo

Courtney Stodden is single once again ... we've learned they and their fiancé, Chris Sheng, have called off their engagement.

Sources close to the former couple tell TMZ ... Courtney and Chris called things off 6 months ago. We're told the breakup was mutual, with one source saying, "The car was out of gas."

Their relationship just started to crumble, according to our sources -- Courtney's pals allegedly felt something was off between them from the beginning, thinking there was jealousy and insecurities brewing while they were together.

We're told Courtney would tell their friends they didn't feel seen with Chris -- and those around them agreed, telling Courtney they didn't think they were meant to be together.

Sources say the 2 saw each other regularly after the split, because at the time they were living under the same roof. They're no longer in contact ... and Courtney's telling their friends they want to heal and "find the epicenter of her happy."

For those unaware, Courtney and Chris have been on and off for 7 and a half years, getting engaged in May 2021. They showed off their ring to her fans at the time, saying it "made me gag it's so beautiful."

Courtney was previously married to Doug Hutchison -- remember the age difference? They divorced in 2020 after more than 6 years of marriage.