Browns' David Njoku 'I Should've Been Blinded' Opens Up On Burn Accident
David Njoku's face was badly burned in the fire pit accident, but things could've been way worse ... the Browns star says his eyes were open when the fireball burned his face, and he could've lost his eyesight.
“I give all the glory to God. When it happened my eyes were open, so I saw everything and I really should’ve been blinded,” Njoku told reporters, adding ... "Luckily I'm not, so I give all glory to God."
David Njoku spoke today, said he’s grateful to God to be alive.
— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) October 13, 2023 @H_Grove
Said his eyes were open when the whole thing happened and he’s blessed to have his vision and his breath. #Browns pic.twitter.com/Cc6yxwUeQb
Of course, the 27-year-old, former first-round draft pick stamped his status as one of the toughest dudes around when he played the week 4 game against the Ravens just days after the incident, somehow wearing a helmet over the burned area.
“All the pain and suffering from training in the offseason is far worse than any of this,” Njoku said.
The Browns lost handily to Baltimore, 28-3, but David was a bright spot, catching 6 passes for 46 yards ... despite the burns.
Initially, Njoku didn't reveal the injury. In fact, he walked in and out of the locker room with a mask that covered his whole face.
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Then, earlier this week, David shared a photo from shortly after the incident, in addition to a photo showing the burns healing, albeit slowly.
As for how he's feeling now ... how's this for good news?
"Never felt better."
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Offset & Cardi B Free Burgers & Booze for Everybody!!!
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Offset's long-awaited album "Set It Off" has finally dropped … and he celebrated with a club bash blowout featuring Cardi B as the ultimate hype woman!!!
TMZ Hip Hop obtained footage from inside Offset’s album release party Thursday night at Poppy in West Hollywood. Cardi got the crowd amped as she dished out tequila shots.
However, Cardi wasn't about to let fans drink on an empty stomach … passing out heaping helpings of Shake Shack for the crowd. Cardi was definitely having a good time, at one point spilling some of the drink all over herself.
R&B star Mario was also in the building, and Bronny James was spotted soaking up the album.
Cardi told fans she's a big fan of the Don Toliver-featured track “Worth It,” and we’re told that will be the album’s next single ... always good to keep wifey happy.
Outside the club, the raunchy couple turned up to their “Freaky” duet — Cardi’s second "Set It Off" album contribution in addition to the previously released “Jealousy.”
The album features even more star power from Travis Scott, Latto, Future, and Mango Foo … TBD if Offset has the energy to keep on promoting after shutting down the club!!!
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Israeli Teenage Girl Mom Distracted Her With Taylor Swift Concert ... When Hiding From Hamas
An Israeli teen girl and her family hid from Hamas terrorists for hours on end ... and her mom kept her mind distracted by focusing on an upcoming Taylor Swift concert.
13-year-old Renana Botzer Swissa told CBS News she rushed into her family' safe room Saturday with her parents and grandmother as Hamas aggressors raided the settlement of Kfar Aza -- near the Gaza border.
Swissa says her mom, Ilanit, used Taylor as a means of distracting her teenage daughter from the potentially fatal possibilities that could arise if they were found ... telling Swissa to think about the Europe concert in June as something happy to look forward to.
She says the thought of seeing Taylor live gave her hope that they'd make it out of the unspeakable evil alive, but admits terrible thoughts were still looming over her -- including worries that she'd be kidnapped, raped, or even killed.
Swissa also made a promise to her mom, saying she'd let her give her kisses if they survived ... this after she apparently had been playfully getting annoyed by all the smooches she'd been given.
Since making it out of the safe room alive 16 hours later, Ilanit says she's been giving her daughter nothing but kisses.
As you know, the destruction has continued to intensify in the Middle East since Hamas first attacked Israel on Saturday -- the current total death count is reportedly over 3,000, which includes 27 Americans.
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Britney Spears I Got Michelle Williams to Record My Book
Britney Spears got herself a real Hollywood heavy-hitter to record the bulk of her audiobook -- Michelle Williams, the 5-time Oscar nominee.
Britney made the big announcement Friday morning that the audio version of "The Woman in Me" will be recorded by Michelle. Britney herself did record the prologue to her memoir, but Michelle did the rest.
Brit told People, "Reliving everything has been exciting, heart-wrenching, and emotional, to say the least. For those reasons, I will only be reading a small part of my audiobook."
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TMZ broke the story ... Britney just found it too painful to record several chapters of the book -- particularly those dealing with her family members, from whom she's currently estranged. They had attempted to get Reese Witherspoon on board, but couldn't work out the scheduling.
Britney says she's grateful to Michelle for doing the heavy lifting in the recording booth.
Michelle, who's last Oscar nom came for last year's "Fabelmans," has never voiced an audiobook before, but clearly wanted to support the pop star.
As Michelle put it, "I stand with Britney."
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Jeff Bezos Buys FL Neighbor's Mansion For $79M ... I'm All About Expansion!!!
Jeff Bezos is expanding his real estate portfolio ... dropping 8-figures for a sprawling estate in Florida's "Billionaire Bunker" island ... and it's next door to a house he already owns.
The Amazon founder plunked down $79 million to buy his neighbor's 19,064-square-foot mansion in Indian Creek ... a barrier island in Biscayne Bay that's chock full of billionaires.
Jeff's new place has 7 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms and it comes with all the bells and whistles ... we're talking a home theater, wine cellar, library, maids' quarters, pool and sauna.
Lauren Sanchez's fiancé even got a discount on the property ... the estate was previously listed in May for $85 million, and Jeff bought it Thursday for $6 mil less.
Jeff reportedly bought a 3-bedroom home next door to this new one back in August for $68 million in an off-market deal ... so it will be interesting to see what he does with the neighboring properties.
Anyone else smell a billionaire compound in the making?
All of the homes in Indian Creek are on the water with boat docks ... and we all know Jeff and Lauren love a good yacht.
Jeff's new neighbors are pretty impressive too ... Tom Brady's building a home in the exclusive enclave, and so are Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.
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Report: Cristiano Ronaldo Facing '99 Lashes' For Hugging Iranian Painter
A severe beating could be in Cristiano Ronaldo's future ... and it's reportedly all because he hugged and kissed a female painter in Iran last month.
Here's the deal ... Ronaldo was in the country to play in Al-Nassr's Asian Champions League game against Persepolis on Sept. 19 -- but before the match happened, he was greeted by several fans who showered him with gifts.
One of them included painter Fatima Hamimi, who creates art with her feet due to a disability.
She handed over two ultra-realistic drawings of the 38-year-old ... and as a thank you, Ronaldo embraced her and gave her a peck on the forehead.
It all seemed quite innocuous, but according to multiple reports in Iran, Ronaldo is now in hot water over it all -- because in the country, it's reportedly considered adultery to touch another woman while in a relationship. The soccer player, of course, has been in a longtime partnership with Georgina Rodriguez.
Multiple outlets reported this week that Ronaldo's actually been sentenced to 99 lashes over it all. However, at least one report said he can escape the punishment if he shows remorse for his actions.
Ronaldo is not currently slated to return to Iran for an Al-Nassr game again ... although one could be scheduled at a later date if the team makes it to the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League tournament.
So far, Ronaldo -- who joined Al-Nassr last year -- has yet to comment on the matter.
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Lil Yachty Debuts $1M Smile No, Literally ... Veneers Costs 7 Figures!!!
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Lil Yachty is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase "expensive taste" ... the star rapper just got fitted with a pair of custom veneers, worth a cool $1,050,000!!!
Lil Boat unveiled his new chompers Thursday ... the latest artwork from Thomas Connelly, D.D.S., the Bev. Hills dentist renowned for working with a ton of other celebrities such as Post Malone, Shaq, Odell Beckham, and others.
We're told Angel City Jewelers provided the diamonds ... 16 carats to be exact, complete with 4 custom-cut stones.
Yachty's had a pretty stellar year, he's featured on Drake's new album, and he just earned a rave review from Donald Glover for his "Secret Recipe" collab with J. Cole.
Keeping up the pricey porcelain will likely be a job within itself. How much does floss run for $1 million veneers anyway?
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Rolls-Royce Theft Biz Man Flies Banner Over Florida ... Find My Car and the Thief Who Stole It!!!
A Florida business mogul is proving the sky's the limit when it comes to getting back his wife's stolen Rolls-Royce.
Bob Benyo used an airplane to fly a huge banner over Miami that read, "STOLEN PURPLE ROLLS-ROYCE REWARD." The message also included Bob's personal cell phone number. Now how's that for going all out?
Benyo -- the CEO of Aerial Banners, Inc. -- was super pissed after his wife Olga's $250,000 luxury car was snatched from their garage at their waterfront home in South Florida on September 21. A neighbor's security camera captured the thieves walking up the driveway and then rolling away in the Rolls.
Benyo told Fox News Digital, "It’s insured for more than it’s worth, but that’s not the point. The point is this is exactly why my insurance rates are so high and your rates are so high, and I’m sick of it. I’m done."
He went on ... "I thought immediately, I'm going to fly an airplane with a message offering a $5,000 reward."
Benyo also said investigators believe the suspects "cloned" the garage remote to gain entry and steal the RR Wraith, leaving behind his Aston Martin Vanquish and 1979 Chevelle.
But, Benyo thinks they also tried to steal his Aston Martin because his $1,500 key to the vehicle is M.I.A.
As for the perpetrators, they're still at large ... for now.
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Taylor Swift & Brittany Mahomes New Game Day BFFs ... Wildly Root On Travis Kelce
Taylor Swift has a new BFF in Brittany Mahomes while watching BF Travis Kelce's NFL games -- and there's video to prove it!!
The pop star came out to see her favorite tight end, Travis, and his Kansas City Chiefs trounce the Denver Broncos 19-8 at Arrowhead Stadium Thursday night.
It was Taylor's THIRD time showing up at one of Travis' games -- and she made the most of it with buddy Brittany -- KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes' wife -- at her side in their comfy suite.
Check out this video posted on X ... Taylor and Brittany just go wild, cracking big smiles while embracing in a huge hug after Travis caught a pass during one of the plays in the second quarter.
Of course, Taylor had her other game day BFF, Travis' mom, Donna, right there beside her, too.
Taylor even gave one of her famous friendship bracelets to Donna, who was proudly wearing it around her wrist all night.
It seems the whole trio -- Taylor, Brittany and Donna -- are thick as thieves these days. Taylor was also spotted striking up a convo with Travis' dad, Ed.
As you know, Taylor and Travis have been acting like a couple over the past few months. Taylor has been popping up at Travis' games and hanging out with him in public and private.
Right now, everyone is one big happy family!!
Do you think the Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes friendship is the real deal? Vote below.
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Disturbing Video Israeli Diplomat Stabbed In China ... Knife Suspect Limps Away
The growing conflict in the Middle East seems to have spread to China as terrifying video emerged of a knife-wielding assailant stabbing an Israeli Embassy worker outside in broad daylight.
The frenzied attack unfolded on a Beijing sidewalk Friday after Hamas' ex-leader ordered a global 'Day of Jihad,' calling on all Muslims to show support for Palestinians -- under the leadership of Hamas terrorists -- in their fight against Israel.
Check out this footage, obtained by the South China Morning Post ... the Israeli diplomat is rolling around on the ground trying to fend off the maniac, who is wildly stabbing him with the knife. The suspect clumsily gets to his feet and again stabs the diplomat in the chest. You can hear the victim scream, "Why, Why?"
After that, the attacker limps away, nursing an injury to his leg that has bled through his pants. The video cuts off as he's fleeing. It's not clear if he was arrested.
As for the diplomat, he was rushed to a local hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. The extent of his injuries was not disclosed.
Meanwhile, Israeli military officials issued a warning to Palestinians to leave the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, while continuing to drop bombs in the area.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas after the terrorist group launched a sneak attack, killing more than 1300 Jewish men, women and children.
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'The Wizard of Oz' Thief Who Stole Ruby Red Slippers Comes Clean ... He Won't Be Lion to the Judge
A Minnesota man who apparently didn't know right from wrong now knows witch from witch ... because he's about to fess up that he stole Dorothy's ruby red slippers.
76-year-old Terry Jon Martin, who pled not guilty to stealing maybe the most iconic piece of movie memorabilia ever, is expected to change his plea to guilty Friday, because he had a crisis of conscience.
The shoes -- central to the plot of "The Wizard of Oz" -- were ensconced in the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, until 2005, when someone stole them. It was a big enough case for the FBI to jump in, and the feds recovered the shoes in 2018.
The case went unsolved until this year, when Martin was arrested and charged with theft of a major artwork.
Martin's attorney, Dane DeKrey, says his client -- who is in failing health -- has decided to come clean and confess, saying, "I think Terry is facing his own mortality and I think when people are reaching that point in their life, they cut through the pleasantries and talk turkey."
The shoes, which had magical qualities in the 1939 musical, were insured for $1 million, but valued at an estimated $3.5 mil.
Well, maybe he's not a heel after all.
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Britney Spears Father Won't Read Upcoming Memoir
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Jamie Spears is not concerned in the slightest with the contents of Britney Spears' upcoming memoir ... he's not even going to bother reading the book.
A source close to the Spears family tells TMZ ... Jamie's not sweating what Britney has to say about him in her new book, "The Woman In Me," because she's already trashed him both in court and on social media, once saying she hoped he'd spend the rest of his life in jail.
In addition to Britney's book ... his ex-wife, Lynne, and Britney's younger sister, Jamie Lynn, both released memoirs detailing how Jamie was an absent father during Britney's upbringing ... which coincided with his struggles with alcohol. In other words, they've all pretty much said everything, so what else is there to know?
Fact is ... Jamie's already taken ownership of being a bad dad when Britney grew up, but when she was in dire straits back in 2008, Jamie came to L.A. to help her and stayed for the next 13 years as her conservator.
Britney's lawyer, Matt Rosengart, has alleged Jamie fleeced her for millions of dollars during that conservatorship, and Britney might be addressing that as well. But our sources say so far, Rosengart has not gotten a single penny from Jamie, in part because almost all the expenditures were court-approved.
Short story ... we're told Jamie has no clue what made the final cut in Britney's memoir ... and he's not interested in finding out because he lived through it and knows the truth.
The memoir is set to come out Oct. 24 ... and while it may be a page-turner for some, it won't be for Jamie.
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Sophie Turner Unfollows Priyanka Chopra Ditches Nick Jonas' Wife Amid Divorce From Joe
Sophie Turner has removed Nick Jonas' wife, Priyanka Chopra, from her Instagram feed ... clicking the "unfollow" button as the actress' divorce from Joe Jonas moves forward.
The "Game of Thrones" star no longer follows Priyanka as of Friday, although it's unclear exactly when she gave Nick's wife the boot.
It also looks like Priyanka doesn't follow Sophie on IG, either -- but Sophie still has Joe and Nick on her list of follows ... as well as their brother, Kevin, and his wife, Danielle.
The sisterhood ran pretty deep between Sophie and Priyanka, BTW ... the former Bollywood actress was a bridesmaid and flower girl at Sophie and Joe's wedding in Las Vegas back in 2019 -- an honor that's not given to just anyone.
Priyanka even spoke highly about her connection to Sophie and Danielle ... saying over the years that they are her "family by proxy," since she grew up without a sister.
As we reported, Joe filed for divorce at the beginning of September ... and what followed was a tense battle over custody for weeks. Sophie even filed a lawsuit against Joe, claiming he was illegally refusing to let their kids go with her to England.
TMZ broke the story, the 2 found common ground earlier this week, striking a deal in their child custody case, showing signs that a final settlement was looming. On Wednesday, Joe filed to dismiss their divorce case in Miami and settle in private.
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Taylor Swift Let's Go, Travis!!! Arrives to Chiefs Game
UPDATE
6:08 PM PT -- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's mom, Donna, look thick as thieves ... because Taylor gave Donna one of her famous friendship bracelets.
Pretty ingenious way to get in tight with the family, right?!?
5:00 PM PT -- Taylor Swift is watching the game from Travis Kelce's suite ... sitting next to his mom, Donna.
It's the same suite Taylor was in the first time she watched Travis and the Chiefs play ... so we'll see if she's a good luck charm again, and it seems she's cool with Travis' mom, which is always important.
Taylor Swift is officially in the building, ready to watch Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs in person for the third time in four weeks.
Swift just walked into Arrowhead Stadium, where Travis and company are set to take on Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos. Taylor walked through security with a giant smile on her face while wearing a red Chiefs jacket.
Taylor's had a wild 24 hours ... shutting down The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles Wednesday for the premiere of her "Eras Tour" movie.
Taylor posed for pics, chatted with fans and even spent some time with Beyoncé at the premiere. She hopped on a jet out of L.A. and arrived in Kansas City just a few hours ago for the big game.
As we reported, Travis' status was previously "questionable" for the game, as he was battling an ankle injury ... but he's officially gotten the green light.
Taylor previously attended Travis' Week 3 matchup against the Chicago Bears, then followed the team to New Jersey to watch them play the Jets in Week 4. She skipped out last weekend when the team was in Minnesota.
While Taylor and Kelce have been relatively quiet on their relationship status, we've heard from sources the two had been hanging out for months before she attended his first game.
We should note ... the Chiefs haven't lost since Taylor was first in attendance, so we'll see how this one plays out.
Originally Published -- 4:33 PM PT
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Sam Asghari Not Dating After Britney Divorce Not Nervous at All Over Upcoming Memoir
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Sam Asghari says he's got no worries over Britney Spears' memoir, and he knows because he's already read it.
We got Sam out in Bev Hills Thursday, and despite their acrimonious split, he has nothing but kind words for Britney and her soon-to-be-released memoir. He says he's extremely proud of her.
Sam apparently is spared Britney's slings and arrows, because he says he's excited for the book's release. Given their explosive relationship, it's kind of surprising.
Now as for dating, Sam says that's not happening now. His life is all about acting and stunt training.
As we reported, Sam filed for divorce from Britney in August after 14 months of marriage --sources told us Sam believed she cheated on him with a staffer at her home ... and alleged footage showed them in a compromising position together.
We were told all communication was cut off between them since the divorce, but the way he's talking, it sounds like things may have smoothed over.
One caveat ... even if Sam read the book, he may not have seen the final version. We're told Britney made some changes after they split.
Stay tuned.
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Taylor Swift Fans Selling 'Eras' Premiere Swag ... Popcorn Tin For $100!!!
Taylor Swift's fans are passionate and entrepreneurial, already cashing in on their free goodies from her 'Eras Tour' film premiere by hawking little things like a popcorn tin and cup ... for a couple hundy!!!
The 2,200 Swifties lucky enough to have been invited to the worldwide debut of Taylor's movie Wednesday night in L.A., hopped on eBay the next day in hopes of pocketing some extra dough -- pawning off souvenirs they got at the theater.
For instance, that popcorn bucket Beyoncé and Taylor were eating out of when Bey made her surprise appearance -- not the actual one, but one like it -- could fetch a hefty profit.
These sellers are no joke, BTW ... some are asking up to $250 for 2 items -- adding a drink cup to go with the popcorn bucket. Most listings, though, are around $100 right now, and a couple of them even include the tote bag and poster fans also got.
Remember, they got all of this stuff for free -- so, any amount they get is a profit.
Here's the kicker, the bucket and cup aren't even exclusive to the big event -- in fact, they're the same ones the general public can buy at all AMC Theaters, where the flick is playing exclusively.
The tin only costs $19.89 at the theater -- a nod to her 2014 album title and its upcoming rerelease -- and the large cup is $11.99.
It's worth mentioning, those souvenir collectibles -- ones not Taylor-related -- normally sell out really fast at theaters. Adding her to the mix means demand for the items will be through the roof. Good luck, Swifties!