Matthew Perry Mystery Woman Revealed ... Says He Was 'Happy & Vibrant' In Last Chat

The woman Matthew Perry was last seen with out in public has been identified ... and she says the late actor was in good spirits during their talk the day before he passed away.

Athenna Crosby, a 25-year-old model and entertainment reporter, has come forward as the mystery brunette Matthew went out with last Friday at the Hotel Bel-Air ... revealing she "had the honor of knowing Matthew personally."

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Athenna writes, "I am so devastated from his death but felt it was in poor taste to talk about it publicly as the attention should not be on me but rather on him and his legacy and he was an extremely private person and I always respected that in our friendship."

She says Matthew was in "extremely good spirits" when they dined together -- adding he talked with her "enthusiastically about the things that he had coming up in his life. He was so happy and vibrant."

While some may speculate this date was romantic, Athenna assures us it wasn't ... telling TMZ they were just friends and met through a mutual friend a few months ago.

She also tells us Matthew was very positive during their chat ... excited about losing weight and looking forward to heading to the pickleball court on Saturday. As you know, he was found unresponsive in his jacuzzi after spending hours at the court.

BTW, Athenna shared a look at the signed copy she has of Matthew's memoir, 'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing' -- in which he called her "the number 1 girl."

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

BRITNEY SPEARS CHILDHOOD LOUISIANA HOME HITS MARKET FOR $1.2M With MANY OG Furnishings!

Britney Spears' childhood home in Kentwood, Louisiana hit the market Tuesday for a cool $1.2M ... TMZ has learned.

Nearly 2 and a half years after the property was sold by the pop star's estranged father, Jamie Spears, for just $289K ... the new owner is hoping to be "Lucky" enough to make an eye-watering profit by preserving some of its original furnishings.

The 3-bed, 3-bathroom home has 2,299 sq. ft. of living space, sits on 1.87 acres of land ... and even boasts the original dance studio where little starry-eyed Brit began her journey to superstardom.

The property still has a few of Britney's childhood colorings intact ... including a cheeky little dig at someone we can only assume to be ... Christina Aguilera?!

She's also left a message in the concrete which reads, "Love Britney."

If that wasn't enough nineties nostalgia for you ... we can imagine Britney manifesting a relationship with fellow Mouseketeer Justin Timberlake, given the mini-NSYNC shrine STILL in her bedroom.

Finally, there's two pieces of art Britney allegedly left behind, including one with her name and another that reads, "Jesus Loves Me."

We're told the seller was ready for something new, and the timing of the listing has nothing to do with Britney's new memoir, "The Woman In Me" ... in which she heavily chronicles her time growing up in the rural property.

Yvonne Hulsey of Keller Williams Realty Services holds the listing.

Airbnb Pull Up A Chair At Thanksgiving Table With Viral Grandma & Jamal For Annual Meetup!

The viral texting mishap between a grandma and a teenager that's blossomed into a heartwarming Thanksgiving tradition ... can now be part of your holiday fun, as Airbnb offers a chance to join them at the table!

Jamal Hinton's story became a sensation 7 years ago -- when he was just a teen -- and got a text inviting him to Wanda Dench's Thanksgiving feast. The text was intended for Wanda's grandson, but after she and Jamal chatted, he ended up attending.

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The 2 have been reuniting on the holiday every year since, and they're teaming up with Airbnb this time around to give someone else the chance to join in on the fun ... by co-hosting a 1-night stay at Wanda's home in Arizona for the Monday before Thanksgiving!

The 2 lucky guests will have a seat at their annual dinner, fixed with everyone's favorite holiday dishes ... and will be able to partake in fun things like playing board games, watching movies, and cozying up by the fire with some cider or hot cocoa.

Those who secure the booking will also take part in Wanda and Jamal's annual selfie -- a high honor -- and exchange stories, experiences, and memories while creating new ones together.

Interested guests can request to book the overnight stay on November 14 at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT / 11 AM MST. The stay will cost only $16 -- a nod to the year Wanda and Jamal first spent the holiday together.

We're told Airbnb is also making a donation to Feeding America -- the largest hunger relief organization in the U.S. -- to further the goal of creating an America where no one is hungry.

For more viral news, tune in to the TMZ Verified Podcast. Dropping every Thursday on all podcast platforms.

Ashanti Happy Birthday, Nelly!!! Gifts Custom Impala

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Ashanti is definitely in the running for best gift-giver -- 'cause she gave her boo, Nelly, the custom Impala of his dreams for his 49th birthday.

Celebrity car broker Ronnie Garber tells TMZ ... he got a call last week from DJ Envy, saying Ashanti was looking for a specific ride to give Nelly for his big day -- and needed it in Atlanta by Halloween night, a couple days before his birthday.

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We're told the artist wanted a custom 1962 Impala convertible -- the candy apple blue ride is equipped with a Corvette L's motor and a sound system with Nelly's logo on it.

She gave him the ride at his big army-themed bash, too ... when he was presented with his cake onstage, she told him about the gift she got him, which set off some fireworks ahead of the reveal.

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We're told Nelly wasn't just happy, but he got emotional -- saying it was his dream car from when he was a kid, so it rightfully is goin' down for him as the best gift of all time.

As for the custom car, we're told it set Ashanti back well over $100k ... but it sounds like it was worth it!

As we reported, the 2 restarted their relationship earlier this year, being spotted out together quite a bit even jamming out together to Usher's "Nice & Slow" -- a potential nod at their romance's pace.

Courteney Cox Seen for First Time Since Matthew Perry Death

Courteney Cox was spotted out for the first time since losing her "Friends" costar, Matthew Perry ... appearing downcast while leaving dinner with her boyfriend and some pals.

The actress and her BF, Johnny McDaid, left Nobu Malibu Monday night ... jumping into their ride after dining with friends.

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Courteney didn't look to be in the best spirits, and rightfully so -- TMZ broke the story, Matthew passed away over the weekend at his Pacific Palisades home, being found unresponsive in his hot tub.

Courteney and her "Friends" co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer all released a joint statement after Matthew's passing -- saying they're "utterly devastated" and were "going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss."

While a full toxicology report could take anywhere from 4-6 months, an initial test revealed Matthew didn't have any fentanyl or meth in his system ... there were prescription drugs found at his house, all prescribed to him.

LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division is investigating Matthew's death, despite there being no evidence of foul play ... but the LAPD told us it's common for detectives to take the lead on high-profile cases like this.

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

Tyler Christopher Friend Found 'General Hospital' Star Dead at Home

More details have emerged surrounding the sudden death of "General Hospital" star Tyler Christopher ... it was a friend who discovered the actor dead inside his home.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ officers responded to Christopher's apartment in San Diego Tuesday morning around 9:30. We're told a friend went to check in on Tyler after being unable to get in touch.

Our sources say the friend was able to gain access to Tyler's locked apartment with a key they had been previously given by the actor.

Once inside, we're told the friend discovered Tyler deceased in his bedroom and called 911. Our sources said it appeared he had been dead for some time.

As we reported, Tyler's "General Hospital" costar, Maurice Bernard, broke the news of the actor's death, writing, "a truly talented individual that lit up the screen in every scene he performed and relished bringing joy to his loyal fans through his acting."

Maurice added, "Tyler was a sweet soul and wonderful friend to all of those who knew him. Tyler was an advocate for better mental health and substance use treatment who openly spoke about his struggles with bipolar depression and alcohol."

Tyler was most known for his work on "General Hospital" -- appearing in 1,153 episodes from 1996 to 2016 -- and for his role as Stefan DiMera on "Days of our Lives."

He was only 50.

MATTHEW PERRY Negative for Fentanyl & Meth ... Initial Tests Reveal

Matthew Perry's death was not the effect of a fentanyl or meth overdose, at least that's what initial tests indicate ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ investigators ran a less-in-depth test on Perry which revealed he did not have fentanyl or meth in his system. However, it's important to note, more in-depth tests are still being conducted as part of toxicology to analyze whether any other illegal drugs present in his blood -- and if the levels of any prescription meds were at harmful doses.

Those results will likely take anywhere from 4-6 months to be returned, and once all that data is gathered, the coroner will determine the cause and manner of death.

As we first reported, the prescription drugs found in Matthew's house were all prescribed to the actor for his various ailments, and stored in proper bottles.

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If something illicit were to come back in his autopsy results, LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division would continue to investigate.

RHD's involvement initially had people scratching their heads, especially as there's currently NO evidence of foul play ... however, it's common for detectives from that division to take the lead on high-profile cases because of its experience and dedicated manpower.

As TMZ first reported, Matthew was found unresponsive in his hot tub Saturday at his home in the Pacific Palisades after playing pickleball for a couple hours earlier that day at Riviera Country Club.

While it appears he died from drowning, the Coroner will have the official word, once all the testing is complete.

The fact initial testing shows no overdose from meth or fentanyl -- a far too common killer in America's opioid epidemic -- falls in line with what people close to Matthew have told us ... that he was sober and "never happier."

Elon Musk Zuck's Fault MMA Fight Didn't Happen I'm Still Down 'Anytime, Anywhere, Any Place'

Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, the biggest fight that never happened, ain't dead just yet ... 'cause the billionaire X owner says he's still ready to beat up Zuck!

52-year-old Musk joined Joe Rogan's JRE pod on Tuesday ... when the convo turned to the fight with the 39-year-old Facebook founder. For the first time, Elon explained, from his perspective, why negotiations broke down, torpedoing the bout.

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“Italy actually was willing to let us use the Coliseum,” Musk told Rogan.

“I was like, well, can’t turn that down. Then I was like, well, if it’s going to be in the Coliseum, I like UFC and everything, but we don’t have tons of ads in UFC branding on the Coliseum 'cause it’s a place of great history. You don’t want to have it be all like NASCAR. And then Zuck pulled out.”

Of course, talk of the fight between the two ultra-wealthy moguls started around the time Zuck launched his X-competitor, Threads. Elon tweeted he was "up for a cage match," and Mark responded, channeling Khabib, saying ... "Send me location."

And, we were off ... unfortunately, a deal never materialized, and Zuck accused Musk of screwing around with no intention to actually fight.

"[Zuckerberg] accused me of not being serious, and I said, ‘Listen, at the end of the day, I’ll fight you any place, anywhere, under any rules,’” Elon told Joe.

As for who'd win the fight, Elon's clearly heard the people who say Mark would kick his ass because of his jiu-jitsu experience. He doesn't agree.

“I’m like 50% heavier than him,” 6'2", 240-ish lb. Musk said.

“I’ve got my patented 'walrus' move. I just lie on him. A walrus doesn’t need martial arts training because it’s really big.”

Bottom line ... the fight may be on life support, but Elon's indicating there's still a chance it goes down, and he says he's ready to crack right now.

“I don’t need any time, no time at all."

Your move, Zuck! 👊

Diddy Insane Batman Costume!!! Thumbs Nose at WB & SAG

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Diddy gives zero f****, and proved it with a Batman costume -- complete with a real Batmobile -- that's so dead-on to the 'Dark Knight' movies, it's sure to piss off Warner Bros. ... and maybe even SAG-AFTRA.

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Check out the artist's killer look from Tuesday night's festivities -- the dude's a spitting image of the big screen Batman, and on top of his picture-perfect costume, he was riding around Hollywood in Batman's Tumbler ... the Batmobile of choice in the Christopher Nolan movies.

Diddy rented the iconic ride from TV Show Cars out of New Jersey and had it transported across the United States.

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As we reported, Diddy told Jimmy Kimmel he was going to step up his Halloween game this year -- after saying last year's insanely good Joker costume resulted in WB claiming it was a copyright violation.

Kimmel told him to just dress up as Heath Ledger's character again, despite the heat, but Diddy warned his costume this year would also have WB lawyers working overtime ... and he was true to his word.

And then there's the actor's union -- SAG said it didn't want its members dressing up as movie characters for Halloween, but Diddy, and several others, are clearly ignoring that demand.

Batman was tripped up by one Halloween goblin ... fuel mileage. His Batmobile ran outta gas on Sunset Blvd!!! Of course, he's got people for that, and one of 'em fetched a gas canister for a refill -- not the hero Diddy deserved, but the one he needed!

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

KHLOE KARDASHIAN UNDER FIRE FOR BLACKFISHING AGAIN! ...'You didn't have to be darker to be a Bratz doll'

Khloe Kardashian has found herself at the end of blackfishing accusations ... AGAIN.

In several posts shared to her Instagram for Halloween Tuesday, the Good American founder was seen posing away while playing dress up as a Bratz doll.

Accessorizing with a crystal-encrusted Bratz logo handbag, she wore a yellow minidress atop a long-sleeved white shirt, complete with a matching yellow beret over a knee-length platinum blonde wig.

But, unfortunately for Khloe, the attention was not on her outfit -- it was on her skin tone, which, according to many of her horrified followers, was "10 times darker."

"How is this not blackfishing?" one person fumed, while another claimed that she wanted to "see what she would look like black." Others chimed in they don't even recognize her questioning, "so khloe is doing blackface?"

For those who don't know, the term "blackfishing" is used to describe white people using filters, makeup, or excessive tan to masquerade as Black for monetary value and personal gain.

Khloe hasn't been the only one of her sisters accused of blackfishing ... Kylie Jenner has also come under fire over the years -- most recently when she announced her Bratz doll collection back in August.

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As for now, Khloe didn't let the blackfishing accusations get to her as she continued to share images on her Insta with her fellow Bratz dolls ... sister Kim and friends Natalie Halcro and Olivia Pierson.

Celine Dion Resurfaces after 3 1/2 Years at Hockey Game ... As She Battles Stiff-Person Syndrome

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Celine Dion made an appearance Monday in Vegas ... and the images are remarkable, given what she's been going through.

Celine hit up a hockey game at the T-Mobile Arena between the Vegas Golden Knights and her hometown team, the Montreal Canadiens.

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Although her team lost, everyone was in good spirits in the locker room afterward as Celine chatted up the team and seemed in great spirits.

As you know, she's been struggling with stiff-person syndrome, an extremely painful neurological disorder that triggers sometimes unbearable muscle spasms.

The video and photos are kind of astonishing ... there have been no photos of the singer for 3 1/2 years. She hasn't performed and has released almost all of her staff as she deals with her illness.

Celine's sons, René-Charles, and twins Nelson and Eddy were with her, and posed with a couple players.

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Celine told the world late last year she was suffering from the disease and explained her music career was on hold until she could put her illness in check.

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

Ariana Grande Swarmed By Fans On Broadway ... After Seeing BF Ethan Slater In 'Spamalot'

Ariana Grande's supporting her boyfriend, Ethan Slater, by hitting Broadway to watch his latest role in "Spamalot" -- and that means coming face-to-face with tons of her fans for the first time in a long time.

The crowd was waitin' for the singer outside the St. James Theater Tuesday night, where Ariana was checking out Ethan's performance in the Monty Python musical -- she left the show with a pal, her Playbill and a "Spamalot" paper crown.

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Obviously, word got 'round that Ari was catching the show on Halloween, because loads of folks greeted her once the musical was over, and a lot wanted to snap pics with the singer ... but it sounded like she was a bit nervous for people's safety and instead took to the car.

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Ethan plays The Historian & Prince Herbert in the Broadway revival -- it officially opens later this month, so Ari and co. were on hand for the musical's first preview. Always good to be in the with the cast.

Her friend really got into the Halloween spirit, BTW ... taking in the show while dressed as Sir Galahad!

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Sources close to Ariana tell TMZ ... she's been having more fun, and going out more often lately -- we're told it's clear she feels safer and more able to be herself in this new relationship.

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As we reported, we got Ethan leaving court last week after handling divorce and custody proceedings with his estranged wife, Lilly Jay -- we asked him how things were goin' with Ariana, but, for now, he's keeping pretty tight-lipped.

McDonald's, Chipotle Raising Prices In California ... After State Increases Fast-Food Workers' Wages

Fast food giants McDonald's and Chipotle are hikin' up their prices once again in California ... this after Governor Gavin Newsom approved a wage increase for fast-food workers.

The Golden Arches' CEO Chris Kempczinski announced the CA price increase Monday, although it's unclear exactly how much the grub will now cost across the State.

Chipotle did much of the same last week, with CFO Jack Hartung revealing on a company earnings call the Mexican fast-food chain would likely bump up prices, too.

While an increase in cost for your Big Mac or burrito bowl certainly isn't new, the latest price change comes after Gov. Newsom signed legislation in September that increased the minimum wage for fast-food workers from $16.21 to $20 an hour.

Newsom said CA is "home to more than 500,000 fast-food workers who – for decades – have been fighting for higher wages and better working conditions."

The new law will kick in starting in April ... safe to say, other popular food spots might follow in McDonald's and Chipotle's footsteps.

Lil Nas X I Had a Bloody Good Time This Halloween!!!

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Lil Nas X certainly had an interesting look for Halloween this year, mixing gore with feminine hygiene ... and opting to dress as a bloody tampon.

The "Old Town Road" rapper revealed the shocking look on Instagram Tuesday night as celebs took to the platform to show off their looks. Nas' video starts out with a homemade vagina before panning out to the rest of his look ... complete with a blonde wig and high white boots.

Most of his fans found humor in the costume, with comments like, "Really said PERIOD." and "Some would say you have a heavy flow."

However some took offense to the outfit, writing, "I enjoy this look but the fact that you personally have never experienced the stigma, shame or pain involved with having a period makes me pause and think……. But why though?"

Another said, "Not funny. Actually quite misogynistic. And being gay does not give u pass."

Bloody Tampon Costume ...

Lil Nas X is no stranger to pushing the PC boundaries, especially on social media, so the look shouldn't be THAT shocking ... but clearly, he's still causing a divide.

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

BRADLEY COOPER & IRINA SHAYK WEAR MATCHING Costumes ... Take Daughter Trick-or-Treating

Bradley Cooper and his ex-fiancée Irina Shayk can't show a more united front than this -- rocking his and hers costumes for their Halloween night candy run ... with their daughter Lea, of course.

Despite ending their romance 4 years earlier, the actor and supermodel have always come together to co-parent, and they took that up a notch Tuesday night in Manhattan as they both dressed as Rocket Raccoon ... Bradley's "Guardians of the Galaxy" character!

However, little Lea branched out on her own from mom and dad ... making the swift decision to transform into pop star Taylor Swift from her "22" era.

Just like T-Swift did in the video for her 2012 hit, the young Swiftie wore a black fedora, red lipstick, and a white tee with the lyrics, "Who's Taylor Swift anyway? Ew".

The family made their way through their upscale NYC neighborhood while each parent held Lea's hand as she collected goodies.

As we revealed last month, Irina is no longer dating Tom Brady ... with their brief relationship "fizzling out." The writing had been on the wall for a while as the attractive duo had been in separate cities for a while.

On the other hand, things still seem to be going well for Bradley and model Gigi Hadid ... with the pair being seen together on numerous low-key outings in the last month.

So, a romantic reconciliation doesn't seem to be in the cards for Bradley and Irina right now ... but still nice to see them happily together as a family.

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

Don Lemon Take a Peek at Your Veep!!! Hilarious Halloween Moment

Don Lemon and his partner, Tim Malone, should win first prize for 2023's most hilarious politically-themed Halloween costumes -- and The White House would probably agree!!!

The ex-CNN anchor and Malone reimagined the moment President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris famously announced their victory in the 2020 election over Donald Trump and Mike Pence.

The image shows Lemon as Harris in a blue pants suit with a brown wig, and Malone as Biden in a crisp black suit and tie with white hair. Both are triumphantly holding each other's hands up while gripping American flags in their other fists. Lemon wrote in the caption, "We did it, Tim!!! Happy Halloween."

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Of course, the couple was imitating Biden and Harris speaking to one another by phone while congratulating themselves on their huge White House win. In a vid, Harris proudly proclaimed, "We did it, Joe!"

All in all, it's very funny stuff. Don and Tim get major kudos for creativity as well. And the real Joe and Kamala will probably get a couple of belly laughs out of it, too.

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

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