Astroworld Festival 9th Person Dies From Injuries Suffered

22-year-old Bharti Shahani has died ... making her the 9th casualty from Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival.

Shahani, who was a senior at Texas A&M University passed away Thursday after injuries sustained at the event Friday night in Houston ... according to a family attorney.

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GROSS INCOMPETENCE

As we had reported, Shahani had previously been declared brain dead, and was on a ventilator. She had gone to Astroworld with her sister and cousin, but the two got separated during a crowd surge. Bharti had reportedly suffered several heart attacks after the crowd crush and was rushed to a local hospital.

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DROPPED BY POLICE
TMZ.com

In an emotional press conference Thursday, a rep for Bharti's family confirmed she was the woman in a video -- obtained by TMZ -- that was dropped on her head as she was carried out by first responders. The rep says they want justice for Bharti and her family ... and for whoever put profits over safety to be held accountable.

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FAMILY'S FRUSTRATIONS

Bharti marks the latest victim in the tragedy, and it's possible more could come. As we reported, 9-year-old Ezra Blount is still hospitalized and fighting for his life. His family, with the help of civil rights attorney, Ben Crump, sued Travis and Live Nation for injuries they say were caused when Ezra was trampled.

Travis has vowed to pay for the funeral costs of the show's victims and to provide mental health services to those impacted by the events.

A rep for Travis tells us, "Over the last week, Travis Scott and his team have been actively exploring routes of connection with each and every family affected by the tragedy through the appropriate liaisons. He is distraught by the situation and desperately wishes to share his condolences and provide aid to them as soon as possible, but wants to remain respectful of each family’s wishes on how they'd best like to be connected."

They continue, "To those families who would like to reach out directly to his team, please send an email to AW21information@gmail.com where we will have a team on hand to assist."

Kyle Rittenhouse Trial Judge Shouts Out Veterans in Court ... Influencing Case???

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PAUSE FOR APPLAUSE

The judge in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial did something that, on its face, seems pure and patriotic -- but, arguably it could also, unjustly, impact the outcome of the trial.

Judge Bruce Schroeder opened proceedings Thursday in Kenosha, WI by saying he wanted to take a moment to recognize Veterans Day. He asked if there were any military vets on the jury, or anywhere in the courtroom.

Only one person responded ... John Black, a member of Rittenhouse's defense team. Judge Schroeder then asked everyone in court to applaud Black for his service, which they did.

Now, it's Veterans Day and no one's saying Black doesn't deserve the respect. The issue here is ... because Black is the defense's use-of-force expert, should the judge solicit applause for him???

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ANGRY JUDGE

The questionable move by Judge Schroeder comes a couple of days after he ripped into the prosecutor for raising the fact Rittenhouse was silent after his arrest to jurors ... which they could read as a sign of guilt.

To be fair ... anyone with a passing knowledge of law knows you have a right to remain silent, so the prosecutor earned that tongue-lashing.

By the same token, the judge lauding a defense team member with applause -- even on Veterans Day -- might not be the best look in the middle of a murder trial.

D.L. Hughley on Rittenhouse His 'White Tears' Will Sway Jurors ... 'Biased' Judicial System Needs Overhaul

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JUDGING THE JURY
TMZ.com

Even though Kyle Rittenhouse didn't seem to shed any actual tears on the stand, D.L. Hughley is convinced the jury will believe his "performance is real" ... and it very possibly could lead to his acquittal.

The comedian/activist's review of Rittenhouse's emotional testimony is pretty blunt -- worst acting since Stacey Dash -- but Thursday on "TMZ Live" he said it will be good enough to sway jurors because a "white dude crying with a haircut is very sympathetic."

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REAL OR FAKE?

Jokes aside, D.L. joined us Thursday on "TMZ Live" to discuss what he sees as clear biases, both in and out of the courtroom, surrounding Rittenhouse's case. First off, he says the right wing's financial support of the teenager's defense is evidence it believes "whatever you do for your cause is justified."

He also said our judicial system needs sweeping changes, and he proposed one overhaul to remove jury biases -- namely, not allowing jurors to see the defendant. That sparked an interesting debate about how our system is supposed to work ... versus how it actually does.

As for why these changes are needed -- well, D.L. believes too many people in power lack the principles to do what's right ... regardless of how it will affect them.

Check it out ... serious food for thought here.🤔

Odell Beckham Jr. Signs With Rams ... After Browns Cut

UPDATE

1:12 PM PT -- The deal is done -- OBJ to L.A. has been finalized, the team just announced.

UPDATE
UPDATE

1:12 PM PT -- A deal is not yet official, but LeBron James is already welcoming Odell to L.A. -- writing on social media Thursday, "Welcome to LA my brother @obj! It's GO TIME!!"

Odell Beckham Jr. has said goodbye to Cleveland and is now close to saying hello to Los Angeles ... 'cause the star receiver is reportedly about to sign with the Rams.

Just a couple days after the Browns waived the wideout -- Beckham is now finalizing a deal to play with Matt Stafford and Sean McVay, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday.

Of course, L.A.'s receiver room is already loaded ... Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods are perhaps the best duo in the league -- and their backups, including Van Jefferson, ain't slouches either.

But, L.A. hasn't been afraid to sign and/or trade for veteran depth at any point in the last few seasons regardless of its current roster -- so the move to ink Odell makes sense.

OBJ hasn't been a surefire superstar in years -- he battled injuries and, at times, poor QB play in Cleveland -- but seems like a good bet McVay, an offensive genius, will be able to feature him in Hollywood.

As for what number OBJ will wear when he finally gets on the squad ... for the first time in his career, it could be something different than #13.

Rams backup QB John Wolford currently owns the digits -- so, new city, new team, new number for Odell?!?

$600 Million Yacht Onboard Opulence ... Peek Inside Ship's Luxury Condos!!!

This 728-foot superyacht is going to be a floating paradise for those rich enough to snag one of the rooms luxury condos on board -- and this first look at life on the Somnio is incredible!!!

Ya gotta check out the gallery to see what folks are getting with these floating homes, which start at $11 million, BTW ... it's no wonder this $600 million yacht is being hailed as the most exclusive address on Earth.

It's going to be the biggest residential superyacht in the world, featuring 39 condos, decked out with sweeping ocean views, private gyms, libraries, balconies, terraces, indoor and outdoor dining areas and huge living rooms.

The shared amenities onboard are pretty extravagant too ... including a wine cellar and tasting room with 10,000 bottles, plus a movie theater, spa, restaurants, beach club and a lounge at the front of the yacht.

The Somnio won't set sail until 2024, but these renderings are sure to have the super-rich lining up for the maiden journey.

The rest of us will just be over here dreaming ... and drooling.

Olympics Star Suni Lee Pepper Sprayed In Anti-Asian Attack ... 'I Was So Mad'

Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee says she was a recent target of anti-Asian hate ... claiming she was pepper-sprayed and had racist slurs hurled at her.

18-year-old Lee detailed the altercation in an interview with Pop Sugar released this week ... saying she was waiting for an Uber with her friends -- all of Asian descent -- after a night out, when a car sped by and yelled phrases like "ching chong" and "go back to where they came from."

Lee -- the first Hmong American Olympic gold medalist -- says one person even sprayed her arm with pepper spray before speeding off.

The "Dancing with the Stars" contestant opened up on the incident -- which happened a week before the interview -- saying, "I was so mad, but there was nothing I could do or control because they skirted off," she told the outlet.

The number of hate crimes directed at Asians in America has risen in recent years ... with a study at California State University, San Bernardino reporting a 150% increase in 2020.

"I didn't do anything to them," Lee added, "and having the reputation, it's so hard because I didn't want to do anything that could get me into trouble. I just let it happen."

Fellow athletes Jeremy Lin and Yu Chang have also spoken out recently about hatred directed their way ... with the NBAer claiming he was called "coronavirus" on the court, and the Cleveland Guardians infielder getting flooded with racist DMs after a game.

Khloe Kardashian Decked Out for Lunch ... Wearing SKIMS X Fendi

Khloe Kardashian reappeared after her bout with COVID, and she definitely got noticed ... wearing a piece from her older sister's newest collab.

Khloe hit up JOEY restaurant in Woodland Hills for lunch, wearing a SKIMS X Fendi monogram jumpsuit. It's a head-to-toe type thing, and it accentuates everything! It's actually pretty bomb.

Khloe wearing Fendi is no accident ... big sister Kim has teamed up with Fendi for her SKIMS collection. As we reported, she made millions from the launch this week, including a million bucks in just the first minute the products were available.

Khloe's all smiles, but the family has drawn criticism for not pulling back after the Astroworld fiasco, given the controversy over Travis Scott's performance as the tragedy became apparent to people in the crowd.

Kim also drew fire for posting on social media, "Absolutely heartbroken for the lives who were lost and anyone who was hurt at Astroworld. Just like all of you our family is in shock by the tragedy. We are keeping all of the victims, families and loved ones impacted in our prayers for healing -- as well as Travis who we know cares so much about his fans and is truly devastated." Some folks say Kim should have put a final period after the word "healing."

LeBron James Trolls Rittenhouse Over Crying ... 'What Tears???'

Hours after Kyle Rittenhouse broke down on the stand and cried in front of a packed courtroom ... LeBron James trolled the 18-year-old, accusing the Kenosha shooter of putting on a show.

"What tears?????" the L.A. Lakers superstar said in a social media post. "I didn't see one. Man knock it off!"

The NBA player then took the mocking one step further ... adding three laughing emojis and writing, "That boy ate some lemon heads before walking into court."

Rittenhouse was on the stand trying to convince a courtroom that he acted in self-defense when he shot at people during an Aug. 2020 protest in Wisconsin.

The teenager -- who's been hit with multiple criminal charges, including two counts of homicide -- said, "I didn't do anything wrong. I defended myself."

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REAL OR FAKE?

Yet at one point during his testimony, he got so emotional trying to explain his actions ... he began sobbing and couldn't get words to leave his mouth.

Rittenhouse broke down in front of the microphone -- forcing a short break in the proceedings -- but James clearly believed it was all a ruse to try to draw sympathy.

The rest of Rittenhouse's hearing, meanwhile, also featured some drama ... with the judge in the courtroom admonishing prosecutors over the way they questioned Rittenhouse.

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ANGRY JUDGE

The officials had asked Rittenhouse about an incident that the judge had previously ruled would not be permitted as evidence ... and after Rittenhouse's attorneys objected, judge Bruce Schroeder exploded.

"You know very well that an attorney can't go into these types of areas when the judge has already ruled without asking outside the presence of the jury to do so," the judge said, accusing the prosecutor of "getting brazen" with him.

"So, don't give me that."

Rittenhouse's attorneys asked for a mistrial over it all.

Court proceedings are slated to resume Thursday.

Drake Did Meet J. Prince, Larry Hoover Jr. ... But Before Ye's Plea

There's a full-court press on for Drake and Kanye West to make peace, and a key player in the negotiations is raising fans' hopes with an interesting photo ... but TMZ's learned it's not exactly what it seems.

As you know, Ye made a video plea this week -- with Rap-A-Lot Records founder J. Prince by his side -- for Drake to join him on stage for a concert to support freeing Larry Hoover. Drake's yet to respond, but Wednesday night Larry Hoover Jr. posted pics of himself meeting with Drizzy and J. Prince.

You get why folks would think Drake's moving closer to accepting Ye's offer -- and maybe he is -- but the photos aren't evidence of that. That's because LH Jr.'s camp tells TMZ they were taken a couple of months ago.

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"LAY OUR PRIDE TO THE SIDE"

During the meeting, we're told they did talk to Drake about supporting the movement to get Larry Hoover released from prison ... but it was long before Ye extended his offer for unity.

ICYMI, Ye's plan is for Drizzy and himself to squash their longstanding feud and come together onstage in L.A. for a December 7 benefit concert in Hoover's honor.

If you're unfamiliar ... Hoover is the former head of a major gang in Chicago, the Gangster Disciples, who was convicted for a murder back in the '70s, and sentenced to 6 life sentences. Many feel he's done more than enough time for his crime, and have been lobbying for his release.

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LET GO OF EGO
TMZ.com

Hoover Jr. doubled down on Ye's video while speaking to TMZ this week ... imploring Drake to do the concert.

Like we said, it's a full-court press to get him on board -- but so far, at least, Drake's been silent on the matter. Of course, he's most likely still reeling from the events at Astroworld, where he performed with Travis Scott -- and he's been named as a defendant in at least one of the lawsuits filed after the 8 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Gene Simmons Politics & the Unvaccinated Are Enemies!!! COVID Really Killed 5 Million

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ANTI-VAX ENEMIES
KISSmas Show with Gene Simmons/Talkshoplive

Gene Simmons is going scorched earth on anyone who's still not vaccinated against COVID-19, and says he's sick of people using politics -- on the left AND the right -- as their rationale for remaining unvaccinated.

The KISS icon went on Talkshoplive's Rock 'N' Roll Channel Wednesday and went off about the lingering pandemic. Keep in mind, both Gene and KISS frontman Paul Stanley caught COVID earlier this year ... and one of the band's touring crew members died from it.

That's most likely why Gene has no patience for non-believers. He directly targeted folks who think "people died because they were fat or died because they smoked. No bitch, they died because they got COVID!!!"

And, in case anyone thought Simmons was getting political, he added, "The far left and the far right, they are both evil. They both spread all kinds of nonsense. Politics are the enemy."

Gene lamented the fact a lot of their European fans were unable to join the band for a recent KISS cruise vacation, but said those are the breaks when people don't wanna get the shot.

As he put it, "If you're willing to walk among us unvaccinated, you are an enemy."

Astroworld Fest Victim's Fam to Establish Scholarship ... Planned Funeral Without Travis' Help

UPDATE

11:32 AM PT -- A rep for Travis tells us, "Over the last week, Travis Scott and his team have been actively exploring routes of connection with each and every family affected by the tragedy through the appropriate liaisons. He is distraught by the situation and desperately wishes to share his condolences and provide aid to them as soon as possible, but wants to remain respectful of each family’s wishes on how they’d best like to be connected."

UPDATE

"To those families who would like to reach out directly to his team, please send an email to AW21information@gmail.com where we will have a team on hand to assist."

The family of one of the deceased victims from Astroworld Fest is aiming to set up a scholarship in their loved one's name -- but not before taking Travis Scott to court first.

Rudy Peña was one of the 8 people who died Friday during the concert, and his family has plans to get a fund going in his honor to continue his legacy -- and are hoping to do so at the college he was attending ... so says their attorney, Rosendo Almaraz.

He tells us Rudy's family wants to set up a scholarship at Laredo College, where Rudy was a student ... studying to become a Border Patrol agent via a criminal justice major. Nothing's set in stone yet though ... but we're told that's their intention.

As for what will fund the scholarship they hope to create ... it'd be leftover money from the $34k they raised via a GoFundMe for Rudy. We're told some of that money is going toward funeral costs, and the rest will be earmarked for the scholarship fund -- around $20k.

BTW, you read that correctly ... the Peña family is already burying their son, and they're doing it without the help of Travis because they say they haven't heard from him ... and aren't holding their breath.

Of course, he said he'd cover the funeral expenses of those who perished -- but the Peñas insist they're paying for everything themselves ... and aren't expecting or waiting for any help.

Waiting for your permission to load TikTok Post.

We're told no official cause of death is in for Rudy just yet -- whose body was just released to his family -- Almaraz says he appears to have been trampled badly.

One last thing ... the Peña family has filed their own lawsuit already, and they have named Travis as a defendant. They're alleging negligence and gross negligence directly contributed to Rudy's death that night.

Originally Published -- 1:00 AM PT

Kyle Kuzma Rips Cavs Fans 'Without LeBron, CLE Wouldn't Be 💩'

Kyle Kuzma stabbed Cavs fans in the heart with a game-winning shot on Wednesday ... and then twisted the knife with his postgame comments, saying, "Without LeBron (James), Cleveland wouldn't be s***."

Kuz's trey with just over 10 seconds left in the 4th quarter helped secure the 97-94 win over the Wine & Gold ... and after the game, he blamed Cavs fans for motivating him to knock down the shot in the clutch.

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SH**TY SHOTS
Washington Wizards

"I was just ready, I was ready for it," Kuz told reporters. "Plus, there was some hecklers during the game, talking to me. It was their fault, really. It was their fault."

Kuz -- who won a championship with the Lakers in 2020 -- points out a few fans in particular who had a sign that read, "LeBron won Kuzma his ring" ... and he didn't hold back when addressing them directly.

"I said, 'Without LeBron, Cleveland wouldn't be s***' ... so, they chose violence and I just kept going. So, thank you guys, I appreciate it."

In fact, Kuz rubbed it in fans' faces after the W ... taking a Sharpie and autographing the sign that inspired him to nail the dagger at the end of the game.

Of course, it's no secret the Cleveland Cavaliers organization owes everything to LeBron for ending the city's 52-year drought ... but considering Kuz averaged 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists in the Finals for the Lakers, let's not pretend he doesn't also owe a ton to the King.

Aside from the jab, the Cavs seem to be showing promise for the first time in a post-Bron era -- they're currently 7-5 with guys like Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and even Ricky Rubio balling out so far this season.

Enjoy the win now, Kuz ... but ya might regret it down the road if these two teams face off in the playoffs. 🤷‍♂️

Meghan and Harry All Dressed Up for NYC Gala

Meghan and Harry got all gussied up Wednesday night to attend a splashy NYC event.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex put on their best duds for the "Salute to Freedom" gala that went down at the Intrepid Museum.

It's a duel event ... honoring the military the day before Veterans Day and Britain's Armistice Day.

Meghan definitely made a statement with her red Carolina Herrera dress and some pretty bold stilettos. They were definitely head-turners.

It's interesting ... Harry wore his military star -- it's called KCVO ... Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. Harry has disavowed his royal status, but his military service is a whole different thing. He was happiest during his time in the Royal Family when he served in Afghanistan.

Meghan wore a Cartier diamond tennis bracelet that was previously worn by Princess Diana.

Meghan drew fire recently for lobbying members of the United States Senate on the Paid Family Leave provision of the Build Back Better legislation using her title, Duchess of Sussex, as a calling card.

Marc Anthony Assists On Couple's Engagement ... Proposal On Stage!!!

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POPPING THE QUESTION
YouTube/Denis Leborgne

Marc Anthony was the MVP of a wedding proposal that went down at one of his concerts ... and we've got it all on video!!!

As you can see, Marc stopped the show and brought the couple up on stage ... and the guy drops to one knee and busts out the ring. The girl says yes and they kiss, as the crowd goes wild and Marc raises his hands in the air.

The man who popped the question, Denis Leborgne, tells TMZ ... Marc is his fiancée's favorite singer and she'd never seen him perform live in concert, so he reached out to Marc's production team, Magnus Media, 14 months ago to set up a big proposal.

Denis says the plans were delayed by the pandemic, but once the world opened up and Marc started touring again, he targeted the Nov. 5 show in Estero, FL.

Marc's production team broke down the plan with Denis the day before the show -- MA would point to him in the crowd, at which point he would propose, but Marc went the extra mile.

Denis says when he and his then-girlfriend, Liz, arrived, they were whisked into the VIP section and she was in shock. When the big moment came, Marc didn't just spotlight them in the crowd ... he invited them up on stage in front of everyone!!!

Marc caught everyone off guard -- you can see in the video, the couple has a little bit of stage fright. Denis says his fiancé was so nervous in front of Marc she told him the name of her nationality instead of her name.

At the end of the show, Denis says Marc told them God bless and put his fingers in the shape of a cross ... capping off a night they will never forget.

Congrats!!!

Andy Dick Busted for Brawl with BF ... Alleged Booze Bottle to Dome!!!

Andy Dick's got a new arrest, and probably an ex-boyfriend ... after cops say he smacked the guy upside the head with a liquor bottle, leaving a deep cut.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police responded Monday to Andy's home in the L.A. area, where he and his partner got into an argument that escalated, and allegedly got physical.

When cops arrived they saw enough evidence to arrest Andy for felony domestic battery. He was back on the streets about 3 hours later ... once he posted $50,000 bond.

Our sources say this is the 2nd time in 2 months police went to Andy's place for alleged domestic issues -- he was also busted in October when he allegedly weaponized a frying pan! Cops say he hit his BF in the face with it.

The troubled comedian's legal troubles are well documented. He was sentenced to 14 days in jail for a 2019 sexual battery -- squeezing a random woman's butt on the street.

He's had a couple of run-ins with Uber drivers ... one accused Dick of grabbing his crotch in 2018, and that led to a misdemeanor sexual battery charge.

Andy Dick got his ass handed to him after allegedly picking a fight with a an Uber Eats delivery man ... and adding insult to injury, he's now a suspect in a battery investigation.
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TMZ.com

And, in October 2019, there was this bizarre street fight with an Uber Eats delivery driver. Video showed Andy getting his ass handed to him ... as the driver slammed him to the ground.

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WHAT DID I DO WRONG?
TMZ.com

And, who can forget Andy notoriously threatening to grope and lick one of TMZ's photogs back in November 2017.

We reached out to Andy's reps, who declined comment.

Guess Who This Gorgeous Girl Turned Into!

Before this smiling sweetheart was bringing the funny to audiences everywhere, she was just another dolled-up darling growing up in Inglewood, California.

This beautiful baby made her mark on the scene with her hilarious stand-up material and her kooky characters on television. With a passion for activism, this well-versed comedian has always been known to speak her mind ... which is why she has also been a great addition as one of the co-hosts on "The Real."

Also, as the final episodes air this month, you can spot this actress in an HBO show set in her hometown.

Can you guess who she is?