Jake Paul I'm Plotting Tommy Fury Diss ... For Pre-Fight Walkout

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GOING FOR THE KNOCKOUT
TMZSports.com

Jake Paul knows Tommy Fury will be glued to the TV when he faces off against Tyron Woodley on Saturday ... and that's why he tells TMZ Sports he's planning to troll the hell outta TNT before his big fight.

You surprised??

We spoke with the Problem Child before his big rematch with the former UFC champ ... and asked if he thought his original opponent would be tuning in.

"100%," Jake said. "Tommy, you know, this could've been you."

"I have a message to send to him during my walkout. People will see my message for Tommy Fury while I'm walking out. It's pretty funny."

Now, Jake is known to be a world-class troll, even when it's time to rumble -- remember, this is the guy who wore a basketball chain and had matching music for his entrance before the Nate Robinson fight.

We also talked all about the upcoming fight ... and Jake says he can't wait to silence his critics again.

"I'm feeling really good," he added. "To me, it doesn't matter who I fight and this is an opportunity to right my wrongs. Last fight, obviously, I still won. But now, I wanna knock him out. That's a big opportunity to show people how much better I've gotten since then."

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DON'T TRY ME IN MMA
TMZSports.com

We also spoke with Tyron ... and he's guaranteeing to knock Jake out and make that extra money.

The fight card -- also featuring Deron Williams and Frank Gore -- is set to go down at 6 PM PT on Showtime.

Leggo.

Stars At The Xmas Tree Farm ... Making The Cut!

Christmas is right around the corner and before you can rock around the tree, you have to cut one down first!

Tons of celebrities, including Andi Dorfman and Camilla Belle, were seen this month hunting for the best tree to bring home!

It looks as if a lot of stars had help with some of the sweetest sidekicks you ever saw! Famous families – like Malika Haqq, Brie Bella and Melissa Joan Hart – took a stroll through the Christmas tree farm with their little ones to start a tradition!

Slice through these festive photos of stars searching for Christmas trees to deck their halls with!

Noble prize!

Saweetie Will Be Hands-On As USC Teacher ... Guest Lecturer at Biz School

Saweetie will be more than just a celebrity face when she returns to her alma mater next semester as a guest lecturer ... we're told she will be quite involved in the classroom.

Here's the deal ... the rapper is teaching a course within the business school at the University of Southern California, and she'll be taking on a bigger role than she did back in October when she spoke in one of her former professor's classes.

Albert Napoli, professor of entrepreneurial studies at USC Marshall School of Business, tells TMZ ... Saweetie will actually be involved in facilitating the lessons and coming up with the structure in her spring semester courses.

We're told Saweetie will be the guest lecturer in 2 semester-long courses, Venture Feasibility and Venture Initiation, which count toward student degrees in entrepreneurial studies.

Saweetie made a surprise appearance in one of Professor Napoli's classes in the fall semester -- naturally, she was a huge hit with students -- and we're told she's passionate about teaching and sharing her experiences working with different brands.

As a guest lecturer, we're told Saweetie will have an active role in creating specific lesson plans -- she won't just be dropping by the classroom to give students something to post on social media.

In addition, we're told she'll be a guest speaker in the summer when USC holds a 4-week program for high school students.

It sounds like the Trojan alum's got a future on campus ... we're told she's in talks to formally instruct a class on her own within the entrepreneurial studies department, but it's going to take time to hammer out the deal.

Bottom line ... we're told USC is excited to work with Saweetie designing the courses, which will cover branding and social media marketing.

Skee-Lo 'I Wish' Royalties Sold ... Baller Bought It For $245k!!!

UPDATE

1:11 PM PT -- 12/20 -- Skee-Lo wants to clarify that he didn't sell all of his rights to "I Wish", only the writers share on a buy back deal.

UPDATE

He tells TMZ... "It was BMI performance royalties only; on a buy back deal to fund a new album project I'm recording over the holidays to own the Masters. I still own my publishing for 'I Wish.'"

Skee-Lo's famous 1995 single "I Wish" is about to put some money in someone's pocket ... because the royalties just sold on the open market.

The songwriter royalty streams for the iconic hip-hop song just went up for sale through the Royalty Exchange with an initial asking price of $375k -- but, apparently, that number was too high ... for everyone. The eventual buyer dropped a mere $245,000 to scoop up the rights for "I Wish". Quite the bargain!

The deal is similar, in principle anyway, to the mega-transaction Bruce Springsteen pulled off this week -- selling ALL his publishing and royalty rights to Sony for $500 million.

As for Skee-Lo ... we're told his hit track's recently been paying off more due to increased plays on streaming services -- "I Wish" has been streamed more than 103 million times on Spotify alone, and the royalties paid out nearly $28k in the past 12 months.

Skee-Lo released the song way back in 1995 and it was an instant hit, rising up the charts and eventually earning a Grammy nomination.

You know how it goes ... "I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller, I wish I had a girl who looked good I would call her, I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat and a six four Impala."

Skee-Lo's single is certified gold for selling over 600,000 copies.

Originally Published -- 12/18 12:20 AM PT

What's The Big Frigin' Difference?

Don't let these two almost identical images of Bianca Ryan ruin your holiday! Jingle all the way and see if you can rock around all the sneaky switches!

The singer and winner of the first season of 'America's Got Talent' was seen getting in the spirit during the Holiday Tree Lighting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania earlier this month ... and we have made a few changes to the original pic! So, have yourself a merry little Christmas and make a list of the differences in these two super similar snaps! Better check it twice!

**HINT -- There are THREE differences in the above photographs!**

NFL Legend Lawrence Taylor Arrested In Florida ... Mug Shot Released

UPDATE

4:21 PM PT -- Taylor's attorney, Arthur Aidala, tells us ... "Lawrence Taylor has been compliant with all of the rules and regulations regarding his legal status for the past decade. Sadly he is in the middle of a divorce and his local police department suggested it would be best if he slept at a nearby hotel."

UPDATE

"Mr. Taylor was constantly a resident of the marital home where he was registered, but on advice of local law enforcement he was sleeping outside the home. We are confident that this will be dismissed at the first court hearing."

UPDATE

1:52 PM PT -- Court records, obtained by TMZ Sports, show Taylor has been hit with two felony charges of failure to register as a sexual offender.

NFL legend Lawrence Taylor was arrested in Florida on Thursday ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

The former New York Giants superstar was booked at around 8:45 PM ET and released hours later, jail records show. The 62-year-old posed for a mug shot before his release.

The news was first reported by Andy Slater.

Details surrounding the arrest are unclear -- we're working on it -- but according to a spokesperson for the Broward County Sheriff's Office, Taylor was booked on charges of sex offender violations.

As we previously reported, Lawrence was declared a sex offender back in 2011 ... after he pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute.

In the case, Taylor was accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl ... though he said at the time he thought she was 19.

Due to his status as a sex offender, Taylor is required to be on top of several things ... including letting law enforcement know of any residence or name changes.

Of course, Taylor is no stranger to run-ins with the law ... the former football player has been arrested several times in his life, including multiple times in the late 1990s after he allegedly tried to buy drugs from undercover police officers.

Originally Published -- 12:36 PM PT

Rockettes We're Scrapping Our Shows ... Due To COVID Outbreak

The Rockettes are canceling the rest of their 2021 performances because COVID is once again causing havoc in NYC.

The Radio City staple says they just can't continue their Christmas Spectacular due to "increasing challenges from the pandemic." Those challenges include a COVID outbreak among the production team, plus musicians in the orchestra ... including a swath of breakthrough cases.

The Rockettes had a big show scheduled for Friday night, but after it got the ax folks outside the venue in Midtown Manhattan were reportedly crying, and now the whole season is 86'd.

The Rockette's Christmas Spectacular is a holiday tradition in the Big Apple, where COVID cases are reaching daily highs and breaking records even though we are nearly 2 years into the pandemic.

While things seemed to be getting back to normal in the entertainment world, events are getting scrapped left and right and professional and college sports teams are dealing with outbreaks that are messing with their game schedules.

The Rockettes say refunds will be issued to anyone who bought tickets ... and they're looking forward to hosting crowds again in 2022.

'5 Seconds of Summer' Sued We Made You Millions, You Paid Us Squat ... Former Manager Claims

5 Seconds of Summer's new management team landed big deals worth millions, but the band fired them and stiffed the team on commission ... according to a new lawsuit.

The pop band is being sued by YMU Music, and the management company claims 5 Seconds of Summer owes them a fat check for their hard work securing lucrative deals.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, 5SOS hired YMU back in February and the management team hammered out recording and merchandising deals for the band, which led to millions of dollars in advances and other payments for the band members.

However, YMU claims once the new deals were locked in and right before the money started flowing to 5 Seconds of Summer, the band fired them in what YMU claims was an attempt to avoid ponying up some big time commissions.

In the docs, YMU claims it sent the band invoices over the last few months looking to get paid what they say were agreed-upon 15% commissions but haven't gotten paid. The management team thinks the band and other advisors believed that they could pressure YMU into giving a discount ... but instead, they now have a lawsuit on their hands.

YMU is going after 5 Seconds of Summer in court now and seeking more than $2.5 million.

We reached out to the band ... so far, radio silence.

Fetty Wap Arrested at Airport After Ankle Monitor Alert

Fetty Wap made a trip to the airport that ended with handcuffs after police allegedly got an alert about his ankle monitor.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Fetty was at Newark Liberty airport Friday, when for whatever reason, cops got an alert about his ankle monitor. We're told after officers spoke to FW and ran his info, they discovered he had a warrant out for his arrest.

Details about the warrant aren't exactly clear, but we know it was for public nuisance out of North Bergen, NJ.

We're told Fetty was arrested and booked for the warrant, but will be able to make bail and get released.

It's not the first run-in Fetty's had with the law lately, he was taken in by the FBI back in October. The feds claimed Fetty and his associates helped to distribute over 100 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine across Long Island and New Jersey.

Agents say the investigation yielded $1.5 million in cash, 16 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl pills, pistols, handguns and a rifle.

Fetty was able to come up with his $500,000 bail for that arrest, so it's possible that's why he had the ankle monitor.

We reached out to Fetty's team about the airport arrest ... so far, no word back.

Kyrie Irving Coming Back For Road Games ... Still Not Vaxxed

UPDATE

4:05 PM PT -- The Nets just confirmed the news ... saying the team decided to bring Uncle Drew back after talking it over with coaches, players and the staff.

UPDATE

"We believe that the addition of Kyrie will not only make us a better team but allow us to more optimally balance the physical demand on the entire roster," the team said.

UPDATE

"We look forward to Kyrie's return to the lineup, as well as getting our entire roster back together on the court."

Kyrie Irving is BACK -- well, partially -- the NBA superstar will soon play in road games and practice at home with the Brooklyn Nets, the team just announced Friday.

Irving has already begun the process of returning to the team ... as he's undergoing team COVID-19 testing, according to Shams Charania.

Due to NYC's current mandates, Irving hasn't played a game or practiced with the Nets all season ... as he remained unvaccinated.

As we previously reported, the Nets took a strong stance against Irving's unwillingness to get the jab ... telling him in October to stay home instead of playing when he could.

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"REAL ENOUGH TO STAND UP"

While there were reports Irving was anti-vax, he adamantly denied it ... saying he was standing up for local workers who were being forced into getting vaccinated in order to save their jobs.

Now, it appears both Irving and the Nets have reached an agreement that will allow him to suit up for the Nets in some capacity soon, but his return date has not been determined yet.

Irving even teased his comeback earlier this week ... showing himself putting on his sneakers.

Originally Published -- 2:25 PM PT

Kim Potter Breaks Down on Stand ... Details Shooting & Killing Daunte Wright

Kim Potter Cries On Stand Describing Shooting, Killing Daunte Wright 12/17/21
EMOTIONAL ON THE STAND
UPDATE

2:51 PM PT -- The legal team for Wright's family tells us, "Daunte Wright's killing at Potter's hands was absolutely preventable. The argument that she mistook her firearm for her taser is simply beyond comprehension and a damning indictment of both her and the Brooklyn Center Police Department's practices and training protocols."

Kim Potter -- the MN cop on trial for shooting and killing Daunte Wright -- just broke down during her testimony about the second she realized what she had done.

An emotional Potter was questioned Friday on exactly what happened in the moments leading up to Wright's death. Potter has maintained she thought she was pulling out her taser, when in fact, it was her gun.

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SHOT POINT-BLANK
Brooklyn Center Police

Fighting back tears, she told the court, "I remember yelling Taser, Taser, Taser and nothing happened. And then, he told me I shot him."

By the end of the sentence, Potter was sobbing, and grabbing for tissues.

Potter's been charged with manslaughter for Wright's death, which happened back in April. Bodycam showed the exchange between Potter and 20-year-old Wright -- who was trying to drive away from cops after officers stopped him on a weapons possession warrant.

Originally Published -- 11:55 AM PT

Browns Vs. Raiders Game Postponed ... Thanks, COVID

Baker Mayfield is getting his wish -- Cleveland's matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday has been pushed back 'til Monday ... after a crap ton of Browns players tested positive for COVID-19.

The league had been dragging its feet all week ... insisting it would NOT move the schedule around -- even with Baker, head coach Kevin Stefanski and a constantly growing list of players getting added to the COVID-19/reserve list.

But, with safety -- and quality of play -- becoming an even bigger issue if the Browns and Raiders took the field as planned, Roger Goodell made the decision to have the game go down on Monday.

There's more -- the Seahawks and Rams game is potentially moving to Tuesday ... and the Washington Football Team and Philadelphia Eagles' matchup could be moved as well.

As we previously reported, Mayfield was pissed with the league's handling of the COVID-19 outbreaks this week ... saying, "Make up your damn mind on protocols."

Hopefully, this helps satisfy everyone involved.

Judge Michelle Odinet Suspended by LA Supreme Court After N-Word Vid Backlash

UPDATE

3:37 PM PT -- As for who will take over for Judge Odinet, that'll be Judge Vanessa Harris ... who will take the duties from December 17, 2021 to February 28, 2022.

UPDATE

Louisiana Judge Michelle Odinet has been suspended by the state's Supreme Court after a sickening video of her using the n-word went viral earlier this week.

Docs filed Friday read, "hereby is disqualified from exercising judicial functions, without salary, during the pendency of further proceedings in these matters." This means the LA Supreme Court has officially opened an investigation against the disgraced judge ... with the possibility of more action to be taken in the future.

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THE DISTURBING AUDIO

People across the country have called for Odinet's resignation after a video, being played on a home TV screen, shows surveillance footage of a fleeing suspect apprehended by a homeowner after allegedly breaking into a car on the property.

While you can't see any faces, a male voice can be heard saying, "And Mom's yelling n****r, n****r," followed by a female voice, alleged to be Judge Odinet, laughing and saying, "We have a n****r. It's a n****r, like a roach."

A lawyer for Judge Odinet spoke to the Acadiana Advocate about the incident earlier this week, saying she felt, "humiliated, embarrassed, and sorry for what she has done and the harm she has caused to the community."

Olivia Munn & John Mulaney It's a Boy!!! Olivia Gives Birth in L.A.

Olivia Munn and John Mulaney are first-time parents, secretly welcoming a little boy into the world last month ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Olivia gave birth on November 24, the day before Thanksgiving, in Los Angeles.

It was back in September when John made the surprising announcement that he and Olivia were expecting, dropping the news during an interview on "Late Night With Seth Meyers."

The interview touched on the ups and downs of John's life over the last year, where he also shared that it was Seth and other close friends who staged an intervention and encouraged him to go back to rehab for several weeks.

Prior to Olivia, John had been married to Anna Marie Tendler from 2014 until they announced they'd split in May 2021, John filed for divorce in July. At the time, reports said Mulaney and Anna had broken up quite some time before the news was made public.

Little boy Mulaney is the first child for both Olivia and John.

Congrats!!!

Tiger Woods Hits Range With Charlie ... Gearing Up For 1st Tourney Since Crash

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LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
PGA Tour

Tiger Woods appears to be fully back ... the golf legend hit the range Friday with his son, Charlie, and seemed to have no limitations as he gears up for his first tourney since his crash.

The two Woods' smacked balls for around 20 minutes in preparation for Friday's pro-am as well as Saturday's PNC Championship ... and Dad was showing no signs that he had just suffered a significant injury back in February.

Tiger hit both his irons and his woods with ease ... with the ball jumping off of his clubs on every swing.

Of course, Tiger was also in coach mode -- watching Charlie's swing intently in between his own hacks.

Woods and Charlie then teed it up for their pro-am round -- and Tiger looked good there too, blasting his driver around 280 yards.

Tiger and Charlie are slated to tee off at the big event in Orlando, Fla. on Saturday afternoon -- and it'll officially mark the first time Tiger has participated in a tournament since he mangled his leg in a February car crash in Los Angeles.

Woods has said he'll be very picky with his events from here -- vowing to never be a full-time golfer again -- but ya gotta imagine if things go well this weekend, The Masters in April 2022 is not out of the question.

Fingers crossed.

Adele, Rich Paul Life Is Suite!!! ... Hold Hands Next To Hov

Adele and Rich Paul couldn't keep their hands off each other at the Chargers vs. Chiefs game on Thursday ... cuddling up in a suite and hanging with Jay-Z and Maverick Carter.

The Grammy-winning crooner and sports mega-agent were spotted on cam during the second quarter of Thursday Night Football ... and the couple was in full PDA mode as Hov and LeBron James' business partner sat right next to them.

Speaking of Bron, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar seemed to have some serious FOMO as his two closest friends hung out with the big musicians -- posting a playful response to a pic of the suitemates on Twitter.

"Who the heck are Jay-Z and Adele’s +1s????" King James tweeted.

It's gotta be a bummer James had to miss out on the fun -- he's always been a HUGE Hov fan and loves to catch a football game from time to time.

But, with the Lakers facing off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, it makes sense why he had to sit this one out.

Adele and Rich have been inseparable since going public earlier this year -- hitting up parties, sporting events and everything else together.

Remember, Hov helps put together the Super Bowl halftime show ... so maybe Adele is up next for SB57 in Arizona??

As for the game, it was an overtime thriller ... with the Chiefs winning, 34-28.

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