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Charles Barkley has a pointed, somewhat violent message for any Black person backing Donald Trump simply because he got arrested ... he's gonna knock you out.

The NBA Hall of Famer issued the warning Monday night on his CNN show with Gayle King as they discussed Trump's recent remark about Black people liking him more after he was arrested in Georgia for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

Trump went on to brag about Black people "walking around with his mug shot" on t-shirts.

None of that sits well with Barkley, who said, "If I see a Black person walking around with Trump's mug shot, I'm [gonna] punch him in the face."

Barkley explained he feels Trump's comments are "an insult to all Black people" ... because he's comparing his arrest to the centuries of discrimination the Black community has faced.

The NBA legend is no stranger to slamming Trump ... as he's previously called out the Republican presidential candidate for using "pseudo-racist rhetoric" when discussing immigration.

Trump has been undeterred by any backlash from Barkley or any other critics, as "The Apprentice" alum remains the frontrunner for the Republican nomination -- and the Super Tuesday primaries in 15 states, and one territory, could put the race nearly out of reach for Nikki Haley.

11:48 AM PT -- Michael Farchi joined "TMZ Live" to take our viewers through the scorpion sting debacle that went viral earlier this morning. He actually now claims The Venetian never comped his room and made him pay for food and various other expenses.

A Las Vegas hotel guest was STUNG in his testicles by a scorpion while asleep in bed – causing him to wake up in incredible pain and utter shock and terror.

On Monday, Michael Farchi sat down with KLAS 8 News Now to discuss his horrifying real-life nightmare at The Venetian Las Vegas on December 26.

Farchi told the reporter he was sleeping in his underwear under the bed sheets in his room when, at around 8 AM, he suddenly felt pain in his groin area.

He described the sensation as "somebody stabbing me in my private area" with a "sharp glass or a knife."

Farchi said he dashed into the bathroom only to discover the orange scorpion attached to his underwear. YIKES!!!

The California man managed to slip out of his briefs and snap photos of the nasty creature dangling from his undies. He then went to the hospital for treatment because he said he was in "a lot of pain."

The next day, Farchi and his family checked out of the hotel, but not before he filed an incident report with staff, detailing what allegedly happened. “Everybody was in shock, nobody believed,” Farchi told KLAS, pointing out management comped his room.

Farchi added that he had no clue how the scorpion got into his bed.

In a statement to KLAS, a Venetian rep said the resort followed all protocols for this type of incident. Farchi's attorney went on to say that guests should always inspect their rooms and the surrounding areas upon checking in.

Farchi says he's now exploring possible legal action against The Venetian.

Daniel Day-Lewis is sticking to his guns on retiring from acting, and he's not backing down -- this according to his longtime director buddy ... who says streaming is keeping him away.

Jim Sheridan -- who's collaborated with DDL on 3 different movies, -- told ScreenDaily, "He says he's done," adding that he's still talking to the actor to see if he can lure him back into the spotlight.

Here's the kicker ... he suggests Daniel's got a bone to pick with how the whole streaming revolution's changed the movie game ... for the worse, it seems.

JS says ... "He says he’s done. I keep talking to him. I’d love to do something with him again. He’s like everybody else. He opens up the streamers and there’s seven thousand choices, none of them are good."

He adds ... "Film has been moved out of the public domain into a private domain -- you have a remote, you can stop it. It’s not the same experience. It’d be great to see Daniel coming back and doing something because he’s so good."

Goes without saying, whenever Jim and Daniel teamed up, it was gold. Just look at their track record ... Daniel snagged an Oscar for '89's "My Left Foot," got nominated for "In the Name of the Father" in '93, and then they came together again for 97's "The Boxer."

Daniel's retirement isn't breaking news ... after his Oscar-winning performance in 2012's "Lincoln," he took a five-year break. But, even after he came back for "Phantom Thread" in 2017 -- earning him yet another Best Actor nod, he hung it up for good.

Jim ain't the only director praying for Daniel to get back onscreen ... Martin Scorsese has recently begged DDL to come back for one more film, but there's no sign that'll happen.

Taylor Swift is leaping into 2024 presidential politics on Super Tuesday, but she's stopping short of that coveted endorsement of President Joe Biden ... or any candidate, for that matter.

Taylor sounded the alarm early Tuesday morning with a post on her IG story, writing a note that says, "I wanted to remind you guys to vote the people who most represent YOU into power. If you haven't already, make a plan to vote today."

Political pundits have had a field day discussing the potential power of Taylor to swing campaigns this election season, having seen the power of her extremely loyal fan base. Just ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about it.

The Biden administration's been open about its desire to get an endorsement from Taylor -- as she did in 2020 -- and Joe himself has leaned into the possibility of her backing him.

Donald Trump's camp, meanwhile, has reportedly declared "holy war" on the singer and Swifties ... insisting the former prez is "more popular" than her, with more loyal fans.

Taylor's not endorsing anyone today, and most political analysts don't expect her to do so until we get closer to election day in November.

In her IG call out to Swifties, Taylor urged everyone to hit up vote.org to find info on polling places and times ... if you're in one of the 16 states or territories voting in today's primaries.

Solid advice.

Kate Middleton has surfaced for the first time since her hospitalization earlier this year that sidelined her for a good while -- and she's maintaining a low profile ... or trying to anyway.

The Princess of Wales was seen riding passenger Monday in a vehicle that was being driven by her mother, Carole, near Windsor Castle in the UK ... and like we said, this sighting is a big deal considering we haven't seen her whatsoever since December.

Kate was wearing shades, and appeared to be rocking somewhat of a smile here -- there didn't appear to be any other relatives with them for this outing ... and ditto for security.

It's interesting that she's popping up like this right now ... frankly, the internet has been rife with speculation these past couple weeks over her whereabouts -- and there's been a lot of jokes made at her expense.

Point is though ... people have been wondering where the heck she was and how she was doing -- especially since the condition she's been dealing with has been kept under tight wraps ... with Royal officials only saying she underwent abdominal surgery and nothing else.

Buckingham Palace only said at the time that she would remain hospitalized for about 2 weeks -- and after that, she wouldn't be able to resume her duties until about Easter time.

They also reassured the public that she was making progress in her recovery -- something they reiterated last week when they finally responded to all the viral conjecture going on.

We know Prince William has been coming to her side throughout all this -- he was seen going to the hospital while she was in there ... but since then, he's continued on with his work solo.

Her father-in-law, King Charles, has also been dealing with health issues -- due to his recent cancer diagnosis -- but he's been able to carry on just fine ... already being seen out and about.

Good to see Kate here ... now we all know, she's alive and well!

Thai prostitutes in Bangkok got into an all-out brawl in the Red Light District over a reported turf war that roped cops into the melee ... and the footage of all this is absolutely wild!

Check out this video that captures some of the highlights from Monday, where a handful of sex workers from the Philippines are reported to have been using a popular hotel on the busy Sukhumvit Road ... and, apparently, other prostitutes felt protective of their territory.

Officers were called over a dispute between some of the Filipino sex workers -- reportedly accused of stealing customers from a Thai prostitute in the area -- and as the cops escorted them out of the building and into the street ... there was a huge crowd waiting for them.

That's when the bruhaha started ... with prostitutes and cops clashing, and fists being thrown. Frankly, it's hard to tell who's who here -- but in any case, a lot of ass was kicked.

This honestly looks like something out of a movie scene ... it was that nuts and chaotic.

In the end ... the officers were able to bring the sex workers they were originally there for to the police station -- but it looks like they were all fairly roughed up as they went inside.

Kate Winslet's just found out about Ozempic, and let's just say she's not exactly jumping for joy about it -- making her thoughts known while munchin' on a pastry.

The actress stumbled upon the whole Ozempic thing while speaking to The New York Times Magazine ... where she explained she's heard murmurings about "some pill that people are taking or something like that" ... but she didn't exactly know what it was.

Something to note here ... Ozempic, originally a type 2 diabetes drug, is used off-label in KW's native Britain, but it's not exactly all the rage there like it is here in the States.

As a result, Kate was apparently horrified when she found out what it's actually been used for ... with the star adding it sounded "terrible," and encouraging people to just eat more food instead.

Kate's disgust at the whole sneaky weight loss method makes total sense when you consider the public scrutiny she's faced about her body ... especially since her Titanic days back in '97.

She told the publication the historical comments about her weight got to the point where she began battling an eating disorder ... but she kept it to herself at the time.

Heartbreakingly, Kate shared that when she did lose weight, people would comment on how good she looked, reinforcing this idea that looking good was directly tied to how much she weighed.

Nowadays, when people try to comment on Kate's weight, she's not having any of it ... quick to call them out on it right then and there. Safe to say, Kate's been through the wringer on this issue ... so her feelings on Ozempic aren't all that surprising.

For the first time in the history of the franchise, "MLB The Show 24" will have a story mode dedicated to female athletes ... with the hit video game announcing the groundbreaking addition on Tuesday.

The new feature -- titled "Road to the Show: Women Pave the Way" -- allows users to create and play as a woman in the Major League Baseball simulation game ... with a unique narrative and scenes separate from the usual RTTS experience.

The mode's narrative designer, Mollie Braley, said the story was inspired by real-life stories from women in baseball ... including star athletes like Toni Stone and Kelsie Whitmore.

Braley explained to the PlayStation Blog the importance of inclusion for women in baseball as the fan base continues to rise ... and she's hoping it will shine a light on the adversity many have faced within the sport.

Whitmore -- who provided insight for the project -- added she hopes the story mode helps inspire gamers to pursue their dreams ... and educate them on what women and girls are able to do on the baseball diamond.

Taylor Swift fans are apparently worried about her health because she happened to cough onstage -- which, while sweet, speaks to how hyper-focused these loyalists really are.

A video capturing one of Taylor's recent Singapore shows is making the rounds -- and at first glance, there's really nothing to fret about ... at least to the average person. Of course, though, Swifties were quick to notice that she briefly cleared her throat while singing.

It literally happens in a second ... and she carried on afterward like nothing had happened.

And yet ... people online are pouring in with thoughts and prayers for Tay Tay, with many saying she's not well and that she might need rest. In other words, randoms playing doctor.

Like we said, she doesn't appear outwardly frail or sick here -- aside from the one cough -- but for some reason ... her fans seem to think they know all about her health, and it's weirdly leading to a lot of concern for the pop star. FWIW, Taylor's finished nearly all her shows.

It should also go without saying ... but she's a professional performer, and has been doing this for years now -- so if T-Swift was truly under the weather and unable to go on, she wouldn't. So, we're sure she might appreciate the sentiment here -- but it's unnecessary.

BTW ... this isn't the first time Taylor's fan base has openly worried about her. There've been other instances where she's caused angst among the Swifties -- whether it was over a missed mark onstage, almost tripping down some stairs or struggling to breathe due to the heat.

Luckily, nothing ever came from any of that ... but we suppose it's the thought that counts.

Feel better, Taylor ... assuming, you're sick, that is!

Renee Graziano says she nearly lost her life when she overdosed last year on a bad batch of drugs -- which she calls her come-to-Jesus moment ... and which finally got her clean.

The "Mob Wives" star is the latest guest for Bunnie XO's "Dumb Blonde" podcast ... and in a sneak peek clip from their chat -- set to air in full on Wednesday -- you can hear Renee get into the details of an OD she suffered in 2023 ... which ultimately sent her to Odom Recovery Group.

The story is harrowing, to say the least -- RG describes what drug it was that ended up being laced with fentanyl, unbeknownst to her ... and she says it landed her in the hospital.

Take a listen for yourself ... Renee says she had no clue she was dabbling in bad drugs -- but before she knew it, she'd lost memory over the course of 3 days ... and was bedridden for a total of 9, a period in which she says her family never came to see or visit her.

Renee goes on to say she had to learn to walk again from this horrific episode -- and it ended up being what made her realize she had to kick her drug habit ... which she has.

As we reported ... Renee entered into treatment back in November -- a couple months after this overdose -- and it sounds like she's been on the straight and narrow ever since.

Good to hear she's doing well ... and it sounds like a lot more will be discussed on the pod.

A plane turned into a fireball after it crashed near a busy Tennessee highway Monday, killing five people on board as the terrifying scene was captured on video.

The small aircraft was flying from Kentucky to Nashville last evening when the pilot made a radio call to a nearby control tower, requesting an emergency landing after the single-engine had failed and all the power had gone down.

Air traffic controllers gave the go-ahead for the plane to land on Runway 2 at John C. Tune Airport in Nashville. But, moments later, the pilot got back on the radio to report they were not going to make it to the runway.

What happened next was filmed by highway security cameras. Check it out ... the jet cuts across the packed interstate, exploding in flames behind a Costco store. The pilot and four passengers were instantly killed.

Nashville Fire Department trucks raced to the scene and put out the flames without damaging critical evidence for the investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are now probing the crash to determine the cause.

Local officials, meanwhile, shut down the eastbound lanes of I-40 while investigators sifted through the wreckage, with some of the lanes reopening for Tuesday morning rush hour.

Sounds like Isaiah Stewart's got a mean right hand ... at least according to Drew Eubanks, who told cops his Valentine's Day fight with the Detroit player left him with bloody gums and loose teeth.

According to a Phoenix Police Department incident report, obtained by TMZ Sports, Eubanks made the complaint roughly five hours after he and Stewart were involved in an altercation at the Footprint Center just prior to the Pistons vs. Suns Feb. 14 matchup.

Eubanks, cops wrote in the report, said Stewart confronted him while he was entering the arena due to interactions the two had previously had while playing in a game three months prior.

"He got off the bus and he started, um, just talking s***," Eubanks told cops. "He said something along the lines of, 'You wanna run it back? We're right here. We can do it right now.'"

Cops say Eubanks told them he tried to walk away from the situation, but Stewart kept advancing toward him ... until they were face-to-face inside of a tunnel in the arena.

Eubanks told cops, according to the report, Isaiah then said, "We can do this s*** right now" ... before he threw "a sucker punch."

Eubanks stated the blow landed in the center of his mouth, causing his gums to bleed. He added, the report states, "My teeth definitely are like looser and they hurt."

When pressed more about why he believed Stewart was so upset, Eubanks stated nothing out of the ordinary happened between the two in their previous matchup.

"Just basketball stuff," the Phoenix center said. "It was, you know, lowering your shoulder. Trying to hit, hit somebody for a box out. Being physical. Talking on the court. That's all it was."

At the time, Eubanks told cops he wished to prosecute ... and Stewart was issued a citation.

However, the report states that on Feb. 17 -- three days after the encounter -- Eubanks called cops and said he no longer wished to press charges.

On Feb. 19, cops say Eubanks told them "he had been thinking about the incident for a couple days and at the time, he was upset, but had time to think about it."

Stewart was still suspended by the NBA for three games. After serving the ban, he apologized to his team during a meeting with media members.

We're starting the week strong here at TMZ, and that always kicks with fire TV segments!

Let's begin on "TMZ Live," where Charles and Babcock talked about a brewing international incident out in Southeast Asia -- where Taylor Swift is currently performing in Singapore for a string of 6 shows ... to the chagrin of neighboring countries, who are pissed about her deal.

Short story long ... the Philippines and Thailand seem to think they got screwed out of her being able to visit their nations due to the reported lucrative contract Singapore struck.

Next up, we got "TMZ on TV" ... where the gang talked about Kate Middleton surfacing this week in the UK, marking the first time we've seen her out publicly since at least December.

There's been a lot of conspiracy theories on her whereabouts, and it appears the Royals finally realized ... yeah, we gotta show her face a little to tamper down all the madness.

Last but not least, we're on "TMZ Sports" ... where the guys talk Ryan Garcia's recent drama.

Check your local listings for when TMZ is on in your area or catch up on past episodes!

Before this cute kid in her fancy dress turned into a popular singer and performer, she was just putting her vocals on full display as a child and playing the piano while growing up in Houston, Texas alongside her famous bestie.

This talented gal has had motivation since day one, and she really popped off in the late 90s - early 2000s with her all-girl group. She's definitely dropped some bangers through the years and was iconically brought on stage to slay some Single Ladies during the Super Bowl halftime show.

She's a survivor!

The sheriff for the area where 13-year-old Madeline Soto disappeared and died is under fire for seemingly posting a photo from the crime scene, and now the department is apologizing.

This debacle is playing out down in Osceola County, Florida -- where Madeline's body was discovered Friday by officials there in a wooded area after she went missing from her home in neighboring Orange County last week.

On Saturday -- a day after Madeline was found deceased -- a photo of human remains was reportedly posted to the official Instagram account for Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez. The photo, believed to be a confidential image from the crime scene and since deleted, is said to show a body matching Madeline's description lying dead on the ground.

Now, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office is telling local news outlets the photo was accidentally included in a post about a community event for seniors. They add ... "We deeply apologize for any confusion or disturbance this may have caused."

The Sheriff's office is neither confirming nor denying the photo depicted Madeline's body.

Somehow, this all gets worse for the Osceola County Sheriff's Office ... because the same morning the alleged Soto photo was posted on IG, another member of the sheriff's office shared a selfie with Stephan Sterns, the boyfriend of Madeline's mother ... and the prime suspect in her disappearance and death, who has since been taken into custody.

Nirva Rodriguez, the OCSD executive director, shared the image on her personal Facebook page ... showing Sterns being led out of a building in handcuffs. She reportedly captured her post ... "If God’s love has been poured out over your life, don’t allow evil to keep you away from what He has prepared for you." Unclear what her intent behind the post/message was.

In any case ... the selfie was reportedly snapped after Sterns was booked on charges of child pornography and sexually battering a child.

Law enforcement has not specifically tied those charges to Madeline's case just yet ... nor have they officially charged him in her disappearance or death. He has yet to enter a plea.

Rodriguez's FB post with Sterns has also been deleted, FWIW ... and it's worth noting she oversees multiple divisions with OCSD, including media, outreach and community services.

Amanda Seales ain't holding back when it comes to sharing her thoughts on President Biden's approach to the Israeli conflict in Gaza, and she firmly believes it could cost him the election.

We got the "Insecure" actress Monday at LAX, and she says the Biden administration needs to tune in to what the majority of Americans are demanding -- pushing for a permanent ceasefire and ensuring Palestinians aren't living under constant threat of violence and death anymore.

Amanda adds that she's lost confidence in Biden due to what she sees as a lack of action on his part -- and, at this point, she thinks a lot of people might only vote for him because they're settling for the "lesser evil."

Not exactly a proud position for the Prez to be in, according to AS.

Now, mind you, VP Kamala Harris did make a very direct call on Sunday for Israel and Hamas to reach an "immediate ceasefire," and for Israel to increase the flow of aid to Gaza.

Still, Amanda's not pulling any punches with the administration on this issue. She's labeling the whole situation demoralizing and inhumane, and calling for some real action and empathy from the top.