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Haliey Welch, who is best known as the viral "Hawk Tuah" girl, is breaking her silence since skyrocketing to fame ... addressing for the 1st time all the rumors about her personal life.

The viral sensation stopped by Brianna LaPaglia's 'Plan Bri' podcast on Monday, in which she reacted to her newfound fame and set the record straight on some lies circulating the Internet.

Check it out ... Haliey said most of the stories that have surfaced about her are not true. For instance, she was never a school teacher ... and so she was NOT fired from her job over the viral moment.

Angela Simmons is coming to terms with her fashion accessory for the BET Awards not being a great look ... as folks call her out for the gun-shaped purse.

She stepped out for the BET Awards Sunday solo dolo (she later met BF Yo Gotti inside), and wearing the hell out of a sparkling emerald green dress with shimmery high heels.

But, she completed her fit with a matching clutch bag resembling a handgun -- one that she even playfully aimed for some photos -- and more than a few fans were pissed!!!

Andrew Jury -- famous for being one of the grooms on the first season of "Married at First Sight New Zealand" -- is dead.

Andrew died Thursday while he was in custody at Mt Eden Corrections Facility in Auckland, New Zealand ... his father, Roy Jury, told The New Zealand Herald.

The cause of death is unclear ... and prison officials reportedly rushed to save Andrew's life.

Ray J says it's all becoming too much for him to take -- on the heels of nearly getting into a street brawl at a BET Awards afterparty, he says he's suicidal.

Ray poured out his emotions with an alarming social media post in which he references a dispute that went on backstage at Sunday night's BET Awards at the Peacock Theater in downtown L.A. -- he says, "The s**t that. Is Happening is mind blowing - it's making me suicidal and uncomfortable with the perception of reality!"

His Monday morning post came hours after he was involved in a standoff outside GloRilla's BET Awards afterparty. Ray and a Zeus Network exec were yelling about fighting each other, as bodyguards desperately tried to keep things peaceful. Ray did throw a punch but didn't hit anyone. At one point, Ray grabbed a backpack out of his vehicle and charged back into the crowd -- it's unclear what was in the bag, but his team was able to convince him to get back in the vehicle and they drove off without further incident.

Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast ever, but R&B sensation SZA impressively held her own against the GOAT on the mat -- with the two going head-to-head in a handstand competition!!

The friendly contest went down at Biles' gym in a promotion for the 2024 Summer Olympics ... with the Grammy winner meeting the American athlete for the first time, which she called a dream come true.

The "Snooze" artist -- a former gymnast herself -- opened up on her own experiences in the sport ... saying once she knew she wasn't going to be able to compete at the national level, it was time to try her hand at music.

Shantel VanSanten's marriage to Victor Webster has officially come to a close ... as the former couple has finalized their divorce a year and a half after splitting.

In new court documents obtained by TMZ ... the "One Tree Hill" actress and the soap star confirmed they negotiated a settlement in mediation ... agreeing to how their assets will be divided, as well as specifics surrounding pet custody and more.

It likely helped that the pair had a prenup heading into the divorce ... which the exes chose to incorporate into the terms of the settlement.

Kim Kardashian is looking back at her wild antics at sister Khloe's 40th birthday bash ... and has to admit she completely forgot one memorable part of the evening.

The SKIMS founder posted some very revealing clips from the party ... where she hit the dance floor with Britney Spears' pal and manager Cade Hudson. Kim put her dance moves on display ... watch the video, as Cade lifted and flipped her on more than one occasion.

Kim told her followers she has "no recollection" of the animated dancing -- it was just that kinda party -- though she was impressed by her skills. Kim, who finished 11th on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2008, joked she might have done better if she had a couple shots before competing.

Jim Pons -- the man who created one of the New York Jets' logos -- is now suing the team and the NFL ... demanding he be paid for their use of his design.

Pons filed the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ Sports, in New York on Monday ... claiming he made the now-iconic emblem way back in the 1970s, after he had been working for the team as a film and video director.

Pons says in '78, the Jets were looking for a redesign -- and when he submitted his logo that featured a jet plane above the letters "E-T-S" ... team officials loved it, and began using it.

Kanye West's former chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, is slamming a new lawsuit claiming the rapper's wife, Bianca Censori, exposed Yeezy employees, including minors, to pornographic videos.

Milo tells TMZ ... he's been authorized by Bianca to stress the allegations against her are offensive, disgusting, abhorrent, and wholly false.

Milo is blasting one of the plaintiffs, Shemar DaCosta, as a "tragic, desperate, attention-seeking wannabe Yeezy staffer."

"Hawk Tuah" girl's 15 minutes of fame ain't over yet -- and clearly, neither is her time spittin' -- 'cause the internet's newest star was seen over the weekend partying with Shaquille O'Neal in Nashville, where she, fittingly, coughed up some saliva on one of his microphones!!

The NBA legend -- who moonlights as a DJ -- was in the Music City on Sunday for a performance at Jon Bon Jovi's new JBJ's Nashville joint ... when, at some point, he crossed paths with Haliey Welch, aka Hawk Tuah.

The two chatted it up at the eatery and posed for some pictures ... and later in the evening, she joined the Big Diesel in his DJ booth.

Shannon Sharpe just issued a face-to-face apology to Megan Thee Stallion for the sexual comments he previously made about her ... saying he deeply regrets the negative impact his words may have had on her life.

The "Savage" rapper was the latest A-lister to join the "Club Shay Shay" podcast on Monday ... and the first thing he did was admit he was wrong for referencing her the way that he did on his "Nightcap" show with Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson.

During the November 2023 episode, Sharpe verbally drooled over Meg ... saying he would have her "stretched out like a quarter to three" if he ever got the opportunity.

Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman's families are slamming O.J. Simpson's "In Memoriam" tribute at the BET Awards ... calling it entirely inappropriate.

Fred Goldman, Ron's father, tells TMZ he can't wrap his head around the O.J. tribute ... saying there was absolutely no positive spin on his inclusion in the segment, which was introduced as honoring Black excellence lost in the last year.

Fred insists, even though they probably won't, BET should issue an apology ... telling us, "I think they shouldn't include anyone of that caliber -- a wife beater, murderer … can't imagine why they would include someone like that."

Legally, some might say Diddy is up a creek without a paddle, but he's not looking the least bit panicked ... as he paddles his face off floating down a river, far from all his problems.

The embattled Bad Boy Records founder went white water rafting over the weekend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and kinda looked like a natural.

Check out the video and photos of Diddy navigating some seriously rough waters, and living life on the edge.

Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet's romance is still a thing -- or so it seems -- after several months out of the spotlight, they're back together for date night!

The couple, who first linked up last year, proved they're still together by enjoying a rare movie night out in Hollywood, stopping by the TCL Chinese Theatre over the weekend ... and, at least, attempting to keep a low profile.

The Kylie Cosmetics founder and actor were both dressed casually, wearing baseball caps and face masks.

Jonathan Owens' day job won't keep him from watching Simone Biles in her return to the Olympics ... the gymnastics star revealed Sunday the Bears are giving her husband time off to see her in France.

Owens had been slated to report for Chicago training camp on July 19 ... and then play in the team's Hall of Fame Game against the Texans on Aug. 1. But, with Biles officially qualifying for the Paris games at the U.S. Olympic Trials over the weekend, the gymnast told USA TODAY those plans are likely to change.

"The Bears are actually granting him a couple days off from training camp, so he'll be there, yes," Biles said. "For just a short little time."

12:23 PM PT -- BET is blaming an "audio malfunction" for Usher's muted speech and ponied up an apology via The Hollywood Reporter.

Usher got deep reliving hardships of his life and career during the 2024 BET Awards -- but the TV audience missed much of his Lifetime Achievement speech, because he made the censors work overtime!!!

Fans posted their frustration on social media and it was clear why they were upset -- BET was forced to mute big chunks of his speech, due to Usher dropping some colorful language.