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ABC brass did NOT threaten to take "Good Morning America" anchor George Stephanopoulos off the air if he didn't apologize for taking a dig at President Biden's political future ... TMZ has learned.

Our network sources tell us George's ABC bosses never once threatened he would be stripped of airtime for telling a man on an NYC sidewalk he didn't think Biden could serve another term.

There is a report out claiming ABC threatened to bench the 'GMA' anchor if he didn't apologize for the Biden remark. Our network sources tell us George's conversations with network honchos never reached the point of threats about airtime.

Donald Trump is set to officially receive the Republican nomination next week at the party's National Convention in Milwaukee ... and we now know who will introduce the former President -- longtime friend and UFC CEO Dana White!

The Wall Street Journal broke the news on Thursday, reporting the UFC honcho will make his third consecutive appearance at the RNC, serving as the co-main event for one of the biggest nights in politics.

Of course, Dana and Donald go back years.

Alec Baldwin wasn't the only actor on the "Rust" movie set with live ammunition ... another actor was found to have a live bullet in his gun holster.

The bombshell news was just dropped in court today as part of crime scene technician Marissa Poppell's testimony in Alec's ongoing manslaughter trial down in New Mexico.

Poppell told the jury actor Jensen Ackles also had a live bullet on set ... the ammo was in his bandolier ... and he was on set the day cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot.

Internet personality SteveWillDoIt went to a famous theme park in Florida and then ended up in jail, where cops snapped a funny mug shot.

The YouTube star -- government name Stephen Rocco Deleonardis -- was arrested by the Orlando Police Department on Wednesday afternoon for trespassing ... TMZ has learned.

Orlando Police tell us officers responded to Universal Studios in reference to a trespass call. Cops say theme park security told them Steve was previously removed from the theme park for trespassing back in August and warned not to come back.

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann finally have a date for their divorce trial ... though the court's directing them to try and hash out a settlement through mediation before it kicks off.

TMZ has obtained legal documents setting the estranged couple's divorce trial for November 5 and November 6 in Atlanta's Fulton County Superior Court.

That said, the couple's been directed to try and hash out their issues regarding the split in a mediation session. They have until September 25 to do so, and it looks like they'll head to trial if something can't be worked out during the mediation.

Diddy's mother is hospitalized in South Florida after experiencing chest pains ... TMZ has learned.

Janice Combs was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday after she complained about discomfort in her chest ... according to sources close to Diddy. It's still unclear exactly what caused the pain, but we're told she's going to remain in the hospital for at least another day.

Our sources say Diddy was in Miami at the time, and at his mom's request, went to the hospital to be by her side. We're told Janice believes the pain is related to stress over her son's legal woes ... including the federal investigation and multiple civil lawsuits.

7/11 -- 11:30 AM PT -- Christina Fulton released a statement saying, "On April 28th, 2024, around 5:30 pm I received urgent messages from friends of my son, Weston Cage regarding his deteriorating mental state, urging me to come help. When I arrived to offer support and console him, he was already in the midst of a manic rage. Within minutes, I was brutally assaulted and sustained serious injuries."

She continued, "Despite my desperate pleas to the responding Police officers to detain him for a mental health evaluation, the Police officers refused my request and neglected my urgent need for my medical attention. As a mother, I am deeply saddened and concerned about Weston’s on-going mental health crisis. It is imperative that he receives the help he desperately needs."

Weston Cage kicked off his day in police custody ... arrested for allegedly assaulting his mother Christina Fulton.

Joe Biden's got at least one cheerleader in Joy Behar ... who took a swipe at George Clooney for joining the chorus of stars urging the President to bow out of the 2024 race.

Speaking on "The View," Joy vented, "George Clooney wrote an op-ed piece in the New York Times claiming that after he saw Biden's condition at the recent fundraiser, he doesn't think he's up for the gig. George Clooney? Couldn't he tell him that in person, for God's sake?"

Behar didn't hold back ... calling out GC for not mentioning in his op-ed any of Biden's solid achievements, like his economic track record.

Brendan DuBois, a best-selling New York Times author and former "Jeopardy!" champ, was arrested Wednesday in New Hampshire on child porn charges.

DuBois turned himself in to authorities Wednesday -- this after the Exeter Police Department executed a search warrant on his home following a joint investigation with the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce which kicked off in March.

DuBois has been hit with 6 felony Class A complaints of possession of child pornography.

9:30 AM PT -- Police just released Gary A. Miles' mug shot and the charges he's facing.

Philly PD says it's booked Miles for indecent assault, indecent exposure, open lewdness and harassment.

The Philly man accused of masturbating on a woman's leg inside a Dollar Tree store has surrendered ... after cops, and even rapper Meek Mill, launched a manhunt for him.

Beastie Boys are accusing Chili's of committing the ultimate party foul on their legacy ... using one of their songs without permission -- and it happens to be their classic hit "Sabotage" at that!!!

According to court docs obtained by TMZ Hip Hop ... surviving Beastie Boys members Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz and the late member Adam "MCA" Yauch's widow claim Brinker, the parent company of Chili's, jacked the band's iconic, 1994 music video for a commercial.

The lawsuit alleges Chili's ran an ad on social media in November 2022, synchronizing the famous track and styling it after the Spike Jonze-directed video. The video featured three characters wearing the same conspicuous '70s-style disguises as the Beasties ... where they comically rob a Chili's restaurant of its secret ingredients.

Shelley Duvall, who famously co-starred in "The Shining," is dead after a painful battle with diabetes.

Dan Gilroy, Shelley's life partner for decades, tells TMZ ... he found Shelley unresponsive in their home in Texas at 7 AM Thursday. He says Shelley had been under hospice care, and bedridden, for the last few months while dealing with complications from diabetes. He says she died in her sleep.

Shelley had the unforgettable role of Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" -- she was on the other side of the door when Jack Nicholson smashes through the door with an ax, yelling ... "Here's Johnny!"

Bill Belichick officially has a new hustle ... the former New England Patriots coach is joining "Inside The NFL" this fall as an analyst.

The NFL announced the news Thursday morning ... revealing the future Hall of Famer will join Ryan Clark, Chad Johnson and Chris Long on the weekly program to break down all of the league's most compelling storylines.

Belichick's run on the show will start on Aug. 30 ... and will last through the Super Bowl.

Hoda Kotb's totally open to dating Kevin Costner -- now that she's found out fans have been shipping them together since she interviewed him a couple weeks ago.

On Tuesday's "Watch What Happens Live," a fan asked Hoda how she felt about fans wanting the romance and if she and Kevin have connected since the "Today" show last month. Totally shocked, she responded, "Wait, what?"

Andy Cohen elaborated viewers wanted to see the two of them together -- but Hoda was adamant she hadn't heard a peep of any of it.

An alleged drunk driver in New York careened through a nail salon at top speed ... and, the unbelievable moment was caught on video.

The shocking clip -- published by the New York Post -- shows the car speeding out of a Long Island parking lot late last month, but instead of turning onto the main road, it dashes straight across the street toward a strip mall.

The car jumps the curb and keeps on moving, before eventually crashing into Hawaii Nail & Spa ... reportedly killing four people including an off-duty NYPD officer, and injuring nine others.

Orlando Bloom's getting an Italian tan ... soaking up rays in Sardiania without his fiancée Katy Perry -- who's on the island with him but skipped out on the surf and sun.

The actor made hearts race in just his barely-there shorts, showing off his cut thighs. No shirt for this 'Pirate of the Caribbean' ... he's letting the cool Mediterranean Sea cover his chest.

OB's still got his thin necklace on though -- gotta look stylish even while taking a dip -- and, lounged on a beach chair after his relaxing swim.