Gold Star Afghanistan Families Contrast Biden and Trump at RNC ... Blast Prez For Lack of Compassion
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Family members of those killed during America's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan spoke onstage at the Republican National Convention in an emotional moment ... and they took the current president to task.
Gold Star family members -- relatives of the 13 American service men and woman killed during withdrawal from the Middle East three years ago -- took the stage and contrasted their interactions with Joe Biden and Donald Trump ... slamming Biden for his administration's response to their killed family.
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The major moment kicked off with a video of Biden checking his watch at Andrew's Air Force base after the bodies were returned from Afghanistan ... and, in confessional interviews, they said it seemed like he had better things to do.
Tom Cruise Shaded by Fellow Actor ... My Scenes Were Cut 'Cause He's the Man
Tom Cruise kinda got crapped on by a guy who was in "Top Gun: Maverick," but whose scenes got cut entirely -- and his assessment of the reasoning ... hey, it's Tom's world.
Manny Jacinto was cast in the film and had lines -- but you never really saw this in the final product, and he's now weighing on why he thinks that happened ... talking to GQ about his 'TGM' sidelining, especially now that he's a star in this new 'Star Wars' show.
While he sounds bummed he didn't get much screen time in 'Top Gun,' Manny says he ain't that surprised ... noting, "Tom Cruise is writing stories for Tom Cruise."
Kai Trump Gives Speech At RNC ... The Donald Is Just Your Average Granddad
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Kai Trump -- the granddaughter of Donald Trump -- delivered a speech Wednesday at the Republican National Convention, painting the defiant former president as your average doting grandpa.
17-year-old Kai hit the stage at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to show a completely different side to DT – who was officially named the 2024 Republican presidential nominee at the RNC.
Kai told the packed crowd that DT is just like any normal grandpa, who sneaks candy and soda to her when her parents aren't looking, while also asking her about her grades in school.
SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR CONFRONTED BY RAGING SENATORS!!!
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle faced 4 furious Senators at the RNC this week ... who gave her an ultimatum -- resign that evening or start answering their questions, and the clash was caught on video.
🚨FULL VIDEO: Secret Service Director REFUSES to answer to the American people. pic.twitter.com/MPVOke5zhY
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) July 18, 2024 @VoteMarsha
It was all captured in a clip posted to X -- GOP Sens. Marsha Blackburn, John Barrasso, James Lankford, and Kevin Cramer were all over Cheatle at the Milwaukee convention Wednesday ... basically saying none of her answers from her earlier briefing were cutting it.
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In the briefing, details were revealed on how Trump shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, had been flagged as suspicious by the Secret Service almost an hour before Trump's assassination attempt.
Thomas Matthew Crooks Alluded To Trump Assassination Plot On Gaming Platform
Thomas Matthew Crooks left a trail of bread crumbs about his plan to assassinate Donald Trump ... and he even reportedly bragged about it on a gaming platform.
According to Fox News ... a group of U.S. Senators was briefed on the assassination plot Wednesday by FBI officials who told them before the attack on Trump, Crooks logged into the Steam platform where people go to play, discuss, create and purchase video games.
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While communicating with other gamers, Crooks allegedly wrote, "July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds."
Kim Kardashian's Therapist Suggests Family Needs Therapy ... Especially Khloe!!!
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Kim Kardashian's therapist has some choice words for the reality star's famous family ... calling out one member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan in particular.
The SKIMs mogul opened up about her mental health journey on Thursday's episode of "The Kardashians," where she shared the biting feedback her shrink dished out about her loved ones -- especially for sister Khloe Kardashian.
As Kim put it ... her therapist started watching the family's show and felt they ALL could benefit from therapy -- especially Khloe.
Travis Kelce to Taylor Swift I Got Your Back in Germany, Babe!!!
Taylor Swift's storming into Germany, and still getting plenty of support from Travis Kelce ... who was there to pack on the PDA as soon as the curtain came down.
Check it out ... the singer and the NFL star are looking like an old married couple as Tay Tay's Wednesday night concert at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany ended. Travis proves he isn't afraid to show some physical affection either, laying a loving arm around his lady's waist while waiving at gleeful concertgoers.
TAYLOR AND TRAVIS LEAVING THE SHOW TONIGHT 🥹 pic.twitter.com/ep2RDvimFx
— ✩ CEL ✩ (@moonlithoax) July 17, 2024 @moonlithoax
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end also places his hand on Taylor's backside at one moment ... safely guiding her backstage.
Chanel West Coast No Regrets Over 'Ridiculousness' Exit ... Focused on New Show
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Chanel West Coast is all good with leaving "Ridiculousness" -- and she's only looking back long enough to send love to her replacement, Lauren "Lolo" Wood.
As Chanel tells TMZ ... she is focusing solely on her new TV endeavor -- her MTV reality show, "The West Coast Hustle," which premieres Thursday.
As for what fans can expect from her new gig? Well, watch the vid ... we got Chanel Wednesday outside "The Henry" in L.A., where she promised the series is an in-depth look at her personal life -- teasing that her daughter, Bowie Breeze, is the breakout star.
Thomas Matthew Crooks Quiet, Solitary, Highly Intelligent ... Years Before Shooting
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The world is learning more about Thomas Matthew Crooks -- and we've got additional insight from his former peers and even a teacher, who says he was smart ... but notably solitary.
TMZ spoke with a couple of Crooks' ex-classmates from Bethel Park High School -- who were in his graduating class -- and both of them, who asked not to have their names released, tell us they knew him as a loner, but not one prone to violence.
We're told Crooks was seen as quiet and keeping to himself in class ... as well as during lunch, when we're told he'd often sit and eat by himself.
Shaquille O'Neal Keep Doing Your Thing, Bronny!!! ... Shows Support Amid Summer League Struggles
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Bronny James is getting buried on social media over his less-than-stellar Summer League performances to kick off his Lakers career ... but he's got at least one BIG supporter standing firm in his corner -- Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal.
It's no secret -- LeBron James' eldest boy isn't necessarily taking the Association by storm after going No. 55 overall to the Purple and Gold last month ... averaging just 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals in four appearances -- not to mention going 0-15 from three-point range.
While those kinds of numbers won't garner a ton of praise, it seems some haters are going extra hard on the 19-year-old hooper due to his famous pops and claims of "nepotism."
TMZ TV HOT TAKES OZZY BLASTS BRITNEY ... Plus Majors, Mahomes
Ozzy Osbourne is going after Britney Spears, Jonathan Majors is going to propose to Meagan Good, and Patrick Mahomes is going to NFL training camp ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.
TMZ Live
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First up on "TMZ Live" Harvey and Charles explain why Ozzy is fed up with Britney ... especially when it comes to her social media habits.
'Chocolate Rain' Singer Tay Zonday 'Memba Him?!
American YouTuber Tay Zonday was 25 years old when he rose to fame -- and made national TV appearances -- after his bizarre original song "Chocolate Rain" went viral back in 2007.
Tay's popularity landed him on hit shows like "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" "Tosh.0" and even scored the front covers for popular magazines like People and The Los Angeles Times.
Almost 20 years later, the YouTube video has accumulated 138 million views, and Tay -- who has over 1 million subscribers -- is still creating original content!
"Chocolate rain, history quickly crashing through your veins!"
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Britney Spears Torches Ozzy Over Dance Flak ... Defends Beckinsale Too!!!
Britney Spears has some words for Ozzy Osbourne after he crapped all over her free-spirited dance videos -- and in the same breath ... she's sticking up for Kate Beckinsale.
The pop star went off on the Black Sabbath rocker Wednesday -- not long after Ozzy aired out his opinion on BS's habit of throwing up dance clips of herself at home ... where she's often twirling around and wearing hardly anything at all.
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Britney starts out by defending Kate, writing ... "I adore Kate Beckinsale especially because she's from London. I realized how incredibly cruel people were talking about her IG saying she needs more age-appropriate content."
Trump Rally New Angle of Shooting ... Shows Attendees in Stands Under Fire
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TMZ has obtained a new angle of the shooting at the Donald Trump rally this weekend -- and you can see how close some people were to getting hit by bullets.
Check out this footage we got a hold of -- which captures folks in the stands right behind Trump and right underneath the monitor he was referring to in describing a graph detailing the border situation ... with a ton of people right below it looking on.
You can hear DT speaking and making his typical talking points -- and out of nowhere ... you hear what sounds like 3 shots ring out ... with bullets ricocheting off the metal railings.
Johnny Depp Plays Guitar For Andrea Bocelli ... Pays Tribute To Jeff Beck
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Here's Johnny Depp and Andrea Bocelli performing together over in Italy ... and the duo is honoring the late Jeff Beck in the process.
TMZ obtained video from Andrea's concert Wednesday night in Italy ... and the legendary singer was doing his thing onstage alongside Johnny, who is playing guitar -- which actually carries some significance.
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Johnny and Andrea are performing "En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor" ... a song we're told they originally played together back in 2020, when JD and his good pal Jeff visited Andrea.
FANDANGO FOUNDER SUICIDE SCENE AFTERMATH ... Body Bag Hauled Off
Photos from the aftermath of Fandango founder J. Michael Cline's suicide show his body being loaded up by the New York City Medical Examiner ... and it's a grisly scene.
TMZ obtained a bunch of photos from the Big Apple hotel where Cline jumped to his death Tuesday ... and the official response includes at least one police officer and a couple members from the ME's office.
As you can see, Cline's corpse is covered in a black body bag as it's being loaded into the back of a ME van ... and there was another car from the ME's forensic operations squad on the ground as well.