'The Bachelor' Grant Ellis Will Lead Season 29 ... After Elimination From 'The Bachelorette'

"The Bachelor" has a new face to lead the show's next season ... but it's someone you may already be familiar with.

On Monday night, ABC announced Grant Ellis -- one of the participants from this season of "The Bachelorette" -- will be the lead for season 29 of "The Bachelor" which is set to air on the network in 2025.

Ellis becomes the second Black Bachelor to guide the long-running franchise behind Matt James, who was the first.

George Santos On J.D. Vance So What If He Used To Cross-Dress ... Left Loves Drag Queens, No?

George Santos is defending J.D. Vance as he faces allegations of dressing up like a woman when he was in law school ... George says one thing is clear, it's definitely NOT drag.

The ousted GOP congressman tells TMZ ... the images allegedly showing Donald Trump's running mate wearing a blonde wig and a skirt come across as more cross-dresser than drag queen.

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TRUST ME, I WOULD KNOW
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George, of course, has dealt with a similar scandal himself ... when a former friend in Brazil posted an old photo from his days as a drag performer.

Disney Channel Star Skai Jackson Arrested for Domestic Battery ... After Public Fight W/Boyfriend

Skai Jackson has joined the ranks of former child stars who've had run-ins with the law ... the Disney Channel alum was recently arrested ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the actress, best known for starring in the Disney shows, "Jessie" and "Bunk'd," was arrested last week for domestic violence. We're told deputies were called to Universal CityWalk after security spotted Jackson and her boyfriend getting into it ... and the actress allegedly pushed him, and more than once.

Sources tell us security clocked the altercation and then detained the couple ... until law enforcement arrived.

Las Vegas Police Union At Odds With NFL ... Ticked Over New Credentialing Policy

A huge police union in Las Vegas is beefing with the NFL over one of its new credentialing policies ... and if the matter doesn't get sorted out soon -- it could mean big headaches are on the horizon for the Raiders.

According to Steve Grammas -- the president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association -- Roger Goodell's org. has implemented a new series of protocols for police members working games this season ... and Grammas says he's got issues with them.

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A STEP TOO FAR
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Specifically, Grammas says The Shield wants cops to submit biometric data -- including a picture of themselves -- on an app in order to gain clearance to do their jobs in specific parts of Allegiant Stadium.

TMZ TV HOT TAKES DNC Won't Overdo It On Celebs ... Miley Cyrus, Nyjah Huston

Kamala Harris is being cautious with Hollywood influence, Miley Cyrus is getting emotional and Nyjah Huston is getting a new Olympic medal ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

TMZ Live

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WALKING THE FINE LINE
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First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles explain why the Harris campaign doesn't want the upcoming DNC to lean in too hard to celebrity appearances.

TMZ on TV

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MAKIN' HISTORY
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Over on "TMZ on TV," our crew reacts to Miley getting teary-eyed during a Disney honor.

TMZ Sports

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MEDAL MISHAP
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And, on "TMZ Sports," Michael and Mojo have the latest on Team USA skateboarder Nyjah Huston and his Bronze medal, which is about to get replaced.

Stacy In 'Fast Times At Ridgemont High' 'Memba Her?!

L.A. native and American actress Jennifer Jason Leigh was just 20 years old when she scored her breakout role, Stacy -- the sophomore at Ridgemont High yearning for romance -- in the 1982 teen film "Fast Times At Ridgemont High".

Joining Jennifer included Robert Romanus as the ticket scalping salesman, Mike Damone, Phoebe Cates as the mature gal and a bit scandalous, Linda and Judge Reinhold as the hard worker just trying to have a good ole' time, Brad.

Other worthy cast mentions include Sean Penn as Jeff and Nicolas Cage as Brad's Co-worker.

Guess what she looks like now!

Donald Trump To Elon Musk Illegal Immigration Saved My Life ... Back To Butler In October

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Elon Musk and Donald Trump are finally chopping it up ... the former president is doing a live interview on Elon's social media platform, X, after a rough start to the much-ballyhooed event ... and they're focusing on illegal immigration and the assassination attempt.

Trump got a huge laugh out of Elon when he said ... "Illegal immigration saved my life."

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SHOTS FIRED

The former president was talking about how a chart on illegal immigration led to him turning his head ever so slightly at his July 13 rally in Butler, PA ... moving his head just enough to avoid being hit squarely by a bullet when Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire.

KATY PERRY & ORLANDO BLOOM DARING DUO'S LEAP OF FAITH!!!

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Leap of Love!!!

Orlando Bloom can't get enough of jumping outta helicopters ... and this time he brought his fiancée Katy Perry along for a daring ocean plunge.

The singer shared an IG vid of this bucket-list moment from her Sardinian escape Monday ... featuring Orlando revving her up as they perch on the helicopter’s edge -- before taking the terrifying leap while clutching hands.

KP also shared two epic pics of them mid-jump -- one capturing the thrill up close ... the other one taken from afar, showing them letting go of each other during the dramatic jump that looks like it was at least 20 feet up.

BLAKE LIVELY Animated On-Set Convo With Justin Baldoni ... Fuels 'It Ends with Us' Feud Rumors

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SQUABBLING ON SET???

Blake Lively’s rumored feud with her "It Ends With Us" costar/director Justin Baldoni is all the buzz on social media -- and a video of them on-set is fueling those rumors, but one source says it's not what you think.

The clip, shot by a witness on May 17, 2023, shows Blake outside a Hoboken, NJ restaurant, looking visibly annoyed at Justin ... who we're told was directing, not acting in that particular scene with her.

It could've been creative differences or just a miscommunication ... but the clip seems to show them in the thick of some on-set drama.

Ellen DeGeneres I Just Sold One of My Mansions ... For $96 Million!!!

Ellen DeGeneres is likely laughing all the way to the bank after unloading her sprawling California estate for a massive price tag.

According to property records ... obtained by the Wall Street Journal ... the TV personality and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have sold their 10-acre estate in Santa Barbara County for a whopping $96 million.

The couple scooped up the home for $70 million back in 2022, and have reportedly sold it to mining magnate Robert Friedland.

Vince Vaughn I'm Celebrating My Walk Of Fame Star ... With My Fam, Mel Gibson!!!

Vince Vaughn is crashing a famous club ... because he just got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The "Wedding Crashers" star received the honor Monday ... soaking it all in alongside his family ... and Mel Gibson!!!

As you can see, Vince is looking dapper with a two-piece suit ... and Mel is much more relaxed and casual. But hey, it's Vince's big moment, not Mel's.

Barack Obama 'Not Like Us' Not On Summer Playlist ... Vibes with Bey, Moneybagg, Shaboozey & More

Barack Obama's got a healthy mix of hip hop, country, R&B and techno house in his ears right now -- the 44th President's 2024 summer playlist covers every corner of the music map.

Obama dropped his annual top song selection Monday, along with his summer reading list. Noticeably absent from his music list is the year's biggest-selling tune -- Kendrick Lamar's Drake-diss "Not Like Us."

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SUPPORT FROM THE STALLION

You don't have to be a former commander-in-chief to know picking that song would spur a hip-hop political debate, but Obama still gave several rappers the spotlight -- Megan Thee Stallion and GloRilla's "Wanna Be," Saweetie's "My Best," and throwback cuts like Common's "The People" and 2Pac's "How Do U Want It" also made the cut.

U.S. Gymnast Jordan Chiles Appeal Over Bronze Medal Rejected ... Romania Retains 🥉

Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles was just handed a devastating blow in her bid to keep her bronze medal ... the governing body overseeing the controversy says their hands are tied, new evidence be damned!

It's the latest turn in the saga involving USA and Romanian Gymnastics ... who are in the midst of a feud over the rightful owner of the bronze medal in the floor competition, which took place a week ago on August 5.

Unfortunately for Chiles, the Court of Arbitration for Sports says their hands are tied.

Salt-N-Pepa's Sandra Denton Wants Southwest to Gitty Up ... Investigate Plane Incident!!!

Salt-N-Pepa's Sandra Denton is putting the heat on Southwest after being kicked off a flight last month ... demanding the airline investigate the issue and preserve any evidence in case this turns into a lawsuit.

In a legal letter obtained by TMZ ... Pepa's lawyers call on Southwest to get the ball rolling on investigating her removal from a July flight ... echoing her previous sentiments that a male agent engaged in "inappropriate and unnecessary action" in handling the situation.

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PEPA'S PLANE PREDICAMENT
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The attorneys are going after Southwest with a number of allegations ... including their belief Sandra was racially profiled and discriminated against during the encounter. They've also called into question how certain policies were enforced.

RIHANNA LIFE'S A BEACH W/ A$AP & THE KIDDOS!!

Rihanna's proving that, unlike most of us, she can have it all -- balancing being a billionaire business mogul with being a mom, and a very hands-on one, on vacay with A$AP Rocky and their kids.

The singer was shining bright like a diamond on a beach in her native Barbados ... where she and her rapper boo let 1-year-old Riot Rose and 2-year-old RZA dip their toes in the Caribbean over the weekend.

Rihanna rocked a sheer black maxi cover-up over her bikini, while A$AP was in peak dad mode as they splashed around and caught the sunset with their brood.

Kobe Bryant Last Game Warm-Up Jacket Fetches $336,000 At Auction

A piece of Kobe Bryant's legacy is no longer on the market ... the warm-up jacket he wore before his last-ever NBA game has just sold at auction -- and it netted the seller a small fortune!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the threads the Black Mamba donned just prior to dropping 60 points on the Utah Jazz back in April 2016 at the Staples Center racked up 35 bids -- and officially sold for $336,000.

The jacket -- which was photo-matched for authenticity -- had been up on the SCP Auctions block since mid-July.

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