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James Earl Jones, one of Hollywood's most instantly recognizable voices for his roles in the 'Star Wars' movies and "The Lion King" ... is dead.

The actor's reps say he passed away Monday morning at his home in upstate New York, surrounded by family members.

James was widely respected for his decades-long career in stage, TV and film productions -- most notably, perhaps, he delivered the booming and menacing voice of Darth Vader in multiple movies in the 'Star Wars' franchise.

Kim Zolciak is hitting back at estranged husband Kroy Biermann's claim she's dragging her feet on unloading their marital home ... claiming he's the one who isn't ponying up any money.

Photogs caught up with the Bravo personality at LAX, where she put her ex on blast for suggesting she's the problem amid their financial woes. As Kim put it ... Kroy doesn't pay for a single thing, as she's the one paying for the bills, their kids' clothing, most of the food, and everything else.

Watch the vid ... Kim even suggests her daughter Brielle, who Kroy legally adopted in 2013, has done more to contribute to the family's overall finances.

Jennifer Lopez is getting deep with Matt Damon, Lil Wayne fans are upset at a snub, and Joey Chestnut is pounding brats ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles break down J Lo's emotional moment with estranged husband Ben Affleck's good friend.

Big Boy is baffled Kendrick Lamar was chosen to perform the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show over Lil Wayne ... saying there was an obvious decision here that was not made.

We caught up with the radio host on "TMZ Live" Monday, where BB shared his unfiltered opinion on Kendrick scoring the coveted halftime spot for Super Bowl LIX ... set to take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana in February.

According to Big Boy, ahead of Sunday's announcement he would've bet big money that Lil Wayne would be tapped for the huge honor ... since NOLA is his hometown and all.

Linkin Park's drama rages on ... with Chester Bennington’s son, Jaime, calling out band co-founder Mike Shinoda for appointing Emily Armstrong as the group's new lead singer ... making it clear she's not Jaime's pick to replace his dad 7 years after his death.

Jaime criticized Mike for betraying fans’ trust by hiring Emily ... adding in a lengthy IG post Monday he had "quietly erased my father's life and legacy in real time … during international suicide prevention month." Chester died by suicide in 2017.

Jaime didn’t hold back ... diving into Emily’s alleged ties to Scientology and her support for Danny Masterson. This all came to light following The Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala's resurfaced messages Emily had attended a 2020 preliminary hearing in support of Masterson, which hit fans hard ... especially since Chester had openly discussed surviving sexual abuse.

5:00 PM PT -- Tyrese was released from custody Monday after his attorney Tanya Mitchell Graham filed an appeal of the judge's ruling ... according to law enforcement sources.

We're told the appeal means Tyrese did not have to pay the $73K before he was released. That does not mean he no longer owes the back child support, it's just delayed, for now. It's the same legal maneuver Tyrese and his attorney made last year when the judge ordered him to pay up the child support.

Tyrese Gibson is in custody for failing to pay the amount of child support ordered by the court ... TMZ has learned.

The singer/actor -- and dad to 5-year-old Soraya with ex-wife Samantha Lee -- was in Fulton County court Monday morning to face the judge in the ongoing child support battle, and the hearing did NOT go well for Tyrese.

Judge Kevin Farmer was clearly fed up with Tyrese's refusal to pay the $10K/month Farmer ordered him to start paying way back in April 2023 -- so, today he held Tyrese in contempt of court, the bailiff put him in handcuffs and marched him out of the courtroom.

1:31 PM PT -- Harvey Weinstein is "not doing great," his rep Juda Engelmayer tells TMZ.

We're told the fallen film legend is having "major heart surgery" today after he first began experiencing chest pains at Rikers Island prison.

However, Weinstein still plans to appear in court on Thursday ... but will only attend if he's well enough to do so.

Harvey Weinstein is undergoing emergency surgery mere days before he is due in court in NYC ... TMZ has learned.

The controversial film producer was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in New York from Rikers Island prison Monday for emergency heart surgery after experiencing pains in his chest, his lawyer confirmed to TMZ.

Weinstein was held at Rikers ahead of his court appearance, where prosecutors are hoping to secure a new indictment against Weinstein after his prior rape conviction in NYC was overturned in April.

Jack White is following through on his warning to Donald Trump ... by filing a lawsuit over his famous song, and claiming his anthem is being hijacked by the former president.

The White Stripes singer just filed suit against Trump and his campaign for using the tune "Seven Nation Army" in a social media clip of the Republican nominee boarding a plane on the campaign trail.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Jack says he did not clear the song for use by the Trump campaign ... and he says Trump and his camp should have known better, because in the past Jack has publicly denounced Trump.

Bruce Springsteen’s wife, Patti Scialfa, has opened up about her blood cancer battle ... which she has been fighting since 2018.

Patti talked about her health in the new documentary "Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band," which dropped at the Toronto International Film Festival ... explaining doctors diagnosed her with multiple myeloma during her husband's "Springsteen on Broadway" concert residency 6 years earlier.

Multiple myeloma is rare type of cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell, according to the Mayo Clinic. Life expectancy varies from person to person, taking into account factors including kidney function, cancer progression and overall health.

Deshaun Watson has been hit with a new lawsuit ... another woman in Texas has come forward with claims the Cleveland Browns star sexually assaulted her four years ago.

"Jane Doe" filed the suit in Harris County on Monday morning ... alleging that during a 2020 date with the now 28-year-old quarterback -- he sexually assaulted her.

In the suit, Doe -- described as a single mother and a young professional -- says she met Watson at a bar in Houston while he was a member of the Texans ... and after exchanging text messages for several months, she says he invited her out. Not wanting a public date, Doe claims she instead asked him to come to her apartment for dinner.

Charlamagne Tha God thinks people need to lay off Jay-Z and Roc Nation for selecting Kendrick Lamar over Lil Wayne for the Super Bowl 59 halftime show in New Orleans ... and start congratulating them for keeping Taylor Swift off the stage!!!

The controversy over K. Dot surpassing Wayne in his hometown continued, with that choice frowned upon by the likes of Master P and DJ Akademiks -- but on Monday's 'Breakfast Club' segment, Charlamagne said Taylor's omission was cause to ceeelebrate-good-times-c'mon!!!

Taylor's record sales have been shattering the atmosphere the last few years, but Charlamagne applauded Roc Nation's clear push of Hip Hop/R&B acts as of late ... and the performers just happen to be Black!!!

Shailene Woodley's defending herself against the backlash she received for sharing Melania Trump’s statement following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump ... admitting she's baffled by how folks can wish death on someone -- no matter how controversial they are.

The actress told Bustle she shared the first page of Melania's letter back in July on social media because she found it a beautiful reminder that, beneath Trump’s political drama, he’s still a human, with kids and grandkids -- and wishing for his death is not compassionate.

She explained, "I was in circles of people that I deeply respect -- friends, colleagues, progressive, very intelligent thinkers, shakers and movers and many of them were saying, 'He missed! F***ing assassin missed! Maybe it was a setup. Maybe it was a conspiracy.'"

Tyreek Hill was first pulled over Sunday morning because he was driving recklessly ... and he was thrown in handcuffs moments later because he was being uncooperative -- at least, that's according to a huge police union in Florida.

The president for the South Florida Police Benevolent Association -- which represents over 6,000 law enforcement officers in the Sunshine State -- said in a statement to TMZ Sports Hill put "himself and others in great risk of danger" while on his way to Hard Rock Stadium.

And, during an ensuing traffic stop ... the SFLPBA alleges Hill was not responding to cops' orders.

Nicki Minaj won't have to go at Jay-Z all by her lonesome ... Birdman has entered the Super Bowl LIX chat, and he has some tough talk toward the Roc Nation boss!!!

Much fuss has been made about Kendrick Lamar performing at the upcoming halftime show in New Orleans -- the home base of arguably the biggest rap label ever -- Cash Money Records.

After Nicki took swipes at Jay and Roc Nation in defense of Lil Wayne on Monday, Birdman backed her up and promised revenge ... "These n***** P**** @NICKIMINAJ @Drake @LilTunechi YMCMB. I’m make these n***** respek us on Gladys," a nod to his deceased mother.

Ian McKellen may have "Sir" in his title, but he's not a fan of the British Royal Family ... sharing some unfiltered opinions about the late Queen Elizabeth II and her son, King Charles III.

The British actor, who was knighted by the former queen in 1991, sounded off on the Windsors in a new interview with the UK's The Times ... in which he blasted the deceased monarch as being quite "rude," and "quite mad at the end."

As Ian recalls, the longest reigning British monarch made a comment about his career when he received the Companion of Honor medal in 2008 ... telling him he'd "been doing this an awfully long time."

Beyoncé may've had one of the biggest country albums of the year, but it wasn't enough for the megastar to receive a single nomination at the 2024 CMA Awards.

The singer's "Cowboy Carter" album and hit single, "Texas Hold 'Em," were both snubbed by the popular awards show ... with the Grammy winner fully shut out when nominations were announced Monday.

Instead, Morgan Wallen led the charge, earning 7 noms ... including Entertainer of the Year and Song of the Year. Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson fell just behind Morgan, nabbing 5 nominations each.