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John Amos' death is exposing a family rift ... and it sounds pretty messy.

The late actor's family is now accusing John's son, Kelly Christopher Amos, AKA K.C., of isolating the "Good Times" star from his loved ones before his death.

In a family statement, John's relatives say ... "Over the past year, John Amos was isolated from his family and close friends by Kelly "KC" Amos, Eugene Brummet and Belinda Foster."

Jacob Elordi looks super relaxed around Olivia Jade's famous folks ... doing push ups and hanging with the whole fam on a yacht.

The actor and his girlfriend are on a yacht vacation with her parents, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, and Jacob's keeping things loose around them.

At one point, Jacob got down and started doing push ups in front of everyone ... and they all seemed pretty impressed.

James Earl Jones was widely respected on the set of "The Sandlot," even by his 13-year-old costars ... actor Patrick Renna recalls to TMZ.

We caught up with the former child star outside LAX, where he told us what it was like working with the film and stage legend ... and he had nothing but nice things to share.

As Patrick put it ... everyone knew who James was while filming the 1993 coming-of-age movie ... but, they unfortunately didn't get a ton of interaction with the A-lister.

Ivanka Trump is helping lead an effort with relief organizations in North Carolina in the wake of the devastating destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene last week.

TMZ has obtained photos of Ivanka in full-on philanthropic mode in Western North Carolina Wednesday, where she joined emergency-relief organizations CityServe, Love & Life and Mercy Chefs. Ivanka and CityServe have worked together many times before.

Ivanka was joined by her 10-year-old son, Joseph, and they served up hot meals and fresh produce from Planet Harvest, and dropped off emergency supplies to families in need.

Diddy accusers are coming forward now that he's behind bars, Taylor Swift's guitar smasher is clearing the air and a UFC star saved a man's life in Hawaii ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles explain why the feds are seeing an uptick in Diddy accusers now that he's in custody.

2:25 PM PT -- According to a Worcester Police Department update Wednesday night, the suspect who shot himself in traffic was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Officers were responding to an earlier shooting near the interstate, in which an unidentified victim later died. A Massachusetts State Trooper then located the suspected shooter, who fired at the trooper and fled on foot into traffic. Police say the suspect tried to carjack motorists on the highway before he was fired upon by officers -- leading to the man shooting himself about an hour after the incident began.

Police said there was no further danger to the public.

A Massachusetts highway turned into a terrifying scene for commuters when a man with a gun sparked heavy police presence and prompted road closures ... and TMZ has a look at the chaos.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ ... Interstate 190 was closed just north of Worcester, Mass. Wednesday afternoon after a man with a gun took to the highway on foot ... dipping and diving in between cars in standstill traffic, attempting to avoid capture.

Mass. State Police spokesman Brandon Doherty told TMZ ... troopers and Worcester police responded to a report of a man with a gun around 3:40 PM local time ... and a shooting occurred shortly thereafter.

Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter" album may not have wrangled much award season glory yet, but she could be gearing up for a Grammy showdown -- rumor has it the album's been submitted for a major category at next year’s ceremony.

The Recording Academy's screening committee met last week to decide which albums and songs will compete at the February 2nd awards at L.A.'s Crypto.com Arena -- and Beyoncé's country album emerged as a favorite ... and is set to appear on the ballots for the Best Country Album category, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

They also reportedly crowned Sabrina Carpenter as the frontrunner for Best New Artist, ready to saddle up against other possible contenders like Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, and Megan Moroney.

The ex-porn star accusing Diddy of sex trafficking her at his White Parties is likely about to be in need of new legal representation ... because the lawyer handling the case is asking a judge to cut her loose.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Adria English's attorney Ariel Mitchell-Kidd wants to withdraw from the case, claiming Adria is giving her conflicting instructions that make it impossible for her to represent Adria.

Mitchell-Kidd also says there's been a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship. She claims there are irreconcilable differences between them, and says Adria's "tone and lack of respect and [her] continued behavior and self-destructive activities" have made it impossible for Mitchell-Kidd to continue representing her.

Gary Estes, the Texas man who dropped $4,000 to smash a Taylor Swift guitar with a hammer, says she didn't actually put pen to instrument ... even though it features her autograph, and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Gary joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and settled a point of debate about the viral moment ... namely, was this guitar signed by Taylor?!?

Taylor did NOT sign the actual guitar ... instead, Gary says, it looks like Taylor signed a different piece of memorabilia that was affixed to the guitar.

Shawn Laval Smith, the man found guilty of stabbing UCLA grad student Brianna Kupfer to death in 2022, now has a permanent home behind bars ... Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today Smith was sentenced to life in prison.

Smith was found guilty of one count of murder and a special-circumstance allegation of lying in wait on September 10 ... and a Superior Court Judge rejected his insanity plea ahead of sentencing him to life in prison without parole.

Back in January 2022, 24-year-old Brianna was working in a high-end furniture store by herself when Smith entered the building and stabbed her, and then fled the scene.

1:18 PM PT -- Matthew Binninger, Dr. Mark Chavez’s attorney, tells TMZ … Mark has accepted responsibility for his actions by entering his guilty plea, he is cooperating with the government, and he has begun the process to surrender his medical license.

“The factual basis from the plea agreement will be used as the basis for the medical board to issue a complaint against him, requesting the surrender of his license. We will agree with that conclusion, and at that point, his license will be revoked. I cannot give you an exact timeline about when that will happen because it is up to the medical board, but the wheels are in motion, and now that the guilty plea has been entered it should happen sooner than later.”

One of the doctors charged in connection with Matthew Perry's ketamine death is one step closer to prison ... because he just copped to a crime.

Dr. Mark Chavez, one of 2 physicians busted in the Perry case, appeared before a judge in federal court Wednesday in Los Angeles and pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

As we reported ... Chavez quickly cut a deal with the feds after a slew of arrests were made in connection with Perry's death. Now, he's formally entered his plea.

The Menendez brothers' savage shotgun slaying of their parents in 1989 left a gruesome mark on their family home’s living room -- a chilling scene that's still haunting more than 30 years later.

The lavish Beverly Hills mansion is getting a facelift by its new owners ... and a construction worker's recent TikTok takes viewers inside the freshly gutted room where Jose and Kitty Menendez were murdered.

The TikTok shows the eerie family room stripped down to its bones, with only the wooden shelf frame and draped curtains still standing, plus some orange markings and a torn up wall where the TV once was.

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi are lifting the veil on their secret wedding ... finally sharing photos from their special day.

The happy couple just posted a slew of wedding pics on their respective social media accounts, offering the first glimpse inside their nuptials.

Millie's wedding dress looks amazing and Jake's holding his own in a white tuxedo ... and there are photos of them kissing in the venue and at the altar.

Forget plyometrics, Tom Brady's clearly hitting the weights in retirement ... check out his arms following his latest gym session Wednesday -- dude's biceps are bulging!!!

TB12 got in the sweat sesh down in Miami on his off day from his Fox broadcasting duties ... and it's clear it was an upper-body hump day for the GOAT.

Take a look at what was underneath the sleeves of his tan shirt as he walked out of the fitness facility ... his pythons were hissin'!

Parents of a 3-year-old boy are feeling mighty grateful a police officer rescued their child from a pool after he went missing.

Alex Calvillo and Savannah Ybarra of Indiana say they first became worried about their youngster's whereabouts after the boy, named Aziel, disappeared as they prepared brunch for loved ones.

Aziel, who has been diagnosed with autism, was left on the couch to watch a tablet ... but wandered off -- which his parents told WPTA-TV he tends to do.

John Amos died of congestive heart failure, according to his death certificate, and he was cremated more than a month ago ... fueling speculation that a family feud was raging at the time he died.

TMZ has obtained the death certificate filed with L.A. County, and it shows the "Good Times" star died August 21 at 5:18 PM at an Inglewood hospital.

The death certificate says there were no other significant medical conditions other than heart failure.