Robert Saleh Lebanese Flag Not Reason For Firing ... Strictly Football

Robert Saleh was fired because the New York Jets were underperforming on the football field -- period -- with sources telling TMZ Sports any notion suggesting the Lebanese flag patch he wore on Sunday factored into the move is utter nonsense.

Saleh was given a pink slip on Tuesday after Gang Green fell to 2-3 on the season ... and shortly after his termination, some talking heads tried to connect it to the fact Saleh sported his family's heritage on his arm during the team's loss to the Minnesota Vikings just two days prior.

Those who pushed the claim on social media suggested Saleh wore the patch as a political statement on the unrest in the Middle East ... and speculated Jets owner Woody Johnson was so pissed over the stunt, he promptly cut ties with the coach.

Drake Hogestyn 'Days of Our Lives' Actor's Cause of Death Revealed

"Days of Our Lives" actor Drake Hogestyn's official cause of death has been confirmed as pancreatic cancer.

According to docs obtained by TMZ, the L.A. Medical Examiner's report states pancreatic cancer was the immediate cause of his death. Other significant conditions contributing to his death, but not directly causing it, included vomiting, dehydration, and whole-body toxicity.

The report also reveals that Drake was cremated at the Rose Family Funeral Home in Simi Valley.

Sabrina Carpenter Throws Support Behind Phillies ... Check Out My Phit!!!

Tom DeLonge ain't the only celeb looking to bring some good luck to an MLB team this month ... Sabrina Carpenter pledged her allegiance to the Phillies on Tuesday night -- with a sexy outfit!!

As Philadelphia was gearing up for its pivotal Game 4 NLDS matchup with the Mets, Carpenter threw on a Phils jersey while performing at Wells Fargo Arena to give the squad her support.

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Check out video from the pop star's concert ... Carpenter -- who's from Pennsylvania -- tossed on the steamy 'fit, which featured a No. 69 jersey, for a rendition of "Espresso" ... and everyone in attendance ate it up.

BigXthaPlug Couldn't Care Less About Complex List Snub I Got 'The Largest' Bankroll!!!

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It's All Good
TMZ.com

Texas rhyme-slinger BigXthaPlug didn't lose a wink of sleep over being snubbed from Complex magazine's "20 Best Rappers In Their 20s Right Now" -- the figures in his bank account give him all the pleasant dreams in the world!!!

BigX and his 6ixers rap group had some fun with TMZ Hip Hop in NYC ahead of his upcoming "Take Care" album release.

The platinum-seller tells us flat-out he was aware of the list's existence ... much love to all those other guys, but BigX says he's pocketing more money than them with his independent grind.

Donald Trump I'm 'Basically' Honest ... Host Laughs in His Face

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LAUGH OUT LOUD
FLAGRANT

Donald Trump says he's got some Pinocchio in him ... saying he's "basically a truthful person" during a podcast interview -- and, the statement had one podcast host laughing in his face.

The 45th POTUS stopped by "Andrew Schulz's Flagrant with Akaash Singh" podcast ... and, he launched into a discussion of the ads his presidential opponent Kamala Harris is running -- saying they're full of falsehoods about him.

DJT says Kamala's team is twisting his views on IVF and his use of the word "bloodbath" when discussing the economy in new TV ads ... saying it's all come out as an unfair depiction of him.

Creepy Video Dog Appears To Morph Into Man!!!

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CAUGHT ON CAMERA
Jam Press

There's a mystery brewing down in Mexico, where surveillance footage appears to show a dog running down the street and morphing into a human!!!

Ya gotta see the video ... there's a creature running past someone's house -- an audible bark makes this seem like a dog -- and then as the critter gets a little farther down the road, the figure shapeshifts into a person.

This thing starts out low to the ground as it runs by the house, and then rises up into an upright position.

Diddy Mom, Twins Pay Him Visit In NY Jail ... Before Speaking Up For Him

Diddy's mother and his twin daughters visited him behind bars in Brooklyn, and the visit was so compelling for his mom ... she broke her silence on her son's legal troubles.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... Diddy's mom, Janice Combs, and his teenage twin daughters, D'Lila and Jessie, spent time with him last week at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

We're told the four family members went to a visiting area, where they were able to hug and converse ... under supervision by jail staff.

LeBron James, Savannah Emotionally Thank First Responder ... After Saving Bronny's Life

LeBron and Savannah James shared a touching moment with the woman who sprang into action during Bronny's cardiac arrest incident last year ... thanking the first responder for helping save their son's life.

The Lakers superstar and his wife of 11 years detailed Bronny's medical emergency in the new Netflix docuseries, "Starting 5" ... which premiered Wednesday on Netflix.

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In one of the scenes, LBJ visited the USC Trojans' locker room with his mother, Gloria, and hugged a training staff member named Erin -- the woman who performed CPR on Bronny that terrifying day last July.

"Life saver," James said introducing Erin to his mom. "Literally."

Troy Aikman Taylor And Travis Might Be Engaged ... That's What I Was Told!!!

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JUST SAYING WHAT I HEARD!!!
Pardon My Take

Troy Aikman can't help but call Taylor Swift "The Missus" during "Monday Night Football" ... but he claims he might actually be onto something -- 'cause he says a little birdie told him she could very well already be engaged to Travis Kelce!!

The ESPN color commentator revealed the gossip on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast on Wednesday ... where he was asked about his viral remark from the broadcast.

The Hall of Famer explained he had no idea the quip would take a life of its own ... saying, "This morning, I woke up and saw a headline like, 'Aikman knew he was in trouble' or something," he said. "And I was thinking, 'Gosh, if this is newsworthy,' like really?"

Florida Man Finally Agrees to Leave Boat ... Refused Multiple Times Leading Up to Hurricane

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Offering Help
@terrenceconcannon

A man in Florida who refused to leave his small boat multiple times in the past few days has finally agreed to evacuate before Hurricane Milton smashes into the coast ... despite previously telling cops in a viral video they would need to forcibly remove him.

The seafarer reportedly named Joseph Malinowski -- known affectionately as "Lieutenant Dan" on TikTok -- ignored multiple warnings from Tampa police to leave his vessel ... all while a Category 4 storm remains on track to smash into Florida's Gulf Coast.

A clip of Dan's interaction -- posted by TikToker "Tampa Terrence," who has been chronicling Lt. Dan in recent months -- shows the sea captain refusing a police officer's request to leave.

Jay-Z & Beyoncé Furious Over Diddy Comparison!!! Atty Alex Spiro Rips Piers Morgan's Show

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TRUTH WILL COME OUT
TMZ.com

Jay-Z and Beyoncé are livid at Piers Morgan for airing an interview with some vague, but serious allegations against them ... and their attorney is questioning Piers' ethics.

The Carters' attorney, Alex Spiro, joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and we asked him about Jay and Bey's response to Piers' show 'Uncensored' broadcasting an interview with Jaguar Wright, who claimed the couple had more "victims" than Diddy.

Alex says Piers was exploiting the rumor mill by allowing these false allegations to hit the airwaves ... and he says he gave Piers an ultimatum ... remove the claims and apologize, or face a court order to take the interview down.

Taylor Swift Baby Bump Love For Brit!!!

Here's further proof there's no rift between Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes ... Patrick's significant other let the pop star rub her pregnant belly!

The moment happened at some point during the Chiefs' "Monday Night Football" tilt with the Saints ... when Taylor, Britt and Blake Bell's significant other, Lyndsay Bell, posed for a pic together in an Arrowhead Stadium luxury box.

Taylor and Lyndsay -- with some beverages in tow (get a load of Tay Tay's Travis Kelce-themed cup!) -- placed their hands on Mrs. Mahomes' stomach for the snap ... and then they all smiled as the camera's shutter went off.

Menendez Juror Homophobia Main Factor in 1st Trial ... That's Why Jury Was Hung

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OUTSIDE INFLUENCES
TMZ.com

A female juror from the Menendez brothers' first trial is speaking out -- about how sexism and homophobia impacted that outcome, and why she thinks they deserve to walk free now.

Hazel Thornton, who voted to convict Erik and Lyle Menendez of voluntary manslaughter back in 1994, joined us on "TMZ Live" ... and claims the male jurors she served with didn't buy the argument the brothers were molested by their dad, José Menendez, and also felt the public pressure to make a "macho" decision.

Hazel elaborated that homophobia was the biggest issue in the trial, highlighting how the case's prosecutor suggested the family's problems stemmed from Erik allegedly being gay.

Disney World Fanatics Saying No to Milton & Yes to Mickey!!!

Even Hurricane Milton can't keep Disney World fanatics away from the theme park ... with tourists still swinging by The Most Magical Place On Earth hours before the storm's landfall.

Check it out ... parkgoers -- including men, women, and children -- decked out in ponchos and umbrellas made their way into Disney's Orlando-based theme parks Wednesday morning ... despite the current hurricane warning.

The decision to still attend Disney World is frankly surprising, given the fact the parks are set to close Wednesday afternoon ahead of Milton's landfall in Florida.

San Diego Body Cam Detective Fatally Shoots Suspect in Tow Truck

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SHOTS FIRED
San Diego County Sheriff

Authorities have released video footage capturing the moment an officer fatally shoots a narcotics suspect at a car dealership near Naval Base San Diego in California.

Footage from body cam shows Detective Douglas Akers from the San Diego County Sheriff's Office opening fire on suspect Gene Stewart, who had fired at the officer first from inside a parked tow truck, shattering the passenger-side window glass.

In the footage, Akers returns fire into the window. Stewart then emerges from the truck, hunched over, clutching his gun to his chest.

Snoop Dogg Murder No Longer The Case Petition Granted to Seal 1993 Arrest

Snoop Dogg made the necessary steps earlier this year to ensure his rocky legal past becomes ancient history -- The Doggfather's 1993 murder charge was officially sealed earlier this year!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained legal docs showing Snoop asked a judge to seal the records way back in January 2024 ... the court signed off in late February, granting the petition to have his arrest sealed.

The trial was huge news at the time ... Snoop was still budding as a superstar and infamously got arrested following his passionate MTV Awards performance of his hit "Murder Was The Case," a track created around the frenzy over the allegations. Snoop and a bodyguard were accused of shooting a man in an L.A. Park in 1993.