Coronavirus

The Met Gala is back after a year off due to COVID, and it looks like the stars were chomping at the bit to put on their best suits and dresses in a return to normalcy.

This year's hosts include Keke Palmer, Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman, Timothee Chalamet and Naomi Osaka -- and they've already arrived in with their own getups ... which were eye-popping and extravagant.

Some of the stars expected to show include Rihanna, J Lo, Kim K, Emily Ratajkowski, Camila Cabello, Lupita N'yongo, Beyonce, Addison Rae and more. This year's theme is "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" -- so we'll see wears to rep that.

We know what you're thinking ... what about the Delta variant? There are strict protocols in place to help mitigate that -- including requirements for proof of vaccination prior to showing up, not to mention a negative COVID test as well. Masks indoors are also required.

Remember -- last year's Met Gala got scrapped altogether due to the pandemic ... so, it's been a year-plus since folks have been able to flex their fashion muscles anew.

Cedric Ceballos says he's now COVID-free ... but there's bad news, he's still far from 100 percent -- explaining Monday he's still in the ICU with serious breathing issues.

Ceballos -- the 1992 NBA Dunk Contest champ -- posted a photo of himself in the ICU last Tuesday ... saying COVID-19 was "officially kicking my butt."

The 52-year-old asked for fans to pray for his recovery ... and on Monday, he announced he's now testing negative for COVID.

But, Ceballos clearly ain't out of the woods yet, 'cause he said the effects of the virus are still wreaking havoc on his body.

"I still CAN NOT breathe, walk or function on my own yet (so PLEASE no phone calls, it’s to much work and hard to understand me)," the former Los Angeles Lakers player said on his social media pages.

"I am out of isolation, due to not having covid, but still in ICU, I will still fight and I ask for uplifting on your end."

Ceballos added, "Continue to be nice to one another and I pray we will talk soon."

Ceballos -- who's received prayers from everyone from Paul George to the NBA itself while battling the coronavirus -- played 11 seasons in the Association, and famously won the 1992 Slam Dunk Contest with an epic blindfold slam.

Jeff Bridges has some great news for his fans -- the dude's cancer has all but disappeared ... and not just that, he's on the upswing after a nasty bout of COVID too.

The legendary actor provided the update Monday, posting a handwritten note -- in his own cursive handwriting, no less -- telling people the enormous mass that came along with his lymphoma last year has shrunk down to the size of a "marble."

That's pretty incredible ... considering it was 9 inches by 12 inches in size at one point, according to him. He also says he's in remission, which is the best possible result when battling an aggressive cancer.

There's another health twist we hadn't heard about until just now ... apparently, JB was also fighting the coronavirus earlier this year. He says he likely caught it at the facility where he's been getting chemo, but after feeling like crap for a bit ... he kicked it.

Jeff notes he's fully vaccinated, and says he's heard the jab can help long hauler COVID recipients ... which he attributes to his speedy recovery.

Best of all for Jeff, he says he was able to walk his daughter, Hayley, down the aisle at her recent wedding -- something he wasn't sure he could do, because he's been on oxygen. The proud dad said he even danced with her ... without his O2 tank.

A group of gorillas at a Georgia zoo have caught COVID-19 -- and it sounds like a human staffer might've infected them ... including an old-timer silverback who's the most at risk.

Zoo Atlanta reports that at least 13 of their total 20 gorillas are presumptively positive with the SARS-CoV-2 virus -- this after several of them showed symptoms in recent days and got tests run by a local lab ... with more results forthcoming.

The symptoms ranged from runny noses, coughing and changes in appetite ... and samples were collected via nasal swabs, oral swabs and fecal matter. So far, it looks like an outbreak.

The oldest of their gorillas is 60-year-old Ozzie, who's also tested positive. He and the others are being treated with monoclonal antibodies, and will receive the Zoetis vaccine soon -- which is the jab developed for animals, and which several zoos have already administered.

As for how they got sick -- ZA says it believes a care team member that works there -- who proved to be positive after the fact -- might've been responsible for transmitting it ... unwittingly, and not on purpose. They say this worker was fully vaxxed, wearing a ton of PPE and was asymptomatic the day they reported to work when this presumably spread.

Doesn't seem any of the gorillas are deathly ill at this point, but the Zoo is monitoring their condition. They're also letting visitors continue to see them ... as they say it's not possible for animals to give COVID to humans and the built-in viewing distance is safe enough.

One last thing ... Zoo Atlanta says they can't make the gorillas socially distance -- 'cause they kick it in groups (or troops) of 4, and apparently can't be separated.

Steve-O is literally LOL over Bam Margera's lawsuit against 'Jackass' producers, and says the legal battle has nothing to do with why the new movie's release has been delayed.

We got Steve-O at LAX and asked him why "Jackass Forever" is now dropping on February 4, 2022 ... instead of the originally planned date this October. Fans have been speculating it's because of Bam's pending lawsuit against Johnny Knoxville, the 'Jackass' team and Paramount Pictures.

The studio has said it's due to the rising COVID cases, but conspiracy-loving fans online called BS, and kept pushing the Bam theory. Well, Steve-O's doubling down on the company line, and his reaction to Bam's lawsuit might finally convince fans.

He couldn't hold back, and laughed off the case. In fact, he has just one word to describe it. As we reported ... Bam sued, saying he was forced to sign an agreement he claims amounted to psychological torture.

Steve-O had previously said the reason Bam's not in the fourth installment of the 'Jackass' franchise is that he couldn't stay sober. But now ... a lawsuit? Steve-O's baffled, to say the least.

Good news for Toronto Raptors fans -- and Drake -- the team just announced they'll be playing at home in 2021 after using Tampa as their home court for 19 months!!

Last season, the Raptors had to relocate to Tampa and play their home games in Amalie Arena due to Canada's travel restrictions over COVID-19.

The team hasn't played in their Scotiabank Arena since Feb. 28, 2020 -- but just got the green light to play their preseason opener at home which starts on Oct. 4 against the Sixers.

The capacity limit is still up in the air and there is a COVID vaccination mandate.

"We are optimistic regarding our ability to host full capacity events at Scotiabank Arena," the team said.

"And as a reminder, all people wishing to access the arena — whether to attend an event as a spectator, or as a member of the media — will be required to show proof of vaccination for COVID-19 or proof of a medical exemption."

The Raptors season opener is Oct. 20 against the Wizards and it will be in their city of Toronto.

Howard Stern laid it all out on the table ... f*** everyone who refuses to get a COVID vaccine.

Stern went on a rant this week, arguing vaccines should be mandatory. He railed on the holdouts, in particular 4 radio DJs who refused to get the shot and ended up dead. He bristled that one who expressed regret he didn't get the vaccine ... expressed it on his death bed.

Robin chimed in ... she has trouble drumming up compassion for those who refuse to take precautions and help themselves.

As Howard says, schools have required measles, mumps, polio shots, and on and on, so what's the difference?

His parting words "When are we gonna stop putting up with the idiots in this country. F*** em, f*** their freedom. I wanna be free to live."

Good news ... Oscar De La Hoya was released from the hospital after a bad bout with COVID-19, the boxing legend announced on Wednesday.

"Hey guys, I am out of the hospital. I was in there for 3 days. COVID hit me really hard," ODLH said via social media, adding, "I was in the best shape of my life and I really can't wait to get back in the ring."

Of course, Oscar was scheduled to fight Vitor Belfort on September 11 ... but was forced out of the event when he contracted the virus.

It wasn't just a matter of Oscar being positive ... he was hit hard by the virus, forcing him to go to the hospital on Friday.

Oscar managed to film a video the same day from his hospital bed ... and it was clear he was in bad shape.

However, the Hall of Famer bounced back quick ... and is clearly on the med.

Unfortunately, De La Hoya's still out of his Saturday night fight with Belfort ... and fellow legend, Evander Holyfield has stepped in to fight the MMA legend.

If that wasn't enough ... former President Donald Trump -- who doesn't see eye-to-eye with ODLH -- will be doing commentary for the fight.

Bottom line, despite the setback, Oscar made it clear he still intends to return to the ring after a decade-plus layoff ... and he closed out his health update with a big shout-out to his millions of fans.

Cam Newton is not ready to ride off into the sunset just yet -- saying he's NOT going to retire after getting cut by the Patriots ... and insisting he has "a lot of football left in me."

The 32-year-old's time in New England officially ended after just one season last week ... when the Pats decided to let the 2015 MVP go in favor of rookie Mac Jones.

Head coach Bill Belichick praised Newton on his way out ... saying he had "nothing but positive thoughts and feelings" for the QB and complimented his work ethic.

Newton posted some career lows in several categories in 15 games for the Pats last season ... but is making it clear he's got more left in the tank in an Instagram post Wednesday.

It may be too late for a team to pick Cam up as a starter, but there's gotta be a spot for his talent somewhere in the league.

Cam's teasing a "Funky Friday" chat coming up ... and it's giving "tell-all" vibes.

Joe Rogan returned to his hosting gig 8 days after testing positive for COVID-19, and addressed his use of the controversial medication, Ivermectin, insisting he took a human version of the drug that was prescribed by a doctor.

"I literally got [Ivermectin] from a doctor. It's an American company. They won the Nobel prize in 2015 for use in human beings," Rogan said at the beginning of his first 'JRE' pod since beating the virus.

Remember, 54-year-old Rogan recently announced he tested positive for COVID on Sunday, August 29 ... and threw the proverbial "kitchen sink" at the illness -- taking everything from monoclonal antibodies, antibiotics, vitamins, Prednisone AND Ivermectin.

Discussion around the drug -- which can be used in animals and humans to treat parasites -- has ignited a white-hot debate ... and the CDC has expressly advised Americans NOT to take the medicine for COVID.

However, Rogan is adamant several physicians instructed him to take the med.

"Multiple doctors told me to take it," Joe said, later continuing ... "What [the media] didn't highlight is that I got better! They're trying to make it seem as if I'm doing some wacky s*** that's completely ineffective."

Of course, Joe's been a lightning rod for COVID controversy for almost as long as the pandemic has been around ... often running sideways of the advice of Dr. Fauci and the government experts.

Ex-NBA star Cedric Ceballos is asking everyone to pray for him ... revealing he's been hospitalized in the ICU, battling COVID-19.

The 1992 NBA dunk champ broke the troubling news Tuesday -- posting a photo of himself wearing an oxygen mask in a hospital bed on social media.

"On my 10th day in ICU, COVID-19 is officially kicking my butt!" Ceballos said.

"I am asking ALL family, friends, prayer warriors healers for your prayers and well wish for my recovery."

The small forward added, "If I have done and anything to you in the past, allow me to publicly apologize."

"My fight is not done!"

Ceballos -- a 2nd-round draft pick in 1990 -- played 11 seasons in the NBA for the Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, Pistons and Miami Heat.

Cedric famously won the 1992 Slam Dunk ... with an epic blindfolded dunk. He also made the 1995 All-Star team. Ced averaged over 14 points and 5 rebounds during his NBA career.

After retiring from the NBA, he continued to hoop overseas and in other leagues across America.

The sports world -- from NBA to NFL stars -- has been showing love to the 52-year-old basketball star ... including Paul George who wrote, "keep fighting OG"

Howie Mandel got alarmingly candid with us over his struggle with depression during the pandemic ... half-jokingly saying his own mental health crisis has propelled his therapist into a higher tax bracket.

Howie went on "TMZ Live" to promote a new documentary -- "Howie Mandel: But, Enough About Me" ... and the doc exposes the extreme difficulty he's had as a germaphobe, and how his issues magnified during lockdown.

It's pretty stunning ... Howie said his private struggle -- which he has endured for years -- almost ended his marriage. He says his wife gave him an ultimatum at some point ... either go to therapy or she's out. He chose therapy, but that wasn't the end of the story.

The 'AGT' judge says he's become solitary and depressed, and there's no easy fix.

That said, Howie says the silver lining to an awful period in American history has been that so many others are struggling at varying levels ... there's a newfound awareness that getting help for mental struggles is admirable.

Tom Brady got COVID ... and he thinks he contracted it celebrating his Super Bowl victory.

Brady tested positive back in February ... right after Tampa Bay snagged the Lombardi Trophy ... so he told the Tampa Bay Times. He believes he caught the virus at the Super Bowl Boat  Parade ... you'll recall, when Brady was super drunk and tossed the Trophy off his boat to his comrades in arms!

The Trophy wasn't the only thing that was caught ... 'cause Brady believes that's exactly where he caught COVID. He did not say if he had symptoms.

Brady thinks this season will be worse than last when it comes to the coronavirus ... "I actually think it's going to play more of a factor this year than last year, just because of the way what we're doing now and what the stadium is going to look like and what the travel is going to look like and the people in the building and the fans."

If Cam Newton were vaccinated, he would still be the New England Patriots' starter ... so says NFL Network star Kyle Brandt.

"I'll tell you right now," the "Good Morning Football" host told Harvey and Babcock on "TMZ Live" this week, "I think Cam Newton would be the starting quarterback of the Patriots right now if he was vaccinated."

"That's my opinion, but I think it's true."

It's a bold take ... especially considering Bill Belichick told media members this week that Cam's vaccination status had nothing to do with his release.

But, there's no denying the time Newton missed while dealing with COVID protocol issues last month allowed Mac Jones an opportunity to take a firm hold of the QB1 role in New England.

Brandt, though, says he believes the COVID issues won't stop with Cam ... saying he's so worried about it, it's actually impacting fantasy football drafts.

"I actually think it's something you take into consideration," Brandt said, "because these guys might have to sit out."

Johnny Bench says he's tested positive for the coronavirus and will not be able to attend the upcoming National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The Cincinnati Reds legend announced Friday on social media he was battling the virus despite being vaccinated.

73-year-old Johnny, a Hall of Famer himself, says he's bummed to miss out on seeing the latest Hall of Fame class being inducted into Cooperstown.

The Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday in New York ... and Johnny sounds like he was looking forward to welcoming the Class of 2020, which includes Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker.

Oscar De La Hoya has tested positive for COVID-19 and is out of his comeback fight with Vitor Belfort, TMZ Sports has learned.

58-year-old Evander Holyfield has agreed to step in and box Belfort on September 11 on Triller, our sources tell us.

The one remaining hurdle is getting Holyfield-Belfort approved by the California State Athletic Commission.

If the commission does not sanction the match, we’re told the entire event will still go down ... but it’ll be moved to Florida.

The fight was supposed to be ODLH’s return to the ring after more than a decade ... after losing his last fight to Manny Pacquiao in 2008.

De La Hoya dedicated himself to getting back in peak physical condition in preparation for the fight over the last few months ... and looked to be in great shape, recently showing us his 6-pack as he left dinner in L.A.

As for Holyfield, The Real Deal -- one of the greatest fighters in boxing history -- last fought in 2011 ... but has recently talked about his desire to make a comeback to the ring.

Belfort -- an MMA legend -- has been more active over the last few years ... last fighting in the UFC in 2018.

The Anderson Silva vs Tito Ortiz fight is still a go.

Bottom line ... Oscar’s out, and Evander Holyfield and Vitor Belfort are fighting -- either in Cali or Florida.