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4:16 PM PT -- The two journalists -- who work for Starcade Media -- just released a statement on the matter ... insisting they did not mean to rile up Jerry Rice with their Chiefs-related question.

The guys said on their Facebook page they merely wanted to know if Kansas City's 2024 wideout group "had improved enough to continue winning at a high level" ... and nothing more.

"We meant absolutely no disrespect to Jerry or the 49ers when asking this question," they said. They added that they'd love the opportunity to discuss things further with the Hall of Famer.

Common has a common view on the 2024 presidential election -- he's not happy with the choices.

We got the rapper in New York City on Thursday and our photog asked about celebs like George Clooney voicing concerns about President Biden's chances of beating Donald Trump.

Common -- who campaigned for fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama back in the day and Biden in 2020 -- admits he's disheartened about the nominees for president but says that's not an excuse to sit out this election cycle.

The feds probing Matthew Perry's death are "confident" they have the goods to take down the people who helped him obtain the ketamine that contributed to his death ... TMZ has learned.

DEA agents launched their Perry death investigation after the L.A. County Medical Examiner determined the "Friends" star died from drowning in his hot tub after taking ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects.

Our sources tell us ... the feds are aiming to charge the suspects with drug distribution resulting in death or great bodily injury, which carries a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison.

Candace Owens is firing back at Eminem after he dissed her on his new album ... telling us his lyrics are super lame and accusing him of pandering to Black people.

Candace joined us on Friday's episode of "The TMZ Podcast" and we asked her about Eminem lashing out at her in a song on his 12th album, "Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)."

In the track "Lucifer," Eminem raps ... "And Candace O, I ain't mad at her / I aint gon' throw the fact bitch forgot she was Black back at her / Laugh at her, like them crackers / She's backin' after / Her back is turnin', a cute MAGA hat with her "White Lives Matter" shirt."

Alec Baldwin's never going to forget his manslaughter trial, because there's a filmmaker capturing his every move as part of a documentary about the "Rust" tragedy.

Ever since Alec touched down in Santa Fe, NM for his criminal trial in the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the "Rust" movie set, he's been shadowed by a woman with a video camera.

While Alec's got an upcoming reality show about his family airing next year on TLC, our sources say the woman behind the camera is NOT part of that project.

Money, or the lack thereof, might talk loudest when it comes to President Biden's reelection bid -- because most of the Democrats' biggest donors are growing impatient with him ... TMZ has learned.

Amid the calls this week for Biden to step aside, one major donor tells us ... virtually all of the folks who've been pouring millions into the Biden-Harris campaign are "Vehement. What are they waiting for???"

We're told frustration is growing as the donors wonder why it's taking party leadership so long to convince Biden he needs to be replaced on the ticket.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's trying to move on from her estranged husband Ryan Anderson, but her pregnancy and a Louisiana law are complicating that, and prompting her to step on the gas when it comes to divorce.

While she happily announced this week she and ex-fiance Ken Urker are expecting, there's a law in the Bayou State that adds another layer to the story. It says if the mother of a child is married to someone who isn't the biological father when the child was conceived -- or has been divorced for less than 300 days at the time of birth -- then her ex, or estranged husband, is presumed to be the father.

So, in the eyes of Louisiana, Ryan's name would go on the birth certificate as the daddy ... even though Gypsy says Ken is the biological father.

Pat Sajak is NOT coming out of a short-lived retirement to host the upcoming "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" season -- instead, this was always in the cards ... TMZ has learned.

Here's the deal ... when ABC announced Wednesday Pat would be hosting the fifth season of 'Celeb Wheel' this fall, there was speculation he was pulling a Tom Brady by quickly backing out of retirement.

That's not exactly the case, because sources with direct knowledge tell us it was always part of Pat's succession plan to do one last season of 'Celebrity Wheel' ... before riding off into the sunset and completely handing over the reigns to Ryan Seacrest.

There's some interesting paintings inside the Vatican ... and it's worth taking a closer look at what's being depicted in the sky.

TMZ Studios has a new series, "Strange & Suspicious," now airing on a dozen FOX stations, where we explore unexplained and downright weird stories, and now we're combing over the artwork inside the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

In several paintings that are centuries old, there are some mysterious shapes in the heavens above ... sparking comparisons to flying saucers.

Patrick Mahomes Sr. -- the father of NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes II -- has had yet another run-in with cops ... TMZ Sports has learned he was busted in Texas last month for driving on an invalid license.

According to court documents we obtained ... Mahomes Sr. was ticketed for the offense in Tyler, Texas at around 8:30 PM on June 29 -- less than five months after he was arrested for DWI in the same city.

The docs show Mahomes Sr. was given a warning for disregarding traffic signs in addition to the citation ... indicating he was initially pulled over for a routine violation.

Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" video brought big business to his hometown fast-food spot and its owner says the Compton rapper has his pick of the menu -- for life!!!

TMZ Hip Hop spoke with Spiro Vovos, owner of Tam's Burgers this week and he tells us the first few days following the premiere of "Not Like Us" on July 4 were exciting, to say the least.

Kendrick and Mustard shot several scenes in front and inside the Compton Tam's ... Spiro says the euphoria has died down a bit but their managers tallied upwards of 40% increases at one point!!!

Run-DMC legend Darryl McDaniels isn't endorsing President Biden or Donald Trump this November, instead the king from Queens says he just might be the best candidate going forward!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with DMC in NYC, where the 60-year-old hip-hopper told us age isn't a hindrance in the race of life, but in politics ... well, he's still trying to determine how it's impacting POTUS' capability of running the country for another 4 years!!!

We know he's not going for Trump either ... he instructed us to revisit his 2021 patriotic track "America," and joked Tom Morello will be his vice president and Bumpy Knuckles AKA Freddie Foxxx his head of security!!!

Sen. Joe Manchin says George Clooney pulling support for President Biden's reelection bid is a huge deal ... and he's strongly suggesting Clooney could trigger a change.

The Senator from West Virginia was on the Hill Thursday, when a photog asked about George's damning Biden op-ed in The New York Times ... something he says is critical, because of the source.

Manchin, a Democrat, called George's letter "very telling" and "very serious."

Floyd Mayweather, Mookie Betts, and a gang of other star athletes and actors rubbed shoulders at a swanky party in Los Angeles Wednesday night ... where the 50-0 fighter delivered an emotional speech to the famous partygoers!

In addition to TBE and the 8x All-Star, Draymond Green, Terance Mann, Michael Porter Jr., Trevor Ariza, Meagan Good, and Jonathan Majors were also in the building.

As for why all the stars came out ... it was to celebrate the launch of Hidden Empire Sports, a collaboration between The Union and EAG Sports Management, and created by Deon Taylor.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck aren't even trying to hide it anymore -- they've now publicly listed their Beverly Hills mansion for a whopping $68 million ... a huge total, but one that might leave them in the red on the deal.

The 12-bedroom, 24-bathroom house was posted for sale on MLS Thursday afternoon ... and, of course, it was recently renovated -- so you know the buyer's getting the newest accessories.

The listing for the 38,000 square foot home touts the fact it's had a lot of improvements and renovations to the property in the last 4 months.

President Biden's campaign funding might slow to a trickle if he stays in the race ... at least according to a 6-figure donor who says democratic supporters are analyzing poll numbers and reacting.

Whitney Tilson's an author and investment expert who gives at least $100k a year to the Dems, but Thursday on "TMZ Live" he told us more and more donkey party donors are revolting -- over the president staying in the race -- the best way possible ... by closing their checkbooks.

Tilson explains donors aren't panicking because of the polls, but instead, they're making cold, calculated decisions based on concrete data -- numbers that show there's a low probability Biden's gonna win in November.