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Huge news in the Diddy criminal case ... he's chomping at the bit to defend himself in a federal courtroom ... and he will take the witness stand to tell his story.

Diddy's attorney, Marc Agnifilo, appears in a new TMZ Studios documentary -- "The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment" -- which is dropping soon on Tubi ... and he tells us Diddy can't wait to testify in court.

It's a risky move ... Diddy's going to be able to tell his side of things, but he's also going to be cross-examined ... and obvious topics include the Cassie beating video, the famous "freak off" parties and accusations he blew up a car belonging to one of Cassie's exes.

Bengals legend Willie Anderson is racing to Joe Burrow's defense ... telling TMZ Sports anyone who's blaming Cincinnati's early season woes on the quarterback is flat-out wrong.

The former offensive lineman snapped on the JB haters during an interview with us on Tuesday -- some 24 hours after the Bengals fell to 0-3 with a "Monday Night Football" loss to the Commanders.

"That's ridiculous, bro," Anderson told us of the Burrow criticism. "Like, they're in these games because of him. It's just totally ridiculous."

Nick Carter's looking for aspiring musicians to serve as his opening act on a nationwide tour ... and the first honor goes to a guy who served him coffee.

The Backstreet Boys singer just started the U.S. leg of his "Who I Am" world tour and he needed an opener for Tuesday's show in Cleveland, OH ... and he found his man at a local restaurant.

Nick was grabbing coffee before the show when he started talking to his server, Jordan Tellez ... and when the dude showed him his music on Spotify, Nick asked him to join him at his show.

11:40 AM PT -- Teresa's attorney, Michael Garfinkel, tells TMZ, "Teresa's petition speaks for itself. Teresa is seeking to carry out Richard's wishes."

Richard Simmons' longtime housekeeper is petitioning to become co-trustee of his estate ... claiming Richard's brother pressured her to turn down the role while she was still grieving the fitness icon's death.

Teresa Reveles Muro -- who says she worked for Richard for nearly 40 years and was the one who found his body back in July -- filed a petition Wednesday ... claiming just days after Richard died, she, Richard's brother Leonard, and Leonard's wife Cathy went to view his body.

Right after this -- when Teresa says she was at her most vulnerable -- she says Leonard and Cathy took her to the office of the lawyers handling the trust, where she signed a document turning down the co-trustee role.

Drake’s father Dennis Graham had a massive birthday bash in West Hollywood Friday ... the party was in his honor, but he gave the crowd the gift of live music!!!

We got video of Dennis looking spiffy in his bandleader bibber while singing the Memphis-style Blues -- his career specialty -- inside Delilah nightclub.

The hotspot has been a fav for Drake and Dennis for years … also infamously name-dropped in Drake’s “Family Matters” record during his battle with Kendrick Lamar.

Jojo Siwa's turning up the heat with her GF Dakayla Wilson, locking lips and proving she's packing it -- in her eyebrow-raising career and in her sizzling love life.

The former "Dance Moms" star turned edgy pop phenomenon took a break from her busy schedule to pack on the PDA with Dakayla, dropping her off with a kiss on the sidewalk in Studio City Wednesday.

JS and DW just went public with their romance last month, and they're clearly still in that sweet honeymoon phase -- smiling, gazing into each other’s eyes, and kissing like they’re about to part ways forever.

Tekashi 6ix9ine was in the thick of a physical altercation outside a Miami nightclub ... and TMZ has it all on video.

The heated exchange played out around 4 AM Monday in the parking lot of Coco Miami, with Tekashi and his entourage beefing with another crew ... and tensions were high.

Folks who were there say Tekashi had been partying with a bunch of women inside Coco's VIP section before the scuffle ... and it seemed like a couple of guys wanted to pick a fight.

Jon Gosselin is feeling optimistic about his future ... not only is his son, Collin, doing well at college, but he's also gearing up for some personal projects.

We caught up with the reality TV star in NYC, where he gave us big updates about his personal life. For starters, Jon was thrilled to share Collin -- one of his 8 famous kiddos with ex Kate Gosselin -- is attending Penn State.

This school news comes a month after Collin shared he was discharged from the Marine Corps over his past stint at a mental health facility.

Frank Grillo is clarifying his claim about his relationship with Marvel ... with the actor telling us he was not almost axed from the superhero studio.

ICYMI ... Grillo, who is best known for playing Brock Rumlow AKA Crossbones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, said in a recent interview that he was nearly given the pink slip on 36 different occasions while working for the Disney-owned brand.

However, we caught up with the actor at LAX Airport and he made it clear his comments were taken far too literally ... defending he was just joking around about his big mouth.

1:15 PM PT -- A rep for Secret Service tells TMZ ... "The Secret Service cannot provide the details on our means and methods of protection, but we can confirm that at no time were any Secret Service protectees in the vehicle while the individual was walking down the alleyway. These claims are inaccurate. The photo in question was upon departure and not during the alleged incident."

However, TMZ has spoken with an eyewitness who tells us the armed security guard approached the window and observed Obama inside using a laptop ... and because the guard was armed, he quickly moved away from the SUV.

Barack Obama coming inches away from an armed stranger in a Hollywood alleyway is the latest stunning lapse of Secret Service security -- an absolutely shocking scene that played out last weekend ... TMZ has learned.

The former president was sitting in the back seat of his SUV Saturday around 7:30 PM outside hot spot restaurant Mother Wolf -- and that's when the armed man approached the vehicle, in his capacity as a security guard for a bar mitzvah going on upstairs from the restaurant.

We spoke to the armed guard -- who asked us not to use his name -- and he says he went downstairs to check the scene, because someone told him it appeared federal agents were outside, and they didn't know why.

People are buzzing about the massive quantity of baby oil found when the feds raided Diddy's homes in Beverly Hills and Miami, and his lawyer is offering up an explanation.

Attorney Marc Agnifilo appears in a new TMZ Studios documentary -- "The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment" -- which is dropping soon on Tubi.

Agnifilo has a different view of Diddy's "Freak Offs" than the U.S. Attorney. Agnifilo says there were typically threesomes, with Diddy, Cassie and another male.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" star Eduardo Xol has passed away a week after being stabbed ... TMZ has learned.

The Riverside County coroner tells TMZ ... Xol, a resident of Palm Springs, Calif., died Thursday afternoon, Sept. 19, at Desert Regional Medical Center. Xol's mother also confirmed his death to TMZ.

His family tells TMZ ... "We are heartbroken at the tragic loss of our beloved Eduardo Xol. As his family, we know that his kindness has touched the lives of so many. We ask for that kindness returned now allowing our privacy to be respected as we process our grief. In lieu of flowers we ask that donations be made in Eduardo’s name to the Lupus Foundation of America as he spent so much of his life in the service of others."

Bam Margera has officially been released from jail ... and is heading straight into treatment to get his life back on track, TMZ has learned.

The "Jackass" star's lawyer, Michael T. van der Veen, tells TMZ it was a court victory for Bam Wednesday ... adding he's on the right track to reclaiming his successful career and his wonderful life with his wife, Dannii Marie, once he wraps up his short-term treatment.

Sources tell us Bam's going directly to Recovery Centers of America for Inpatient Treatment, and his case can officially be closed once his treatment is over -- but a bench warrant will be issued if any noncompliance with his treatment is reported.

Jennifer Aniston had one hell of a wake-up call Friday evening ... law enforcement tells us the "Friends" star was swatted -- a growing prank targeting many in Hollywood.

Law enforcement tells TMZ ... someone called the cops and told a dispatcher he was worried about a friend's well-being -- but never mentioned Aniston by name.

Per the cops, the caller said his friend was "not doing well" ... and supposedly alluded to seeing him on the other side. We're told the caller then asked cops to do a welfare check, providing only the address and keeping himself anonymous.

D.L. Hughley says Janet Jackson knows good and well what she's doing by questioning Kamala Harris' race ... and he thinks Janet wants to hurt the Veep.

The comedian tells TMZ ... Janet repeating a claim about Harris that is so easily proven false shows there is malicious intent behind the public smear.

D.L. says Janet is peddling far right lies ... and he thinks it's ironic she's falsely claiming Harris' father is white when there are questions about the Jackson family actually wanting to be white themselves.

Travis Kelce only has eight catches through three games this season -- and he's yet to top 100 total yards -- but one of his star teammates, George Karlaftis, is adamant the future Hall of Famer has not lost a step.

The Kansas City pass rusher spoke with TMZ Sports this week about his team's hot 3-0 start ... and while he told us he's much better equipped to talk about the defensive side of the ball -- he knows for a fact Kelce ain't washed.

Karlaftis said straight up the tight end "hasn't skipped a beat" -- and even though critics have suggested TK's highly publicized offseason with Taylor Swift has caused his slow start ... Kelce's teammate's seen no change in the 34-year-old's preparation process.