Famous Food

The McDonald's employees who called the cops on the Facebook killer are going to get the $50,000 reward ... at least if law enforcement has its way.

We spoke with local and federal law enforcement officials who tell us ... they believe the employees were the lynchpin that caused cops to corner Steve Stephens in Erie, PA. As you know, Stephens killed himself.

As for the reward, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said, "There is an award up to $50,000 for the arrest of Mr. Steve Stephens. The money comes from the FBI, ATF and U.S. Marshal Service."

Sticklers could argue no one should get the award because Stephens wasn't arrested, but there have been similar cases over the years where law enforcement determined the reward conditions were met.

The law enforcement officials with whom we spoke say it's clear ... the McDonald's employees made the difference. They spotted Stephens and stalled him at the drive-thru so cops could make their move.

We're told so far there have been no official meetings on the reward, but it sounds like the employees are in for a big surprise.

Facebook killer Steve Stephens was undone by McDonald's employees who ID'd him and made him wait a little extra time for his order so the cops could come and catch him.

Stephens went through the drive-thru at the McDonald's on Buffalo Road in Erie, PA when one of the workers recognized him. He ordered a 20-piece McNugget and a large fry ... but workers made it seem the fries weren't ready so they could buy time.

According to the restaurant's manager ... Stephens got his nuggets, but then said he had to go and he drove off without the fries. It was enough time for cops to get on his tail.

Nobody does Coachella like Post Malone ... who celebrated with some friends, some fans, and $8,000 worth of Popeyes ... which probably made him a lot more friends.

Post was at the music fest Sunday celebrating his "Stoney" album going platinum, when he decided to seriously turn up by ordering 10,000 Popeyes biscuits. Naturally, Post used Postmates to deliver the goods.

Kendall Jenner's ready for mics all up in her business when she hits up Coachella this weekend ... but there are strings attached -- NO PEPSI TALK!!!

Our Kendall sources tell us the model's got several interviews lined up when she hits up events at the festival ... but questions must be submitted in advance. Everyone interviewing Kendall will have a hard rule ... no direct or indirect mention of her failed Pepsi ad.

As we reported ... Kendall's hosting a party for the dating app Bumble and she'll be a guest DJ at another event.

There are consequences for outlets that get sneaky -- Kendall will be immediately pulled from the interview and the outlet will forever be persona non grata.

Ask at your peril ...

El Pollo Loco made a gross mistake and tossed a crazy extra ingredient into a side of macaroni and cheese ... at least according to a new lawsuit.

A California woman claims she took her 3 kids to the chicken joint, and found a "foreign object" in her side dish. According to docs, obtained by TMZ, that object was a bloody alcohol swab. She doesn't say if it actually got in her boca.

In the suit, she's demanding $75k for herself and the minor children, who she says all sustained injuries to their health, strength and activity ... just like their Mom did.

Neil Gorsuch will have more than just Supreme Court cases to deal with as the newest justice ... he'll also be assigned to cafeteria duty and other lowly tasks for being the new robe on the bench.

SCOTUS justices have a long-running tradition of assigning the newest high judge to junior justice duties, which include 3 specific tasks he or she must undertake until a new justice fills their spot.

Gorsuch is replacing Justice Elena Kagan, who for the last 6 plus years has had to personally answer the door if knocked on during meetings with the justices, take notes during those meetings and our favorite ... attend to grievances about cafeteria food leveled by court employees.

Kagan introduced a frozen yogurt machine to the cafeteria, and Justice Stephen Breyer expanded the cafeteria's salad bar and even added Starbucks coffee when he was the junior justice.

Kendall Jenner's track record of dating black guys doesn't make her qualified to play the role of a social activist, and THAT's where Pepsi screwed up ... according to D.L. Hughley.

We got D.L. at LAX and he told us Pepsi got things seriously twisted when they cast Kendall as a soda can-wielding civil rights leader in that instantly infamous commercial.

Some people might think his take here is no more ridiculous than Pepsi's explanation for the immensely tone deaf spot. Besides, D.L. says he's had serious issues with the soda giant for years ... dating back to another infamous celeb incident.

At least Kendall's hair is intact.

Don't mess with Miss Nikki Baby's crew ... they're down to brawl with or without show cameras rolling.

The "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood" star narrowly avoided an all-female rumble Sunday night outside of Catch. She was leaving with friends, when all of a sudden another group of women -- supposedly her friends or acquaintances -- rushed them and started trading blows until bodies hit the floor.

Interestingly, Nikki made sure no one messed up her hair or makeup. You can see she's right next to the action when the fight starts ... but she QUICKLY retreated to the sidelines.

File this under DISGUSTING ... 2 Walmart customers were tested for rabies after eating a salad with a DEAD BAT inside.

Fresh Express reportedly recalled its Organic Marketside Spring Mix from Walmart in the Southeastern part of the U.S. after customers in Florida found the webbed winged monster.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 2 people ate some of the salad before they found the bat. The bat was sent to the CDC rabies lab for testing but the CDC added that "the deteriorated condition of the bat did not allow for CDC to definitely rule out whether this bat had rabies."

Both customers were tested and are reported to be in good health so far.

In-N-Out Burger claims a barbershop ripped off its famous name -- that's what this lawwwwwsuit's all about!

In.N.Out Barbershop in Puerto Rico is accused of jacking the burger chain's name and ignoring demands to take it down. INO Burger says it even accommodated the barbershop's request for a Spanish translation of the cease and desist letter ... but it led nowhere.

According to the docs ... In-N-Out sent the place a second threatening letter in January and never heard back. They claim the barbershop is benefiting off their name and confusing consumers ... and want all profits and damages from the infringement.

It's unclear what a barber shop customer expected by entering the establishment ... other than a haircut.

On the bright side -- In.N.Out isn't accused of stealing the famous arrow logo ... or the theme song.

Kendall Jenner's Pepsi ad has cops on the soda company's tail ... cops from the police department depicted in the video.

You see an emblem on the cop's shirt sleeve with the words, "San Francisco Police." There's also an eagle spreading its wings ... pretty much like the real SFPD uniforms except the color scheme is different.

Sources at the San Francisco PD tell us Pepsi never asked permission to mimic their uniforms. What's more, the sources say they're working with the City Attorney to determine if producers crossed the legal line by using the logo, which the City considers proprietary.

True enough ... pics of the emblem are featured in behind the scenes footage of the making of the commercial -- footage that was released online and got lots of views, and might now land producers in even more hot water.

There's actually an explanation -- though not necessarily a good one -- for Pepsi's decision to run the disastrous Kendall Jenner ad ... but to understand you have to take a trip back to the '60s.

CLICK THIS LINK and check out the second photo ... it became world famous, shot in Washington, D.C. in 1967 during a Vietnam protest. It shows a demonstrator with flower power approaching a slew of cops armed with bayonets.

Bjorn Charpentier -- the director of photography for the Pepsi ad -- tells us it was this picture, and not a Black Lives Matter protest, that inspired the commercial. Substitute Pepsi for a sunflower, and there you have it.

Lots of people assumed the inspiration for the scene was the Black Lives Matter protest last July in Baton Rouge, where a woman in a sundress stood peacefully as cops approached her.

Charpentier insists his shoot had nothing to do with that demonstration ... it was all about flower power.

By the way ... Charpentier shot a commercial in 2014 for the Leica Camera company which showcased recreations of 100 famous photos, including the 1967 flower photo. So, that was on his brain.

Kendall Jenner's Pepsi ad fiasco had exactly the opposite effect you'd think on Wall Street ... while Kendall and the company were under attack, the stock went up, but the mea culpa was a disaster.

Check out the movement Wednesday from opening bell. There was a small dip, but then the stock went in a vertical direction right up until 1:20 PM ET when the ad was yanked. From there it was all downhill.

Now, even more counterintuitive news. You'd think Coke would benefit from the Pepsi scandal, but it actually did worse at the close. Coke closed down .26% and Pepsi closed down .12%.

Kendall Jenner was the face of the Pepsi commercial and that's it ... she had no involvement in the creative process ... sources involved in the production tell TMZ.

Our sources say she signed on to do the gig and with no knowledge of the marketing vision ... she just knew the brand was big. She clearly knew the story line once she got the script, but the creative was already a done deal.

As we reported ... Pepsi pulled the commercial and apologized for missing the mark and also "for putting Kendall Jenner in this position."

It explains why Pepsi specifically apologized to Kendall in its statement.

Kendall Jenner was in a cover-up of sorts after Pepsi yanked her ad ... hiding her face as she walked past a bank of paparazzi in Paris.

Paps got Kendall Wednesday at a Paris airport, where she was predictably tight-lipped about the backlash she and Pepsi got for the tone-deaf ad.

The Kendall Jenner Pepsi protest commercial featuring American flags and what look like San Francisco cops went off with a bang ... as in Bangkok.

It's kind of weird ... Pepsi presented the ad as a slice of Americana, yet jumped through hoops by shooting in Thailand.

Extras were dressed in jackets emblazoned with American flags, the cops sported SFPD badges and the theme of the commercial was inspired by protests in America ... it just wasn't shot there.

In Pepsi's defense ... there was a Starbucks nearby.