Gossip / Rumors

Toni Braxton put some respek on Birdman's name by hanging with the Cash Money CEO -- and it's not for the first time ... which makes it more surprising they've kept this under wraps.

The cat started crawling out of the bag when Birdman showed up Sunday for Toni's Grammy Park performance in Brooklyn. We're told backstage was sealed off so very few people could see them together, but this pic of the rendezvous got out.

Sources tell TMZ ... Birdman left with his entourage to go clubbing. It's unclear if he and Toni had a "run-in" later, but we're told they've been close for years ... and have hooked up in the past.

D'Angelo Russell says he's ready to move on from the infamous crime against bromanity back in March -- but tells TMZ Sports the ball is ultimately in Nick Young's court.

We got the Lakers #2 pick out in Kentucky this weekend -- and asked him straight up if he and Swaggy P will be cool next season ... after shooting that video that nearly cost Nick his fiancee.

"I don't know," Russell admitted ... "Only time will tell, right?"

There's more in the clip -- but it seems D'Angelo feels he's done all he can do to repair the friendship.

Seems Chicago Bulls star Jimmy Butler has made an off-season acquisition of his own ... 'cause he was out on a lunch date with "Pretty Little Liars" star Shay Mitchell -- and we're told the two are together.

Butler and Mitchell had lunch together at Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills on Saturday -- and TMZ Sports has video of the two smiling and laughing together after the meal.

Sources extremely close to the couple tell us it wasn't just a one-off lunch thing -- the two are dating ... but it's pretty fresh, so they're keeping things on the DL.

Later that night, Butler was out at dinner without Shay -- and was playing it coy when we asked about the relationship ... but you can tell.

We also asked if there was ever a chance of him playing for the Lakers -- but Butler made it clear he's a Bulls man.

At least for now.

Nicki Minaj's ex BF Safaree Samuels definitely has a type -- well endowed (front and back) chicks named Nicki ... or Nikki.

We got Safaree and Nikki Mudarris from "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood" out on a date at Katsuya over the weekend. There are plenty of "it's obvious" in this video -- the giant bouquet of flowers and the hand holding -- they're a new couple, even though they played it coy with our photog.

And this ain't just romantic ... it's professional. Our 'LHHH' sources tell us Safaree is going to be on the next season of the show.

Both are coming out of bad breakups ... Mudarris with rapper Mally Mall and Safaree with Minaj -- so we're sure this will totally work out with reality show cameras in their faces.

You'd think going viral as Angelina Jolie's doppelganger would have dudes (and definitely some chicks) banging down Mara Teigen's door -- and yet she's totally available.

The model recently blew up when the Internet recognized her eerily Angelina-like features -- so when we got her at LAX we asked how the recognition's changed her life.

Mara explained her phone has been ringing more, it's just ... well, watch the video. Why wouldn't you?

Seriously.

Justin Bieber had to regulate on Desiigner in the packed 1 OAK nightclub when the rapper's performance spilled into the VIP section ... TMZ has learned.

Sources in the NYC hot spot tell us 19-year-old Desiigner -- recently signed to Kanye West's label -- was putting on a hell of a show Thursday night, and Justin was watching from the VIP area.

We're told it was all good until Desiigner got "a little too hyped" ... started jumping around and "stomped" multiple times on Justin's feet. That's when JB flexed on him.

We're told Desiigner immediately turned around and said "My bad."

Kanye West has no issue with bodyguards talking to Kim Kardashian, and absolutely did NOT fire one for doing so.

Sources close to the Wests tell TMZ ... Steve Stanulis was hired by the guy in charge of their security to help out before the Met Gala. We're told it was very clear Stanulis would only be used for the day leading up to the event. That's it, just a temp deal ... we're told.

There were reports 'Ye axed Stanulis for talking to Kim, but we're told Yeezy never had a confrontation with him, and in fact ... everything "went very smoothly".

Our Kimye sources say Stanulis has worked with them before, but since people in their camp believe he perpetuated the firing story for some publicity ... he won't get that chance again.

Whoopi Goldberg sure sounds like she's not going to bail on "The View" when her contract is up in a few months.

We got Whoopi in SoHo Wednesday and she's definitely not definitive, but it sounds like she's satisfied with the gig.

Zendaya dropped a huge hint Jay Z was totally on board with Beyonce airing the couple's alleged dirty laundry on "Lemonade."

We just got her at LAX and asked her about her time with Bey, shooting a cameo for the "Lemonade" HBO special. Zendaya says Jay absolutely paid a visit to the set to see his wife.

As for any drama? Check out Zendaya's take on what she saw. Looks like she's confirming what we already knew -- Jay & Bey are passionate about driving album sales.

Judge Beyonce has made her ruling and it appears Rita Ora has been acquitted in the mysterious "Who the hell is Becky?" case.

The singers were smiling and hanging together inside the Met Gala -- perhaps putting an end to rumors Rita is the "Becky with the good hair" that Bey refers to in "Sorry."

Rita posted a Snapchat and included the "Family" caption.

For good measure, she slapped on a "Not Becky" name tag at an after-party.

Okay, okay ... we get it, Rita! Case closed.

Kate Hudson moves fast ... one minute she's with Nick Jonas and the next bolting out of the Met Gala with DJ Diplo.

They clearly had plans ... last we saw them they were at an after-party.

Sinead O'Connor is blaming Prince's drug problems on his good friend, Arsenio Hall -- but he says the Irish singer is totally full of it.

Sinead went on the attack, saying ... "Two words for the DEA investigating where (sic) prince got his drugs over the decades ... Arsenio Hall (AKA Prince's and Eddie Murphy's bitch)."

She went on to say on her Facebook page ... she's actually reported Arsenio to the Carver County Sheriff's department, which is investigating Prince's death.

A rep for Arsenio says Sinead's claim is "absolutely false, ridiculous and absurd."

She can thank Prince for writing her biggest hit, "Nothing Compares 2 U" -- but fact is, Sinead was NOT close to Prince ... and she's made other outrageous claims about him. She once alleged he punched her and held her against her will at Paisley Park.

Beyonce's Miami concert must have felt like a roller coaster ride for Jay Z -- one second she was trashing him, and the next she was gushing over him.

Bey closed her Formation world tour kick off with "Halo" and a dedication to her "beautiful husband."

Of course, earlier in the show she performed her new tracks from "Lemonade" ... which included that damned lyric about Becky and her good hair.

Jay was reportedly sitting front and center for the show -- no doubt laughing at the angry Beyhive, counting his their money in his head ... and checking out her ass.

Seems Alexander Ludwig is ferociously battling his way out of the friend zone -- 'cause the "Vikings" star was out with Lindsey Vonn AGAIN ... despite the fact she claimed they were "just friends."

Nick Young is a betting man who dished out some odds on whether he'll get Iggy Azalea to the altar ... after everything they've been through lately.

Jay Z ain't the least bit worried about "Becky" or any alleged affairs ... as long as he can light up a Cuban.

Jay was chilling in Miami, smoking a cigar with a friend on the eve of Beyonce's Formation World Tour kicking off down there.

It's the first time we've seen him since Bey dropped "Lemonade," and while the Beyhive wonders if he cheated -- Jigga looks every bit like a guy who's relaxed and comfortable knowing his wife's bringing in HUGE money. Even if she's airing their dirty laundry to do it.

He'll smoke to that!