Gossip / Rumors

Shaq says the Lakers shouldn't let LaVar Ball scare them off from taking Lonzo Ball with their #2 pic ... 'cause despite the media circus that follows the Big Baller, his kid's game is "fabulous."

The Big Diesel hasn't always been the biggest fan of the Ball clan -- he publicly dissed the price of Lonzo's new shoe ... saying $495 was way too much for kids to pay.

That was then ... because O'Neal had nothing but kind words to say about Zo when we got him out in NYC, telling our guy he's not sure what the Lake Show will do with the pick, but Ball isn't a bad idea.

Howard Stern returned to the airwaves Monday and he was pretty dumbfounded -- why all the fuss over a day off?

The self-proclaimed "King of All Media" addressed what many considered a controversial day off last week. You'll recall the Internet went into a frenzy Wednesday when Stern was a no-show for his SiriusXM radio show.

There was a bunch of speculation as to why Stern took the day off, including a death in the family. Fans were stunned ... claiming Stern's NEVER taken a day off before.

But the shock jock addressed the subject head-on Monday ... clarifying that it wasn't a personal day. It was a sick day.

Valentina Shevchenko is no Ronda Rousey -- and won't be disposed of in the 1st round ... so says Amanda Nunes.

Nunes is facing "Bullet" at UFC 213 -- and after things got physical at the big UFC announcement last week, we wanted to know if Amanda was planning a quick beatdown of her new rival.

"I think it's gonna be a battle," Nunes told us outside of Katsuya in Hollywood. She also predicted the fight will go the distance.

Nunes and Shevchenko fought back in March 2016 -- Nunes won that fight in a decision.

Since that fight, she destroyed Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey with 1st round finishes. In fact, 4 out of her last 5 fights were 1st round victories.

Are the 49ers trying to sabotage Colin Kaepernick?

It's possible ... according to FS1 star Joy Taylor who says it seems like much of the bad info hitting the media about CK is coming from his old employer.

Taylor went viral on social media this week for taking a strong stand for Colin on "Undisputed" with Skip and Shannon ... saying the QB is being blackballed by NFL owners for being a social justice crusader.

In fact, Taylor says it's not just that Colin's getting the cold shoulder ... but it seems someone is trying to spread false info about him to scare potential suitors. Joy says it seems that info is coming from Santa Clara.

Taylor says there is one way Colin can fight back and it's the only way to truly set the record straight.

Phaedra Parks is blasting 'RHOA' producers for feeding her lies and firing her when she called them out ... which has ruined her rep and led to daily threats and bullying.

Sources close to the ex-Housewife tell us she's mad as hell, because she claims a producer gave her the B.S. story she told to Porsha Williams about Kandi Burruss -- the whole drugging and raping thing.

The producer didn't necessarily tell her to repeat it with cameras rolling, but we're told Phaedra explained the producer's role during the reunion show. She's also angry because that was edited out of the reunion to make it look like she acted alone.

We're told the way Phaedra sees it, she was fired in retaliation for throwing producers under the bus.

Phaedra's been getting online threats, and as we reported ... at least one fan wants her to face even more punishment. We're told her office is also getting bombarded with hate mail, and her kids are getting harassed.

Scott Disick's shaking off his friends' concerns he's fallen off the wagon ... partying again with a roster full of babes!!!

Scott hit up Nobu Wednesday night around 9 PM and left shortly after 11 with a crew full of blondies. There's a chick who looks like his rumored boo -- British model Ella Ross.

As we reported ... his friends are worried sick he's fallen off the wagon and gone back to his hardcore partying all over L.A. to get back at Kourtney Kardashian for banging a 24-year-old model.

Before last night's festivities ... Scott was at TAO on Cinco de Mayo and The Peppermint Club Monday night.

If the Clippers wanna win next year, they GOTTA trade Blake Griffin ... so says current NBA player (and former Clippers teammate) Jared Dudley.

Dudley isn't just a sharpshooter for the Phoenix Suns, he's a league expert -- so when we got him leaving Warwick in L.A. we asked what Lob City needs to do to avoid getting punked in the playoffs.

His answer? Trade Blake Griffin ... and Dudley explains why it's the perfect move.

By the way, Dudley played with Griffin in '13-'14 -- meaning he probably won't be invited to the team reunion dinner now ... which would never really happen because they didn't win anything.

It was Way Back Wednesday for Zach Randolph -- who rocked a Portland Trail Blazers hat to the club last night ... despite the fact he's still technically on the Memphis Grizzlies.

Randolph becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season -- and there's a buzz he could head to Miami or Denver ... or maybe even strike a new deal with the Grizzlies.

So, is the Trail Blazers hat he rocked to Warwick in Hollywood on Wednesday a clue ... or a throwback?

Remember, he played with Portland from 2001 to 2007 and became a superstar there while playing with guys like Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells and Damon Stoudamire ('memba the Jail Blazers?).

Or maybe he just liked the hat with his outfit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has 2 priorities -- letting the world know he had nothing to do with James Comey getting fired, and also ... playing hockey.

Putin delayed one of those to talk about the other with CBS News, saying there's no reason to think Comey's firing will disrupt U.S.-Russia relations. He got all constitutional, saying President Trump's action was "in accordance with his law."

And then he said ... it's hockey time!!

Putin does love stuffing a stat sheet when he hits the ice, but his invitation to CBS seemed odd.

Scott Disick's new lady friend had a really hard time finding her ride Tuesday night -- but luckily Scott's private driver happened to be Johnny on the Spot and whisked her away ... maybe to Scott's.

Scott's rumored boo -- British model Ella Ross -- simply could not find her Uber after leaving Avenue in L.A. -- going left, right and around to find some kind of help getting home.

Then, out of nowhere, Lee Weaver appeared and offered Ella a ticket out of the paparazzi chaos ... for a price, of course. Turns out the dude is Scott's personal driver ... and he says something that may be a clue as to Ella's final destination.

The whole thing seems too perfect to be a coincidence.

G-Eazy can't get enough of Lana Del Rey ... even if his face doesn't show it here.

The "Me, Myself & I" rapper and singer were leaving Avenue Tuesday night in L.A. ... showing all the signs of a new couple. It was the third night in a row they'd been out and about together.

Eazy and Lana started the turn-up Sunday ... leaving Warwick together. Monday night they were at Beauty and Essex. Not to mention ... they were kicking it at Coachella too.

So, yeah ... they're connected at the hip now.

9:15 AM PT -- Kehlani posted a video on IG further clearing up her emotional speech to fans, saying she's fine mentally ... and that she's just physically sick and exhausted. She says she only needs rest ... nothing more.

7:25 AM PT -- Kehlani just addressed her breakdown last night. She says she's still very much sick, but promises the Grand Rapids show will be rescheduled.

Kehlani broke down onstage Monday night and canceled her show -- telling fans she felt "crazy" ... this after being placed on a 5150 hold last year.

The R&B singer was set to perform in Grand Rapids, MI -- an early stop on her summer tour -- but she came out dressed down, and told fans she couldn't do the show because she had to go to a hospital.

Kehlani was in tears with her voice trembling as she promised fans she'd refund them out of her own pocket or reschedule.

We broke the story ... Kehlani was placed on a psychiatric hold last year after authorities deemed she was a threat to herself. Kehlani said at the time she had tried killing herself over rumors she'd cheated on Kyrie Irving.

We've reached out to Kehlani's camp for an update on her condition ... so far, no word back.

Kellyanne Conway is amused ... she hasn't pulled a Richard Simmons vanishing act -- not even close.

We got the Counselor to the Prez Monday at Reagan National Airport and she made it clear ... 'SNL' got it all wrong, because she's been around the whole time. She's been on the road trying to find solutions to opioid abuse.

She gives a shout-out to her favorite cable network and scurries off into the sunset.

Phaedra Parks won't be showing her face anymore on 'RHOA' -- she's been fired for spreading lies and rumors about cast members conspiring to rape ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the production tell us Phaedra was let go due to a rumor she told Porsha Williams about Kandi Burruss during the course of this latest season, which came to dramatic end Sunday night.

We're told that during filming for the show, Phaedra had told Porsha that Kandi and her hubby, Todd Tucker, were planning to drug Porsha and take her back to their home to take advantage of her sexually. Kandi threatened Bravo if they aired that clip ... so they didn't.

But during Sunday's finale of a 4-part reunion following the 9th season, all those secrets finally spilled in front of America ... with Phaedra being outed as the source of the nasty rumor.

We're told Bravo felt like Phaedra's allegations were so out of line, they simply couldn't continue working with her and informed her in early April.

Reconciliation is looking less and less likely for Jesse Williams ... who was out in NYC this week sans wedding ring amid the divorce from his wife Aryn.

As we previously reported, the "Grey's Anatomy" star and his wife separated months ago -- and Jesse is no longer staying in the family home.

Jesse was spotted out with his brother and mother -- and seemed to be in good spirits during a Saturday lunch date.

Not seen in the photos ... Minka Kelly.

A woman who was hanging out with Drake after his split with Jennifer Lopez claims she's pregnant with his baby and she says she has text messages to prove it. Drake however, is calling BS.

Sophie Brussaux has already hired a big NYC lawyer, Raoul Felder, to get the paternity/child support ball rolling. She claims she's 3 1/2 months pregnant and pins down conception to either January 20 or 21. The pic was taken January 24 at a Japanese restaurant in Amsterdam.

The woman, a retired porn star, has what she says are text messages between her and Drake, which purport to say the following:

Drake: I want you to have an abortion.

Brussaux: I can't kill my baby simply to indulge you sorry.

Drake: Indulge me? F*** you.

Brussaux: What?

Drake: You do know what you're doing you think you're going to get money.

She says she's having a girl.

We reached out to Drake's people, who say, "This woman has a very questionable background. She has admitted to having multiple relationships. We understand she may have problems getting into the United States. She's one of many women claiming he got them pregnant."

The rep goes on, "If it is in fact Drake's child, which he does not believe, he would do the right thing by the child."

The rep says he has no idea whether the purported text message is even real or out of context because they haven't seen the actual text.

The rep says Brussaux had sex with another big rapper at the same time as Drake, adding the other rapper has all but acknowledged it's his kid.

Sophie Brussaux’s attorney Raoul Felder, of Felder and Nottes, declined to comment.