Health

Model and influencer Niece Waidhofer -- who often worked to help her followers through their mental health struggles -- has died by suicide ... TMZ has learned.

Niece's family tells us, "Sadly, Niece took her own life after a long battle with mental health issues." The 31-year-old died in Houston, TX.

Her family says, "She was very open with her followers about her struggles, even wanting to help followers who also suffered." We're told a non-profit called "Peace from Niece" will be established in her honor, and the org will benefit mental health awareness and provide grants for mental illness research.

Niece's family says she took pride in the fact she wrote all of her Instagram posts herself, and shot the majority of her photos without a professional photog.

As for the circumstances surrounding her death, law enforcement sources tell us they got a call from a concerned family member last month to check on Niece at her Houston-area residence ... and that's when she was discovered.

Fans of Waidhofer -- who had amassed 4.2 million followers on Instagram -- became concerned when she wiped her account of almost all of her photos ... she left only 3 posts. Turns out she did that in the weeks leading up to her death.

Her family adds, "Niece was more than her struggles. She was beautiful and kind, sensitive and funny, creative and talented, generous and compassionate, thoughtful and challenging. While it is so very painful to say goodbye, we take comfort knowing she is reunited with her father, her three grandparents, her Uncle Rusty, and her beloved Puff; and that she is now free to be herself and, finally, at peace."

RIP

An artistic swimmer nearly lost her life after passing out in the pool following an intense routine at a major event Wednesday ... but, thankfully, her coach quickly dove into the water and rescued her.

The terrifying scene went down at the FINA World Aquatic Championships in Budapest, Hungary ... when American Anita Alvarez had just wrapped up a performance in the women's solo free event and suddenly fainted.

The photos from the pool are horrifying ... they show a lifeless Alvarez sinking to the bottom, clearly in danger of drowning.

Fortunately, her coach, Andrea Fuentes, immediately knew something was wrong ... and jumped in to save her.

Fuentes grabbed Alvarez, pulled her to the top ... and, according to U.S. Artistic Swimming officials, the 25-year-old swimmer is now expected to be OK despite the grim images.

"Anita has been evaluated by medical staff and will continue to be monitored," the team said in a statement Thursday morning. "She is already feeling much better and using today to rest."

Fuentes, meanwhile, spoke about her heroic efforts to BBC on Thursday morning ... saying she had to rub Alvarez's face to get her to release the water she had taken into her lungs after collapsing in the pool.

"She was very tight on her jaw," Fuentes said. "So I tried to wake her up and massage the jaw because it was too tense. And then she coughed and threw up the water out."

Shockingly, this is not the first time Alvarez has needed Fuentes to rescue her ... the swimmer had a similar incident go down last year at an Olympic qualification event.

U.S. Artistic Swim officials said there is now a chance Alvarez could still compete in Friday's team event.

Daily Harvest -- a food subscription company known for pre-made vegan meals -- is being slammed by scores of customers who claim the company's Lentil + Leek Crumbles have caused debilitating stomach pain, liver and gallbladder damage and other problems.

One customer says the product caused so much gallbladder damage, doctors were forced to remove it. And get this ... she added, "The crumbles were delicious by the way." Thank you Mrs. Lincoln for that.

D.H. has recalled the product and says it's launched an investigation.

Another customer says he suffered abdominal pain, fever, nausea and fatigue, but then things got even worse ... his liver readings were sky high, and the guy doesn't even drink.

And yet another user says he's been sick for weeks. There are customers who say things got so bad they landed in the hospital.

After asking customers to toss the product, D.H. got mocked mercilessly, after posting, "An important message regarding our French lentil + Leek Crumbles. Link in bio with details." Customers felt the company should have sounded an alarm rather than burying "details" in the bio.

Juul e-cigarettes will soon be off the shelves, at least according to a report, that states the FDA is planning to ban the product from being sold in the U.S.

The Wall Street Journal reports the Food and Drug Administration is gearing up to order Juul to remove its products from the market following a two-year investigation. The report states Juul had asked to keep the company's nicotine products in rotation.

Juul first came under fire nearly 4 years ago, for marketing to young users with its sleek design and flavors ... ultimately leading to a spike in vaping in underage folks.

The company has been hit with thousands of lawsuits in the U.S. and tried to turn things around, by banning the fruit-flavored products. But clearly, that's not enough for the FDA which is reportedly taking things to the next level.

We should note ... many folks have reportedly been hospitalized and died around the country from different lung-related medical issues since various vaping products have hit the market -- and officials believe the various companies behind the devices are to blame.

Rapper Lil Tjay is undergoing emergency surgery after being shot ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Tjay was shot just after midnight in Edgewater, NJ. We're told at the time of this post the rapper is in surgery. The extent of his wounds and his condition have not been revealed.

We're told there were 2 shooting sites -- one at a Chipotle Restaurant and another at a nearby Exxon Gas station.

The victim at the Chipotle restaurant was shot several times and the victim at the Exxon was shot once.

We do not know the identity of the second victim.

The suspect or suspects are still at large and police are on the hunt. So far, the motive is unknown.

The incident went down in the middle of the night Wednesday in Edgewater, New Jersey.

David Dobrik should have never been behind the controls of a massive excavator used in a social media stunt gone wrong, so says a YouTuber now suing the influencer, saying he suffered serious injuries as a result of David's actions.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, former Vlog Squad member Jeff Wittek says he traveled to Utah Lake in Provo, Utah in the summer of 2020 with David and a group of friends to shoot video as part of Dobrik's "social media comeback."

Wittek says the plan for one video was to use an excavator, operated by Dobrik, and plant it in the water, to swing people around with a rope while riding various objects -- including wakeboards.

However, Wittek claims Dobrik then suggested people get swung around by the machine -- that he was operating -- by only holding the rope, and without objects.

Wittek says when it was his turn -- David started to swing him around too quickly -- the docs claim Dobrik noticed he was moving the excavator too fast, and slowed down abruptly, causing Wittek to slam into the side of the excavator ... and causing him serious injury.

While he doesn't list the specifics of his injuries in the lawsuit ... Wittek has previously discussed what happened that day -- saying he almost died -- breaking his foot, hip, tearing a ligament in his leg and shattering his skull in 9 places. He also says he almost lost his eye.

Wittek says as a result of the accident, he's suffered wage loss, loss of earning capacity and racked up hospital bills. He's suing for general negligence and intentional tort. He's suing for more than $10 million in damages.

The mom of a Connecticut boy accused of setting another boy on fire is going after the alleged victim's mom ... claiming she defamed her son and she wants the mom arrested.

Here's what is uncontested ... 6-year-old Dominick Krankall was burned badly while playing in his backyard in Bridgeport. Dominick's mom accused Laura Giacobbe's son of intentionally lighting the boy on fire.

Now, the new development ... a video that surfaced Friday shows 4 children, including Dominick, lighting fires and kicking a soccer ball engulfed in flames. The video, initially published by the NY Post, shows Dominick stepping on a plastic cup that was filled with gasoline and in flames.

Dominick suffered terrible burns to his face and legs.

So, Laura Giacobbe is furious, and told the Post she actually helped Dominick's mom by instructing her to get him in a bathtub immediately because his legs were on fire.

Giacobbe says Dominick's mom called police and accused her son of intentionally dousing Dominick with gas and throwing a flaming soccer ball at him.

Laura says there was absolutely no bullying and it was just a horrible accident. She's outraged at Dominick's mom and wants her to answer to the law. She also adds, his mom should have been supervising her son better in their own backyard.

Dominick's mom is sticking to her story, telling the Post Laura is a "liar." She says the video is edited and it took a month-and-a-half to come out.

Delonte West says there's nothing to worry about after video of him panhandling in the streets went viral last week ... insisting he's doing okay, and is actively looking for a job.

Remember, we broke the news in February that the former NBA guard -- who's publicly battled mental health and addiction issues -- was back on the right track, training to make the Big 3.

But, last week, a fan shared video on social media showing West, looking disheveled, panhandling in the streets of Virginia ... and it caught many off guard.

So, when Image Direct caught up with the 38-year-old this week, they asked Delonte if he was doing okay, and why he was on the streets asking for money.

"It is what it is," West said.

"I got children. I'm in between jobs. People can help me as much as they can, but you know, as a man I gotta do what I gotta do for my babies."

As for the Big 3, West says there were so many talented players there he understands why he didn't make the cut ... but he's thankful for the chance.

"I was excited to have the opportunity," West said, "I'll be there next season. I'll be there rooting guys on."

Despite a bunch of tough breaks, the 8-year NBA vet seemingly isn't letting some difficult times discourage him ... saying he'll keep working hard and hopes to be a part of an NBA coaching staff soon.

"I'm always involved in the game I love. Last year, I was scouting for the Dallas Mavericks and the previous three years, I was an NBA scout for the Boston Celtics."

West added, "I was actually looking forward to being a head coach or assistant coach in the NBA this season but like I said, it's a business that have a lot of people involved and wanna stay involved."

"Prayerfully, luckily I'll be up for discussion this upcoming season."

Draymond Green had a secret weapon up his sleeve this championship season ... spiritual guidance from none other than the iconic Deepak Chopra!

And now their journey together -- which was filmed over the course of a few months -- has been turned into a new TV show on Prime Video called The Sessions: Draymond Green.

TMZ Sports talked to Gotham Chopra, one of the 4x NBA champ's other spiritual advisors, and Deepak's son, about 32-year-old Green's journey.

"When athletes physically hurt themselves, you tear an ACL or your rotator cuff or whatever, there's a very clear, you see the doctor, you get the scans, okay got it, you have the surgery. There's a roadmap," Gotham says.

But, what's the course of action when you're dealing with mental or emotional issues? Unfortunately, there really isn't a well-known plan in that circumstance.

"Fortunately, it's become destigmatized -- athletes have mental or emotional breakdowns and they're dealing with the pressure or the media or losing, etc. and they just need help. Where do they go? Historically, you don't talk about it, let alone treat it."

Gotham says Draymond -- who was going through some stuff on and off the floor -- realized he could better harness his emotions (a difficult line to toe because that's partially what makes DG special on the court) ... and thankfully Green had the courage to seek guidance.

The episodes will show Green as he learns to meditate ... and goes through a bunch of other treatments.

Ultimately, the hope is other people, not just athletes, open up to the possibility of working on mental health and spirituality.

"It's not just athletes. We all lived through 2.5 years of a pandemic. We've all lived on Zoom calls. We're all dealing with the same sets of issues. Elite athletes on the biggest stage is great for television, but I think it's actually relatable," Gotham says.

"What happens when your young daughter gets sick? What happens when your career gets derailed by something outside your control? These are actually relatable things, and these tools of going inward and finding some silence, they're helpful to everybody."

FYI, Draymond also worked with spiritual healer Devi Brown ... who works with Deepak.

Green's clearly pumped for the show -- which is out now -- to be seen by his many fans ... and anyone who may be struggling.

Pope Francis may be hanging it up soon -- stepping down as the leader of the Catholic Church -- at least that's the buzz in and around the Vatican.

There's some unusual activity going on ... and the backdrop to all of it is the Pope's frail health. He's been confined to a wheelchair recently ... the result of debilitating knee pain.

The Pope also just canceled a trip to Africa scheduled for next month.

What's fueling the resignation rumors is a meeting of cardinals that the Pope just scheduled ... it's highly unusual.

Pope Francis assumed his role back in 2013 and has instituted a series of reforms, which include a new constitution.

What's especially interesting ... Pope Francis's predecessor, former Pope Benedict, resigned in 2013 ... he says it was based on deteriorating physical and mental health.

And, there's this ... back in May, during a meeting with bishops, Pope Francis addressed his knee issues, saying, "Rather than operate, I'll resign."

As the decision over the fate of Roe vs. Wade looms, pro-choice activists descended on the home of conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett Saturday ... dressed in blood-soaked clothing and holding dolls.

The group -- members of Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights -- traveled to the Justice's home in Falls Church, Virginia. The blood on the crotch area of their clothing symbolizes forced births if Roe is overturned.

There have been other demonstrations at the homes of other conservative justices, and it may well ramp up because the decision is expected any time now. Unless there is a radical shift, it seems the Court is poised to overturn the 50-year-old precedent, which gives women a Constitutionally-protected right to an abortion with certain ground rules.

One protest became ominous recently, when Nicholas Roske was arrested for attempted murder ... this after cops found him carrying a gun, ammo, a crowbar and pepper spray near the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Bam Margera has another crisis on his plate besides recently fleeing rehab -- although they're related -- we've learned a split from his wife played a big part in his decision to leave the facility.

A rep for Bam tells TMZ ... he and his wife Nikki Boyd broke up a couple of weeks ago. Since then, he hasn't been able to get ahold of her or see his son, Phoenix Wolf. We're told she has not responded to any of Bam's calls or texts, and has been absent from his recovery process.

Due to the separation, Bam was staying at a sober living home when he made his unauthorized exit from rehab. We're told he held it together for a while, but after not hearing from Nikki or his son for 2 weeks ... he showed poor judgment and left the treatment center.

We're also told the facility wasn't giving him special celeb treatment -- which isn't a bad thing, but in the past others have, so that set him off too.

TMZ broke the story ... the "Jackass" star was reported missing Monday after leaving the FL rehab center, and cops went looking for him.

When they found him on Wednesday, a crisis intervention team went into a Delray Beach hotel and escorted him back to treatment. He learned Nikki took Phoenix out of Florida without telling him, and voluntarily went back to treatment.

Last year Nikki filed documents in Los Angeles seeking full custody of their son, allowing Bam supervised visitation.

We obtained photos of Bam out Tuesday night at a few bars close to his hotel. We're told he'd been off his medication for several days, and his team was worried he'd relapsed.

President Biden took a tumble off of his bike during a weekend getaway in his home city -- but it wasn't even while the thing was in motion ... he toppled over during a complete stop.

JB was out riding with Dr. Jill Biden and a bunch of Secret Service agents Saturday in Rehoboth Beach, DE -- near his vacation home there -- and while he was turning a corner on the path and coming toward a group of admirers/reporters ... he pumped the brakes.

It didn't seem like anything was wrong, that is ... until POTUS tried dismounting himself from the bicycle, which is where things started to look a bit clunky.

Apparently, Joe got his foot awkwardly caught in the pedal on the right side -- and before he and everyone else knew it ... 46 was going down. He plopped down (sorta hard) right in front of the group of people, where cameras were rolling and folks audibly gasped in shock.

Ain't every day that the Commander in Chief cruises by, and it's even rarer when the dude falls like a chopped tree. As you can imagine ... Secret Service swarmed in and helped their boss up.

Seems he was able to get to his feet pretty quickly, and when someone asked if he was okay -- Joe reportedly responded, "I'm good." The White House backed that with an official statement, saying the Prez had an accident, but that no medical attention was needed.

All's well that ends well ... even though Joe absorbed what looked to be the opposite of a soft landing, he continued on his way. So yes, back on the horse two-wheeler.

Two actors in the Netflix series "The Chosen One" are dead after a car accident near the Mexico location where the show is being filmed.

The actors were riding in a van with several other crew members when they crashed on the Baja peninsula ... according to multiple reports.

Six other people in the van were reportedly injured as it flipped on its side while traveling on a dirt road near the city of Mulege. It appears the crew was traveling between Mulege and Santa Rosalia ... the seaside city where they've been shooting 'Chosen One' scenes.

None of the victims have been identified yet.

The series is about a 12-year-old boy who finds out he's actually the second coming of Jesus Christ, sent to save humanity.

Doc Antle wants to be released from custody as he awaits trial in his federal money laundering case -- and when it comes to his rationale, he's throwing everything at the wall ... hoping something sticks.

The "Tiger King" star's legal team filed new docs, obtained by TMZ, asking a judge to allow him to post bond because he says he has a slew of health issues ... including atrial fibrillation and high blood pressure, which make it risky for him to be behind bars due to COVID.

He says the coronavirus would exacerbate his heart and circulation problems, and if that's not good enough for the judge -- Doc also cites his sleep apnea, torn rotator cuff, torn meniscus, dislocated collar bone and significant discomfort from old fractures suffered in a car wreck ... years ago. Yeah, he's totally falling apart, if ya buy what he's selling.

But, wait there's more, judge!

Antle insists his elderly mother, who has dementia, is scheduled to be back under his care soon -- and then, there are the animals.

He says his Myrtle Beach Safari resort is liable to fall into a state of disarray without his leadership. So, for all of the above reasons he's asking the judge to let him out on bond.

While Doc points out he's had a clean criminal record, prior to this, prosecutors say he's a flight risk because he has the resources to make a clean getaway.

As you know, Doc is facing money laundering charges ... and, if convicted, he could be locked up for a long time. He's denied the accusations.

Tommy Lee isn't letting his 4 broken ribs stop him from enjoying all aspects of being back on the road with his Mötley Crüe bandmates -- he's still getting in some pool time between shows.

TMZ got these pics of Tommy in R&R mode Friday at the Conrad Hotel in Fort Lauderdale ... and Crüe fans are keyed in on how the drummer's feeling after he announced his injury.

The good news is he doesn't seem to be in excruciating pain while off stage.

As you can see, Tommy took a dip in the hotel pool, and we're told he had a non-alcoholic beverage while hanging out with his wife and another couple -- we're pretty sure it was Nikki Sixx and his wife. Yeah, we recognized his tattoos in the lower left corner. #superfans

Tommy took a moment during Thursday night's tour stop in Atlanta to announce he's soldiering on through the pain of 4 broken ribs ... explaining how he's ignoring doctors' orders by playing the drums.

He says he's too stubborn to sit on the sidelines ... especially considering the stadium tour's been delayed a couple years by the pandemic.