Health

Juicy J is willing to go to any extreme to combat the country's mental health crisis ... even if it means dressing like an escapee to help him get the message across!!!

TMZ Hip Hop linked with the Three 6 Mafia legend Tuesday in NYC as he promoted his new book, "Chronicles of the Juice Man," which he co-wrote with author Soren Baker.

Juicy had planned on taking 'GMA' by storm in a straitjacket and Hannibal Lector mask ... but says someone at the show or the network labeled his outfit a no-go, and he had to change.

Tackling mental health issues has been on Juicy's mind all year.

His last project, "Mental Trillness," was dedicated to the cause, and he's also been vocal about targeting substance abuse in the wake of his longtime friend Gangsta Boo's accidental OD death.

Juicy tells us his straitjacket look was intended to let people know they don't have to do anything crazy to seek help, and he's urging fans to use the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline if they're suffering.

A Massachusetts teen is dead after eating an incredibly spicy chip that's the subject of a viral challenge -- and his family is directly blaming the snack.

14-year-old Harris Wolobah passed away Friday in Worcester -- and, according to his mother, it's the result of complications he suffered after eating a Paqui chip at school earlier in the day.

His official cause of death is still pending, but Harris was attempting the "One Chip Challenge," which has been around for a few years now. Paqui advertises its chip with a skull on a coffin-shaped box ... which contains the one tortilla chip.

There are warning labels all over the packaging ... including one that says children should not eat it, nor should people who have certain allergens or who are sensitive to spicy foods.

Harris' mother says she was contacted by his school Friday, because he was complaining of a stomach ache after eating the chip. By the time he came home, she says he felt better -- and was even on his way to a basketball tryout -- before things went south and he collapsed.

He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Now, his mom is ripping the response, telling NBC Boston Harris should've been taken straight to the hospital by school officials ... rather than being sent to the nurse's office.

The school hasn't responded to that criticism, but the district superintendent says they're mourning his death.

Paqui's One Chip Challenge has been scrutinized before, and the company's defended itself ... saying it goes out of the way to warn consumers about who should and shouldn't partake.

Lamar Odom's keeping it in the family ... he hired his son and daughter to work for his substance abuse treatment company, and he treated them to a company getaway.

Sources close to Lamar tell TMZ ... he's focused on strengthening his bond with his kids, and that includes getting his son, LJ, and daughter, Destiny, jobs at Odom Recovery Group.

Lamar's son is a marketing consultant ... we're told he's basically been mirroring Lamar, learning the ins and outs of the company so he can be Lamar's backup when needed.

Meanwhile, Lamar's daughter is a client representative ... she's responsible for taking down patients' information and making sure they're all set up when they start their recovery journeys. We're told both kids even participated in a commercial for the company, which will air on Hulu in various locations.

In recognition of their hard work on the job, we're told Lamar took his newest employees on a little vacation in Orange County, spending a few nights at an oceanfront property in Newport Beach.

Not a bad work perk!!!

The job opportunities and company vacations are all part of Lamar's attempt to reconnect with his kids ... and we're also told they've all been living under the same roof since the end of May.

Lamar definitely needs the help at his company ... Odom Recovery Group keeps expanding, he's added 14 new rehab centers to his portfolio and it's all hands on deck at work, with his baby mama Liza also helping out on the job.

Ex-NFL star Ricky Williams says the league is moving in the right direction by loosening its stance on cannabis in recent years ... but tells TMZ Sports he's hoping Roger Goodell's organization goes one step further by allowing teams to treat players with marijuana after games.

Ricky -- who was suspended five times and missed a chunk of his career for violating the league's substance abuse policy -- believes society is going through a big transformation when it comes to accepting the benefits of cannabis and psychedelics ... and he's hoping the NFL follows suit.

FYI -- the NFL changed its marijuana policy in 2021 ... electing to only test players once a year and handing down less punishment if someone is popped for the drug.

Ricky is thrilled with the league's changed stance on cannabis but feels it would have great benefits for players if they were encouraged to use marijuana instead of pills during recovery.

"I think the next step, though, is at the end of a game, if we're on the plane ride home, the trainer is walking down the aisle and has two capsule cases -- one of Ambien, and the other one of Vicodin," Williams said. "And he's walking down the aisle and saying, 'Do you need any of this, do you need any of this?'"

"And the truth is, for football players, we do need something because it hurts, and you're all revved up and it's hard to calm down go to sleep. And I'd love to see cannabis as being one of those things that the trainer is walking down the aisle and offering to those players."

Ricky -- who legally changed his name to Errick Miron recently -- has been an advocate for the cause for decades ... and is outspoken on the positive effects cannabis had on his mental health throughout his career.

Now, Ricky's own lifestyle brand, "Highsman," is going strong ... and he said the whole experience has been nothing but positive.

Gary Wright has died after a long battle with his health ... TMZ has learned.

Justin Wright, Gary's son, tells us his father passed away Monday morning at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, CA -- which is in the South Bay. We're told he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's about 5 or 6 years ago, as well as Lewy body dementia shortly thereafter.

Gary's Parkinson's progressed rapidly over the past year, and Justin says his dad eventually lost the ability to move around and speak. Over the past few days, we're told, nurses who were working at Gary's home told the family he was entering his final chapter.

His family and loved ones were by his side at the time of his death -- word of which has already started to spread in the music world, including to singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop.

Bishop posted 2 shots of him and Gary, adding ... "The attached photos hold precious memories from the very first and last time we shared the stage together, alongside our mutual musical pal John Ford Coley. Gary's vibrant personality and exceptional talent made every moment together truly enjoyable. His legacy will live on for many years to come."

He adds, "I will always cherish the warmth and kindness shown to me by Gary and his wife Rose, and I will forever hold dear the stories he shared with me about days gone by. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans during this difficult time."

Gary will, perhaps, best be remembered for two massive songs he churned out in the mid-1970s -- "Dream Weaver" and "Love is Alive" -- but his catalog goes well beyond just that.

He ended up producing 12 different albums dating back to 1970 ... not to mention a ton of compilations and collaborations he did with other musicians. One of the famous partnerships he was a part of for a while was with none other than former Beatle George Harrison.

Gary served as the keyboardist on George's album "All Things Must Pass" and is credited with helping out on other solo songs of George's too. George returned the favor for one of Gary's albums, having worked on "Footprints."

Gary has done a lot for music in general -- he's also known as one of the first mainstream artists to introduce the synthesizer in pop ... which has become a staple in the biz today.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is chronicling his comeback after open heart surgery in his own words -- while also giving folks a peek at how he did it ... with never-before-seen footage.

The movie star and former bodybuilder blasted out a new newsletter item to members of his health and fitness group, Arnold's Pump Club ... which has some Monday Motivation to get them active and on their feet. For today's catalyst, he shared a very personal story.

He gets into the 2018 medical scare that almost claimed his life. You'll recall, AS was supposed to go into a routine, non-invasive procedure at the time ... but quickly turned much more serious after something went wrong and required full-blown open heart surgery.

Somehow, Arnold was able to recuperate from that procedure in record time -- as he describes in this new video of his, he had a movie to shoot -- and we're getting a chance to see how he went about doing it for the very first time on camera. It's quite something.

As Arnold himself explains ... there were a few things he needed to ensure he left the hospital -- and it all started with a clear vision and a plan of action, which started with him showing he could walk on his own two feet. With the help of friends, Arnold did just that.

We'll let him explain the rest, but essentially ... Arnold's trying to spark some inspiration into anyone who needs motivation to turn their life around and to bring about new lifestyle.

It's pretty inspirational -- as is just about everything the guy does -- and it's also vulnerable.

Smash Mouth's lead singer, Steve Harwell, has died ... TMZ has learned.

The rock band's longtime frontman -- who was one of the original founding members dating back to 1994 -- passed away Monday morning at his home in Boise, Idaho as a result of liver failure -- this according to his manager.

We're told he was surrounded by family and friends and passed peacefully and comfortably.

TMZ broke the story ... Steve had been in hospice and was given only days to live this past weekend. As such, he was receiving end-of-life care at home with friends/family. We'd been told he succumbed to his health battles over alcohol abuse, among other ailments.

Remember, SH announced he was retiring from performing a couple years ago following a show in which he was found to have been slurring his words and acting erratic onstage.

His passing marks a tragic day for Smash Mouth fans -- of which there are many. His band skyrocketed to fame in the late '90s and early 2000s, on account of their album "Astro Lounge" ... which featured some of their most famous songs, like "All Star."

Of course, their involvement in the "Shrek" film put them on another level of fame -- as did their cover of The Monkees' hit song "I'm a Believer." Around this time, they were huge. Other notable tracks that Steve contributed to ... "Walkin' On the Sun," "Then the Morning Comes," "Can't Get Enough of You Baby," "Pacific Coast Party" and "Why Can't We Be Friends."

Steve dealt with hardships through much of his life -- his infant son died at only 6 months due to leukemia -- and he himself had been diagnosed with illnesses over the years too.

Despite this, he carried on with a smile and did what he loved in music and performing ... bringing joy to many, many listeners throughout his career. Steve was only 56.

Steve Harwell is experiencing the last chapter of his life -- this after battling medical complications for years -- and his family is saying their goodbyes ... TMZ has learned.

A manager for the Smash Mouth lead singer tells us Steve has been struggling with alcohol abuse throughout his life -- and now, he's reached the final stage of liver failure ... for which he'd, up until recently, been receiving treatment at a hospital.

At this point, we're told SH is in hospice at home ... where his friends and loved ones have gathered over the past 3 days. Steve's manager says he likely has only a week or so to live.

This news comes almost 2 years after a troubling incident involving Steve ... where he appeared incredibly disoriented during a live performance, slurring his words and yelling at the audience. It was concerning at the time, and shortly thereafter ... he said he was retiring.

At the time, sources close to Steve told us he'd been battling ongoing health issues -- stemming from a number of diagnoses he'd received over the years, including cardiomyopathy, heart failure and Wernicke's encephalopathy. His substance abuse was also mentioned to us back then ... which we were told had contributed to his declining state.

It's an incredibly sad development for fans of his ... and for music lovers everywhere.

Smash Mouth contributed some of the biggest pop culture hits in the early 2000s -- including, of course, "All Star," "I'm a Believer" and others ... some of which were featured in "Shrek."

Burning Man has been calamitous this year ... leading to a death.

The Pershing County Sheriff's Office confirms ... they are investigating a death that occurred as rain poured down over the venue. The Sheriff has not gone into detail, but by the description, it might be rain-related.

As we reported, the event -- which was being held in the Nevada desert -- was flooded Saturday, causing cars and campers to become immobilized. It got so bad, concertgoers were told to shelter in place.

Diplo and Chris Rock fled the event on the back of a truck. Diplo said he walked 5 miles to get the hell out.

It's not looking better for Sunday ... they're expecting even bigger storms with heavy rainfall and hail, as well as 40 mph wind gusts.

Unclear if the plug has been totally pulled ... the gates to Black Rock City are locked up tight. No one can drive in the area except emergency vehicles.

Margaritaville is mourning the death of Jimmy Buffett, and one of the ways is the symbolic flag-lowering.

The Margaritaville in Palm Springs, and presumably elsewhere, lowered its flag to half-mast in honor of the legendary singer/songwriter.

Jimmy was known as the Mayor of Margaritaville, so in a way it's an official title that makes flag-lowering appropriate.

As we reported, Jimmy died late Friday night. We're told he was diagnosed with skin cancer 4 years ago and it turned into lymphoma.

He was receiving hospice care since Monday. On Friday night, we're told the house was filled with people, just hours before his death. Jimmy was in an upstairs bedroom, and he passed peacefully.

And, as we reported, Sir Paul McCartney went to the South Hampton home a week ago to sing for Jimmy and his family.

A number of people posted tributes, including Elton John, Kenny Chesney and President Biden.

Jimmy was 76.

Travis Barker's family emergency appears to have been connected to his pregnant wife, Kourtney Kardashian -- as expected -- but she's still got their bun in the oven.

The Blink-182 rocker and eldest Kardashian sister were photographed leaving an LA-area hospital Saturday ... where they boarded a waiting SUV with some handlers and security guards in tow as well. As you can see, KK still looks very pregnant ... and she's on her feet.

More importantly, no sign of a newborn anywhere ... so, it looks like she hasn't popped yet -- which is what most people assumed had happened as far as the family emergency.

Remember, Travis' band announced a sudden postponement in their tour Friday while in Europe ... writing, "Due to an urgent family matter, Travis has had to return home to the States. The Glasgow, Belfast, and Dublin shows are being postponed. More information in regards to his return to Europe and rescheduled dates will be provided as soon as available."

No official reason was offered for Travis' departure ... but, obviously, the fact Kourtney is pregnant and quite far along came to most everyone's mind as a possible explanation.

Like we said, we still don't know what exactly went down or why Kourtney might've been in the hospital -- but, thankfully, she seems to be doing better now and heading home.

Pour out a margarita for Jimmy Buffett, the legendary musician is dead.

The "Margaritaville" singer died Saturday surrounded by his friends, family, music and dogs, according to an announcement posted on his website.

The statement read ... "He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many."

We're told Jimmy had been sick for a while, and he was recently receiving hospice care.

As we reported ... Jimmy was forced to cancel a May show in South Carolina after being hospitalized at the last minute for an issue requiring "immediate attention."

The idol of all parrot heads everywhere, Jimmy was also forced to cancel a ton of gigs in 2022 because of health issues and a different hospital stay. He played Jazz Fest in New Orleans in May 2022 but had not been on stage a lot since.

In addition to "Margaritaville," Jimmy's been cranking out hits since the 1970s with classic tunes like "Come Monday," "Cheeseburger in Paradise," "Volcano," "A Pirate Looks at Forty," "Fins," "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" and "Why Don't We Get Drunk" ... just to name a few.

JB also collaborated with Alan Jackson for another huge hit folks love listening to when they pour a drink ... "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere."

Jimmy's brand reached way beyond music and his huge concert following ... he was also the face of the hotel and restaurant chain Margaritaville, and he even turned the experience into a cruise line.

Jimmy was 76.

RIP

Lisa Lyon -- a pioneer in professional women's bodybuilding -- is in grave condition, suffering from pancreatic cancer.

Lyon, who famously posed for Playboy in 1980, was recently transferred to hospice care in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley.

The muscle champ had a short, but sweet career in bodybuilding. In 1979, Lyon snagged the first International Federation of Bodybuilders Woman's World Pro Bodybuilding Championship in Los Angeles. Turns out this was one of two bodybuilding contests Lyon entered, but it was no doubt a huge success for her.

She went on to promote women's bodybuilding in magazines and on TV talk shows. She also penned a book on the topic called, "Lisa Lyon’s Body Magic," which was published in 1981.

Not only that ... but Lyon was one of the only female bodybuilders at the time to be photographed for Playboy. Her sexy snaps appeared in the October 1980 issue.

She also modeled for renowned photographer, Robert Mapplethorpe, who occasionally produced pictures for Andy Warhol.

In 2000, Lyon was inducted into the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federal Hall of Fame for elevating bodybuilding to the level of fine art.

Michigan cops saved the life of a baby dying in the middle of a busy intersection ... and it was all caught on dramatic video.

The hero officers pulled over the tot's mom and uncle for speeding -- going 80 mph in a 45-mph zone -- in the city of Warren last Tuesday.

The family was driving fast to get to the hospital because their 18-month-old boy was choking and turning blue.

Police dashcam footage shows one cop jumping out of his patrol car at a traffic light and rushing up to the family stopped in their sedan.

The baby's mom and uncle are totally freaking out, screaming for help and begging to go to the hospital.

But there's no time ... the officer grabs the infant and starts patting him on the back, dislodging the object in his throat. The cop passes him to another officer, who drives the child to the hospital.

Hulk Hogan is runnin' wild on his latest fitness journey ... saying this week he's now abstained from alcohol for eight months -- and it's done his body so good, he's down 40-plus pounds!!

The Hulkster joined Harvey and Charles on "TMZ Live" to break down his latest plan to get fit ... and he said it all started back on New Year's -- when he "got sick and tired of being sick and tired of myself."

Initially, the WWE Hall of Famer wanted it to just be a simple booze break ... but it's now spiraled into nearly a full year without a sip of liquor -- and he couldn't be happier about it.

"It changed everything," Hulk said of how his body responded to the new diet. "I wasn't eating late at night -- I wasn't eating junk food anymore. I dropped like 40 pounds right away."

Hulk said his alcohol consumption had gotten pretty bad just before he quit ... saying it'd lead to wild binge-eating moments that were taking a toll on his physique -- and his joints.

Now, however, the 70-year-old said he's feeling so good ... he's having a much easier time keeping up with his 45-year-old fiancé, Sky Daily.

Hulk isn't sure how much longer he'll be booze-free -- he said he could see himself grabbing drinks again socially one day -- but he told Harvey and Charles he'll never go back to the way things were.

Shawn Stockman is doubling down on his comments about Britney Spears -- this after catching flak from fans -- 'cause he says not all conservatorships are created equal.

We got the Boyz II Men singer at LAX again Monday, and it sounds like there was some backlash from #FreeBritney folks over what he said last week regarding her situation ... namely, he felt getting her back into a conservatorship might be a good idea.

Check out what he has to say about it now ... it's pretty insightful.

Essentially, Shawn explains the apparatus of a conservatorship in and of itself isn't necessarily a bad thing -- despite what some have apparently tried preaching to him.

The reason SS knows that --he has personal experience in this department -- and considering his understanding of how conservatorships work ... the haters might wanna reconsider how they're discussing this issue.

Now, Shawn does say that *if* people in Britney's life were abusing the conservatorship -- which she alleges was the case as it pertains to her father, Jamie -- that's obviously no bueno ... and he condemns that. But on the issue of conservatorships in general -- which have been demonized -- Shawn says they can actually be quite helpful for certain folks.

Shawn also makes the point that even diehard Britney fans truly don't know her or what she needs -- and he suspects, based on behavior she's displaying, that she could use some people in her corner to better guide her through this precarious time.