MTV

The Robert E. Lee descendant, who denounced white supremacy during the VMAs, says that speech cost him his job as pastor of a North Carolina church.

Rev. Robert Wright Lee says factions of his United Church of Christ in Winston-Salem "were concerned about my speech and that I lifted up Black Lives Matter movement, the Women’s March, and Heather Heyer as examples of racial justice work."

Rev. Lee says there were also church members who supported his right to speak out, but were "uncomfortable with the attention" his MTV appearance was bringing the church. He says, "The church’s reaction was deeply hurtful to me."

Paris Jackson did her dad proud at the VMAs, and she knows it.

We got MJ's daughter at LAX Monday and she's confident her dad would be smiling at her zero tolerance message about white supremacists.

Tuesday is a special day for Paris and her siblings ... it would have been MJ's 59th birthday. Paris telegraphed her feelings via Instagram, calling him the "love of my life, the one person who showed me what passion truly was, the one that gave me solid morals to live by and how to dream."

She went on ... "I will never feel love again the way I did with you."

Frankie Delgado isn't quite the famous face he used to be, and cops had to step in when the former reality star tried to get through VIP at the Mayweather/McGregor fight.

The incident went down when the ex-'Hills' star tried breezing past security Saturday night outside the VIP entrance to T-Mobile Arena. Our law enforcement sources tell us Frankie tried to walk in without showing credentials, and ignored security's objections.

Witnesses tell us he never used the words, but his attitude reeked of "You know who I am."

A Las Vegas PD Sergeant stepped in to stop Frankie while security sorted out the matter. The tense moment was captured in this photo, and despite how it looks ... everything worked out for Frankie.

Someone eventually confirmed he was on the list, and he watched the fight from VIP.

Fun fact: Frankie's still A-list at huge events! We underestimated "The Hills."

Nev Schulman said it loud and proud ... he's Jewish, and wore the yellow Star of David to the VMAs to make sure his fans know he's standing up against white supremacists.

We got the 'Catfish' host Monday at LAX as he was leaving town after the VMAs, and he explained he wore the symbolic emblem specifically as a response to people marching with Nazi flags ... in America.

Nev said the Holocaust wasn't that long ago, and celebs should wear the Star to remind their fans.

He gave a nod to Billy Joel for doing it recently in concert and encouraged others to follow suit.

The Weeknd was a no-show at the VMAs this weekend, and the reason isn't all that complicated ... he just didn't feel like it.

Abel left a lot of people high and dry ... the MTV folks announced he'd perform. He was also nominated for 4 awards.

Here's how it was put to us ... The Weeknd's been on the road for a prolonged period of time and just didn't feel up to his VMAs gig. In his mind, he booked the gig a while ago, before concert fatigue set in, and he just felt differently in the days before the show.

It's the second Weeknd event that got torpedoed in as many days. The rubber is about to meet the road, because he's about to hit the road again and there won't be a break until December ... at least a scheduled break.

The MTV Awards were a big hit Sunday night with celebs who eyeballed it at The Forum ... to a person they had high praise.

We got Jared Leto, Mel B, Heidi Klum, Post Malone, Joe Jonas, Shawn Mendes, Nina Dobrev and Jessie J at the Republic Records and Cadillac party at TAO after the ceremony. They gushed over the show.

BTW ... some of them were mum on Taylor Swift's music video. It's kinda like ... do you really want to cross Kim and Kanye?

Former "Road Rules" star Danny Dias died of complications from chronic substance abuse, and the lacerations found on his forearm had nothing to do with his death ... TMZ has learned.

The Chief Medical Examiner in NYC tells us Danny did not have any lethal injuries, and it's been determined he died of natural causes ... brought on by years of substance abuse. The M.E. adds there was no evidence of any acute level of drugs in his system.

Translation: he didn't OD, but he'd been in bad shape for years.

As we first reported ... cops said Danny had 2 lacerations on his forearm the day his body was found in his apartment. The M.E. says the cuts were fresh, but ultimately did NOT cause his death, as police first suspected.

Danny was 34.

Cast members from MTV's new reality show, "Siesta Key," say they're getting death threats over a controversial video of a shark being dragged by fishermen ... and they've called cops for protection.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police in the FL town where "Siesta Key" is shot were contacted by some of the cast members about online threats, some deadly in nature. The threats all center around the viral video of the heinous shark incident -- the show's star, Alex Kompothecras, bragged he knows the guys responsible.

Alex is reportedly one of the cast members who got death threats. Thing is ... we're told police did not consider the online threats substantial enough to warrant arrests.

However, a premiere party Monday night for the "Siesta Key" debut was canceled for safety concerns. There's now an online push to boycott the show.

The Southern frat boy from MTV's "The Real World: Paris" was arrested this week for DUI.

Law enforcement sources tell us Clyde Amerson -- known as Ace on the 2003 reality show -- was arrested and booked Wednesday morning for DUI in Carrollton, Georgia after allegedly rear-ending someone on the road.

Cops say they responded to the accident -- in which nobody was injured -- and felt Ace was under the influence since he appeared drowsy, slurred his speech and had trouble with his balance. Our law enforcement sources say he admitted taking Benadryl and Rx pills.

We're told police drew blood, and toxicology tests are pending.

Ace was taken into custody and charged with 2 misdemeanors -- 1 count of DUI and 1 count of following too closely.

Chanel West Coast's beef with Charlamagne Tha God is all water under the bridge, or will be ... right after she gets in one last shot at him.

We got Chanel Tuesday at Pink Taco on Sunset, and asked about her blow-up with Charlamagne on MTV's "Ridiculousness." She went off when he called her a "wack rapper" ... but now says the spat was beneficial for both of them.

She got a ton more followers and exposure, and he got a future guest for his show. Maybe.

Not sure he'll call Chanel after this last dig. Your move, CTG!

9:00 AM PT -- According to cops, Danny was found with 2 vertical lacerations on his forearm. We're told police are now treating it as a possible suicide.

Danny Dias, who starred in season 13 of MTV's 'Road Rules,' has died and it appears drugs were involved ... TMZ has learned.

We're told Dias was at his Brooklyn apartment Saturday with a friend. Law enforcement sources say the friend told them he saw Dias take what he believed was LSD and mushrooms. The friend says Dias freaked out, ran in his room and that was the last the friend saw of him.

We're told the friend left the apartment and over the next 2 days called Dias, getting no response. The friend became concerned and on Monday called 911 for to get a welfare check on Dias. First responders had to force their way in, and found Danny dead in the room.

Dias appeared on the 2004 season.

Christopher 'Big Black' Boykin's heart was in terrible condition for days before his death -- so bad, in fact, doctors feared he'd eventually need a heart transplant ... TMZ has learned.

Chris' ex-wife, Shannon Turley, tells us Chris was hospitalized in Plano, TX for several days while doctors monitored his heart. He'd been struggling with heart issues, and already had a defibrillator implanted in his chest.

She says doctors tried to resuscitate Chris for 30 minutes when his heart gave out on Tuesday. He died at 4 PM. Shannon says Chris was not on the transplant list yet, but doctors said he was heading in that direction.

Shannon and Chris have a 9-year-old daughter, Isis. Although they divorced in 2009, she says Chris had been living with her in Texas due to his declining health.

As we reported, Boykin's death shook his "Rob & Big" co-star and friend Rob Dyrdek, ... who wrote, "My heart is broken. I don't want to believe that this is reality. I am so thankful for you."

Christopher 'Big Black' Boykin, who was the other half of Rob Dyrdek's hit MTV show "Rob & Big" -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

His rep tells us Chris died Tuesday morning. No official cause of death yet, but multiple people connected to Chris tell us they believe it was a heart attack.

He was Rob's best friend and bodyguard on their reality show, which ran from 2006 to 2008 -- and also later appeared on 'Fantasy Factory.'

The pals got into a bunch of random adventures -- like breaking Guinness World Records, exorcising their house, installing an ATM ... and, of course, catching people with their net gun.

Chris and Rob's relationship became strained while shooting their show. Rob talked about their falling out a couple of years ago.

They eventually patched things up. Not only did they work together on 'Fantasy Factory' ... but Chris recently posted a throwback pic of them from the show's heyday.

Before he was a TV star, Boykin served in the U.S. Navy. He's survived by his 9-year-old daughter.

'Big Black' was 45.

#RIP

MTV issued a statement about Clay, saying, "We are saddened by the news of Clay Adler's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time."

Reality TV star Clay Adler is dead after intentionally shooting himself during a trip to the desert with friends ... TMZ has learned.

Clay appeared on 2 seasons of the MTV reality show, "Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County." Law enforcement sources tell us Clay and his pals went shooting in the desert on March 25. In the middle of firing, we're told he turned the gun and shot himself in the head.

He died in the hospital on March 26 of the gunshot wound.

Our sources say there were no drugs or alcohol in his system, but Clay had struggled with mental illness in the past.

Clay also did some acting, and became pals with Jennifer Lawrence when they were both starting out in Hollywood.

He was an avid surfer, and friends and family honored him with a paddle out in Newport Beach last weekend. Clay was 27.

RIP.

Steve-O wasn't satisfied to just jump off a bridge ... instead, he earned some style points by throwing a trampoline into the mix, and he's lucky to be alive.

The former "Jackass" star was in Tampa, FL Saturday pulling off the new stunt -- leaping off a high bridge into the Intracoastal Waterway from a trampoline mounted to the back of a pickup.

Seconds after his leap, Steve's friends shouted ... he could be dead. As it was, surviving was NOT pretty.

4:05 PM PT -- Q did die from a heart attack, according to the San Diego County Coroner. Autopsy results also list "obesity" as a contributing condition. He failed to respond to CPR, and was pronounced dead on the scene.

WorldStarHipHop founder Lee O'Denat -- better known as "Q" -- had been on a fierce path to slim down in the weeks leading up to his death.

We're told Q, the face of WorldStar, had been going HAM in the gym and on the treadmill -- sometimes at 5 AM. People close to him say he was over 300 lbs. at his heaviest, but had been trying to shed weight to look his best for his new MTV reality show ... slated to premiere in the Spring.

The show revolved around 43-year-old Q, his website's crazy videos and celebrity guest appearances. We're told Q had been telling friends how insanely busy he'd been juggling the show and his new gym life.

TMZ broke the story, Q died in his sleep Monday night. An autopsy is set for Tuesday.