Amber Heard All Smiles At New Film Premiere ... Returns To Acting

Amber Heard has bounced back from her devastating defeat in her defamation trial against ex Johnny Depp ... making her triumphant return to the silver screen and a huge splash at an Italian film festival.

The actress -- who seemed down for the count after a civil jury awarded Depp over $10 million in damages at their 2022 trial -- arrived at the 69th Taormina Film Festival for the premiere of her new film with costar Luca Calvani.

Amber was all smiles and laughter as she sipped drinks with Calvani -- proving nobody is defined by one bad moment in time ... and for Amber, that means the Depp case.

Amber also looked radiant in a white top, cream-colored skirt and black shoes as she mingled with the masses to promote her new movie in which she plays a widowed American psychiatrist who flies to Colombia to investigate the case of a disturbed child allegedly possessed by the devil.

It certainly appears Amber has ripped a page out of the Lindsay Lohan playbook ... You might recall ...  Lindsay also made a comeback from her drug and alcohol problems to star in the 2022 Netflix movie, "Falling for Christmas" -- her first major film role in years.

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ALL SMILES
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Deon Cole Comedy Got Me This Far ... Serious Roles Won't Change That

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REMEMBERING MY COMEDY ROOTS
TMZ.com

Deon Cole won't let fame and notoriety for his less humorous roles kill his comedy drive ... even though he's getting plenty of acclaim for his new dramatic project.

We caught the comedian ahead of the premiere of his new BET+ series "Average Joe" ... which has already been drawing comparisons to "Ozark" for its dark, suburban storyline.

Deon tells us turning over a new leaf in his career doesn't mean he's burning down the forest he built on stand-up comedy -- that's still his bread and butter, and he says don't expect him to bite his tongue in future comedy bits.

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He says he learned from Tom Hanks secondhand and credits his cast -- which includes Tammy Townsend, Malcolm Barrett and Michael Trucco -- for elevating his drama chops.

But Deon also tells us the series' directors saw the depth of his acting ability, and gave him the shot of a lifetime!!!

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No joke about it ... "Average Joe" starts streaming Monday.

Busta Rhymes This Year's 'Icon' At Culture Creators Chloe x Halle, Flau'jae To Be Honored Too!!!

Busta Rhymes' 30-year career in the rap biz will be honored in full at an upcoming event, presented by Netflix.

The veteran rapper will be receiving the Icon Award at the 7th annual Culture Creators Innovators and Leaders Awards Brunch ... which won't have a shortage of star power in the spotlight this year.

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Chloe x Halle will be granted the Innovators of the Year Award ... while LSU b-ball champ Flau'jae Johnson, Stephen Hill, Troy Carter, Karl Kani, Laurieann Gibson, Chris Robinson and Candace Rodney will all be recognized for their areas of expertise.

The event goes down on Saturday, June 24 inside the Beverly Hilton International Ballroom and is also sponsored by Lexus.

The fuse is lit!!!

Zachary Quinto Kim K's Got Some Acting Chops!! 'Really Impressed' By Her 'AHS' Performance

Kim Kardashian's got some serious star power as an actress ... according to Zachary Quinto, who says he was 'really impressed' by her work on the upcoming season of “American Horror Story."

Zachary gave Kim the kind words at the recent Tribeca Film Festival premiere of his new flick "He Went That Way," which he stars in alongside "Euphoria" actor Jacob Eldori.

The 'AHS' alum not only confirmed he'll be returning to Ryan Murphy's franchise as a cameo, but says Kim did pretty damn well from what he saw ... saying "She seemed really in her element, and I was really impressed by her spirit and her openness."

He says he's extremely excited to see her work in the final product -- adding she's going to do a wonderful job. Zachary even admitted, "I don’t think she needs my advice."

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As we reported, it was revealed in April that Kim K would be joining the ranks in season 12 of "AHS," titled "Delicate" -- the big announcement also revealed Emma Roberts would be returning to the long-running series, although everyone's parts are kept under wraps.

Kim was spotted heading into a Bev Hills meeting last month with a script for the show in hand. Looks like she's taking the acting game seriously ... and according to Zachary, she definitely does.

'Dubai Bling' Star Kris Fade Expecting 1st Baby With Wife Brianna ... After Health Issues

"Dubai Bling" stars Kris Fade and his wife Brianna's dream has come true -- she's pregnant with their first child ... something they feared wouldn't happen due to some serious health concerns.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... Brianna is pregnant, and she's close to the end of her first trimester.

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MAJOR HEALTH UPDATE

The news is particularly special because Brianna recently opened up about being diagnosed with Graves' Disease, which caused her to have Hyperthyroidism. She also developed fibroids ... causing the couple to put off trying for a baby for a while.

However, Brianna recently explained on TikTok her thyroid levels and her vitamin deficiencies are leveled, and she's off all medication.

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Just last month Kris, who hosts the no.1 radio show in Dubai, reflected on his 2019 engagement to Brianna ... saying they were hoping to start a family. It's unclear if he already knew she was pregnant at that time, and just didn't want to jinx it.

Kris has 2 daughters from a previous relationship -- and he and Brianna are hoping for a boy this time around.

Their lavish 2022 wedding was featured in the first season of "Dubai Bling." Fans will get the inside scoop on their pregnancy in the new season, which began filming earlier this year.

Congrats!

Manti Te'o Done With Football ... 'Playing A Different Game Now'

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ON THE RIGHT PATH
TMZSports.com

Manti Te'o is adamant his football career is over ... telling TMZ Sports his purpose in life is now to help other people -- not crack running backs on a gridiron anymore.

The former linebacker made the revelation to us out at LAX ... saying he's officially hung up his spikes at 32 years old.

"I'm playing a different game now," the Notre Dame legend said. "I'm trying to empower people. Trying to inspire people. That's the game that I'm playing now, and I'm trying to be the best at that."

Te'o -- a second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft -- last played in the league in the 2020 season ... when he suited up for the Chicago Bears.

He spent most of that year on the team's practice squad, though he did play in the team's postseason game against the Saints, logging six tackles.

Some believed he still had football left in his body -- if not for the NFL, perhaps for the XFL or the USFL -- but he said that's simply just not the case.

Instead, he told us he now wants to help people learn from the hard times he's endured, most notably his 2013 catfishing incident.

"If my life can be that for people -- to show people that, 'Hey, it may not be sunshine and roses all the time, but if you just keep your head down and keep working and believing in yourself and putting God first, everything will be all right.'"

Te'o -- who played eight seasons in the NFL -- also spoke briefly about his documentary, "Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist" ... and said he's glad people finally get to see and hear his story.

"It's more of an understanding now," Te'o said. "It's a beautiful thing because all the facts weren't out there ... I'm grateful that people have all the details and that people are able to see everything and that God's timing is perfect timing. So, everything works out."

Millie Bobby Brown & Jake Bongiovi Time to Celebrate Our Engagement!!!

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi aren't walking down the aisle yet, but they're partying like they are ... going all out commemorate their engagement with family members.

The "Stranger Things" star made sure to snap several photos Thursday with her fiancé, Jake -- Bon Jovi's 21-year-old son -- during the private party. And, the couple couldn't look happier, as they posed in front of a sign reading "Mr and Mrs Bongiovi."

19-year-old Millie donned a bridal lace co-ord set -- and Jake was suited and booted in green.

Hairstylist Pete Burkill shared several photos from the celebration, congratulating the young couple and showing off their hair for the event.

As we reported, Millie announced her engagement back in April ... sharing a photo of Jake hugging her, and flaunting her stunning diamond ring.

She captioned the photo with a quote from Taylor Swift's song "Lovers" -- "I've loved you 3 summers now, honey, I want 'em all."

Jake also shared the special moment on his page, posting photos with the caption, "forever."

Millie and Jake have been together since 2021, after initially connecting on social media.

'Selling Sunset' Nicole Young Let's Just Drop the Drama, Chrishell!!!

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CROSSED THE LINE
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"Selling Sunset" star Nicole Young is extending an olive branch to her costar Chrishell Stause ... saying she's ready to move past all of the drama, once and for all.

We caught up with the 'SS' newbie at Sunset Plaza, and she opened up about her ongoing feud with Chrishell -- one that made her the target of some very brutal death threats.

Nicole tells us, things went way too far on the show between them. She says, while the drug accusations Chrishell made about her are very damaging, she won't be taking any legal action against her ... adding she's also able to take responsibility for her actions as well.

Moreover, she tells us it's about time they smooth things out, for the sake of everyone and to get back to focusing on what's really important -- i.e. their business.

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CUT IT OUT
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As we reported, Nicole has been getting death threats and vile remarks in the wake of their heated argument on the show. Chrishell spoke up to defend Nicole on IG, and later told us nothing warrants that kind of bullying.

Nicole says she hasn't spoken to CS directly, since it all went down -- but she's more than willing to drop all the drama and come to an understanding with her costar.

'Selling Sunset' Jason Oppenheim Splitsville With GF Marie-Lou Nurk

"Selling Sunset" star Jason Oppenheim is a single man again ... he and his model girlfriend Marie-Lou Nurk have called it quits.

Jason announced the split Wednesday on social media, saying their long-distance relationship was too much to overcome. Marie-Lou splits her time between Los Angeles and Paris, while Jason is anchored in Hollywood.

The now-former couple started dating 10 months ago, first getting together in July during a vacation to Mykonos, Greece. Jason went public with the 25-year-old model back in August, hitting up a premiere for a Netflix show together.

After jet setting around the globe, Jason and Marie-Lou moved into a new luxury condo in L.A. together ... but a few days ago she said she was moving back to France for her modeling career.

Jason says ... "While we still love and care about each other very much the distance between us has proven to be too great a challenge to overcome."

He adds ... "We remain close friends and continue to talk often and support each other and we want the very best for one another. We thank everyone for their support throughout our relationship."

Of course, prior to dating Marie-Lou, Jason dated his 'SS' costar, Chrishell Stause, the two eventually split after Jason expressed he wasn't yet interested in having kids ... something Stause really wanted.

Chrishell Stause 'Selling Sunset' Fans Go Too Far ... Stop Threatening Nicole!!!

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CUT IT OUT
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Chrishell Stause wants fans of her show to get the message, once and for all, to stand down on making death threats against her to costar Nicole Young -- 'cause, like, it's just reality TV ... and not that serious.

The "Selling Sunset" realtor talked to us Tuesday in L.A., and we asked why she thought it was important to publicly speak up on Nicole's behalf and tell haters to cool it -- and she touched on the absurdity of modern-day fandom.

Watch ... CS says people in this day and age just take things too far, especially when it comes to keyboard catharsis -- which clearly spilled over into dangerous territory last week.

Like we reported, Nicole was getting death threats and other vile remarks in the wake of her onscreen feud with Chrishell ... and it was affecting her well-being. Chrishell spoke up on her own social platform and told everyone to simmer down.

While she goes to bat for Nicole on camera with us -- about the threats, at least -- it sounds like there's still no love lost between them. Chrishell tells us it's up to Nicole to repair their relationship.

That's one thing, but on the real-world attack front ... she clearly knows how to differentiate.

John Stamos on 'Fuller House' I Was 'Angry' w/ Olsens for Bailing Water Under a Bridge Now

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Yeah, I was Peeved ...
And That's What You Really Missed / iHeart Radio

John Stamos says he was sour over Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen skipping out on the "Full House" reboot a few years ago -- but in the same breath, he also says they're all good now.

The actor dished on his feelings over their glaring absence from "Fuller House" just earlier this week -- admitting to "Glee" stars Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz on their podcast that he was, in fact, "angry" over their decision to not star in the revived Netflix series.

He says he and the rest of the OG cast didn't stay in close touch with them post-'FH' -- with the late Bob Saget being the exception, he notes -- which probably didn't help when it was time to approach them about reprising their role as Michelle ... something they declined.

JS explains, "When I did 'Fuller House,' they didn't want to come back and I was angry for a minute, and that got out." He goes on to explain that there was a misconception that the girls hated their childhood and their time on "Full House" by extension ... but says that's BS.

John adds, "But they said, 'We loved our childhood. We loved being with you. We miss Bob.'" He also mentions a recent visit they made to his home when they brought grub/sage.

Since then, John says he and the Olsen twins have "stayed very close." It sounds like this all might've happened after Saget's death last year -- which, in hindsight, is a shame ... 'cause John himself has also conceded that he might've been able to get the twins back on TV if he'd gone about it the right way. Namely, talking to them personally ... which he didn't.

As John explained to THR in 2016 -- when "Fuller House" was first launching -- Mary-Kate was apparently somewhat interested in "Fuller" and wanted him to try to convince Ashley, who was wearier of getting back into acting. He also says they told him never heard an official request from anyone ... despite him thinking he'd gotten a hold of their agent.

In the end, it appears there was a communication breakdown ... and some hard feelings in the wake of not getting them. But, like John make sure to clarify, he's got nothing but love for the Olsen twins ... who've arguably moved on to bigger and better things in fashion, etc.

Like the song says ... what ever happened to predictability? It sure don't live here anymore!

'Selling Sunset' Nicole Young Gets 'Unbearable' Death Threats After Feud with Chrishell

UPDATE

8:34 AM PT -- Chrishell Stause just addressed the death threats, saying, "It's been brought to my attention that Nicole's camp is reporting receiving death threats to several outlets. Being on a reality show on such a huge platform makes for an influx of feedback and I am certainly not a stranger to death threats after 6 seasons."

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UPDATE

She continues, "Your opinions help make this show what it is & clearly I have my own. But let's keep it fun please."

"Selling Sunset" newbie Nicole Young is feeling some serious fallout from her feud with costar Chrishell Stause -- we're told Nicole's getting brutal death threats, now that their battle is out in the show's latest season.

Sources close to Nicole tell TMZ ... aside from the death threats, she's been getting hit with meth addict accusations and loads of hateful speech from crazed fans -- some of whom found her address and phone number.

Nicole's been getting stuff like "Watch out on the streets….whores die," "You’re a c***. A bully. I hope you die honestly," and "No one likes you because you’re a crackhead. You should leave the O Group you f***ing methhead."

Not only is she taking a beating, but we're told folks have been calling out her family ... and it's now impacting her mental health. She's backed out of appearances and podcast tapings because of the hateful reactions.

If you haven't seen the new season ... tensions got high after Nicole claimed Chrishell stole the credit for a listing they were working on together. She also claimed Chrishell was handed listings from head honcho Jason Oppenheim because they used to date.

Sparks flew quite a bit, with Chrishell even calling Nicole a "b****" straight to her face ... but despite all the anger coming her way, sources say Nicole's standing by her comments on the new season -- claiming not enough context was shown in the final edit.

Originally Published -- 1:00 AM PT

'Selling Sunset' Chelsea Lazkani Bre Tiesi Wants To Kill Me! Keeps Distance After Off-Camera Exposing

"Selling Sunset" star Chelsea Lazkani thinks she might've gone overboard when it came to talking smack about newcomer Bre Tiesi and her relationship with Nick Cannon -- claiming she's now keeping her distance to stay alive!

ICYMI, Bre -- who shares a kid with Nick -- joined the Oppenheim Group for the hit reality series' latest season ... and Chelsea took an off-camera moment of Bre's directly to the screen, telling the other agents Bre was surprised and upset after discovering via news alert that Nick welcomed baby #9 with model LaNisha Cole.

Chelsea's now wishing she bit her tongue during filming, telling Entertainment Tonight, "I think she wants to kill me, and I want to stay alive for a very long time. So, you know, I just think I’ll keep my distance from her."

The real estate agent says it wasn't until she took a step back that she realized the harm she put on Bre -- adding, "This is a person with true feelings and you could hurt that person, because the difference between the online trolls and myself is I'm right in front of your face."

BTW, Bre clapped back at Chelsea after making her private moment public ... saying her costar was simply digging for a storyline, and nothing more.

You'll recall, Bre recently said Nick didn't have to cough up child support cash because of the number of kids he's had -- although her lawyer later debunked his client's claims.

'Love Is Blind' Netflix Branching Out ... Files to Trademark 'Love Is Wine' Merch

Netflix is lookin' to cash in on its hit dating show, "Love Is Blind" by making a move to lock up rights to sell new products branded with a clever twist.

According to docs obtained by TMZ, Netflix is requesting the rights to sell items using the words "Love Is Wine." Cheeky and we can totally see future 'LIB' watch parties buying into it.

The streaming company's trademark application says it wants to slap the phrase on things like cake molds, glassware, napkin holders, plates, tea infusers, flasks, and several types of drinking glasses.

It's also looking to use it on things like wines and spirits, cocktail mixes, and even prepared cocktails. Given the fun name, this stuff could sell like hotcakes.

Netflix appears to be going all in on the 'LIB' craze ... also looking to secure the rights to brand bakery goods, snacks, frozen treats, pizza kits, chips, and salads. There's even mention of salt -- yes, just simple salt.

Of course, there's no doubt as to why it's full steam ahead on an idea like this -- the record-breaking series recently wrapped its fourth season and has even produced versions of the show in places like Japan and Brazil, with a handful of other locations in the works.

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As we reported, millions of fans were waiting to tune into the live reunion special last month, but it never happened. Everyone ended up having to stream a prerecorded version the next day after technical glitches left fans looking at error codes on their TVs.

Sounds like Netflix is just scratching the "Love Is Blind" surface -- and if ya don't like it, go wine about it!!!

Ben Affleck New Theater Flick Bombs J Lo's Movie Soars on Netflix!!!

Ben Affleck's been having a rough go at the movies lately -- especially with his latest flick completely bombing in theaters ... whereas his wife is thriving in the streaming world.

The actor's latest offering, "Hypnotic," flailed miserably at the box office this weekend ... raking in just $2.3 million from the 2,100 or so theaters it was playing in. The Robert Rodriguez-directed sci-fi thriller wasn't released by a major studio -- two independent production companies are behind it ... and BA's the marquee talent by a mile as far as cast.

The worst part is that Ben's film reportedly cost around $65 mil to make ... so, yeah, it's coming in at a huge loss. Plus, the reviews stink. Now, his other recent film, "Air," did much better in theaters (around $85M worldwide so far) -- but that one reportedly cost about $90M to produce ... meaning it's just barely breaking even, although it fared better with critics.

Bottom line ... Ben hasn't been cleaning up in ticket sales, but Jennifer Lopez is killing it with at-home viewers. Her new movie, "The Mother," is apparently #1 on Netflix in several countries right now -- and her other recent flick, "Shotgun Wedding" did well for Amazon too.

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As far as substance, both of J Lo's movies have gotten very meh reviews -- especially 'SW.' And while her flicks are cranking out good numbers for the streaming services they're released on ... it's hard to gauge what that actually translates to for a bottom line.

Streaming companies tend to keep that data to themselves ... so there's no telling if any given movie actually converts to more subscribers -- which is how they make money.

The takeaway ... it's harder to turn a profit in theaters with original flicks not tied to existing IP, and on the flip side -- it's also hard to tell if streaming success means anything. However, since there's a better spin on the latter, Ben might wanna reconsider his approach.

Welcome to moviegoing in 2023!!!

Chrishell Stause & G Flip We're Married!!!

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HAPPILY MARRIED
Instagram / @chrishell.stause

"Selling Sunset" star Chrishell Stause and her boo, G Flip, have taken their romance to the next level ... tying the knot after one year of dating!!

According to People, Chrishell and the 28-year-old Australian musician recently made things super official ... and CS hinted at their new matrimonial status Wednesday night.

The reality star posted a reel, featuring a compilation of clips of the couple spending time together, and ended with a photo of them locking lips down the aisle. She added G Flip's latest song "I'll Be Your Man" -- a romantic tune inspired by, and for Chrishell.

In the caption, CS gushed all about her partner, saying ... "Love doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes it's immeasurably better."

"Be Your Man is out now & linked in stories. If you ever get the pleasure of meeting G, know that you are meeting one of the kindest, funniest &  most talented hard working people out there. Please go stream! I love you so much @gflip ❤️‍🔥 #BeYourMan"

You'll recall, Chrishell first confirmed she and G, who's nonbinary, were an item last May during the "Selling Sunset" reunion special ... months after her relationship ended with Jason Oppenheim.

Chrishell said she was originally just supposed to be in their music video but wound up falling in love. Since then, the two have been inseparable ... going out and spending lots of time together.

And, we'll definitely be seeing more of them ... G Flip will be on the upcoming season of "Selling Sunset," which drops later this month.

Congrats!

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