Paparazzi

Ariana Grande is laying down the law on concert photographers for a perfectly good reason -- she's been taken advantage of by greedy photogs in the past ... and she's over it.

Sources connected to the "thank u, next" singer tell TMZ ... Ariana's new concert photo policy stems from years of being exploited by a number of photo agencies that would often shoot photos of her in concert ... and then turn around to use those to make a profit.

Here's how it would happen ... we're told Ariana would perform, photogs would take as many pics of her as they wanted ... and then, shortly after, merch she didn't approve of would hit the streets with those photos emblazoned on the items. AG never saw a dime from any of it.

A few examples include calendars, photo books, memorabilia and other items that never got the green light from Ari, or her team.

Our sources say after multiple incidents, she and her camp made the decision to tighten things up in the pit. Of course, the National Press Photographers Association doesn't like this new policy one bit -- which is pretty strict -- but we're told Ariana couldn't care less.

Aside from the new rules she has in place, Ariana and her team also have their own in-house photog, and are happy to distribute whatever photos these publications want ... so long as they're approved by her.

While we're told it was only a handful of bad apples who crossed the line with their photo privileges, it was more than enough for Ariana to switch things up.

Zachary Levi felt a grown man seeking his autograph got a little too up close and personal ... so he told him to beat it.

The "Shazam!" star arrived at LAX Thursday night to a swarm of fans and graphers wanting him to sign their merch. Levi was happy to oblige ... except for the guy in sunglasses shoving a photo in his face.

Check out the clip -- the DC Comics superhero argues with the bearded man about his intentions ... then scolds him for pushing people around. The autograph hound disagrees on both accounts.

Zachary also appears to deny a fan a selfie before hopping in his getaway ride, but it's a lot more friendly.

Unclear how many of these fans said the magic word ... "please."

BTW ... "Shazam!" stars Levi as the adult superhero version of a 14-year-old foster kid who transforms into him when he shouts the film's title. It comes out April 5.

Kim Kardashian West has been a ball of fire this past week sticking up for her little sister, Khloe -- and she completed that transformation this weekend by turning into a smokin' hot flame.

Kim was leaving a photo shoot Saturday at Milk Studios in Hollywood, where she was dressed in a body-hugging, red leather outfit designed to look like some sort of fire ... complete with a matching 'do for good measure.

She looks great -- per usual -- but the timing of her new look is nothing short of perfect, considering how she's been torching people in defense of Khloe after learning about Tristan's latest bout of alleged infidelity ... including one Jordyn Woods.

To recap ... Kim posted (and then deleted) a video Thursday that seemed to shade Jordyn, in which she and Khloe's BFF, Malika Haqq, sang along to Nivea's "Don't Mess With My Man." She also batted off a troll who questioned why Khloe showed face in public right after the cheating scandal ... and she savagely shut down 'Bachelor' creator Mike Fleiss when he claimed Khloe would be the next 'Bachelorette.'

Miranda Lambert has left Tennesse and is now back in the Big Apple with a hunk of a husband hanging from her arm ... and some sweet new bling perched on her finger.

The country singer was spotted hand-in-hand with Brendan McLoughlin Saturday in SoHo, where they were both rockin' their wedding bands, and a little something extra for Miranda ... her engagement ring. They also had matching leather jackets to boot.

Good choice in attire ... NYC reached a high of 42 degrees Saturday afternoon, so the coats probably kept them warm in the chilly weather. A new boo helps in that department too.

As we reported, Miranda announced her surprise nuptials this weekend to the NYPD officer, who seems to have come out of nowhere. Reports say the newlyweds got hitched in late January down in Nashville ... where she recently had a bit of a salad spat.

Like we first told you ... Miranda got into a heated argument at a Nashville steakhouse last weekend, which boiled over into her dumping a salad onto a woman's lap.

J.Law is about to inherit some I-Laws -- 'cause she's newly engaged ... and not afraid to show off the ring on a date night with her fiance.

Jen was spotted flashing her new rock Monday night in NYC while grabbing dinner at Raoul's French bistro with art gallerist and soon-to-be-hubby Cooke Maroney -- who popped the question after 8 months of dating. Her rep confirmed they're set to be hitched.

Based on how much this thing shines ... something tells us it's a beaut up close, and probably pretty damn big. And, clearly, she's happy to flaunt it.

This is Jennifer's first engagement after some very public relationships in the recent past. She dated 'X-Men' costar Nicholas Hoult for a few years, and was most recently linked to director Darren Aronofsky ... with whom she also worked in 2017's "Mother!"

She was reportedly introduced to Cooke this past summer through her pal, Laura Simpson, and has been going strong with him behind the scenes since then.

It's like they say ... third time's a charm.

Jennifer Lopez's mother is one tough cookie, because she kept on truckin' after taking an elbow to the side of her head while her daughter was getting mobbed by fans.

It was a wild scene Wednesday outside Sirius Radio in New York, where J Lo and her mom were swarmed by fans upon arrival.

The video is crazy ... you see Jennifer trying to navigate her way through the crowd with her mother in tow, when someone reaches in and clocks Guadalupe Rodriguez with a nasty elbow to the dome.

J Lo looks super pissed and concerned as Guadalupe tries to shake it off, holding her right hand up to her head as they try like hell to escape the mob.

We're told Jennifer won't be hitting the streets again when they leave Sirius ... and we can't blame her.

Pauly D and Swedish DJ Alesso are among the celebs banding together to help the celeb photographer battling to overcome brutal injuries suffered in a hit and run.

The "Jersey Shore" star donated $2k to help cover Corentin Villemeur's extensive medical bills after he got run over last week outside Avalon nightclub in Hollywood. As we first reported, YouTube star Lele Pons witnessed her friend enter a crosswalk and get hit by an Acura she says ran a red light.

Alesso dropped a whopping $14k into the GoFundMe account for Corentin, and took it a step further by putting the call out to his 5 million followers on social media. DJ Marshmello donated $5k directly. Soccer star Jozy Altidore, "The Fosters" star Maia Mitchell, Bad Bunny's team and creator of Halo Top Ice Cream Justin Woolverton each donated $2k.

Justin Bieber and his friends went on a Jesus-laced hike Friday, and ended up in a rap battle of sorts with a photog.

It's pretty awesome ... JB and crew were in the bushes in the Lake Hollywood area of L.A., rapping about Jesus and The King. As they praised the Lord and walked down the hill, they challenged a photog to drop some bars.

Justin eyeballs the photog and labels him part of the Biggie/Tupac era, and then listens as the guy raps his owns verses.

Hilary Duff had to repeatedly ask a man to stop stalking her all day trying to snap photos ... and the whole situation is very creepy.

Hilary just posted a video of herself asking the guy, who's sitting in his car, to stop following her around because it's making her "uncomfortable." The man replies saying he hasn't taken any photos -- which is actually creepier -- before driving away in a huff.

Duff claims the guy was at her son's soccer game Saturday morning, then followed her to her sister's house and basically parked in her driveway to take pics. She says he continued to follow her while she ran errands, and even after she recorded this video she says "he continues to follow and stalk me."

Hilary points out she's 9 months pregnant and battling the flu ... and this is not okay. She adds ... "When people say that’s what you get for signing up to be a celebrity it honestly makes me sick."

Younes Bendjima double-crossed Kourtney Kardashian by tipping off the paparazzi that she was having a secret meeting with him in a Malibu parking lot ... sources close tell TMZ.

We're told Kim and Khloe have solid reasons to believe the secret rendezvous photo -- obtained by TMZ -- was staged by Younes to squeeze out the last drops of his 15 minutes.

We broke the story ... Kourtney was in the passenger seat of her Range Rover outside of a Malibu sushi joint Monday night, sparking rumors they were back together. Sources close to the exes quickly let us know that wasn't the case -- their chat was all about closure.

We're told Younes made the call to drive to that sushi spot -- a place the 2 had never been -- to park and have a talk. So, it seems awfully suspicious to the sisters that a photog was on scene.

Our sources say the Kardashians believe Younes frequently tipped off paps while he dated Kourt ... because they would show up at random places where the 2 were hanging out, and there's no way they would have known in advance.

We're told the sisters think Younes knew his relationship with Kourtney was over ... and this was his Hail Mary for the last bit of publicity.

Our sources also say ... the girls are more than happy Kourtney has moved on.

Kim Kardashian West made it clear Friday ... driving is a pain in the ass for her, especially when her whip comes to a stop.

Kim was out and about in Miami with pals Larsa Pippen and Jonathan Cheban when she stopped at a red light and crowds started to swarm around her.

She explains how her security has to jump out and hold people at bay, so the vehicle can move when the light turns green.

Justin Bieber says the reason he got emotional with Hailey Baldwin this week has to do with the major commitment he's about to make ... and what comes with it.

JB was leaving Hailey's apartment Wednesday night in NYC, where he was in a MUCH better mood than Tuesday -- when he and Hailey broke down during a bike ride. Justin danced, chatted up fans and even explained why he was brought to tears ... sorta.

The "No Brainer" singer flashed a book he was holding to the camera, titled 'The Meaning of Marriage,' and explained it was simply a "bad day" in the long road that's marriage.

It's a pretty philosophical answer, but Justin's clearly not hiding anything when it comes to his (love) life.

Kourtney Kardashian channeled Kool & The Gang with a ladies' night post-Younes Bendjima -- and then she channeled 'Fast & the Furious' ... emphasis on the furious.

Kourt hit the town Wednesday with her good pal, Larsa Pippen, who joined her at Madeo in Bev Hills for some grub. As they were leaving, paps lit up like a bunch of hungry seagulls -- ourselves included -- and peppered the eldest Kardashian about her split with Younes.

She was tight-lipped on her feelings about the dude, but was a little more fast and loose with her steering wheel while trying to get the hell outta there.

Khloe Kardashian is dishing out the facts of life on kids ... and truer words have never been spoken.

A pap ran into Khlo and Tristan Thompson leaving a lunch date Monday at Joey in Woodland Hills, where she gave a quick update on her baby girl, True Thompson.

The camera guy asks if the kid's growing up, and you gotta hear Khloe's response ... classic mom line.

Justin Bieber is catching all the feels after his engagement to Hailey Baldwin, and the question now is -- which ones were on display during this phone call?

The Biebs was spotted outside his fiancee's Brooklyn apartment Tuesday -- shortly before they hopped in a chopper to visit her mom and dad, Stephen Baldwin. He's definitely having an emotional reaction to the phone convo, but hard to tell if he's laughing or crying.

Whatever the topic ... he does seem kinda stressed by it. We know papa Baldwin's already given his blessing, so we doubt Justin was anxious about going to hang with his in-laws-to-be.

Here's the reality ... Selena Gomez will be asked A LOT about Justin Bieber's engagement to Hailey Baldwin, but she's all warmed up and ready to respond ... with a cold shoulder.

Photogs caught Bieber's ex Monday evening in NYC, and a pap asked if she had any comment on his weekend proposal to Hailey. That, or well-wishes ... either way.

More reality ... everyone, especially Beliebers, will judge a lot based on Selena's words -- or even just her facial reactions. So, go ahead and judge away.

She doesn't have much to say to photogs, but she does look preoccupied by her convo with a pal.