Takeoff Alleged Killer Indicted For Murder

UPDATE

3:29 PM PT -- Clark's attorney, Carl Moore, tells us, "Today’s action by the grand jury is not unexpected. We would ask people to remember that getting an indictment requires meeting a very, very minimal standard of proof. When we get inside a courtroom and in front of a jury, where we will be able to put on our evidence and cross-examine the state’s witnesses— where the standard of proof is guilt beyond a reasonable doubt— we expect the jury will come back with a verdict of not guilty."

Takeoff's alleged killer, Patrick Xavier Clark, has just been formally charged with murder in the Migos rapper's shooting death

A Texas grand jury indicted Clark on murder charges Thursday ... the Harris County District Attorney's Office told KHOU.

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TEMPERS FLARE
TMZ.com

As you know ... Takeoff was shot and killed back in November outside a Houston bowling alley, where he was partying with Quavo. What started out as a celebration turned into an argument, which led to a physical altercation and ultimately a fatal shooting.

Houston PD arrested Clark in December, accusing him of firing the fatal shots.

Remember ... the coroner's report said Takeoff was shot in the head and the torso. Police say Takeoff was not armed and he was an innocent bystander when he was hit by gunfire.

As we reported ... Clark was released from the Harris County Jail in early January after posting $1 million bond.

TMZ broke the story ... Clark has already asked a judge for $5,000 to hire a private investigator to properly prepare his defense, claiming he's financially unable to cover the costs of hiring a P.I. on his own.

Originally Published -- 1:57 PM PT

Tina Turner's Death Beyoncé, Lizzo, Janet & Mariah Pay Tribute

Tina Turner's undeniable impact on music, and beyond, is being felt all over the world ... with some of the biggest artists paying homage to the legendary singer -- some of them live onstage.

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LIZZO'S FULL TRIBUTE

Lizzo stopped to give Tina her flowers, following her death ... getting emotional during a concert, as she performed "Proud Mary."

She told her fans "I would not exist without Tina Turner ... there would be no rock 'n' roll."

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LOVE FROM BARCELONA
Youtube / Mark Flaix

Coldplay also took time to pay respects during their show in Barcelona, saying ... "Thank you to Tina for being sweet, not just to us but to the whole world and making us so entertained." They also performed a version of "Proud Mary."

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SINGING ALONG

Meanwhile, Janet Jackson's concert featured a sing-along to Tina's hit, "What's Love Got to Do With It."

And, celebs didn't just honor the singer onstage.

Beyoncé, who is in the midst of her massive "Renaissance" tour, posted a note on her site, thanking the singer for paving the way.

Her mother, Tina Knowles, also shared the impact TT had on her daughter's life and career.

Mariah Carey and Mick Jagger shared similar sentiments ... calling Tina a huge inspiration for all.

And fans all over have been showing love and streaming her music like crazy, with her tunes seeing massive spikes, just hours after her death.

As we reported, Tina's team announced the 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll' died Wednesday at the age of 83.

RIP

Tina Turner Music Lives Forever Massive Streaming Spike After Death

Tina Turner is gone, but her music is already showing it'll stand the test of time -- getting massive boosts across streaming platforms in the hours after her death.

Tina's songs and albums have all seen crazy spikes in listens and downloads, Amazon's Movers & Shakers Singles Chart is full of Tina's work. At the time of this post -- "What's Love Got to Do with It" has seen a 230,575% boost in sales, "Private Dancer" is up 280,327%, "We Don't Need Another Hero" up 210,909%, and "The Best" is up 62,425%.

As for the albums on Amazon, her "Tina (Live)" is up 297,322%, "Private Dancer" is up 273,528%, and "Break Every Rule" is up 140,825%.

Tina's also having a big surge on iTunes -- with "What's Love Got to Do with It," "Proud Mary," and "Better Be Good to Me" as just some of the singles pushing their way to the top.

It's also been reported her song "What's Love Got To Do With It" is making a push on Spotify.

As we reported, Tina's team announced the legendary singer and 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll' died Wednesday at the age of 83.

In a statement, they said, "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow."

Tina Turner Regretted Not Taking Care of Kidneys ... Two Months Before Death

Tina Turner regretted not taking better care of her kidneys ... admitting two months before her death that her approach put her in "great danger."

The legendary singer opened up about her struggles with hypertension, high blood pressure, and kidney issues in a March 9 post on her Instagram page, talking about her health struggles for International World Kidney Day.

At the time, Tina admitted ... "My kidneys are victims of my not realizing that my high blood pressure should have been treated with conventional medicine. I have put myself in great danger by refusing to face the reality that I need daily, lifelong therapy with medication. For far too long I believed that my body was an untouchable and indestructible bastion."

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Tina died Wednesday, 11 weeks after she talked about her kidney issues. The cause of death is unclear but she was reportedly battling a "long illness."

In addition to her IG post for International World Kidney Day, Tina also shared more about her health issues in a blog post for Show Your Kidneys Love.

There, Tina revealed she was diagnosed with hypertension way back in 1978 ... though she says she "didn't care much about it" and "didn't really try to control it."

She said she found out her kidneys had lost 35% of their function after her 2009 stroke.

Tina said she had to start dialysis to survive and admitted it was "depressing to be connected to a machine for hours." She said she was lucky to get a kidney transplant in 2017 from her second husband, Erwin Bach.

After her kidney transplant, Tina said her body tried to reject the organ and she was often hospitalized as a result. She said she would often feel nauseous and dizzy and had problems with her memory. She also said she was scared.

Tina Turner Dead at 83

Tina Turner -- the iconic and adored singer known as "The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll" -- has died ... TMZ has confirmed.

A statement from Tina's reps reads, "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow."

They continue, "Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly."

As of right now, the cause of her death is unknown, though we do know she's had her health battles in the past -- including a stroke in 2013, intestinal cancer in 2016 and a kidney transplant in 2017.

Tina was born in Tennessee as Anna Mae Bullock and raised in the small town of Nutbush, but later moved to St. Louis ... where she frequented the nightclubs and first encountered Ike Turner in the late '50s.

After hearing her sing, Ike made her a featured vocalist in his band, and in 1960 she was introduced to the world as Tina Turner as the duo put out their hit, "A Fool in Love."

The 2 would go on to get married in 1962 and become a massively successful music act in the '60s and '70s with hit songs like "It's Gonna Work Out Fine," "River Deep - Mountain High," "Nutbush City Limits" and the legendary, Grammy-winning "Proud Mary."

However, the duo wouldn't last, and after disbanding in 1976 they divorced in 1978. Tina would reveal years later in her autobiography that she was a victim of domestic abuse.

Turner then launched one of the greatest music comebacks ever as a solo artist in the '80s, by first releasing the hit "Let's Stay Together" followed by the massive album "Private Dancer" ... which included tracks like "What's Love Got to Do" and "I Can't Stand The Rain."

Tina won 8 Grammy Awards over the course of her career, including Record of the Year for "What's Love Got to Do with It."

Tina Turner fans screamed their faces off as she left the new musical 'bout her life ... which Whoopi Goldberg touts as simply the best damn thing on Broadway. 11/7/2019
LAST TIME WE SAW HER ...
TMZ.com

It was back in 2019 when a Broadway Musical honoring her life debuted with Tina in attendance ... of course, her fans went wild as she left the venue with a gigantic smile on her face.

RIP

We discussed Tina Turner's legacy in a recent episode of the Last Days Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Tina Turner LeBron, Magic, Emmitt Pay Tribute ... After Singer's Death

Tina Turner's death sent shockwaves throughout the sports world ... with several legendary athletes paying tribute to the iconic singer.

Magic Johnson shared a few words shortly after the news broke ... praising her as a performer and sharing a throwback picture together.

"Rest in peace to one of my favorite artists of all time, the legendary queen of rock n' roll Tina Turner," Johnson tweeted. "I’ve seen her many many times and hands down, she gave one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. She always gave you your moneys worth."

LeBron James and Lisa Leslie also mourned Turner's passing ... with Leslie calling her "a true icon." James added ... "Rest in Paradise Queen Tina!!!!"

Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith also paid homage to Turner ... sharing a snap of her with a pair of heart and prayer hands emojis.

WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair acknowledged Tina's legacy ... posting a picture of the legendary musician with the caption, "RIP."

Another WWE great, The Iron Sheik, shared his condolences, too ... writing, "Tina Turner I love you with all my heart. The song The Best is true for you. God bless you forever I love you."

Turner was 83 years old. RIP.

Offset Not Related To Quavo, Takeoff

For years, fans believed all 3 members of the Migos rap group were related, but Offset is laying out the truth ... saying he's not related to Quavo and Takeoff at all.

Offset recently sat down for a new interview with Variety, where he confirmed Quavo is in fact Takeoff's uncle ... but the long-believed notion Offset was Quavo's cousin just isn't true.

Still, Offset's got a strong bond with Quavo and Takeoff ... Offset was a classmate of Quavo's when they were growing up in Georgia, with Offset hanging out with Quavo and Takeoff when Offset was in the sixth grade. They all became thick as thieves and ultimately formed Migos.

In the Variety interview, Offset gushes about his last collab with Takeoff and his new back tattoo honoring his late bandmate, but he gets emotional when asked about Takeoff's shooting death and shuts down.

The Beatles' Former Bassist Chas Newby Dead At 81

The former bassist for The Beatles -- yes there was someone other than Paul McCartney -- has died.

Chas Newby died Tuesday in London. Most people don't know his contribution to the most famous band in the world, so here it goes.

In the early '60s, The Beatles started making a name for themselves in Hamburg, Germany,  and upon their return from their second Hamburg residency, they regularly played at The Cavern Club in Liverpool.

At the time, the group consisted of John Lennon, Paul, Pete Best on drums and Stuart Sutcliffe on bass guitar. Sutcliffe stayed in Hamburg to focus on his art career, so the band needed a bassist.

Enter Chas Newby, who played with John and Paul's prior group, The Quarrymen. The guys asked Chas to step in, and he obliged. This was a critical time in The Beatles' upward trajectory ... they were becoming a thing in both Germany and Liverpool, which ultimately got them a recording contract, and the rest is history.

Chas had other interests -- namely, he wanted to attend university majoring in chemistry -- so he left the band, When he graduated, he took a job at a company that made windshields for trains and airplanes.

For Beatles aficionados who are wondering why they needed a bass player when Paul played bass, at the time Paul played rhythm guitar and piano and after some cajoling when Chas left, he grudgingly played it, and played it brilliantly.

As for Chas, he said he had no regrets about leaving the famous group ... "Music was never going to be a living for me. I wanted to do chemistry," adding, "People sometimes don't believe me when I say I've no regrets, but I really haven't."

Chas was 81.

RIP

Tom Sandoval & Ariana Madix Late Friend Ali Found Collapsed in Parents' House

Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix's late friend, Ali Rafiq, collapsed in his parents' house before he was eventually found dead ... TMZ has learned.

Ali's sister, Rabia Rafiq, tells us her mother found Ali on the floor of their St. Louis home Friday afternoon, and she says it appears he had fallen and hit his head on a table.

We're told Ali was found dead on the floor around 4 PM Friday ... about 3 hours after they believe he passed. He had called his father from the house about 4 hours earlier.

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Ali's sister says her brother had no known illnesses, other than asthma ... and the family didn't believe that was ever a serious issue for him. We're told there were no signs of foul play, and no indicators as to why he collapsed.

Ali was a big foodie who loved to post pictures of his meals, but his sister says he was not overweight or unhealthy.

The Rafiqs are Muslim and Ali's sister says their religion calls for bodies to be buried ASAP ... so the family buried Ali on Saturday, right after his body was released to the family.

Because Ali died Friday and was buried the next day, we're told Tom did not have a chance to fly out to St. Louis in time for the burial. We're told Tom got to his hometown Sunday and has been spending time with Ali's parents, and visiting the gravesite to say goodbye to his friend.

Ali's sister says Tom's parents attended Saturday's funeral and FaceTimed with Tom so he could feel like he was there ... and Ariana sent flowers.

As we reported ... Ariana looked somber Saturday when she got back into town from her trip to NYC, paying tribute to Ali with a social media post. Tom also shared a remembrance post.

Ali's sister says his death certificate cites "organ failure" as the cause of death, but the family is waiting for toxicology reports to learn what really happened.

We're told Ali's friends are planning a celebration of life in St. Louis, and possibly another memorial in Los Angeles.

Johnny Depp Honors Jeff Beck Onstage with Guitar Icons

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REMEMBERING JEFF BECK
SplashNews.com

Johnny Depp didn't leave London without paying tribute to his longtime pal and late guitarist, Jeff Beck ... performing on the same stage they did a year ago, all in his honor.

Johnny hit the stage Monday night at the Royal Albert Hall for a tribute concert for Beck, who died earlier this year. Depp was in the company of some rock legends for the show ... including Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Billy Gibbons, Joss Stone, Kirk Hammett and more.

The icon-heavy concert comes on the heels of some other big moments for Depp -- he was just celebrated at the Cannes Film Festival for his movie, "Jeanne du Barry" ... and he inked a $20 mil deal with Dior.

He was in rock star mode, though, in London ... rocking a pair of shades, a beret and a jacket with a photo of Beck on the back.

As we reported, Beck died at the age of 78 in January after contracting bacterial meningitis.

The show is the first of 2 tribute concerts, announced by Beck's wife Sandra and Eric Clapton back in March.

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JOHNNY AND JEFF JAM OUT
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And, JD's performance was especially significant. Remember, Johnny and Jeff actually performed together at the exact same venue in May of last year.

You'll recall, they were touring together following Johnny's defamation trial against Amber Heard. In fact, Johnny wasn't in court for the verdict because he had a gig.

Beck and Depp were pals who worked together in the studio several times -- they once recorded a cover of John Lennon's "Isolation," and released a whole album last year.

Guardians' Will Brennan Kills Bird With Base Hit During Game ... 'Sorry, PETA'

It's a REALLY bad time to be a bird at an MLB ballpark these days ... because for the second time in less than a week, one was killed in the field of play.

The latest fowl situation happened during the second inning of the Guardians' game against the White Sox in Cleveland on Monday night ... when Will Brennan was up at the plate.

You can see in video of his at-bat ... after he cracked a ball to the left side of the infield, the baseball accidentally landed right on top of a bird -- before it skidded into the outfield for a base hit.

Sadly, the bird died from the impact ... and it didn't take long for players around the diamond to realize what had just happened.

Check out the broadcast footage -- all of the guys had stunned looks on their faces ... as a member of Cleveland's grounds crew came out to scoop up the dead bird with a shovel.

Once the infield was cleared of the carcass, the game resumed ... and Cleveland ended up winning, 3-0.

But, Brennan's victory celebration was muted ... 'cause afterward, he took to Twitter to apologize for the play.

"I truly am sorry @peta and bird enthusiasts," the outfielder wrote. "An unfortunate sacrifice."

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BASHED BIRD
Courtesy of MLB

Unfortunately, this was the second time in five days that a bird lost its life on the field ... you'll recall, Arizona Diamondbacks star Zac Gallen killed one with a warmup pitch in Oakland on May 17.

RIP, winged friends.

Ray Stevenson 'Star Wars,' 'Thor' Actor Dead At 58

Ray Stevenson, known for his work in 'Thor' and the "Star Wars" franchise, has died.

Ray's publicist confirms the news to TMZ, telling us he died Sunday -- they say they have no further details surrounding his death at this time.

Ray first broke into the world of acting in 1993, appearing in various episodes of TV before landing a role in the 1998 flick, "The Theory of Flight" ... where he played a gigolo tasked with helping Helena Bonham Carter's character lose her virginity.

He went on to appear in a bunch of projects like "The Book of Eli," "Rome," "The Other Guys," and "Kill the Irishman" -- all before landing the role of Volstagg in Marvel's "Thor" in 2011, returning to the series in 2 sequels as the years went on.

"Star Wars" fans remember Ray lending his voice to the character Gar Saxon -- appearing in "Rebels" & "The Clone Wars." He's also playing a separate character in the upcoming "Ahsoka" series, premiering later this year.

Apart from that, Ray's been featured in "Divergent," 9 episodes of "Dexter," "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," "Black Sails," and "Crossing Lines." He also played Scott Buxton in the recent Indian hit, "RRR."

Ray was 58.

RIP

Jaden Hullaby UNM Tight End ... Dead At 21

Univ. of New Mexico tight end Jaden Hullaby, who started his collegiate football career at the Univ. of Texas, has tragically died at just 21 years old.

Hullaby's family said in a statement on social media on Sunday that they had feared for his safety ... after they hadn't been able to make contact with him since last Thursday. He was last seen on a freeway in Dallas, the family said.

In an update on Monday -- Hullaby's brother, Landon, announced the UNM athlete had sadly passed away.

"Forever living through you big brudda," Landon wrote. "I love you so much and I got you and the family forever I swear get your rest King 🕊💔 LLJAY"

No other details surrounding his death have been revealed.

UNM said in a statement following the news that it was praying for "Jaden’s family and all who knew him." UT head coach Steve Sarkisian added in a statement of his own that he and the Longhorns were heartbroken as well.

"He was a great person and someone we all enjoyed being around, coaching and spending time with," Sarkisian said. "All of our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates, and we want to send our deepest condolences to them in such a difficult time."

Hullaby was a touted running back prospect in the Longhorns' 2020 class who switched to linebacker when he got to the Austin campus. He played in just two games in his two seasons for the school ... before he transferred to UNM prior to the 2022 season.

In his one year with the Lobos, he played tight end, and piled up 44 receiving yards and 59 rushing yards in eight games.

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R.I.P.

Bryan Kohberger Not Guilty Plea Entered In Idaho Student Murders

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PLEADING INNOCENCE
Court TV

Bryan Kohberger has officially pled not guilty in his quadruple murder case in which he’s accused of killing 4 University of Idaho students last year ... a plea that was entered by default as he chose to "stand silent" to the murder charges.

Kohberger was in court Monday morning in an Idaho courtroom where he was arraigned on 4 counts of first-degree murder.

Kohberger answered "yes" to the judge as he read statements about rights and identity, but when it came time to officially enter a plea, Kohberger's attorney said they'd "stand silent" -- so the judge entered a default "not guilty" plea.

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HEARING THE CHARGES

Last week, a grand jury indicted Kohberger for the murders as well as 1 count of burglary. If convicted, he could face the death penalty ... although, prosecutors have not announced whether they will be seeking it.

After his arrest, the judge ordered Kohberger held without bail ahead of his trial.

As we've reported, Kohberger's being accused of sneaking into the off-campus home of the University of Idaho students ... and killing Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle.

A search for the killer went on for weeks before Kohberger was eventually arrested in December at his parents' home near Scranton, PA. Police had asked the public to be on the lookout for a white Hyundai Elantra that belonged to him.

Investigators later revealed they were hot on Kohberger's tail for several weeks, saying they had a description of him from one of the surviving victims -- not to mention cell phone records that showed him on the move the night of the killings.

They also say they found some of his DNA on a leather sheath found at the crime scene.

According to a search warrant, Kohberger had knives, a gun, masks, and gloves in his family's Pennsylvania home when the FBI searched the place. Authorities also say they found another knife and a shovel in his car.

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OFF WITH A WARNING

Recently released body cam footage showed Kohberger talking his way out of a ticket just 1 month before the murders. What makes the video eerie is ... police believe he was already targeting the students at that time.

Paris Hilton Chihuahua Dies at 23 Years Old '... She filled my life with so much love'

Paris Hilton is sharing some sad news ... her Chihuahua, Harajuku Bitch, has died.

The reality star/entrepreneur revealed the loss Monday morning, saying ... "Today, my heart breaks as I say goodbye to my precious chihuahua, Harajuku Bitch.💔🐶"

Harajuku got a pretty complete eulogy, as Paris added, "For an incredible 23 years, she filled my life with so much love, loyalty, and unforgettable moments.🥰 She lived a long, beautiful and iconic life, surrounded by love until her final peaceful slumber."

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Paris says HB was "more than just a pet; she was family to me, a loyal friend who was always by my side through every twist and turn life brought my way."

She ended her post by thanking HB for blessing her life with unconditional love -- "You will forever be my little angel, forever missed, and forever loved. 😇 You may be physically gone, but the imprint of your pawprints on my life will never fade.🐾"

It's been a tough year for Paris as a dog mama.

You'll recall, her dog Diamond Baby went missing last year ... and still has not been found, despite PH offering a "big reward" for her return.

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FIND MY BABY!
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The last time we talked to Paris she was still hopeful she'd be reunited with DB, but she was clearly heartbroken and devastated over the whole thing.

Nirvana's Kurt Cobain Guitar Fetches Eye-Popping Amount ... 10x Estimated Cost!!

Kurt Cobain smashed his Fender Stratocaster back in the '90s, but the move only jacked up the price of the guitar ... going for a whopping 10 times the estimated amount at auction.

The late Nirvana frontman destroyed the electric guitar while recording the group's iconic 1991 album, "Nevermind," but the pieces were put back together and sold at Julien's Auctions this weekend in NYC.

The instrument was supposed to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000, but, as it turned out, it went for an earth-shattering $595,900. It was signed by Cobain and the other two band members, drummer Dave Grohl and bassist Krist Novoselic.

According to Julien's, Cobain gifted the guitar to Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan (also deceased) while Nirvana was touring in '92 ... but it's not clear who made the purchase at auction.

Cobain fatally shot himself at his Seattle home in 1994. He was only 27 and at the height of his career and influence in music, having created the so-called grunge movement with some other bands.