RIP

Taylor Swift seemingly went out of her way to give 2 young victims of the Southport stabbing an "Enchanted" evening ... taking time away from her "Eras" tour to meet with them.

The pop star and her mother, Andrea Swift, appeared to have a meet and greet with the young victims while in London for her 5 sold-out nights at Wembley Stadium.

Both Taylor and her mother scooped the young girls up in hugs, and posed for several photos backstage ... where one fan notably had a bandage on her arm with the singer's lyric, "You drew stars around my scars," written on top.

Phil Donahue, the longtime host of "The Phil Donahue Show," has died ... his family confirmed.

The media personality's death was announced on the "Today" show early Monday morning, where a statement was shared from Donahue's loved ones -- including wife of over 40 years, Marlo Thomas -- who were by his side when he passed away Sunday evening following a long illness. No further details were shared into his cause of death.

Donahue, who hosted his eponymous talk show for 29 years, was known as a trailblazing TV journalist ... as he pioneered the daytime TV format we now know.

Johnny Wactor’s coworker -- who was with him the night he was murdered -- is overcome with emotion about his alleged killers getting arrested, but says the actor's family won’t find peace until the suspects receive the maximum punishment.

Anita Joy told TMZ she felt a mix of joy and relief knowing 3 people have been arrested and booked on murder charges -- but adds, the real justice will be seeing these guys get serious convictions.

Johnny's friend says she’s feeling optimistic about that happening, because all the suspects have been held on high bail amounts. She was initially worried the suspects would not be tried as adults -- based on what she saw the night of the murder, she thought they were possibly underage.

John Aprea, one of the stars of "The Godfather Part II" and "Full House," is dead of natural causes ... TMZ has learned.

His manager Will Levine tells us ... the actor passed away on August 7, at his home in Los Angeles, with family members by his side.

John called his role as young Salvatore Tessio his greatest career achievement. He had originally auditioned to be Michael Corleone in the OG 'Godfather,' which of course went to Al Pacino. But, Francis Ford Coppola called back Aprea for the 1974 sequel.

The two physicians charged in connection with Matthew Perry's death not only still have their medical licenses, but they can still -- SHOCKINGLY -- prescribe medication to any of their patients, TMZ has learned.

Last week, Dr. Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Plasencia were charged with illegally conspiring to supply ketamine to the late "Friends" star.

TMZ then broke the story ... the California State Medical Board launched an investigation into both doctors, but kept their medical licenses active without disciplining them.

YouTube star and British influencer Luke Goodwin is dead after battling a rare cancer.

Luke died peacefully at home on August 2, with his family by his side ... his wife, Beckey, announced in a YouTube video.

Known for his popular YouTube channel, "I Will Not Be Defeated," Luke was diagnosed in August 2022 with Stage 4 Leiomyosarcoma ... a rare type of cancer the Mayo Clinic says begins in smooth muscle tissue and then spreads into normal body tissue.

WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoa'i, the brother of Sika Anoa'i and uncle to current WWE Superstar Roman Reigns, has died at the age of 81.

Afa's daughter -- Vale Anoa'i -- confirmed the passing on her X account ... saying, "Today, all of our lives are irreparably changed. I love you so much, Dad. More than any words could ever express."

The news comes months after Sika passed away at the age of 79.

The woman who fatally shot Ajike Owens has just been found guilty of manslaughter.

A Florida jury found Susan Lorincz guilty of the crime just moments ago after a testy trial this week, where prosecutors argued Lorincz unjustifiably killed Ajike, who was unarmed.

You'll recall ... Lorincz fired through her closed front door. During the trial, Lorincz maintained that even though Owens was unarmed, she still feared for her life.

Perry Kurtz -- a comedian who appeared on "America's Got Talent" and "The Late Late Show with James Corden" and had ties to several comedy legends -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Perry was involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Tarzana, an L.A. neighborhood, after a collision around 11:20 PM Thursday ... when a gray Honda Civic struck and killed him. The Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced him dead at the scene.

Our law enforcement sources tell us cops have arrested a suspect on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing death.

BeatKing, a beloved Houston rapper and producer, has died ... and TMZ has learned what caused his death.

A rep for the rapper tells us ... BeatKing passed away in a Houston hospital Thursday after suffering a pulmonary embolism. We're told the rapper was doing a morning takeover at the Urban One/Radio One station, when he fainted and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

He passed away later that same day with his 2 daughters by his side.

Scott Bloomquist -- one of the greatest dirt track racers of all time -- has tragically passed away after his plane crashed near his home in Tennessee.

He was just 60 years old.

The incident happened on Friday at around 8 AM in Mooresburg, when Bloomquist was flying "his vintage airplane," according to Moberly Motorsports Park.

Jasveen Sangha, the alleged "Ketamine Queen" arrested in connection to Matthew Perry's death, is well-versed in the world of crime ... thanks to her obsession with the Mafia.

Before she was arrested for allegedly providing the "Friends" star with the ketamine that killed him last October, Jasveen was a Mafia superfan ... who created her own website paying tribute to the life of organized crime.

Check it out ... Jasveen describes her "love" of Mafia history in a bio on the site, where she explains her fascination kicked off after viewing films like "Scarface" and "The Godfather" at a young age.

Jack Russell, the former front man for the rock band Great White, is dead.

Jack died Thursday, surrounded by his family ... including wife Heather Ann and son Matthew Hucko, plus his cousins and some friends ... according to his band.

Russell family spokesperson K.L. Doty tells TMZ … Jack died as a result of Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy.

5:57 PM PT -- Jasveen Sangha, AKA "The Ketamine Queen," and Dr. Salvador Plasencia appeared in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty.

Sangha was jailed without bond and the judge set Dr. Plasencia's bond at $100,000. Her trial is set for October 8, while his is set for October 15.

4:07 PM PT -- A third person has copped a plea deal in the case ... Dr. Mark Chavez.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Chavez pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He was facing up to 10 years in prison.

Chavez admitted to selling ketamine to Dr. Plasencia ... and prosecutors claimed Chavez got the drugs by writing a fraudulent prescription in another patient's name.

10:35 AM PT -- Matthew Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and Erik Fleming, who prosecutors say helped broker the drug deals, already copped plea deals.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Iwamasa pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death and serious bodily injury.

Fleming, meanwhile, pled guilty to a pair of charges ... conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death and serious bodily injury.

Iwamasa was facing up to 15 years behind bars and Fleming was staring down up to 25 years in prison ... but in exchange for their plea agreements, prosecutors agreed to seek reduced sentences based on their acknowledgement of responsibility and cooperation with the investigation.

Matthew Perry's family is still grappling with his death ... but they're grateful to learn justice is being served after 5 people were arrested in connection to the actor's ketamine death.

The "Friends" star's loved ones -- including stepdad and "Dateline" correspondent Keith Morrison -- spoke out after U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada confirmed multiple people were booked for supplying MP with ketamine prior to his sudden passing in October 2023.

The family noted in a statement ... "We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew’s death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously. We look forward to justice taking its course."

"General Hospital" star Johnny Wactor's murder case has been solved, at least according to cops, because cops have served search warrants early Thursday and are in the process of making "multiple arrests" ... TMZ has learned.

LAPD has ID'd members of the Florencia 13 gang in connection with Johnny's murder outside Level 8 in downtown L.A., where he worked.

We're told fingerprints found at the scene helped crack the case.