TMZ Live

President Biden's lighting up the Internet with his fiery birthday cake poking fun at his age -- but that won't get him over the electoral hump with the young'ns ... so says a seasoned journo.

Technology reporter Taylor Lorenz -- who covers all things digital for the Washington Post -- weighed in on Joe getting a little cheeky this week to celebrate his 81st birthday ... with a jokey post that ended up fueling endless memes online.

Everybody, it seems, made cracks ... some were light-hearted, others were a little more serious -- but according to Taylor, none of it really helps the Prez in the long run for 2024.

As she put it on Tuesday's "TMZ Live," Biden and his staff are missing the mark on how to connect with Gen Z -- mistakenly thinking that viral content and memes alone will be enough to get a full base of potential voters to pull the lever for him come next November.

Lorenz says that's not gonna do it, unfortunately -- and that Joe needs to connect with young people on a more fundamental, serious level ... through policy that helps their lives.

There are a number of issues she thinks JB's out of touch with when it comes to this specific demographic -- everything from the economy to housing and healthcare ... and even the war between Israel and Hamas. On that topic, too, she says Joe's not reflecting their view.

Of course, there are also the Biden stumbles and fumbles that happen all too often -- including recently mixing up Britney Spears and Taylor Swift -- that Lorenz says aren't serving him well.

Bottom line ... TL thinks Joe's gotta sharpen up and engage 20-somethings with substance, if he wants to rely on their support at the polls ... 'cause right now, the gimmicks aren't cutting it.

News flash ... lab-grown diamonds are REAL diamonds and there's really no difference between man-made rocks and their natural counterparts ... according to a famous jeweler.

Jean Dousset, a descendant of Cartier founder Louis Francois Cartier, joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday and schooled us on lab-grown diamonds ... explaining why they are indeed a diamond in every sense of the way.

JD says even the most seasoned gemologists cannot tell the difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds ... and they're both graded on the same scales under the same rules and principles.

It's pretty interesting to consider ... seeing as there's controversy surrounding engagement rings these days. Based on what Jean's telling us here, it sounds like a man would be able to safely pass off a lab-grown diamond engagement ring as a natural one and the woman would never know.

Of course, Jean says most couples are shopping together for rings nowadays and he's not advocating for people to get engaged on a lie ... but the window of opportunity is definitely there.

Jean's got his own jewelry store in West Hollywood and this year he started selling only lab-grown diamonds. He's previously designed engagement rings for Paris Hilton, Eva Longoria and Amy Adams and says couples can get more bang for their buck with lab-grown diamonds.

Model Erica L. Carrington is getting a lot of heat for her runway walk at her designer pal's funeral, but says she doesn't regret doing it one bit ... claiming it's exactly what her late friend would've wanted.

Erica joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday to talk about her moment at the "Red Carpet Viewing" of her friend and fashion designer, Vernest Moore -- revealing the entire weekend celebration was planned out ahead of time, with early talks coming from Vernest himself.

She says her decision to strut her stuff to his open casket is exactly how Vernest would've wanted to be sent off ... and she says those in attendance were on board with it too.

Erica says she still gets emotional thinking about the loss of Vernest, saying she was with him in some of his final moments, and admits her nerves got the best of her before making her mark at his viewing.

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JFK's assassination 60 years ago this month was not the work of a lone gunman, and Rob Reiner & Soledad O'Brien are naming names.

Rob and Soledad joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday to talk about their new podcast, "Who Killed JFK?," which debuted Wednesday. They present a compelling case -- Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone back on November 22, 1963.

The "All in the Family" star and mega-producer has been obsessed with the assassination since he was 16, when Kennedy was shot, and he's been doing deep research ever since. Rob previewed his theories with us, clearly suggesting there were rogue government officials who plotted to get JFK.

Soledad and Rob agreed ... much of the distrust Americans feel toward their government emanated from the Kennedy assassination.

There are CIA connections to the plot to kill Kennedy, and even President Lyndon B. Johnson -- who succeeded Kennedy -- had a significant role in the coverup, according to Rob.

The fascination with the assassination has hardly subsided ... there's even an auction going on to sell a portion of the infamous picket fence behind the grassy knoll.

Montana Tucker says she doesn't feel safe as a Jewish person in America ... and she fears the hate towards Jewish people online is part of a larger problem.

The singer joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday and told us her popular TikTok posts are now cesspools for antisemitic comments ... and it's only getting worse.

Montana, who had family members die in the Holocaust, says people feel emboldened to spew hate against Jews ... not only on social media but also in real life.

For Montana, her singing and dancing content is now littered with hateful comments from antisemites telling her she deserves to die simply because she's Jewish ... and there are even a few Holocaust deniers.

Montana says the hate is really bad right now as a result of the Israel-Hamas war ... but she says it's been brewing for a while, first ratcheting up last year when she posted a docuseries about Auschwitz, where her family died in concentration camps.

Things are so bad for Jewish creators on TikTok, Montana tells us she and others don't feel safe ... and she's leading a group of celebs pressuring the platform to crack down on antisemitism.

Montana also says lots of people coming after her in the comments are supporting Hamas ... even though it's a terrorist organization known for its awful treatment of LGBTQ+ people and women.

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Matthew Perry wanted to leave a lasting legacy beyond his fame as Chandler Bing ... in the form of a foundation dedicated to helping folks suffering from substance abuse.

Sources close to the late actor tell TMZ ... in the months leading up to his death, Matthew was in the early stages of creating the foundation ... akin to what Betty Ford did with her Foundation near Palm Springs.

While Matthew died before he could turn his dream into reality, our sources say several people close to him want to pursue the foundation in his honor ... and they're planning to move forward and get it up and running.

Remember ... Matthew was open about his history with substance abuse -- it's a big topic in his book -- and by all accounts he was sober, using pickleball as an outlet to help with his recovery.

Matthew wanted his legacy to be helping people who are struggling with substance abuse, and not his starring role on "Friends." The foundation could have done the trick.

Morgan Fairchild is reflecting on her time working with Matthew Perry on the "Friends" set, where she played his character Chandler Bing's mother ... praising him as an "incredibly talented actor" who "always had stars in his eyes."

Morgan's the latest in a long list of industry figures who've had nothing but kind words for Matthew, and she joined us Monday on "TMZ Live" to share her memories of his talent ... telling us he had a rare, impromptu ability to hilariously tweak lines for his character. BING-O!

It was clear her memories from the set of the hit NBC sitcom were overwhelmingly of the super-friendly actor bringing boundless energy to set -- all while sporting a big smile on his face.

Morgan added, Matthew was very professional and consistent with his joyful attitude on set, even during the times he was dealing with personal demons, such as his highly publicized battle with substance abuse.

Of course, with "Friends" having been such a monster hit for Matthew, the veteran actress was also sure to jog everyone's memory on his other acting credentials to showcase his talents.

She also praised him for baring his soul and helping others through his memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir."

It certainly appeared as though Matthew had made another friend in Morgan.

As we first reported, the actor shockingly passed away Saturday just 2 hours after playing pickleball at Riviera Country Club near his home in Pacific Palisades.

Our sources have told us foul play is NOT suspected in Matthew's cause of death, and there were NO illicit drugs found at his home.

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TMZ is giving someone the incredible chance to live like a true high roller ... with a luxurious getaway package at Yaamava' Resort & Casino!

All you gotta do is watch "TMZ on TV" and "TMZ Live" weekdays to secure your chance to win big ... and spend 2 nights like a VIP at one of California's hottest destinations!

The lucky winner and a guest will get a domestic round-trip flight to Los Angeles or San Bernardino -- hitching a ride in a limousine from the airport to the resort.

From there, you'll get to indulge in sweet accommodations in a 2-bedroom luxury suite and get a pair of tickets to the show of your choice at the Yaamava' Theater, a state-of-the-art intimate performance center that hosts the biggest names in music.

Try your luck at the Yaamava' Resort & Casino with $1,000 of Free Play, and be one of the first to experience new spa treatments like the Gharieni symphonic massage at Serrano Spa with a $500 spa credit.

That's not all -- the winner will eat like royalty with a $500 food credit to The Pines Modern Steakhouse and an additional $300 food and beverage credit to be used at any of the 20+ restaurants and bars on the property.

You'll also get a $500 retail credit to scoop up some sweet souvenirs for your unforgettable trip!

Here's how to enter ... watch "TMZ on TV" and "TMZ Live" weekdays through Friday to get the word of the day and visit https://tmzsweepstakes.com/ or text the word to 55225. The more you enter the more chances you have to win. It's that easy!

Cheryl Hines says The White House can no longer avoid husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s need for Secret Service protection ... not in the wake of 2 scary incidents at their home.

The actress and comedian joined us on "TMZ Live" Friday and told us she had a front-row seat to the intruder who attempted to get inside their home, not once but twice.

Cheryl says she was on Instagram Live at the family's Brentwood estate Wednesday morning when she looked out the window and noticed a strange man in the yard, being apprehended by security.

For Cheryl, it was an alarming moment hitting way too close to home ... and we don't just mean the fact it happened at their home. There's another dimension to this -- the Kennedy's tragic family history.

Robert was only 9 years old when his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Dallas in 1963, and then just 5 years later his father, Robert F. Kennedy, was shot and killed in L.A. while running for President.

Cheryl says the home intruder underscores the need for RFK Jr. to have Secret Service protection and not just private security watching his back as he runs as an Independent in the 2024 Presidential Election.

She says they've tried to get President Joe Biden's Department of Homeland Security to authorize Secret Service protection for RFK Jr. but have been denied ... which she finds very puzzling.

DHS' explanation for rejecting the request, at that time, was RFK Jr. wasn't polling high enough -- at least 15 percent -- to warrant protection, but the most recent poll shows him pulling 19% in a 3-way race with Biden and Trump.

She's hoping Biden reconsiders and seems to think The White House may be denying RFK Jr. protection because of the very real chance he'll be a big factor in the outcome next year.

If that's the case, Cheryl says the White House can't ignore this latest incident ... which we first reported.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta made sure to design Facebook and Instagram so they are super hard to quit, and the result has been bad for society ... at least that's the allegation from Tennessee's Attorney General, and 41 other AGs.

Jonathan Skrmetti, the Volunteer State's top cop, joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live" to lay out why 41 states -- and Washington, DC -- are suing Facebook and Instagram's parent company for allegedly harming our nation's youth.

He says the social media apps are intentionally designed to take advantage of the way we're all wired -- making the platforms extremely addicting with features like infinite scrolling, reminders and notifications, just to name a few.

Skrmetti says Meta is fully aware the apps are hard to quit and bad for folks -- he says they cause sleep deprivation, anxiety, ADD, depression and potential suicide.

In his eyes, there's only so much parents can do to stop their kids from getting hooked on social media, and it's at a point now where the government needs to step in to make changes.

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TMZ is giving away the chance for you to visit Vegas like a true VIP, as part of our High Roller Sweepstakes ... spending 3 days at Palms Casino Resort like an A-lister!

All you gotta do is watch "TMZ on TV" and "TMZ Live" weekdays to be in the running to win -- with exclusive access to the #1 nightlife scene in the world.

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That's not all -- you'll get 24-hour butler service for 3 days and 2 nights in the Blush Suite at Palms Resort, which features VIP check-in, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a rose-gold beauty bar.

The grand prize winner will feel like a high roller with their own VIP table at Ghostbar on the 55th floor of Palms' Ivory Tower. You can also hang at the SOAK Pool with a one-day complimentary cabana.

The lucky winner gets to cash in on a ton of credits during their stay -- including $500 in Free Play at Palms Casino, $500 credit for world-class treatments at The Spa and Salon at Palms, and $500 retail credit to snag some souvenirs.

You'll even get 2 tickets to the show of your choice at the Pearl Theater, Vegas' leading venue for top bands, comedians, and more.

Here's how you enter ... watch "TMZ on TV" and "TMZ Live" weekdays through Friday to get the word of the day and visit https://tmzsweepstakes.com/ or text the word to 55225. The more you enter the more chances you have to win. It's that simple!

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Britney Spears and Wade Robson had a much deeper affair than what Britney claims in her memoir, so says Britney's former songwriting partner ... who tells us Justin Timberlake found a long breakup letter Britney wrote to Wade which blew the whole thing up.

Annet Artani -- who helped write "Everytime" with Britney in 2003 -- appeared on TMZ Live Friday ... and she dropped a bombshell.

While we know Britney confesses to cheating on JT in her "Woman in Me" memoir, saying she and Robson made out at a bar while she was still dating Justin ... Artani remembers things much differently.

The songwriter says things were much more serious with Britney and Wade than just a one-night makeout sesh. In fact, she claims Britney had written a 14-page breakup letter to Robson which she hid in her makeup bag.

As Annet says ... you don't write a lengthy letter to someone you only kissed.

Shockingly, Artani claims, Justin ended up finding the breakup letter before Britney could give it to Wade ... and Justin learned all about their affair, calling it quits with Britney a short time later.

Britney Spears y Wade Robson tuvieron un romance mucho más profundo de lo que Britney afirma en sus memorias, según dice su ex compositora, quien asegura que Justin Timberlake encontró una larga carta de ruptura de Britney a Wade que incendió las cosas.

Annet Artani, quien ayudó a escribir "Everytime" con Britney en 2003, apareció en TMZ Live este viernes y reveló la primicia.

Aunque sabemos que Britney confiesa haber engañado a Justin en sus memorias "Woman in Me", en donde cuenta que ella y Robson se besaron en un bar mientras todavía salía con Justin, Artani recuerda las cosas de manera muy diferente.

La compositora dice que las cosas fueron más serias que solo un par de besos. De hecho, dice que Britney habría escrito una carta de ruptura de 14 páginas a Robson que escondió en su bolso de maquillaje.

Como dice Annet, nadie escribe una larga carta a alguien que solo ha besado.

Sorprendentemente, Artani afirma que Justin terminó encontrando la carta antes de que Britney se la entregara a Wade. Se enteró de todo el romance y puso fin a su relación con ella poco tiempo después.