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8:41 AM PT -- A rep for Versace tells TMZ the company strongly believes in equal opportunity as an employer and a retailer. They add ... "We do not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, national origin or any other characteristic protected by our civil rights laws." Versace denies the allegations in the suit.

Versace secretly alerts staffers when an African-American person enters the store ... according to an ex-employee who claims the company also dissed his fashion sense and then canned him.

The man worked in a Bay Area store, and in a lawsuit says a manager told him about a store code called "D410," which was used to casually let co-workers know a black person was present -- as in, we got a D410 in menswear.

BTW ... that's the code for all black shirts in Versace stores ... according to the suit.

The employee says he shocked the manager by responding, "You know that I'm African-American?"

He says after that revelation they refused to give him rest breaks, and fired him after just 2 weeks. In the suit, he says he was told he was canned because he hadn't "lived the luxury life."

Translation: you got no swag, son.

Jossie Ochoa is going for the gold just in time for awards season ... and her body paint pics are getting a lot of buzz.

The model and beauty vlogger went mostly nude for the hot photo shoot, with some artistically placed paint worthy of serious award consideration.

Gretchen Rossi may have to lawyer up somewhere else after she stiffed a law firm for hundreds of thousands of dollars ... according to a new lawsuit.

Brown & Charbonneau, LLP -- a SoCal business and family firm -- just filed suit against the ex-'Real Housewives of Orange County' star, claiming she left 'em hanging with an invoice of about $285,000 in late 2013 ... and then another for $16,000 a few months later.

Gretchen's camp tells us she hired B&C to work on a harassment case and plans to pay her unpaid balance once she collects in an unrelated legal matter. She chalks it up to a "misunderstanding."

Elton John says he's devastated by the death of his "beloved friend" George Michael -- saying, "I am in deep shock."

Elton -- who famously collaborated with George for the 1992 hit, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" -- posted a tribute to his longtime friend on Instagram.

"I am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend - the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans. @GeorgeMichael #RIP."

Jackie Evancho is defying what seems to be conventional entertainment wisdom -- that singing at Donald Trump's inauguration is career-threatening -- because she just shot to #1 on the charts.

We're told since the America's Got Talent runner-up has signed on to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" on January 20th, her weekly album sales quadrupled in digital downloads and in retailer as well. In fact her album, "Someday at Christmas," had to be restocked twice.

Jackie's album jumped to #1 on the Billboard Classical Albums chart.

#lastlaugh

The Kardashians brushed off a super rough fourth quarter and celebrated XMAS in high style, with the help of some famous, non-family folk.

The bash went down XMAS eve at Kris's Calabasas mansion. Kim and Kanye were front and center, along with all Kim's sisters, and Caitlyn ... but no Rob or Blac Chyna.

Among the celebs ... John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Tyga, L.A. Laker Jordan Clarkson and Big Sean.

John Legend, David Foster, El Debarge and Babyface all sang XMAS songs.

As we reported, no family XMAS card this year, but the party tradition rolls on.

Prez Obama continues his cost-cutting initiatives by sharing a cup of shaved ice with Malia.

POTUS/daughter shared the moment during their annual vacay in Hawaii. She's taking a year off before going to Harvard.

Doesn't matter how powerful you are ... shaved ice is delicious.

Conor McGregor cannot be mocked, and if you try he'll hunt you down ... which is exactly what happened Friday night to 2 Dublin dudes.

The guys were horse playing in the street, doing a rough imitation of Ireland's biggest export, when suddenly an SUV appeared, and guess who was in the passenger seat!??!!

A&E got betrayed and embarrassed by putting it out to the world none of the subjects in the KKK documentary got a penny ... when they actually did.

The network has pulled the plug on "Generation KKK," after producers fessed up on XMAS eve they slipped money to some KKK members to "facilitate access." In other words, they were paid.

A&E was clear to us a few days ago ... no one was paid because it's against network policies for documentaries and also network officials gave assurances to the Anti-Defamation League no one would like the pockets of the hate group.

Thing is ... the subjects of the documentary wanted to sell the idea they were not a hate group but rather a "hate preservation group."

The Kardashians have scaled a lot of things back this year -- and one especially long-standing, tradition got the ax -- the Kardashian Xmas card.

Sources close to the family say with everything that's gone on this year -- Kim's robbery, Khloe's finalized divorce, Kanye's breakdown, the issues with Rob and Chyna -- the holiday photo just wasn't in the cards.

We're told even without the drama, everyone's schedule has been crazy this holiday season, and finding time to get the entire family together would have proved to be next to impossible.

We asked Khloe about the card situation at LAX ... but she didn't want to talk about it.

Bah Humbug!

It's Mariah Carey's world these days -- and MAC is just living in it.

Our cosmetics sources say Mariah's new makeup line is all her doing ... right down to the product names and how they're marketed at MAC stores.

We're told she came up with what each shade of lipstick or mascara would be called, and settled with names like Dahhlinggg, MCizzle and So Dramatique.

She even created an instruction manual of sorts for everyone peddling her products at MAC stores.

For the record, we're told MAC was happy to oblige on every front ... because, well, Mariah gets what Mariah wants.

Young Thug and 21 Savage can't help themselves -- when beauties come twerking so does a bunch of cash!!

The rappers attended something called The Ultimate Twerk Off at Club Crucial in ATL ... where a bunch of chicks went hard in front of the rappers, and that prompted a bag of cash to make an appearance.

Check it out ... YT and 21 also spread the wealth to a bunch of clubgoers ... which for some odd reason were treated to what looks like an amateur boxing match.

All in all, Young Thug tossed around $20k and Savage unloaded $10k.

Here's Yasiel Puig proving that the turn up NEVER expires ... video of the Dodgers star cutting a rug with some sassy senior citizens in South Florida.

Puig popped into the Clinica Las Mercedes in Miami ... on what was apparently Move Your Body Day, and jumped into a pretty mean conga line with some of the folks there.

You gotta check out the vid ... some of the ladies seem to really be digging what Puig was puttin' down ... and did a serious shimmy on the slugger when they got the chance.

Catherine O'Hara's good looks are scream-worthy!

Here’s a 37-year-old version of the ‘Home Alone’ mom at Universal Studios back in 1991 (left) and 25 years later ... the Christmas classic at a holiday party in Los Angeles last week (right).

Kevin!

The question is ...

Columbus Short is locking up his spot on Santa's nice list by giving back to families of battered women ... despite being accused of domestic violence himself.

Columbus partnered with women's shelter Elizabeth House to hand out Christmas gifts to abused women and their families at the building itself and all throughout L.A.

We're told he collected over 300 gifts for a toy drive at Sayers Club ... and made the rounds at 4 homes, setting up a tree and delivering presents. He also pitched in $2,000 of his own money.

It's a nice gesture from Columbus, who's had violent run-ins, including an alleged assault on his ex-wife.

Happy Holidays!