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The WWE is hitting Maroon 5 with a metaphorical steel chair -- slamming the band's Super Bowl halftime show as trash, in an effort to get fans to watch the WWE's halftime event instead.

Vince McMahon's company unleashed the hit piece Sunday night during the Royal Rumble -- asking fans why the hell they would watch Maroon 5 while they could be watching 6-man tag team match.

WWE even showed a picture of Adam Levine and added booing sound effects to really drive home the point.

It's all to promote WWE's new 'Halftime Heat' show -- featuring wrestlers like Aleister Black, Velveteen Dream and more. It'll air live on WWE Network and various social media platforms as counter-halftime programming.

Yeah, it's a cheap shot at the NFL and Maroon 5 ... but it's funny.

This is NOT what they mean by turn the other cheek -- but a New Zealand-born singer couldn't pass on getting Harry Styles all over her face.

Singer Kelsy Karter carved out some serious real estate on her cheek for an in-your-face tattoo of the former One Direction singer's pretty mug. The 26-year-old called it a birthday gift for Harry, who turns 25 on Friday. Thing is ... it's unclear if she actually knows Harry but one thing's for damn sure -- she's hell-bent on working with him.

The New Zealand singer -- who has dubbed herself the musical female version of Harry -- once reportedly said, "Mark my words: I'm getting a song on his album."

She's so obsessed with Harry, her first post on IG is a video of him performing onstage ... and she just released a song entitled, "Harry."

Kelsy got the ink work done in L.A. over the weekend and posted the results with the caption, "Mama, look what I made me do." An L.A. artist named Romeo Lacoste did the honors, but c'mon ... Harry's better looking than that!

Trippie Redd's striking a very sweet plea deal in his arrest for attacking a fellow rapper in Atlanta ... no jail time, and less than a year of probation ... TMZ has learned

Trippie entered a no contest plea to disorderly conduct and got 3 other charges dropped -- simple battery, fighting in public and criminal trespass ... never happened. He gets 6 months probation and has to pay $2,425 in restitution to the victim.

TMZ broke the story ... Trippie and his pal, Lil Wop, got busted last May for allegedly putting a beatdown on an ATL rapper named FDM Grady. FDM claimed the whole fight started because they dissed his GF.

International Paralympic Committee says Malaysia will NOT be allowed to host an important Paralympic event ... all because the country is refusing to allow athletes from Israel to compete.

Malaysia was scheduled to host the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships -- a qualifying event for the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. It's a big deal.

The Paralympics is an international competition for athletes with physical disabilities -- and operates with the International Olympic Committee.

Malaysia has deemed Israel a "criminal nation" -- claiming the country is mistreating Palestinians.

IPC president Andrew Parsons says the Israel ban is unacceptable -- and has moved to relocate the July 29-Aug. 4 event to another country.

"When a host country excludes athletes from a particular nation, for political reasons, then we have absolutely no alternative but to look for a new championships host," Parsons said.

"All World Championships must be open to all eligible athletes and nations to compete safely and free from discrimination."

Despite the move, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is doubling down on his country's anti-Israel policy.

“We stand by our principle, which is that Israel is a criminal nation," Mohamad told the Associated Press.

"It has been breaking international law without anybody saying anything. We have a right to voice our feelings and to have our own policies.”

The 25th SAG Awards is in full swing, and if you take a peek behind the scenes ... you'll see everyone was dressed to the nines and beyond for this thing.

Tons of actors were on hand Sunday for the award show honoring folks in the SAG-AFTRA union, and nobody skimped on the swank -- including Michael B. Jordan (who wore a colorful Louis Vuitton harness over his tux), Lady Gaga who dazzled in a white gown, Viggo Mortensen who killed it with maroon ... and lots and lots of other stars who brought out their best outfits.

Some other standouts ... Chris Pine in the classic all-white tux, Sandra Oh who donned a gorgeous red gown, Darren Criss who sizzled in silver and, frankly, the entire "Black Panther" cast ... who looked absolutely incredible together in the front row.

Michael Jackson's family is destroying the media and "vulture tweeters" who buy into the molestation claims put forward in "Leaving Neverland" -- a documentary they consider a "public lynching."

The family says "We are furious that the media, who without a shred of proof or single piece of physical evidence, chose to believe the word of two admitted liars over the word of hundreds of families and friends around the world who spent time with Michael, many at Neverland, and experienced his kindness and global generosity."

In the statement, the family never mentions the men featured in the documentary -- Wade Robson and James Safechuck -- by name, but only refers to them as "the two perjurers." That echoes statements from Jackson's estate which dismissed Robson and Safechuck as "admitted liars."

The family points out Michael's home was raided by cops, and when he went on trial he was "found to be COMPLETELY INNOCENT."

They add ... the documentary is not journalism because the filmmakers had an agenda and "were not interested in the truth."

Lolo Jones and Tamar Braxton came thiiis close to throwing hands in the "Celebrity Big Brother" house ... after the Olympian called Tamar a "bitch" during a heated confrontation.

Tensions had been building between the two houseguests for days -- but things finally "popped off" Saturday morning when an argument exploded into real smack talk ... and threats of physical violence.

Tamar -- wearing a weird "Back to the Future" mask -- did NOT back down from Lolo ... telling her, "I am from Baltimore. You do not want that problem."

When Tamar got into Lolo's face, Jones flexed on Tamar and said, "I'm right here."

In a moment captured on the 'Big Brother' live feed -- you can see Tamar saying, "The next time somebody calls me a bitch, I'm just gonna' start yankin'."

Lolo hears the threat and responds, "Then do it."

Tamar replied, "Then say it."

The good news -- the women didn't ever come to blows ... but they're both still in the "Big Brother" house.

Question is ... who wins if they REALLY do fight?? The world-class Olympic athlete or the battle-tested Baltimore brawler??

Mark Consuelos has mastered the double life ... living it up on vacay with his wife AND mistress.

The "Riverdale" star is down in Mexico with his wife, Kelly Ripa, who will costar alongside him later this week on the hit CW show when she plays his TV mistress, Mrs. Mulwray. It's a role Kelly said she's excited about because it was "23 years of auditioning for a role I was born to play."

Know what other roles they were born to play? Making all of us jelly of their ridiculously hard bods ... in matching white swimwear, no less.

Ray J is already making a bunch of cash after selling off his Scoot-E-Bike brand ... stocks for his new venture soared 300% in just two days.

TMZ broke the story, Ray signed a 7-figure deal Wednesday to turn Scoot-E-Bike over to Canadian company LOOPShare. Our sources say as part of the contract, Ray got close to 19 million LOOPShare shares, and will remain as a consultant to help the biz grow.

It didn't take long for Ray's touch to start making a difference -- LOOPShare stock opened at $.05 Wednesday and closed at $.16 Friday -- a 300% growth ... and some serious dough in Ray's pocket.

As we reported, LOOPShare and Scoot-E-Bike will aim to take down ride share giants like Bird Scooters with a plan to supply users with 3 types of scooters to get around town.

We're told Ray has turned down a ton of TV gigs over the last year to focus on his future as a businessman.

"The Sopranos" prequel movie's on the way, and fans are stoked James Gandolfini's son will play a young Tony ... but perhaps none more than the show's very own "Big Pussy."

We got actor Vincent Pastore, who played Salvatore Bonpensiero on the series, leaving Papa John's Deli in the Bronx ... and he's over the moon about 19-year-old Michael Gandolfini landing the role his dad made famous in the upcoming film, "The Many Saints of Newark."

Vincent tells us the casting choice is beautiful, and his old pal Jimmy is looking down from heaven and smiling. He points out this isn't a case of Hollywood nepotism ... "little Michael" won the role after an extensive interview process.

Pussy says the timing of the news is perfect too, with 'Sopranos' recently celebrating its 20th anniversary. He's still close with his former castmates and tells us they just got together for a reunion ... and he's clearly happy to add Michael to the family.

As for who might play "Little Pussy" in the prequel, Pastore has a couple ideas. They might not be up for the challenge, though.

Remember when a bunch of jerks burglarized Rob Gronkowski's home while he was playing in the Super Bowl last season??

His big bro says there's no way in hell that happens again next week ... 'cause Chris Gronkowski tells TMZ Sports the Pats superstar has beefed up his home security system!!!

Actually ... Chris says the reason Rob's Boston-area pad was broken into last year was because some of Gronk's roommates forgot to set the alarm.

But, Chris tells us that mistake won't happen again ... and even if it does -- Gronk's beefed up his security with a brand-new camera system.

"That place will be on lockdown for sure now."

FYI ... the 3 guys who broke into Rob's place last season and stole an Apple Watch, a Rolex, 2 rare coins and multiple firearms -- were all caught and arrested.

Now, Chris is warning the same thing will happen to anybody who tries it again, saying, "They're definitely going to get caught."

We also asked Chris about his Ice Shaker business -- the one A-Rod and Mark Cuban have famously invested in -- and ya gotta hear why he's banking on J. Lo to give the company a huge boost!!

Fetty Wap's baby mama was beaten and left with a busted-up car after a massive brawl, but the reason she got arrested was her potty mouth.

According to the police report ... cops talked to Lezhae Lowder last week after they were called to a New Jersey White Castle over a vicious fight. They say when they showed up there was no fighting but noticed there had been a car accident ... and Lezhae said the whip was hers.

Cops claim she became irate while they were investigating and began yelling vulgarities. She allegedly told one of the officers ... "Suck my f***ing d***."

At that point, she was placed in cuffs and arrested for disorderly conduct/improper behavior.

We broke the story ... the melee was caught on video, and appears to show a group of people attacking Fetty's BM and her friends. Lezhae's seen on the ground covering herself at one point, before someone floors it in her vehicle and crashes into the fast food joint.

The violence erupts again after that, as the crowd rushes the car and smashes it to hell.

The fighting allegedly stemmed from a tiff earlier in the night at a bar ... between Lezhae and Fetty's other baby mama, Alexis Skyy.

Erykah Badu and Taraji P. Henson were way out of line with their initial public reactions to the R. Kelly scandal ... so says one of the first celebs to speak out on R. Kelly's alleged abuse.

Sparkle, who collabed with R. Kelly on her 1998 hit song, "Be Careful," has major issues with the way Erykah and Taraji initially seemed to come to R. Kelly's defense ... because Sparkle says weak responses like theirs prevent other victims from coming forward.

Sparkle, who is featured in "Surviving R. Kelly," says the black community needs to show R. Kelly some tough love ... NOT the unconditional love Erykah offered.

As for Taraji comparing the number of people using the #MuteRKelly hashtag with the number of people using similar hashtags for Harvey Weinstein ... Sparkle says the comparison is stupid because abusers are abusers. Period.

6:20 PM PT -- Lang's lawyer, Glen T. Jonas, tells TMZ, "The 'male' that called 911 was absolutely not Adam Perry Lang. Mr. Lang will be cleared of any wrongdoing. He was fast asleep with his ringer off. He immediately cooperated once he was notified of the commotion."

3:15 PM PT -- We've learned Lang was booked on making felony criminal threats and his bail was set at $50,000. Now this is interesting ... according to the cops, when they arrived at the house they tried for "several hours" to make contact with Lang. When they finally did, a police official tells us the crisis team "made telephone contact with the male who ultimately agreed to exit the residence." The word "ultimately" could be telling ... it makes it sound like Lang was not immediately willing to exit.

2:30 PM PT -- Hermosa Beach police just told us they are not calling this a swatting situation. One officer said, "There is a reason we arrested him [Lang]. There is evidence detectives are now processing." This is in contrast to what we were told by Jimmy's people. A rep for Jimmy tells us Kimmel was told specifically by a lieutenant they believed it was a case of swatting.

A beach house owned by Jimmy Kimmel was the scene of a massive police presence Saturday just before midnight ... in what may be a swatting situation ... TMZ has learned.

Eyewitnesses tell us a slew of cops swarmed Kimmel's Hermosa Beach home -- a house that is not his primary residence. We're told Jimmy and his family were not there. A friend of his -- Adam Perry Lang -- was staying at the house and sleeping. Lang is a chef and best selling author.

Police helicopters were flying above, and there was also at least one police-operated drone. We're told houses adjacent to Kimmel's corner lot were evacuated as a precaution. Cops tell us they were there for 8 hours before they were able to establish contact with Lang.

TMZ has obtained dispatch audio of cops explaining ... a male called 911 saying he had two explosives in the home and he'd assaulted his girlfriend with a rifle.

We've learned one person was taken into custody -- Lang, who apparently woke up, walked outside and was escorted to a police car without incident.

Jimmy went to the Hermosa Beach Police Department Sunday at around noon and bailed his friend out. We're told cops have not yet formally cleared Lang.

Cops found no explosives, weapons or any evidence of a shooting inside the house.

Tom Brokaw is offering a half-ass apology for going on national TV and expressing some pretty xenophobic thoughts on the Hispanic community.

The iconic news anchor was on "Meet the Press" Sunday with a group of panelists, who were discussing what it would take to unite the country at this point. The convo weirdly went from the U.S. standing up to Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro to Brokaw offering his take on how the GOP is grappling with a rising Latinx electorate.

Brokaw said one of the issues that's affecting the GOP these days -- according to people who confide in him, apparently -- is that they're worried the U.S. is becoming flooded with Hispanic voters, who by and large register as Democrats.

Then the xenophobia ... Brokaw said conservative folks have expressed fear of having "brown grandbabies" due to interracial couples. He piggybacked on that sentiment with his own two cents ... saying the Hispanic community should "work harder" at assimilating in this country -- namely, by speaking English and making everyone else comfortable.

The backlash was swift on social media ... and Tom followed up later Sunday by saying he felt terrible if part of his comments offended anyone in "that proud culture," adding that he's worked hard to knock down false stereotypes over the course of his career.

He finished by reiterating his point about both sides needing to work to find common ground -- but a lot of people took his statement as a de facto non-apology.