Harriet Tubman Bank Prez Stands by Debit Card Design 'We Are Unapologetically Black'

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UPDATE

1:45 PM PT -- OneUnited Bank prez and chief operating officer Teri Williams is doubling down and standing firm behind the Harriet Tubman debit card. She tells TMZ the bank is "unapologetically black." What's more ... Williams says the debit card design had been in the works since 2016.

UPDATE
One United Bank
ALL ABOUT LOVE

Harriet Tubman's image on a debit card would stir plenty of debate -- but Harriet Tubman doing the "Wakanda Forever" pose on that card is really pissing off a lot of people.

OneUnited Bank -- which says it's America's largest black-owned bank -- announced the limited edition card Thursday ... in honor of Black History Month. The image on the card shows Harriet making fists, with her arms crossed over her chest.

It's the pose that was popularized in the movie, "Black Panther" a couple years ago. Y'know ... the gesture of solidarity for all citizens of the fictional African nation of Wakanda.

Despite the fact OneUnited is black-owned, the bank got dragged online, almost immediately after announcing the card. Most of the hate ripped the bank for making a buck off Tubman's image and pandering to black customers.

There's just one problem with all the outrage -- Harriet's NOT shouting out King T'Challa on the card. Not according to OneUnited Bank ... which says the gesture is American Sign Language for love.

They ain't lying ... that is ASL for love, although that fact is probably lost on millions of Marvel movie fans. Of course, that doesn't address the "cashing in" criticism.

We got "Dear White People" actor Obba Babatunde to weigh in on the issue, and his take is interesting. He tells us it very much seems like good intentions, but in this day and age ... it's easy for the message to misconstrued.

Originally Published -- 7:15 AM PT

Jenelle Evans I'm Living With David Again ... And We Got A New Goat, Too

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UPDATE

1:54 PM PT -- E! says Jenelle told them she and David were not living together again, but we know they are ... and as we reported, she splits time between her place in Nashville and the former family home in North Carolina. The two continue to co-parent their daughter Ensley.

Jenelle Evans and David Eason are once again living under the same roof ... and they've got a new pet that doesn't bite.

Sources close to Jenelle and David tell TMZ ... they've been living together off and on for several weeks at their home in North Carolina, and while they're taking things slowly the second time around, things are going smoothly and their time apart is what they needed.

It's a big change, of course, for Jenelle ... this after David shot and killed the family dog, her children were taken away, she got canned from "Teen Mom" and on and on.

As you know, Jenelle even threatened divorce ... but it sounds like that's off the table now because North Carolina law says a couple must be separate and apart for one year before you can file. She's also dropped the restraining order against David.

Jenelle and David are also giving pet ownership another shot ... they both posted videos Wednesday of the same baby goat, and we're told the animal is living with them in NC.

The rekindled relationship is even crossing state lines.

As we first told you ... Jenelle and David were seen walking side by side with their daughter, Ensley, in Nashville in January, and just last week they were spotted again in the Music City at Jason Aldean's Kitchen + Rooftop Bar.

Our sources say Jenelle's been splitting her time between NC and Nashville, and David often comes to visit.

While Jenelle and David are working on repairing their relationship, we're told they're not looking to return to MTV in any capacity.

Timbaland I'm Gonna Drop Nearly 200 lbs. ... After Kicking Opioids!!!

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Timbaland's body is damn near unrecognizable from where he was a couple years ago -- and he's crediting his will power ... for keeping him in the gym, and off prescription pills.

Justin Timberlake's fave mega-producer was on "TMZ Live" Friday, rocking a muscle tee, no less, and showing off his brand new physique. Seriously ... the guy's looking ripped after losing more than 130 pounds.

Tim told us he knew he had to "hit the reset button" when he kept having dreams about how his body should look. He'd also gotten a pre-diabetes diagnosis from doctors ... not to mention his addiction to Oxycontin and Percocet.

He got hooked when the pills were prescribed following a root canal. After his experience, Tim says doctors gotta find a better way to help patients cope with pain.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

As for his weight loss goals? Tim says he's still pushing for another 30 to 40 pounds. As he put it, "I wanna be a better me."

Just watch ... it's a great dose of weekend motivation!

Celebrity Nutritionist Insane Double Murder 911 Call 'I Shot Them' In Self Defense!!!

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Robert Lindsey Duncan Cops on Scene
COPS AT THE SCENE

A celeb nutritionist who once appeared on "The Dr. Oz Show" and "The View" to hawk a weight loss product shot and killed his ex-wife and her husband ... according to the 911 call.

Robert Lindsey Duncan can be heard on the call -- obtained by TMZ -- telling the dispatcher 2 people tried to shoot him and his wife as they pulled into their driveway in Yellow Springs, Ohio ... but he shot them instead.

Duncan says ... "I shot them. They came up to our window and had a gun pointed at my wife’s head. The other one got out of the car, went over to the car -- they tried to shoot my wife."

He then says he shot both of them and "both are down." Duncan's wife reveals one of the victims is her husband's ex-wife and claims she's been "trying to kill us for years now."

Duncan tells the dispatcher he believes the man he shot is still alive, but the woman is dead.

According to law enforcement, who were heavy on the scene ... the alleged attack by Duncan's ex-wife, Cheryl Sanders, and her husband, Robert R. Sanders, may have been planned because the 2 arrived in separate vehicles and one of them had a counterfeit Ohio temporary tag.

Cops say Duncan and his wife were confronted by Robert with a gun as they arrived at their home and a shootout ensued ... because Duncan has a concealed carry permit and was also armed.

Duncan allegedly fired at Robert in self-defense and hit him, and around the same time ... Cheryl pulled up and pointed a gun at his wife, who was still sitting in the car. Duncan says he then shot and killed his ex.

Another wild note ... the Sheriff's office says Duncan reached out to them about 5 years ago claiming his ex-wife was trying to hire someone to murder him.

Duncan is known for his appearances on both "The Dr. Oz Show" and "The View" years ago to sell a product he claimed resulted in unbelievable weight loss. However, the FTC and Texas attorney general went after him ... claiming he was simply a marketer who couldn't make such medical claims.

Ultimately, the Genesis Today founder settled for $9 million in 2015 after being charged with deceiving the public.

President Obama Teams Up W/ Zion Williamson ... For All-Star Charity Event

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How's this for an All-Star squad ... Barack Obama, Zion Williamson, Trae Young, and Luka Doncic teamed up with volunteers to pack 500 kits full of school supplies and food.

44 and the NBA superstars linked up with over 400 volunteers on Friday in Chicago ... as part of the 13th NBA Cares All-Star Day Of Service.

The goal is to "empower under-resourced Chicago Public Schools' students to reach their highest potential" by providing food donations and school supplies to local Chi-town students and teachers.

Nike, SAP, and State Farm also contributed resources that made the event possible.

19-year-old Williamson was asked about working side-by-side with President Obama ... and it was clear even hoop icons get star struck.

“He said I was playing great. I kind of zoned out after that. That’s all I needed to hear, to be honest,” Zion said.

This isn't the first time Obama and Zion have been in the same building. Last year the former Prez was in the house at Cameron Indoor on Duke's campus when Williamson's Nike shoe blew out during the opening minutes of the Blue Devils vs. Tar Heels game.

But this time ... no one go hurt, but a whole lotta people were helped.

Jennifer Hudson Asking For Some Respect ... I'm Aretha Franklin

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What you want? Baby, Jennifer Hudson's got it ... especially if you're looking for someone to nail the role of Aretha Franklin!!!

Jennifer and Forest Whitaker were filming the upcoming biopic -- aptly titled "Respect" -- Friday in Manhattan's Washington Square Park. Props to the wardrobe and hair department too ... 'cause Jennifer's got the Queen of Soul down pat.

Forest is playing the role of Aretha's father, C.L. Franklin, a Baptist minister and civil rights activist also known as the man with the "Million-Dollar Voice."

As you know ... Jennifer was reportedly hand-picked for this role by Aretha before she died in 2018. Seeing the Oscar winner on set ... we gotta say, Franklin couldn't have chosen better.

We've already seen Jennifer as a young Aretha, kissing her onscreen husband, Marlon Wayans, in November ... and now we've got another look.

Bottom line ... Jennifer ain't gonna do you wrong when "Respect" hits theaters this summer.

Mya I Married Myself

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UPDATE

11:34 AM PT -- 2/14 -- Mya told us she'd reveal her wedding partner on Valentine's Day ... turns out it was herself! She just dropped a music video for "The Truth" where she plays the bride x2.

Mya's been holding a big secret for months ... we've learned she said "I Do" in a super-secret wedding down in Seychelles.

Sources close to the singer tell TMZ ... Mya walked down the aisle back in December in a very intimate ceremony on the island nation off the African coast. We obtained these pics of her on the beach in her gown ... looking absolutely stunning.

If the wedding seems like a shock to you, it is to us too. It's unclear who Mya's spouse is -- and she hasn't publicly dated anyone in years.

In the past, she's been linked to NFL stars DeSean Jackson and Larry Johnson, plus rappers Jay-Z and The Game. So, her partner's got big shoes to fill.

This was Mya's first walk down the aisle. As for the 40-year-old singer's mystery ball and chain? We've got a call in to her people.

We know this ... they had killer weather! Always a toss-up with beach weddings.

Congrats!!!

Originally Published -- 2/12 9:52 AM PT

Wendy's Kitchen Sink Bath Kids Fired ... Took 'Fresh' Slogan Way Too Far!!!

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A Michigan Wendy's employee is out of a job after "power" soaking in a kitchen sink full of suds ... and so are his coworkers who helped post video of the bath on TikTok.

Several workers of the Greenville Wendy's location have been canned  ... after a young male who, at the very least is shirtless, was bathing in the fast-food joint's sink while yukking it up with other employees.

He certainly looks "fresh, never frozen" ... but ya gotta think that's not what Wendy's corporate had in mind with the slogan.

According to the franchise owner of the location ... the restaurant has been cleaned and inspected since the video was posted on social media earlier this week and racked up tens of thousands of views.

The Wendy's store says ... "This egregious behavior is completely unacceptable and counter to our safety, training and operational standards. Upon learning of this situation, all employees in the video were terminated immediately and the restaurant has been completely sanitized. The health department visited the restaurant today and no violations were reported."

No word on how many times Dave Thomas spun in his grave.

Wendy Williams Apologizes to LGBTQ+ Community ... I Was Out of Touch!!!

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Wendy Williams is saying sorry for comments she made on her Thursday show, which were hurtful to the LGBTQ+ community ... and vows to do better.

The talk show host has been taking heat after she did a segment on Galentine's Day that turned controversial when she went off on gay men planning to celebrate the unofficial holiday ... because she felt it's a women-only occasion.

Wendy Williams Sub 2/13/20
NOT FOR YOU!!!

Wendy said, "I don’t care if you’re gay. You don’t get a [menstruation] every 28 days ... you can do a lot that we do, but I get offended by the idea that we go through something you will never go through."

That was contentious enough, but then she added ... "And stop wearing our skirts and our heels" and suggested women don't have anything for themselves anymore.

Wendy's taking it back now, saying she didn't realize how she came across until she re-watched herself ... but promises she didn't mean to cause any harm, and never does the show in a place of malice.

Williams says she was just trying to have a conversation, but she understands now she may have been "out of touch" Thursday and says she will learn from it.

Aside from a failed attempt at using "bon vivant" in her apology, it's pretty clear she wants to make it up to the community and move forward.

Delta CEO If The Passenger Behind You Declines ... Then Don't Recline

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Ed Bastian
ASK FIRST, THEN RECLINE

Well, this is pretty shocking ... the head honcho at Delta seems to think the woman on the American Airlines flight who reclined her seat -- only to have the passenger behind her treat her seatback like a punching bag -- was out of line.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian appeared on CNBC's "Squawk Box" Friday, said it's an etiquette issue ... if a passenger knows a tall person is sitting behind them, they should ask permission before they recline. Presumably, that means if the person declines then the passenger can't recline.

That certainly isn't the way our users feel -- by a 2-1 margin they support the woman on an AA jet who put her seat all the way back, only to have the dude behind her attack the seat like a boxer in training.

Of course, the counterargument to what Bastian believes is that the airline configures the plane, so it should design it so people can recline without interfering with the person behind them. If that's not the case, it's on the airline.

The Bounce-Back Stripper Calls 15-Foot Pole Drop Blessing In Disguise

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Genea Sky -- the stripper who plummeted 15 feet off a pole -- says the ordeal is a blessing because it's forcing her to get out of stripping game.
wired shut

Genea Sky -- the stripper who plummeted 15 feet off a pole -- says the ordeal is a blessing because it's forcing her to get out of stripping game.

As we reported, Genea suffered several injuries, and her jaw was still wired shut Friday when she appeared on the 'Wendy Williams Show.' She described the fall and the aftermath as "the worst pain I've ever felt and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone."

That being said, the 24-year-old said she had been praying for something to force her to quit stripping ... so she could focus her attention on going back to beauty school to become an esthetician.

Wendy surprised Genea with a $10k scholarship to help her fulfill that career goal.

Speaking of financial help ... Genea also said the general manager at the Texas strip club where she performed, hit her up and will also be helping out with medical bills.

The cost is gonna be expensive. She detailed her injuries -- the visible ones and also the hidden ones ... which are pretty gruesome.

As we first told you, Genea said her pole-dancing days are over 'cause the fall really scared the crap out of her. She's received tons of offers from strip clubs and been asked to appear in music vids ever since she unintentionally went viral, but her answer is still ... no dice.

Blues' Jay Bouwmeester Undergoes Successful Surgery ... After Cardiac Episode

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NHL star Jay Bouwmeester underwent surgery after he frighteningly collapsed mid-game this week ... but Blues officials say it was successful and the D-man is doing better.

As we previously reported ... Jay passed out on the Blues' bench during the first period of St. Louis' game against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday and was rushed to the hospital.

Team officials said Bouwmeester suffered a "cardiac episode" and needed a defibrillator to revive him.

On Friday, St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong revealed Bouwmeester had an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) placed in his chest after the incident in order to prevent a similar issue from happening again.

"The procedure, which restores the heart's normal rhythm, was performed by the cardiology team of the UCI Cardiology Department," Armstrong said.

Bouwmeester is reportedly doing well ... but the surgery ain't exactly a minor one.

According to heart.org, an ICD procedure involves docs placing a battery-powered device underneath the skin in the hopes that it will help monitor irregularities in the heart and avoid sudden cardiac episodes down the line.

It's unclear what the procedure will mean for Bouwmeester's future as a hockey player ... but it certainly could signal the end of the 36-year-old's 17-year career.

The Blues say Jay will be flown back to St. Louis to recover as soon as UC Irvine doctors release him.

L.A.'s Quinn Cook Kobe's Death Devastated Lakers ... Explains Team's Mood After Learning The News

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Quinn Cook just revealed the atmosphere on the Lakers team plane after learning of Kobe Bryant's death last month ... and it's heartbreaking.

The Lakers guard says just minutes after Kobe, his daughter, Gianna, and 7 others were tragically killed in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26 ... he was shaken awake by head coach Frank Vogel on the team's ride back from Philadelphia.

"He's like, 'Quinn, sorry to tell you, but Kobe and his daughter have been in a helicopter crash,'" Cook said on Danny Green's YouTube show, "Inside the Green Room with Danny Green," this week. "'We don't know any details.'"

Quinn says Vogel had that talk with everybody on the team plane ... and he says once the news really set in with the players -- the whole squad was devastated.

"I look in front of me and I just see LeBron and AD and Randy and AB, Dwight -- everybody was just crushed."

Quinn says LeBron James eventually got all the guys together in the middle of the plane and led a team prayer.

"[It] was very, very, very, powerful," Quinn says. "And, after that, like Danny will tell you, I was crushed. I was crying the whole flight. I was absolutely destroyed."

The NBA ended up postponing the Lakers game two days later against the Clippers to mourn ... but they eventually got back to the court at Staples Center in an emotional game on Jan. 31.

Quinn says it was the practices leading up to that game that really helped the team get through the toughest parts of the grieving process.

"It just felt good to feel that genuine support from my brothers," Quinn said. "And we're still going through it. We're still fighting it."

The Lakers will have a public memorial for Kobe and his daughter on Feb. 24 at Staples. Cook and the rest of the team are expected to be in attendance.

Josh Altman Bezos Paid Right Amount for Geffen's Estate ... Wish I Got Some!!!

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Josh Altman's praising Jeff Bezos for getting his money's worth in buying up David Geffen's estate -- even at $165 million -- because he says it's one of the best in the world ... though he doesn't necessarily condone HOW he bought it.

The "Million Dollar Listing" star was leaving Craig's in WeHo Thursday night when he ticked off several reasons why the Amazon honcho's "magnificent" new Beverly Hills property deserves to be the most expensive sale in the history of Los Angeles ... and then some.

Josh tells us he heard the whole deal went down on a yacht and the fellas handled the major real estate business without realtors ... something he's not down with, for obvious reasons.

Our sources tell us Josh is right ... at least about the yacht part. Jeff and David have become fast friends while spending time on Geffen's megayacht ... like Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, did last summer with a slew of other millionaires.

We're told the gentlemen struck a deal for David's estate on one of their most recent yacht excursions ... because that's how the rich roll.

As for Altman's beef with cutting out the realtors ... we can't really back him up there. Commission on a $165 mil sale would be a little over $8 mil in commission for the agents involved, and even though Bezos is stupid rich ... he's not stupid.

Jeff and David can take care of the deal themselves and hire a real estate lawyer to look it over ... for about $10,000.

Still, you can understand why Josh is looking out for his fellow realtors.

James Brown No Sign of Foul Play, Says Doctor ... D.A. Wasting Time

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James Brown was NOT murdered, regardless of what a woman who knew him is now suggesting ... so says the doctor who signed the legendary singer's death certificate.

Dr. Marvin Crawford tells TMZ ... the Fulton County D.A.'s Office is wasting its time in looking into so-called evidence from Jacque Hollander because he claims there was no evidence of foul play when he examined Brown right after he died.

Crawford says Brown suffered a heart attack on December 23, 2006, and was hospitalized. He suffered a second heart attack not long afterward ... and that's what killed him on Christmas Day.

The doctor tells us Brown had a long history of diabetes and hypertension, which contributed to his death ... and that's it.

Crawford admits he's never met Hollander and doesn't know how she's come to believe The Godfather of Soul might have been murdered.

As we reported ... Jacque presented Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard with a bin full of items and investigators have been directed to interview her. If her evidence holds up, Howard says he's open to launching a full-scale death investigation.

Crawford clearly believes that would be useless, and there's something else ... he denies he ever hinted otherwise.

As we told you, in a 2017 CNN interview Crawford did raise questions about Brown's death because the doctor reportedly wondered if James' heart attack was triggered by a toxic substance or an OD.

However, Crawford tells us ... "CNN said I said that but I didn't say that about the drugs."

Brown was 73 when he died.

Myles Garrett Rudolph Called Me A 'Stupid N-Word' ... Before Brawl

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"He called me the n-word. He called me a stupid n-word."

That's Myles Garrett finally explaining the racial slur he claims he heard Mason Rudolph utter to him before the all-out Steelers-Browns brawl back in November.

"When he said it," Myles told ESPN in a sit-down interview this week, "it kinda sparked something."

As we previously reported ... Garrett was banned from the NFL indefinitely after he violently attacked Rudolph with the QB's own helmet on Nov. 14, 2019.

Garrett told NFL officials at the time he did it because Rudolph used a racial slur ... but he hadn't publicly revealed what he alleges Rudolph said until this week.

"I don't like it," Garrett said. "I don't say the n-word, whether it's 'a' or 'er.' To me, personally, I don't think it should be said."

Myles was reinstated by the NFL on Wednesday -- effectively making his suspension a 6-game ban -- and he told us out at LAX on Thursday he believed it was all a "blessing in disguise."

As for Rudolph ... he's consistently maintained he did NOT call Garrett a racial slur, saying back in November the allegation was "totally untrue."

For its part, the NFL says it investigated Garrett's accusations ... but claims it found no evidence that the racial slur was used.

When asked about that in his interview with ESPN, Garrett said, "Something was said. I know something was said. Now whether the NFL wants to acknowledge it, that’s up to them.''