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7:56 AM PT -- A source close to Jennifer says the singer would have no issue testifying in court because she has witnesses to back up her account of the altercation that went down the night before she filed the order of protection.

Further, the source says Jennifer would never make up something like this, and put her child through such an ordeal.

Jennifer Hudson dropped the protective order against David Otunga so she could avoid a courtroom grilling about the abuse allegations he's always denied ... at least that's how people connected to him see it.

Sources close to Otunga believe Jennifer was NOT being generous, or looking out for their son, when she dropped the order. If she didn't, she would have to show up in court and testify, under oath, to what she wrote in docs -- that she was in fear for her "physical and emotional safety and that of my son."

Our Otunga sources insist he did not behave threateningly toward David Jr. or Jennifer. They say she knows that, and that's why she dodged saying it on the stand.

As we reported, sources on Jennifer's side say she made the move in the best interest of their kid ... avoiding a messy court battle.

One source connected to David says Jennifer simply didn't expect him to defend himself so vigorously -- and she had to back down or admit David was right ... he was NOT a danger to her or their child.

Katie Couric straight-up said Matt Lauer pinched her on the ass a lot during their 9-year run on the "Today" show.

Katie appeared on Andy Cohen's "Watch What Happens Live" back in 2012, and during a segment -- Plead the Fifth -- Andy asked about Matt's most annoying habit.

What's interesting ... Katie's answer came and went ... it was hardly picked up by the media. It's interesting ... NBC said no one has complained until this week, yet their longtime co-anchor talked about ass-pinching in 2012 and NBC apparently didn't bat an eye.

As we reported ... Matt was fired for "inappropriate sexual behavior" in a stunning announcement Wednesday. We're told the investigation has been going on for weeks and the New York Times and other media outlets were working on a story about Lauer.

9:10 AM PT -- According to the accusers attorney, Ari Wilkenfeld, he and his client met with NBC's HR and legal teams for several hours Monday night. Wilkenfeld says he believes at this time, NBC acted swiftly and appropriately given the allegations.

5:55 AM PT -- The New York Post is reporting the incident that triggered the firing occurred at the Sochi Winter Olympics, when Lauer allegedly assaulted a female NBC staffer.

5:46 AM PT -- Sources connected to NBC tell TMZ the network has been investigating Lauer for weeks and multiple media outlets -- including The New York Times -- were working a story about the anchor and sexual harassment. As one source put it, "Lack tried to get ahead of the story before it broke."

Matt Lauer is no longer the face of NBC's "Today" -- he's been fired for "inappropriate sexual behavior."

The stunning announcement was made on the air at the top of NBC's "Today" by Savannah Guthrie, who read a memo from NBC News Chairman Andy Lack -- "We received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company's standards. As a result, we've decided to terminate his employment."

Savannah was joined by Hoda Kotb ... and both anchors shared their shock, saying they had found out just moments before going on the air. Savannah had a very shaky voice as she said "we are devastated and we are still processing all of this." She also said she was "heartbroken" for the "brave colleague" who made the complaint.

In the memo, Lack added this was the first complaint reported to NBC, but they "were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident."

Lauer had been, in many ways, the face of the entire Peacock network for more than 20 years as he anchored "Today" ... which is NBC's biggest moneymaker.

Story developing ...

Charles Manson has come back from the dead, gotten MUCH younger and taken to the streets of Hollywood ... is what you'd say if you ran into this guy.

The Manson look-alike hit up Madeo in WeHo Tuesday and stopped our photog in his tracks.

The faux Manson has been mistaken for the cult leader many times before -- but we're guessing people don't run away in panic anymore ... at least since Manson died earlier this month.

Helter Skelter deja vu ... thank God it wasn't.

Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie hugged it out after Wednesday's "Today" show ... clearly still reeling from the news that Matt Lauer was fired.

The 2 anchors were emotional when they announced on their show Lauer had been fired for sexual impropriety.

The staff was clearly shaken by the news, and Hoda comforted a crew member after the program.

Matt was with "Today" for 20 years. The NBC Prez said they made a swift decision after a woman came forward Monday, but we're told the network has been investigating Matt for weeks and wanted to get a jump on several media outlets -- including The New York Times -- which were preparing stories on Matt and sexual misconduct.

Gwen Stefani was hauling ass and avoiding questions about haters hating on BF Blake Shelton's Sexiest Man of the Year title, but it didn't matter because TSA eventually put the brakes on her hustle.

Gwen was just like everyone else who traveled Tuesday ... trying to get through security at LAX, only she became one of the unlucky few who got a FULL pat-down and was wanded after her full body scan.

She was given the once/twice/thrice over for a full 90 seconds before she was allowed to go on her merry way.

Jennifer Hudson agreed to let David Otunga see their son again, but only because he's out of her house and no longer a physical threat to her ... according to sources connected to the singer.

The sources say Jennifer dropped the restraining order keeping Otunga away from 8-year-old David Jr., purely in the child's best interest. Although Jennifer's restraining order docs say, "I am now living in fear for my physical and emotional safety and that of my son" -- we're told she was referring to emotional scarring David Jr. would suffer if he saw his father threaten his mother.

She never accused Otunga of physically threatening their child. As we reported, Otunga's been removed from their home, and as a result, we're told Jennifer's satisfied as the emotional risk to their son is no longer present.

As for who's been the child's primary caregiver -- our Jennifer sources say she's always made mothering her top priority, even while working to support the family.

When she first went to London a year ago to shoot 'The Voice' ... she not only brought Otunga and David Jr., but she also paid Otunga's mom to tutor her grandson. She did the same during her 6-month Broadway run in "The Color Purple."

On the issue of custody going forward -- as we reported, David Jr. is with his father right now while Jennifer works in London. However, sources on her side stress David hasn't won anything. The judge hasn't ruled on custody yet, and neither parent's been deemed "primary" caregiver.

TMZ Sports has obtained footage of the street fight involving Florida State kicker Ricky Aguayo and several members of an FSU fraternity ... and one thing's clear -- he was NOT jumped.

It all went down on Dec. 2 2016 -- you can see Ricky square up to fight a Pi Kappa Phi frat bro in a Santa hat ... while a spectator roots him on, "Hey Aguayo, f*ck him up bro!"

The two proceed to trade blows in front of the frat house -- each landing some decent shots. At one point, one of the spectator frat bros throws a cheap shot at Aguayo ... but the brawl continues.

After Aguayo lost his shoe in the fight, one of the frat bros starts to heckle him saying, "You wanna do shit on our campus when you're a fucking kicker?!"

"Your brother never did this shit ... that's why i respected your brother ... not you, you little bitch."

FYI, Ricky's brother is former FSU kicker Roberto Aguayo, who was later drafted by the Tampa Bay Bucs.

The fight continued ... and at one point, Ricky's teammate Ryan Izzo (tight end) tries to save Ricky and physically breaks up the fight. The frat boys want a piece of Izzo, who at one point shoves a PKP bro like a rag doll.

Eventually, Izzo grabs Aguayo and they leave.

Cops were called to the scene and Aguayo told police he was "jumped" by the frat guys -- but the video looks far from a "jumping" situation. Looks like mutual combat to us.

Janice Dickinson agrees with our photog ... she's one of the people who opened the door for women to muster the courage to tell their stories of sexual abuse.

Janice was one of the first people to claim abuse at the hands of Bill Cosby. She sued Cosby after he claimed she lied about being drugged and raped by him in Lake Tahoe in 1982. She thinks the Cosby case was a turning point for women to stand up and be heard.

Kim Kardashian's mission to free Alice Marie Johnson is kicking into high gear ... and the 62-year-old grandmother has expressed her "deep and heartfelt gratitude."

According to a thank-you note from Alice to Kim, obtained by TMZ ... Alice was floored when she found out Kardashian had enlisted high-powered lawyer Shawn Holley to help with her case. Johnson is currently serving a life sentence for her involvement in a cocaine ring ... her first offense.

Alice wrote, "Ms. Kardashian you are literally helping to save my life and restore me to my family. I was drowning and you have thrown me a life jacket and given me hope."

Johnson also believes Kim's crusade will be a defining moment in history, and will show she was a "key figure in meaningful criminal justice reform becoming a reality."

Kim's not just focused on Johnson's case either -- she's also involved in the effort to free Cyntoia Brown, a Tennessee woman who killed a man who was allegedly using her as a sex slave when she was 16.

Kardashian and Holley are continuing to communicate with Johnson, Brown and their lawyers in order to develop the best plan for clemency.

And as Alice says ... "THE BATTLE IS ON!"

Blink-182 and Steve Aoki are both known for playing loud music to packed crowds, so seeing the band unplug for Aoki in a living room with only about 100 others is quite the sight.

Aoki turns 40 Thursday, so Blink serenaded him with a couple songs. The band went with a non-traditional birthday jam, “What’s My Age Again?," and added a personal touch for Steve by changing the lyrics from "Nobody likes you when you're 23” to ... "when Aoki’s 40.”

The intimate get-together went down at billionaire Ron Burkle's famed Greenacres estate in Beverly Hills, and raised half a million for Aoki's charitable foundation. Oddly, no sign of cake in the video.

Big Sean just became the new owner of Slash's former mansion ... and it looks like he got a rock star discount.

The rapper made moves this week to buy the 7 bed, 8 bath, 11,000 sq. ft. Beverly Hills palace previously owned by the GNR guitarist. The pad's been on the market since Perla, Slash's ex, filed for divorce in 2014.

Big Sean's dropping $8.7 mil for the crib -- a steal considering Slash originally listed it for around $11 mil and dropped it to $9.5 mil last year.

It's unclear what the key selling points were ... but you have to think the home theater, backyard pool/volleyball court and in-house stripper pole didn't hurt.

Q-Tip isn't holding back about what he calls a huge Grammy snub for A Tribe Called Quest, and it sounds like he's partially blaming mega producer 9th Wonder.

Q went off on the Recording Academy for not nominating Tribe's 2016 album "We Got It from Here ... Thank You 4 Your Service." He points out it was good enough for the Grammy folks to invite them to perform at last year's ceremony, but now they're getting stiffed.

While he does give props to the other nominees like Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar ... Q's calling BS on ATCQ's final album getting left out in the cold.

Charles Manson's last will and testament is now filed in court, and it was a rush job designed to let Manson's pen pal get custody of the killer's body ASAP ... TMZ has learned.

Michael Channels tells us he filed the 2002 doc Tuesday in probate court, even though he had 30 days to do so after Manson's Nov. 19 death. Channels says he decided to file quickly though because the state of California will only let him call the shots on where Manson's corpse goes ... once the court designates him executor of the will.

The filing could trigger something else -- challenges from Manson's blood relatives. As we reported, Channels' connection is merely longtime pen pal, but as it stands ... Manson's left everything to him. Under CA law, Manson's kin now have 120 days to contest the will.

Channels says he wants to get Manson's body to a funeral home, pronto ... so, he can cremate him and plan a service.