Tag: sports news

“Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro is closing up shop in Santa Monica … shuttering his brick-and-mortar operation and pivoting to online orders only.

Buddy owned Carlo’s Bake Shop on the famous Santa Monica Promenade, but it closed this week for good … and there’s a sign on the door announcing a public auction for all the store equipment.

Folks at Carlo’s Bake Shop tell TMZ … the Santa Monica location decided not to renew the lease as it shifts towards an e-commerce business strategy.

We’re told the bakery was doing more sales for online orders in recent years particularly in California, with fewer customers actually coming by the storefront, even for folks requesting deliveries nearby.

Buddy’s not leaving the traditional bakery setup altogether though … it sounds like this is limited to Santa Monica.

We’re told there’s a new Carlo’s Bake Shop opening this December in New York City’s Times Square … which BV feels will attract locals and tourists. There’s certainly a lot of foot traffic.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas said he’d be home for Christmas, and after disappearing from public life for a long time … he’s here to make good on his promise.

The elusive ex-child star — who vanished from the big show ten years ago — surfaced earlier this week in SoCal … where he was apparently out running errands near his home. As many people have noted, the dude looks almost unrecognizable compared to his childhood.

Nothing all that remarkable in the pic itself … it’s just a guy who’s left Hollywood behind minding his business. But considering how big a star he once was — it is eye-popping.

Remember, the last time we saw JTT making the rounds and signing autographs was way back in 2013, and at the time … he was very much doing the A-lister thing, embracing cameras, questions and fans. Now, though, it’s quite clear — he wants none of that.

It was around this same time that he opened up to People Mag about why he’d decided to step away … saying he’d been working since he was a young kid and wanted a break. He also said he didn’t want fame to define him, and simply didn’t care much about it.

The last time Jon was out in public was during COVID — when he was spotted walking his dog and laying low. Now, two years later, we’re seeing him again … sans any pooch.

Julianna Margulies recently said Black people were “brainwashed” to hate Jews — something she now regrets … and is apologizing over.

The actress, who’s Jewish, made the inflammatory comment late last month on a podcast appearance with Andy Ostroy … where they talked about young people’s overwhelming embrace of Palestine in the Israel-Hamas war — something they chalked up to antisemitism.

Specifically, Margulies mentioned African-Americans and people in the LGBTQ+ community as being wholly misguided in their position on the matter … saying they’d be the first ones to be discriminated against — if not outright killed — in just about any Muslim country.

JM went to express disbelief that Black people, specifically, as a group seemed to be speaking out against Israel/Zionists — which she apparently views as hating on Jews, at large, as well — and then brought up the fact that Jewish people had stood with Blacks during the Civil Rights era … and basically said the same should be done now in return.

She then said that a recent Ken Burns doc on the Holocaust should be mandatory viewing in schools these days — especially for the Black community … whom she suggested either didn’t know the horrid history, or whom she said had probably been taught to “hate Jews.”

It caused a lot of backlash, and on Friday … she folded, saying — “I am horrified by the fact that statements I made on a recent podcast offended the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities, communities I truly love and respect.”

Margulies continued … “I want to be 100% clear: Racism, homophobia, sexism, or any prejudice against anyone’s personal beliefs or identity are abhorrent to me, full stop.”

She added … “Throughout my career I have worked tirelessly to combat hate of all kind, end antisemitism, speak out against terrorist groups like Hamas, and forge a united front against discrimination.”

Susan Sarandon is now walking back antisemitic remarks she delivered at a pro-Palestinian rally in NYC last month … offering her apologizes to anyone she offended.

The actress posted a lengthy statement on Instagram Friday night, explaining that she made a “terrible mistake” when she said Jews are “getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.”

Susan uttered the words in front of a large crowd at the November 17 rally in Manhattan’s Union Square.

The demonstrators were protesting against the Israel-Hamas war, which broke out after the terrorist group invaded the Jewish state on October 10. Hamas militants, who rule over the Palestinians in the West Bank’s Gaza Strip, slaughtered some 1,400 Jews, including babies.

In her IG post, Susan said she was invited to the event, but was not supposed to speak, yet ended up on stage with a mic in her hand, trying to communicate concerns about a rise in hate crimes throughout the country.

She pointed out the controversial phrasing she used falsely implied that Jews have not faced persecution. She then highlighted centuries of Jewish oppression and genocide in Europe, as well as the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, PA.

Susan went on to say she “deeply regrets diminishing the reality” and for voicing her hurtful remarks.

Adidas woke up and chose violence on Friday … the sportswear giants went straight for “dusty” Kevin Durant‘s neck after he took a shot at T’Wolves star Anthony Edwards‘ sneakers, and fans are losin’ it!

It all started when the question was posed … would KD, a Nike-signed athlete, ever rock Edwards’ signature Adidas kicks? 35-year-old Durant answered the question himself, emphatically writing, “Won’t EVER see me put a big toe in them Mfers.”

Adidas wasn’t going to take that lying down … their official account, with over 4 million followers, responded, and it was harsh.

“U dusty,” Adidas replied. “Bouta retire soon anyway.”

The burn has since been deleted, begging the question … was the tweet sent accidentally from the official brand X account?

That’s an answer we don’t yet have … but there’s some evidence it wasn’t a mistake.

Adidas later added, “Meant to send that from the burner account…”

Of course, Kevin, as NBA fans are well aware, has been caught using burners in the past.

FYI, Edwards’ AE1s drop on December 16 … just in time for Christmas.

Tiffany Haddish needs to be barred from consuming drugs and alcohol after her latest DUI arrest in California … at least that’s what prosecutors want in Georgia, where she also has a DUI case.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, state prosecutors in Georgia want a court there to modify the bond conditions from her open DUI case to restrict her from using booze and drugs.

They’re asking for this change due to Tiffany’s latest DUI arrest on the other side of the country … which happened last week in Beverly Hills.

As we first told you … Tiffany was arrested early last Friday morning — after a Thanksgiving night gig at the Laugh Factory — with Bev Hills PD officers putting Tiffany in handcuffs and arresting her. They’d gotten a call around 5:45 AM about someone stopped in the middle of Beverly Drive, allegedly slumped behind the wheel of a car with the engine running.

Remember … Tiffany was previously busted for DUI in Georgia back in January 2022, when she was also allegedly asleep behind the wheel after smoking marijuana.

Jeremy Allen White and Rosalía aren’t putting dating rumors to rest — in fact, they’re adding fuel to the fire and lighting a match … to spark up cigs, and more rumors, no doubt.

TMZ got these photos of “The Bear” actor and the Spanish singer hanging out Wednesday in WeHo … where they were chopping it up in a parking lot, and enjoying a smoke break in each other’s company.

It’s kinda funny … you could argue this scene here is life imitating art a bit — namely, on Jeremy’s end. His character from the TV show is constantly stepping out to inhale a cigarette amid the restaurant chaos … and while this moment isn’t nearly as dramatic, it does feel familiar.

Anyway, JAW and Rosalía ended up talking a bit more — sans cancer sticks — and ultimately departed with a nice big hug … but no kiss, something we know Jeremy ain’t shy to do when he’s into a new boo.

Still, it’s interesting to see them continue to hang amid last month’s public farmer’s market outing — where Jeremy was walking around with a huge bouquet of flowers … which may or may not have been for his new would-be significant other.

Folks thought there was something going on between them then … and they’re sure to keep on believing that after this latest rendezvous.

What adds an extra layer of intrigue here is the fact that Jeremy is still navigating a divorce from his wife, Addison Timlin … with whom he shares 2 children.

The exes seem to be on good terms, ’cause they’re constantly stepping out as a family … so it would appear they’re going about their uncoupling amicably.

Anyway, Jeremy certainly isn’t scared to put his personal life on the front street, and with his growing success in the biz, he’s only going to get more and more attention the bigger he gets.

Henry Kissinger, one of the most powerful and influential Secretaries of State in U.S. history … the man who helped shape foreign policy in the United States for decades, is dead.

The famous statesman, diplomat, author and scholar died Wednesday at his home in Connecticut. The cause of death is unclear.

Kissinger was widely considered the most powerful secretary of state since World War II, serving as a top advisor for presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

During the 1970s, Kissinger negotiated America’s exit from the war in Vietnam, helped open the U.S. to China, stabilized relations between Israel and Arab countries in the Middle East and eased tensions with the Soviet Union. He won the Nobel Prize for his Vietnam peace efforts, but critics say Kissinger saw the handwriting on the wall — maintaining a democracy in Vietnam was a losing battle — and negotiated the peace agreement as a face-saver.

Sure enough, it didn’t take long for democracy to fail. Critics think the peace deal was a way of getting some space before democracy fell, so the U.S. wouldn’t look bad.

He was always controversial — both revered and reviled. He was praised for opening up China and resetting U.S. relations with Russia, but he also engineered the secret carpet-bombing of Cambodia. And he was central to the effort to topple the democratically-elected president of Chile.

When Kissinger wasn’t shaping U.S. foreign policy, he was cultivating a playboy image in Hollywood … dating movie stars like Candice Bergen, Shirley MacLaine, Jill St. John and Liv Ullman.

Kissinger was born in Germany and fled to the U.S. with other Jewish immigrants as a teenager way back in 1938 … studying at Harvard before climbing the ranks in Washington D.C.

Despite leaving the federal government in 1977, Kissinger remained a prominent influence on foreign policy and business … though his legacy is celebrated by some and despised by others.

Kissinger was 100.

A Kansas City Chiefs fan’s mom is coming to his defense … claiming that all of the haters who are saying his gameday outfit was offensive need to kick rocks.

Holden Armenta caused a big stir online on Sunday when TV cameras at the Chiefs vs. Raiders game in Las Vegas showed him donning a headdress with a painted face.

Some, including Deadspin, thought the boy was wearing blackface … and urged the NFL to speak out on the matter — calling his feathered attire inappropriate as well.

Armenta’s mother, however, said on her Facebook page this week there was simply no need for the outrage … explaining the boy’s face paint actually consisted of both black and red colors — in order to match his favorite team’s hues.

As for the headdress, she said Holden is Native American.

“People are ridiculous,” Shannon Armenta wrote in one post.

She also shared a few other snaps of Holden from the game … and said, “Everyone asked to take a photo with him.”

“The players even loved it!”

Holden’s dad added on his Facebook page that his son is simply “The biggest Fan” of the Chiefs.

Todd and Julie Chrisley are NOT hurtling towards a divorce — far from it — so claims their attorney who tells us the incarcerated couple is more in love now than ever before.

Todd and Julie’s attorney, Jay Surgent, tells TMZ … the Chrisleys are not going to pull the plug on their marriage, despite a recent report suggesting Julie could soon wave the white flag.

While the Daily Mail quotes an unnamed source claiming Julie is certain to divorce Todd, their lawyer is adamant a divorce would be the last thing the couple would ever do.

The couple’s attorney tells us the Chrisleys are supported by their mutual belief in God and belief that the criminal justice system will prevail and the “right thing” is going to happen for them … because they believe God is directing everything.

Remember … Todd and Julie are both behind bars after being convicted last year in their bank fraud and tax evasion trial. Todd’s had his 12-year sentence reduced to 10 and Julie’s had her 7-year sentence reduced to 6, and his legal team is still trying to reverse his conviction.

As the couple spends their first holiday season behind bars, Todd’s attorney says Julie is holding strong in prison and feels strength in their marriage … despite the DM report saying she’s “broken and hopeless.”

Surgent is also pushing back on the report claiming Todd convinced Julie to go along with a “foolproof” plan … he says Todd didn’t convince her to go along with anything and she’s always maintained her position that she didn’t have much do to with the business affairs of their company and wasn’t aware what her financial advisors were doing.

Sofia Vergara skipped out on paying a contractor more than $1.7 million for a huge renovation of her luxurious home in Beverly Hills … or so the contractor claims in a new lawsuit.

According to the suit, obtained by TMZ, the actress hired Reside Custom Homes in April 2022 to perform construction work on her $26 million mansion located in the Beverly Park neighborhood.

RCH claims Vergara agreed to pay for the work plus the contractor’s fee, but claims she never followed through once the work was done.

RCH says the project was substantially completed by December 2022, but then Vergara allegedly asked for significant extra work beyond the scope of the agreement, which ended up extending the job until March 2023 … when Sofia finally moved back into the home.

According to RCH, Vergara asked the contractor to install clay plaster in 3 powder rooms, an office, the dining room walls, the cabana bathroom and the guest house living room. She also wanted the company to remove and replace a flight of stairs.

RCH says it fronted the money for the additional work in order to finish the improvements and claims Vergara promised to pay the bill … even allegedly telling RCH she’d approved one of the invoices for nearly $900K and “already” gave directions to her money manager to pay the bill.

But RCH says Sofia never followed through and now owes the company a whopping balance of $1,700,492.64.

‘Tis the season of giving and Kyle Kuzma is off to an amazing start … the NBA star donated $60k worth of clothes to female inmates preparing for release from county jail in his hometown of Flint, Michigan!

The Washington Wizards forward also launched an initiative to refurbish housing conditions for the women who are locked up.

The Kyle Kuzma Family Foundation partnered with I.G.N.I.T.E. and R.I.S.E., two jail reform organizations that support incarcerated women as they prepare to re-enter society.

Kuzma revealed the collaboration at the 23rd I.G.N.I.T.E. graduation ceremony at the county jail on Sunday … by surprising the female inmates, and announcing the big $60k donation.

The 6’9″ baller also handed out presents to kids who were there to visit their moms.

That’s not all Kyle’s doing … the 28-year-old also launched “Kuz’s Corner,” which will help refurbish living conditions at the Genesee County Jail.

“Kuz’s Corner provides incarcerated female inmates something to reach towards, and prove to themselves, and others of their worth and value,” the foundation said in a press release.

“The females chosen to reside in Kuz’s Corner have set themselves apart as role models in their behavior, mentorship, and strive to return to the community as a better neighbor.”

Kuzma — who’s averaging nearly 23 points a game this season — cares deeply about his foundation which helps single mothers and children in Michigan, the DMV (D.C. Metro area), and Los Angeles … a cause that hits close to home.

“When I was growing up, she worked two jobs and that hard work and dedication, just to make ends meet, put food on the table,” Kuzma said about his mom Karri on GMA.

“That’s been my inspiration my entire life.”

Beyoncé‘s daughter, Blue Ivy, has been a fixture at just about all of her ‘Renaissance’ tour concerts this year — and she’s upped her onstage game … all thanks to the haters.

In the wake of her concert film’s premiere this weekend, the NYT reviewed the film and quoted Queen Bey as saying … BI’s involvement with the tour was meant to just be a temporary, one-off deal … but became a regular thing after her kid pushed back.

They add, “Though she finally relented, Beyoncé was dismayed when Blue Ivy read comments on social media that criticized her lackluster moves. But it thrilled her mother that instead of quitting, she decided to put in the work and train even harder for future stops.”

This news has caused quite a stir on social media … half of Twitter is outraged that so many people were brutally criticizing the 11-year-old early on in the tour, but others are using this as proof that Blue Ivy’s resilient/talented — ’cause she’s a way better dancer now.

Footage from her May outings in Europe has been making the rounds online … and yes, you can see a major difference in how she performed then compared to recent shows.

The debate now is whether the harsh assessments of her skills at the time were warranted or not — some think BI 100% deserved the flak she got, arguing that if she steps into the spotlight (next to her mom, no less) it’s fair game. Others think the girl deserved a break.

A fresh set of royal revelations have pitted the Sussexes against the rest of the monarchy again … with claims emerging that Meghan Markle accused two people instead of one of raising concerns over son Archie‘s skin color.

Remember … back in 2021, the ex-“Suits” star sat down with Oprah  … divulging that a royal family member had some queries over her son’s skin tone — and now royal expert and Meghan’s personal cheerleader Omid Scobie says there was actually more than one perpetrator.

In an explosive extract from his upcoming book “Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival,” Omid writes that Meghan penned private letters to King Charles in the wake of the Oprah bombshell … naming the two household members involved in the conversations.

But Scobie is clutching onto his crown jewels … adding in the book, releasing Tuesday, that he knows the identity of the two people, but “laws in the United Kingdom prevent me from reporting who they were.”

The Sun also confirms that the duo’s names haven’t been disclosed in the book … adding that it’s unclear if the person is a direct member of the royal family or works for “The Firm” … either way, they’re a member of the royal household.

In further extracts from the book, it’s said that Harry cuttingly asked dad Charles, “Don’t you want to see your grandchildren?” — using Archie and Lilibet as leverage amid their dispute over Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, which they officially vacated in June 2023.

But Scobie’s throwing down the gauntlet … urging everyone to read his book thoroughly before airing their opinions … writing on X that it’s not about Harry and Megs — instead about the current state of the British monarchy.

Scobie also clarifies he’s not writing as “Meg’s pal”… adding the “Sussexes have nothing to do with it.”

Tiffany Haddish is facing a DUI charge in Beverly Hills after she allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel … TMZ has learned.

Bev Hills PD officers put Tiffany in handcuffs as she was arrested early Friday morning. The actress and comedian was not involved in an accident, but cops say they got a call around 5:45 AM about someone stopped in the middle of Beverly Drive … apparently slumped over the wheel while the car was running.

Cops responded to the scene and, as you can see, Tiffany went peacefully as she was arrested. We’re told she will be cited for DUI and released later today.

She had performed at The Laugh Factory in West Hollywood Thursday night for the club’s 43rd annual free Thanksgiving feast for the community.

This is the second DUI arrest for Haddish, who was also busted under similar circumstances back in January 2022 … that time in the Atlanta area.

Peachtree City PD also responded to a call of someone sleeping behind the wheel. When they responded to the area, they found Tiffany pulling into a neighborhood.

She was booked for DUI and improper stopping on a roadway, and, according to court records, she’s scheduled to go to trial December 4 for that case.