Category: Breaking News

The creator of “The Simpsons” appears to be suggesting that the blowback over having a white actor voice Apu for all these years really isn’t all that big a deal … in his eyes.

Animator Matt Groening did an interview with USA Today in honor of the upcoming 700th episode, and he was asked about the controversy — namely, not having an Indian actor voice the Indian character … not to mention claims Apu was portrayed as a walking stereotype.

Groening had some interesting answers … for starters, he says he embraces bringing on new voice actors in the name of diversity — the more the merrier, he explains. However, you can tell Matt’s not nearly as up in arms as some have been about Apu’s handling.

He was asked if he would change the nature of Apu’s character and/or stories in light of the criticism that’s he’s 2-dimensional, and MG says this … “I think the Apu stories are fantastic, and he’s one of the most nuanced characters on a silly two-dimensional cartoon show. So, yeah, I’m proud of Apu.”

He also adds this knowing he might get blowback, “I’m trying not to open up another chasm of criticism, but it doesn’t matter what I say. I’ll get it anyway.” Matt goes on to say that the idea of having white actors voice non-white characters — which is what ‘Simpsons’ opted to do in the end — was not his idea, but that he’s “fine with it.”

Matt also says that the original intention was not to have some actors voice some characters — they were just trying to use everyone’s talent to the max, but he says he gets it. As to whether ‘Simpsons’ brass shoulda embraced this change years ago, he says … “Yeah. And I hear they want to take the guns away from Yosemite Sam. He’s a little hot-headed.”

Zak Bagans‘ Haunted Museum attracts all kinds of strange activity, like this car that came barreling through the gates before plowing into a security guard’s car … and it’s on video.

The scary incident went down last week on a rainy night in Las Vegas, and you see a car traveling on the wrong side of the road come smashing through the museum’s outer fence.

The car is moving at a pretty fast clip when it smacks into security’s parked car, and the impact sends the parked car flying into a museum sign, causing even more damage.

The back-to-back crashes don’t seem to slow the car at all … the driver zooms off into the night almost as if nothing happened.

According to the police report, the driver lost control of the car in rainy conditions as it crashed through the gate … and the security guard inside the parked car was rushed to a hospital. We’re told the security guard luckily only suffered minor injuries and is on the mend.

Now that old movies have warnings at the beginning so viewers can brace themselves for what people dared to do and say back in the day, Bill Maher decided to do some of his own handiwork with warnings … and it’s f***ing hilarious!!!

Maher mused on ‘Real Time’ Friday night how Turner Classic Movies have such warnings regarding racism, sexism, etc, so he decided to lend a helping hand.

“Sleeping Beauty” — WARNING: “A prince kisses an unconscious woman without consent.”

“The Wizard of Oz” — WARNING: “A powerful woman of color is murdered by a rural white girl.”

“Rosemary’s Baby” — WARNING: “Fails to present Planned Parenthood as a viable option.”

And, you gotta see the “Braveheart” warning.

‘Real Time’ is the best political show on TV, and Friday night was maybe his best show in a long time.

Pete Davidson just got court-ordered protection from the woman who falsely claimed they were married … because she’s now been charged for allegedly showing up inside his NYC home.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ … Pete was granted an order of protection against Michelle Mootreddy, who cops arrested Thursday at Pete’s Staten Island crib. She’s now been ordered to stay away from Pete and 3 other people who live in the home — and she’s barred from contacting them in any way and from showing up at the home or their jobs.

TMZ broke the story … Mootreddy was nabbed by cops in Pete’s house, with police saying she slipped inside through an open side door and took a seat at his kitchen table.

Mootreddy was arraigned Friday and is charged with burglary in the second and third degree, both felonies, as well as 2 misdemeanor counts of stalking, 2 misdemeanor counts of criminal trespass and harassment.

Remember, law enforcement says Mootreddy is the same person who blasted out a press release Tuesday falsely stating the ‘SNL’ star was launching a production company with her after they’d gotten married.

Sharon Osbourne and her family — including her dogs — have been receiving death threats since her dust-up on “The Talk” … so she’s hired her own security.

Sources close to Sharon tell TMZ … following last week’s on-air dispute with co-host Sheryl Underwood over defending Piers Morgan and his harsh comments about Meghan Markle, Sharon’s been bombarded by angry folks on social media and she’s received several calls to her home threatening her safety.

Sharon’s social media has been flooded with comments like, “Die and go to hell.” “F**k Sharon Osbourne, her husband, her momma, them ugly f**kin’ kids, the family dog and the b***h that lives next door. She can go die in a fish grease fire” and “I hope Sharon Osbourne gets hit by one last wave of COVID & dies.”

We’re told Sharon’s personal phone numbers have also been blowing up, wishing harm on her and her dogs.

The private security company’s been stationed outside the Osbournes’ L.A.-area home all week to keep an eye on things.

Meanwhile, Sharon’s turned off comments on her most recent couple of Instagram posts because they were so nasty.

As for the issues over at “The Talk” — which went on hiatus following Sharon and Sheryl’s contentious exchange — we’re told Sharon’s still reeling from it … but she’s hopeful there can be a reconciliation at some point and she can return to a peaceful environment.

As we reported … Sharon fired off an apology for offending or disappointing people of color with her words, but explained she “panicked, felt blindsided, got defensive & allowed my fear & horror of being accused of being racist take over.”

Our sources say Sharon and Sheryl have not spoken since last week, and Osbourne has also not had any contact with CBS or ‘Talk’ honchos while they are conducting their investigation.

The woman who told the world she married Pete Davidson — even though she didn’t — showed up inside his NYC home … according to cops.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … Michelle Mootreddy is currently in police custody being questioned by detectives after she allegedly slipped inside Pete’s Staten Island crib.

Our sources say Mootreddy walked into Pete’s place through an open side door Thursday and sat down at the kitchen table. We’re told one of Pete’s relatives was home, and someone called 911. We’re told Pete wasn’t home at the time.

Law enforcement says Mootreddy is the same person who sent out a press release Tuesday stating the ‘SNL’ star was launching a production company with her and claimed they’d gotten hitched.

As we first reported, Pete’s reps said he doesn’t know the woman, he didn’t start a production company and damn sure did NOT get married to her.

Prince William and Prince Harry‘s attempts to mend fences after the Oprah interview have hit a roadblock — William wants their future conversations to remain private.

The elder Royal bro is reportedly concerned — and possibly peeved — that any talks he has with his little brother end up going public in the media, which is causing a major lack of trust.

To put it more bluntly, William’s “now worried that anything he says to his brother will be plastered over American TV” … according to the Vanity Fair report.

This seems to refer to Gayle King‘s recent reporting on “CBS This Morning” that Harry did speak to his brother and his father, Prince Charles, but that their talks were “not productive.” Gayle said she called Harry and Meghan Markle directly to get the info, and apparently … that’s very worrisome to the Duke of Cambridge.

Interestingly, we talked to Gayle this week in NYC, following her reporting on Harry and William’s chat, and she insists she’s not a mouthpiece for Harry and Meghan … she’s just a concerned friend checking in on them.

Albeit, a friend who anchors a major morning TV show. Either way, it seems she’s caught in the middle of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Buckingham Palace … and the VF report says the Royal Family is concerned the story is “becoming a soap opera.”

Sabine Schmitz — affectionately known as the Queen of Nürburgring and former host of the hit BBC show “Top Gear” — has died.

Sabine, the only woman ever to win Germany’s famous 24-hour touring car and GT endurance racing event in 1996 and 1997, died Tuesday. She revealed last year she had been battling a rare form of cancer since 2017.

The Nürburgring’s racing account tweeted, “The Nürburgring has lost its most famous female racing driver. Sabine Schmitz passed away far too early after a long illness. We will miss her and her cheerful nature. Rest in peace Sabine!”

Sabine was no stranger to the race track, having grown up in Nürburg and so close to the Nürburgring circuit in western Germany. She also raced for the Porsche motorsport team … which also paid tribute to her saying it’s “very sad to hear that Sabine Schmitz (1969-2021) has passed away.”

The Porsche motorsport team added, “The ‘Queen of Nordschleife’ was a crowd favourite due to her open, humorous way. Our sympathy goes to her family and friends.”

Sabine would go on to become a regular guest on “Top Gear” … making her first appearance in 2004. Executive producer Clare Pizey, said, “Sabine was a beloved member of the Top Gear family and presenting team since 2016, having first appeared on the show in 2004, and everyone who had the pleasure of working with her on the team is in shock at this news.”

The show’s former host, Jeremy Clarkson, also was stunned by the news saying, “Terrible news about Sabine Schmitz. Such a sunny person and so full of beans.”

Demi Lovato is opening up about the night that almost killed her, and the frightening moment when she woke up in the hospital and was declared legally blind.

Lovato’s highly-anticipated “Dancing with the Devil” documentary premiered at the South by Southwest festival Tuesday night, giving viewers an unvarnished look at the singer’s struggles and triumphs. In one part, she shares she was declared legally blind in the hospital after her 2018 overdose … her vision so bad she was unable to see her sister at her bedside.

In an interview with The New York Times, Lovato said it took her two months to regain her vision enough so she could read a book again. The singer says in ‘DWTD’ she’s still unable to drive because of occasional blind spots.

The documentary also details the night of her overdose … Demi says she was out partying with friends, returned home and called her dealer who allegedly supplied heroin believed to have been laced with fentanyl.

TMZ broke the story … Lovato was discovered minutes from death by an assistant in June of 2018 in her Hollywood Hills home. The singer spent months in rehab and has had an incredible journey to get back on her feet and performing again.

Pete Davidson is NOT married, despite a news release stating he founded a production company with a longtime lady friend and got hitched.

Here’s the deal … a production company called Bodega Cats, claiming to be Pete’s, sent out a press release Tuesday with a bombshell — the ‘SNL’ star got hitched with a childhood friend.

The release said … “Pete and Michelle were childhood friends prior to starting Bodega Cats Presents and are married.” Say, what?!?

First thing first … Pete’s reps told us he didn’t get married, and the press release was quickly yanked.

Additionally, sources close to Pete tell us he does NOT have a production company either, and he doesn’t know the person who sent out the release.

Pete’s attorney tells us, “We are investigating and considering all legal and equitable remedies.”

As you know … Pete’s come close to marriage before. He had a real engagement to Ariana Grande, but they broke up before they could walk down the aisle.

Dr. Oz could hardly believe his eyes after meeting the man he brought back from the dead …  and almost as shocking, the man had ZERO recollection about what happened!!!

The good doc met 60-year-old Joe for the first time during a sit-down interview for Dr. Oz’s upcoming show set to air Monday. Joe and his wife, Barbara, also met with the Port Authority cop, Jeffrey Croissant, who also helped save Joe’s life.

You can see Oz is almost in disbelief after he asks Joe how he’s feeling considering how too many things had to have lined up perfectly for Joe to survive his heart attack. Joe, in utter amazement, said he felt fine.

We’re told Joe’s heart condition — an issue he dealt with in 2006 requiring a bypass graft — was a blockage in the middle of an artery. With no blood passing through … it’s no wonder Joe collapsed and needed Oz, Croissant and the help of a defibrillator to shock him back to life.

Oz says it’s stunning Joe feels fine … especially because on that fateful day Oz says Joe was the color of an eggplant after collapsing and having foam coming out of his mouth.

Elvis Presley is about to make someone the king of rock n’ roll memorabilia — that’s if you make the winning bid on a guitar used for his famous 1968 comeback.

The folks over at Kruse GWS Auctions are handling the auction of Elvis’ rare cherry red Hagstrom Viking II guitar. EP was slinging this axe when he shot the highly anticipated TV special on NBC, which marked his return to performing live music … after a 7-year hiatus focusing on movie roles.

This guitar has tons of Elvis history attached to it beyond the special — it was featured on the cover of his “From Elvis in Memphis” album cover, and it was once displayed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum.

The winning bidder of this auction — which kicks off March 27 at 10 AM — will also get sheet music from the ’68 TV special. It’s a nice cherry on top, especially considering Kruse GWS anticipates the guitar will fetch somewhere between $750k and $1 million.

And, for those who get outbid on the guitar, no worries … there’s other cool Elvis memorabilia also on the auction block — like his personally owned 14k yellow gold and blue enamel TCB (taking care of business) necklace.

In the non-Elvis department — Elizabeth Taylor‘s personally owned earrings, broach and necklace … as well as the 1950 Cadillac Fleetwood from “The Godfather.”