ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Johnny Manziel is officially a MARRIED MAN -- tying the knot with Bre Tiesi in a very quiet private ceremony, TMZ Sports has learned. Manziel had popped the question to Tiesi in March 2017. The 25-year-old has credited Bre with turning his life around and getting him cleaned up after years of craziness. We had noticed the two were wearing rings recently that appeared to be wedding bands -- and now, sources connected to the couple tell us they have indeed traded "I do's." In fact, sources tell us Tiesi plans on taking Manziel's last name. We're told the ceremony took place at a California courthouse. Unclear if it was just Johnny and Bre, or if a few other people attended as well. Sources tell us the couple hasn't ruled out a wedding celebration later this year. It's been a big year for Johnny who's been training like crazy with some of his NFL friends including Joe Haden in an effort to get back to the NFL. He'll finally get back on the field when the Spring League begins in two weeks. Mazel tov! (TMZ)

Queen Elizabeth II Blesses Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Marriage -- But Do We Detect Shade? Queen Elizabeth II has given Prince Harry and Meghan Markle permission to get married -- and just in the nick of time! With the royal wedding just two months away, Her Majesty gave her official declaration to the couple's marriage during a Mar. 14 Privy Council meeting at Buckingham Palace. The Queen used both Meghan's and Harry's full names in her decree. "My Lords, I declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between My Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales and Rachel Meghan, which Consent I am causing to be signified under the Great Seal and to be entered in the Books of the Privy Council," Her Royal Highness declared. The official notice of approval cited Parliament's Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which stated "a person who (when the person marries) is one of the six persons next in the line of success to the Crown must obtain the consent of Her Majesty before marrying." However, did Her Majesty serve a side of shade with her decree? When The Queen gave her consent before Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot, she referred to the couple as "Our Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales, K.G. and Our Trusty and Well-beloved Catherine Elizabeth Middleton''. Looks like there was no love for Meghan in this decree. However, the former Suits star is expected to receive the same high praise once the official handwritten documents are drawn. According to an insider, The Queen met with Meghan and Harry for lunch at their wedding venue Windsor Castle on Mar. 11 (Mother's Day in the U.K.). So, the couple likely knew the decree was coming. Harry and Meghan will tie the knot May 19. We're glad Harry got his grandmother's approval. (Eonline)

Josh Duhamel Calls Co-Star Jennifer Garner an "Incredible Woman." Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner appeared to have bonded over their real-life roles as parents as they filmed their roles as a mom and dad in Love, Simon. The actor talked about their time working together in an interview with E! News' Zuri Hall at the premiere of the movie in Los Angeles on Tuesday. "Her kids weren't on set, neither were mine. We were only there for I think, a week and a half, two weeks, working, but I went to Jen a couple times asking advice on certain things and she's an incredible woman, she really is," Duhamel said. "She's very, very smart. She's a lot funnier than I think people realize." Duhamel and ex Fergie are parents to a 4-year-old son, Axl, who is two years younger than Garner and ex-husband Ben Affleck's youngest of their three children, son Samuel. During the interview, Duhamel also talked about how he reacts to romance rumors that inevitably pop up about him and his co-stars, including Garner. "It does truly amaze me what some of the things that are printed," he said. "It's like, how is that even legal? I try not to comment on it. It is what it is and it's part of the business. We're in the circus and that's part of being in the circus." In Love, Simon, Duhamel and Garner play the parents of a gay teenage son named Simon, played by Nick Robinson. Simon has kept his sexuality secret, even from his family. Meanwhile, he has fallen in love with a fellow, anonymous closeted classmate after exchanging emails with them. Then a blackmailer finds the emails and threatens to out Simon. Love, Simon is set for release on Friday. (Eonline)

Burt Reynolds Still Considers Sally Field the Love of His Life. More than 40 years later, Burt Reynolds still holds a torch for Sally Field. The met on the set of the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit and dated for five years. In interviews conducted over the past few years, Reynolds, 82, has often called Field, 71, the love of his life. He echoed those comments on NBC's Today show on Thursday, while promoting his new film The Last Movie Star. When co-host Hoda Kotb asked Reynolds who he would consider the love of his life, he said it was Field and joked, "Well, she was 7 when I fell in love with her. She stayed 7 for about 11 years." "I wanted her really bad for Smokey and they said, 'Well, she's not sexy,'" he recalled. "And I said, 'You don't get it. Talent is sexy.' And she's got that." In 2015, Reynolds told Vanity Fair Field was the "love of my life." "I miss her terribly," he said. "Even now, it's hard on me. I don't know why I was so stupid. Men are like that, you know. You find the perfect person, and then you do everything you can to screw it up." "I didn't hear that yet," Field replied to his comments in a People interview. "I have no response, really, and any response I would have would belong to him." Reynolds also told The Hollywood Reporter in 2015 that Field is "definitely the one that got away." In 2016, Reynolds told the Daily Mail's Event magazine, "I did four movies with Sally and spent five years with her. She was the love of my life and I screwed the relationship up. That sense of loss never goes away." (Eonline)

Reese Witherspoon and Paul McCartney now have a special connection through their own flesh and blood, and the big question -- is it a case of love me do ... or hello, goodbye? Reese and Ryan Phillippe's daughter, 18-year-old Ava Phillippe, was out strolling the streets of London earlier this week with Paul's eldest grandson, Arthur Donald McCartney, who's also 18. Ava seemed pretty smitten with the dude, and we can't blame her ... Arthur's kind of a stud with Beatles-esque charm flowing through his veins. Ava and Arthur also stopped off for a drink at a bar. Chill, they're legal to booze in the UK. BTW ... Arthur's mom is Mary McCartney -- Paul and Linda's first child together. Hard to tell if Ava and Arthur are just in the friend zone or starting a romance. We'd say all they need is love, but we're guessing Arthur uses that line all the time: Y'know my granddad wrote that. (TMZ)

Don McLean's playing a young man's game and dominating so hard ... he's already got a trophy. The legendary "American Pie" singer was leaving a hotel Wednesday in London with his much younger, and total smoke show of a Playboy model girlfriend ... Paris Dylan. We'll do the math -- she's 24, he's 72, which adds up to ... get it, Donnie! He was dressed age-appropriately for an oldie, but goodie folk singer. Paris also appropriately rocked a curve-hugging dress. Even though she's posted pics with a shiny rock on her finger, Don's people have told us their thing is strictly professional. Don didn't write the book of love ... but those legs gotta put his faith in God above ... (TMZ)

Don't Be Tardy star Brielle Biermann and minor-league pitcher Michael Kopech have split after two years of dating, multiple sources exclusively confirm to Us Weekly. "She was having a difficult time with the distance, both of them wanted to see more of each other but with his baseball schedule and her shooting schedule and everything going on with the show in Atlanta, they just couldn't seem to make it work anymore," a source tells Us about their Tuesday, March 13, breakup. "They both wish each other the best and ended things amicably." While Biermann, 21, films the Bravo reality show in Atlanta with her family, including her mother, Kim Zolciak-Biermann, and her stepdad, Kroy Biermann, Kopech, 21, is currently a part of the Chicago White Sox organization. As previously reported, the pair confirmed their relationship in June 2016 on Instagram. TMZ reported at the time that the reality star and the baseball player started seeing each other that March. While Kopech was noticeably absent from Brielle's 21st birthday weekend in Miami last month, he shared a birthday message for his girlfriend via Instagram. "Happy 21ST to my favorite person!! I'm blessed to be able to grow with you & I'm excited to see where our future takes us," he wrote on February 25. "I love you so much and I'm so thankful for you, @briellebiermann." Brielle, meanwhile, last posted a photo with Kopech back in December. "Merry Christmas from me & mine to you & yours! ," she captioned a pic of the duo decked out in Christmas sweaters. Fans got a glimpse inside the former couple's relationship on Don't Be Tardy season 6. Brielle even tried to convince her parents to let her move in with Kopech. News of the breakup comes the same day that Biermann's purse was stolen. "To the dumb f -- k who stole my purse and spent $10,000 at Bloomingdales- Go F -- K yourself :-)," she tweeted on Wednesday, March 14, adding, "WOW. They also spent $10,000 on my NEIMAN MARCUS CARD!!!!! WOWOWWOWOOWWOW whoever you are F -- K you" in a second tweet. Zolciak-Biermann also tweeted about the robbery on Wednesday, writing, "Hey you loser we got your ass on camera stealing our s -- t! You are a dumb f -- k!!" (US Weekly)

Corey Feldman was in Albany Wednesday to ensure that child-sex predators are brought to justice. The "Stand By Me" actor and child-sex-abuse survivor, 46, joined advocates at the capital to push a bill that gives victims more time to sue abusers. Current state law cuts off victims' ability to sue when they turn 23 years old. "As someone who was failed by the justice system because of a restrictive statute of limitations, I am proud to stand with so many survivors today to try to pass common-sense legislation," Feldman said. The Child Victims Act would also create a one-year window for previously unaddressed claims to be heard in court. (Page Six)

Danielle Bregoli hired some high-powered attorneys and damn sure got her money's worth ... because she just got off probation early. Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... the Department of Juvenile Justice in Palm Beach County, FL has terminated Danielle's 5-year probation. As we reported, Danielle -- aka Bad Bhabie -- was sentenced back in August after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including grand theft and filing a false police report. About 5 months later, Danielle -- aka "Cash Me Outside" Girl -- hired Tiger Woods' attorney, Doug Duncan, to co-counsel with Scott Richardson, and they worked out what was already a sweet deal for her. The shortened probation is a nice cherry on top. We're told the court took into consideration that Danielle's kept her nose clean and completed 100 hours of community service -- working with the group #HashtagLunchbag, and Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. So, case closed and time to hit the road! (TMZ)

The baseball player who punched and beat his girlfriend multiple times in a stadium stairwell PROPOSED to her after his arrest ... and she said, "Yes." TMZ Sports has learned ... Danry Vasquez and his girlfriend are describing themselves as a "happy couple" ... roughly a year-and-a-half after he was arrested for the violent incident. Multiple sources tell us ... Danry's GF begged prosecutors not to push forward with criminal charges after the arrest and stuck by his side the entire time. In fact, Vasquez posted a photo in Oct. 2016 showing the two smiling together and described her as "the person who is always with me in the good and the not so good!" "You are the love of my life and with you I will be until the end of the world princess!!!" The two got engaged around Nov. 2017. We're told the couple had been dating since they were teenagers and the GF was adamant that the attack was "an isolated incident." We spoke with Danry's attorney who tells us, "I recall conversations about the extreme stress he was under and the pressures to perform that he was young. Came to USA at a young age with no parents (accommodating him) and no guidance ... just his dreams. She never excused his behavior just loved him enough to believe they could move forward." (TMZ)

Meek Mill won't get a fight from the District Attorney's Office on his motion to be released on bail ... TMZ has learned. The D.A. filed docs Wednesday saying there's a "strong showing of likelihood" that Meek's conviction will be reversed due to a police corruption scandal in Philly. Prosecutors point out hundreds of previous convictions have already been overturned, and they think Meek will follow suit, shortly. As a result, prosecutors see no reason for Meek to be held without bail. As we reported, Meek's attorneys have filed several motions, including one for him to be released while the court decides whether to uphold the 2 to 4 year sentence he got from Judge Genece Brinkley. Meek's mother, Kathy Williams, tells TMZ ... "I would like to thank the Philadelphia District Attorney's office for carefully evaluating my son's matter and not opposing the request for bail. The fact that Robert's entire conviction could be overturned is a blessing and I pray that God gives Judge Brinkley the wisdom to make the right decision and allow my son to return home to his family. I truly believe justice will prevail." (TMZ)

Big Pun IS forever at Walmart, but his widow ain't happy about it ... so, she's filed a lawsuit against the retail giant. Liza Rios is going after Walmart for a line of clothing and merch it sells which bear the late Bronx rapper's name and image. In the suit, she says some of the items straight-up jacked the trademark she got after Pun died in 2000 -- a Jordan-esque image of Pun soaring with a mic in his hand, instead of a basketball. Most of the clothing and gear -- which includes phone cases, mugs and bags -- is made by a company called Redbubble, and Liza's suing them as well as Walmart. According to the suit, obtained by TMZ, Walmart, Rebubble and other manufacturers are willfully infringing on her trademark ... because they have full knowledge of its existence, yet continue to use it without authorization. Ms. Pun is suing for all profits, and and injunction to block further sales. She's also demanding $10 million in statutory damages from manufacturers Redbubble and Cloudflare, but not Walmart. (TMZ)

The death of the dog that was placed in the overhead bin on a United Airlines flight has triggered a criminal investigation. The Harris County, Texas D.A. has assigned the case to the animal cruelty division. The D.A. did not disclose the target of the investigation. As we reported, the flight attendant who ordered the dog owner to place her pet carrier in the overhead says she was unaware there was a dog inside. The odd thing is ... the dog was barking loud enough for passengers to hear for a prolonged period of time before it died. United has apologized, but that clearly is not the end of this story. If Rick's ready to take on that battle, he's gotta be close to being fully recovered from that hospital stay. Silver lining? (TMZ)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Model Mama! Pregnant Khloe Kardashian Poses Topless for New Good Mama Maternity Line. Just call Khloe Kardashian the Good American mama! The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star and first-time mom-to-be stars in a campaign for her Good American brand's new line of maternity jeans -- appropriately named Good Mama. "Shooting the Good Mama campaign while expecting a child of my own was an amazing experience," Kardashian -- who's expecting a baby girl with her boyfriend, Cleveland Cavaliers player Tristan Thompson -- tells PEOPLE exclusively. "Until this point, no maternity denim options spoke to me -- most of what's out there lack the stylish, fun details that I want to wear, or simply isn't flattering," she explains. "With this collection, we set out to create a premium denim line for women of all sizes and stages of pregnancy, and even for the months after the baby is born." Comfort and quality are only two boxes Kardashian wanted to check off her list when helping to design her new line, which launches Thursday. "I want women to feel sexy, empowered and badass in these jeans," she says. "Good American is also a 'baby' of mine, so celebrating both my pregnancy and the expansion of our business has been very special." On Tuesday, Kardashian gave her social media followers a sneak peek at her brand's new line, posing for a side-profile photo in front of a pink background. "[Good American co-founder Emma Grede] and I have been working on this for six months, even before I got pregnant, which is crazy," she told fans on Snapchat and Instagram in January of the upcoming collection. "I feel like we're just putting things into the universe -- 'Ask, believe and receive,' I'm all about it." The Revenge Body star and Thompson, 27, were recently showered with love over the weekend at a pink-filled celebration, surrounded by family and friends in honor of their daughter's impending arrival. "The shower was very over-the-top, but absolutely stunning. It was like a pink dream. There were pink flowers, including roses, everywhere!" a source told PEOPLE. "Everywhere you looked, the attention to details was very impressive," the insider added. "It was truly the most special and fun shower." (People)

Kathie Lee Gifford on Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby: "I Don't Judge Them." Kathie Lee Gifford has shown mercy towards Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby. During Wednesday's episode of Radio Andy, the Today host revealed she contacted both men after they were separately accused of sexual misconduct. Gifford told host Andy Cohen she's had her own experiences with predators; however, she doesn't hold all of her experiences with sexual misconduct at the same level. "I personally, since I got into this business as a teenage girl, I have been sexually harassed, I have been sexually abused and I have been date raped -- and don't tell me they're all the same cause they are not. They are not the same," she said. "Unless you've been through it and you can say it's the same, then fine. If it was the same to you, OK -- not the same to me. And I don't want to throw everyone on the same manure pile." She then added, "Being a jerk is not the same as being a rapist -- it just isn't." After Cohen asked Gifford if she's contacted Cosby, who faces a sexual assault retrial this April, she said, "Yes, I've been friends with Bill a long, long time." She also said that Weinstein was a friend of hers for 30 years. When Cohen asked Gifford if she's spoken to the disgraced producer -- who's been accused of sexual harassment, assault and rape -- the anchor said, "No, but I called him and left a message." Weinstein has also denied, through his spokesperson, "any allegations of non-consensual sex." While Gifford didn't condone Weinstein and Cosby's behavior, she also said she didn't judge them. "I just want people to know I don't judge them," she said. "I don't like what they do -- but God knows their hearts and there's hope for them. You can't call yourself a friend when the first minute where there's trouble, you run. That's called a fair-weather friend and that's not a friend at all." She then called upon listeners to show some mercy. "I hope people are not misunderstanding this. I am not saying that that kind of behavior is in anyway acceptable. It isn't, and it's horrible. As a woman who's experienced it, it's awful," she said. "But, can we at least look at each individual case and see it for what it is, and be merciful to people that are sorry for what they've done? If we stop having mercy as part of our vocabulary, Andy, our world will completely die." According to The Washington Post, at least 60 women have accused Cosby of sexual harassment or rape. He has denied these claims. The Cosby Show star was also accused of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand. He pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated indecent assault. His first trial ended in a mistrial. (Eonline)

Elizabeth Hurley's 21-Year-Old Nephew Photographed for First Time Since Stabbing. He's looking good! Elizabeth Hurley's nephew Miles Hurley has been photographed for the first time since being stabbed multiple times in a violent road rage incident in London last Thursday. In the photo, posted by friend @bazyfish, the 21-year-old is photographed in a robe and next to a rapper known as Romz, who is believed to be the other stabbing victim. The photo is captioned, "MY SURVIVORS. Grateful." Eagle-eye fans will note that there's a newspaper in the photo, which mentions Miles' attack in the headline. E! News previously reported that Miles was attacked at Nine Elms, South West London on March 8. London's Metropolitan Police confirmed to E! News that an ambulance arrived at the scene and discovered two 21-year-old men with stab wounds. They said they got in a minor car crash with another vehicle, then got into an argument with its occupants, and then drove off and parked. The other vehicle followed them and its occupants, a group of men, got out and assaulted the victims before driving off. Two days after the attack, the 52-year-old Royals star tweeted, "My 21 year old nephew was repeatedly stabbed in a brutal attack in London on Thursday night." The distraught aunt continued, "The police & hospital are being fantastic. Thank you for all your messages. It is an appalling time for him & our family. The police will be appealing for witnesses." Police also told E! News that they are believed to have been attacked by a group of males who got out of a vehicle and assaulted them before fleeing the scene. Elizabeth is close with her younger nephew who has already found huge success in the modeling industry. Miles has modeled for designers like Roberto Cavalli, Salvatore Ferragamo, Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana. "I'm really close to my aunt and she's very supportive of everything I do" he told The Telegraph in 2013. "The best advice she has given me is just to enjoy myself, work hard and be nice to everybody." We hope you heal quickly, Miles! The investigation into the stabbing continues. (Eonline)

A Nobel Prize-winning chemist's wife is dead while he has been located alive but confused 200 miles away from where they live. Professor Ei-ichi Negishi, 82, and his wife Sumire Negishi, 80, were reported missing on Monday in Indiana but the following day police discovered the professor wandering along a road near the Orchard Hills Landfill in Illinois. After organizing medical treatment for the professor, who was later hospitalized, Ogle County Sheriff's Deputies then found Ei-ichi's vehicle and Sumire's body at the landfill, according to a press release from the department. While authorities are investigating her death, they said foul play was not suspected. Sumire suffered from Parkinson's disease. Despite the details of what happened still being under investigation, family members released a statement to local news station, WTHR, saying the couple was trying to get to nearby Rockford International Airport and ran off the road when they got lost. "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved wife and mother, Sumire Negishi, who was near the end of her battle with Parkinson's. She was traveling with her lifelong partner and husband, Eiichi Negishi, who was apparently suffering from an acute state of confusion and shock," the statement said. "The car was stuck in a ditch and determined to be non-functioning and he appeared to be searching for help. The location and car condition were substantiated by the Ogle County Detective, Mr. Doug Lockard. Detective Lockard also confirmed that the first thing our father said was that he was trying to get to the airport for a trip." Ei-ichi won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2010. He works as a chemistry professor at Purdue University in Indiana. Purdue President Mitch Daniels released a statement to WLFI sharing his condolences to the Negishi family. "Purdue University and the world have lost a dear friend in the death of Sumire Negishi," he said. "Throughout a lifetime of love and loyalty, she supported her husband in a career of tremendous contributions to science and to the teaching and training of subsequence generations of top scientists." He continued, "It appears that the Parkinson's disease from which she has been suffering and the mental confusion that age can bring to the most brilliant minds combined to produce the recent tragic events. That these phenomena are so common does not make their consequences any less cruel." "All Boilermakers everywhere join the Negishi family in sadness at the loss of Sumire, who made so many of her own contributions to her husband's works and to the vitality of our community." (People)

Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Vanessa Trump, are struggling through marital problems and friends say they are heading for divorce, multiple sources have exclusively confirmed to Page Six. Vanessa and the eldest son of President Donald Trump married in November 2005 and have five children. But while they have not legally separated, friends say they have been living separate lives. Divorce proceedings have not yet been initiated, but friends say they expect the couple to file soon. A spokesperson for Don Jr., Vanessa and the Trump Organization declined to comment, despite numerous requests to do so over two days. One source told us, "The problems have been there for a long time, the couple had hoped to stay together during the president's time in office, but it is getting harder to resolve their issues. He's never there." Don Jr., 40, has been traveling a lot. In February he was in India, and he has continued to take his hunting trips. Don Jr. is an avid hunter and there are many pictures of him online posing with the carcasses of elephants, leopards and other animals. Don Jr. and his brother Eric, 34, are running the Trump Organization while their father is in office. Another of the sources told us, "Don Jr. has been busy traveling, which has contributed to their problems. Vanessa is a devoted mother, but she is increasingly lonely and alone in the house with the children." An issue, two of the sources say, is that Don Jr. "appears to have changed recently, and friends are concerned about him." Their concerns were increased by Don Jr.'s tweeting, including when he liked a tweet linking antidepressants to mass murder, and another liking a tweet attacking a teen survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. The Daily Beast also reported that following the school shooting, Don Jr. urged his dad to stay strong on gun rights and hold firm against any assault weapons ban. Previously at Halloween, Don tweeted that he would take away half of his 3-year-old daughter's Halloween candy because he wrote, "it's never to [sic] early to teach her about socialism." Then after his recent trip to India, he was heavily criticized for his tone-deaf remark praising the country's poor because "There's still a smile on a face." Last year, Don Jr. asked to have his 24-hour Secret Service detail removed, saying he wanted more privacy. The Washington Post quoted a former member of the Trump administration saying that the Secret Service had been sending a rotating set of temporary agents to protect their young children and "There are all these new people coming and going. The kids don't like that. They can't get comfortable with someone they don't know." But the 24-hour protection for his family was restored later the same month. The sources add that psychology graduate Vanessa is uncomfortable with the intense focus on the Trump family. One told us, "Vanessa is by nature is a very low-key person, and she is uncomfortable with the attention her family is getting now the Trumps are on the world stage. She is also worried for her kids, particularly after she received the threatening letter containing the white powder." In February, Vanessa was taken to a hospital as a precaution after she opened a letter addressed to Don Jr., mailed to their Manhattan home, which contained an explicit threat along with the white powder. The NYPD later said the powder in the envelope was non-hazardous, but the sources said of the experience, "It was terrifying for Vanessa, who is naturally worried for the safety of her children." Meanwhile, a separate source close to the couple insisted that, while they were having problems, they were not yet at the point of divorce: "Donald Jr. and Vanessa have been dealing with some issues, but they are not yet at the stage of filing for divorce. They are trying to deal with this privately. "Don is still living at home, is a good dad and is super involved in his kids' lives. He has always traveled for work, so his current schedule is not something out of the ordinary. He has a busy travel schedule now as he always does." The source close to the couple also insisted Don "hasn't changed" and his social media stance remains the same as it always has: "Don has always had a bold and aggressive nature on social, there's no change to his stance on Twitter. His behavior hasn't changed, there's nothing irrational about him, he's always been bold, will say what he thinks and fight back, that's his personality on Twitter." But the source added, "While they are not legally separated, I cannot deny there are issues, there are a lot of intricate things that go on in a marriage. Don and Vanessa are focused on their family, they are trying to do this quietly and privately, and when they have something to say on the record, they will do so. This has nothing to do with politics, this is a personal matter between two people." (Page Six)

Nick Gordon's latest arrest for domestic violence is setting off alarms for his girlfriend's family members, who fear she'll end up dead like his ex, Bobbi Kristina Brown. Sources connected to Laura Leal's family tell TMZ ... they are incredibly worried by his latest arrest, especially considering his history with her, as well as Bobbi Kristina's death. As you know, Gordon was previously arrested for beating Laura -- and, of course, he was found liable for BK's death in a civil trial. We're told they're also concerned because it appears Laura still wants to be with Nick ... based on the letter she wrote to the judge, pleading for prosecutors to drop the current case. As one source put it, "She wants this bastard to kill her." We're told Laura's cut off relations with her family -- a big change from last year, when she turned to her fam after Nick's first arrest for beating her. TMZ broke the story ... prosecutors in Georgia, who are still investigating Bobbi Kristina's death, are also keeping a close eye on Gordon's Florida case. (TMZ)

Matt Lauer chops price of Hamptons mansion. This month, fired "Today" show anchor Matt Lauer cut $2.1 million off the price of his 25-acre property in the Hamptons; it's now listed for $12.75 million. It was initially listed for $18 million in 2016. A lot has changed for Lauer since 2016: He spent much of the past year dealing with allegations from more than a dozen women who say he sexually harassed them at work. He was fired from NBC without severance pay in November. "Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed," Lauer, 60, said in a statement in late November. "Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching and I'm committed to beginning that effort," he said. "It is now my fulltime job." Lauer and his wife, who own multiple properties on the East Coast, picked up this Sag Harbor, NY, home when it was brand-new, in 2004. It's hard to find Hamptons property with this much acreage, says listing agent Susan Breitenbach with Corcoran Group Real Estate. The home is "priced to sell," Breitenbach says. It's a "unique and amazing property and opportunity. It's very hard to find 25 acres, ultra-private and quiet, anywhere in [the] Hamptons." The parklike grounds were designed by Brooklyn-based landscape architect Miranda Brooks, who's designed gardens for Vogue editor Anna Wintour and billionaire Ronald Perelman. The 8,000-square-foot, six-bedroom, eight-bath house was designed by architect Daniel Romualdez. It features weathered clapboard siding, soaring ceilings with exposed wooden beams and casually luxurious spaces for entertaining guests. Interior designer Muriel Brandolini embraced color and wallpaper: The dining room has forest green doors and trim, with hand-painted wallpaper depicting plants and trees. The living room has sea-foam green walls with dark trim, exposed beams, a cathedral ceiling and six sets of French doors. The library has bright blue trim, built-in bookcases and built-in seating nooks under the windows. The kitchen is plum-colored, while the master bedroom has patterned wallpaper, a black ceiling and a chandelier. The effect, Breitenbach says, is an "elegant, traditional house" that looks far more classic than its actual age. Outside, walking paths wind through the gardens, which have private sitting areas, terraces, and patios. There's a tennis court, heated gunite pool, pool house and wet bar. The property's 25 acres could be split into two lots, with the main house sitting on 15 acres, and a separate, buildable 10-acre lot, Breitenbach says. Lauer is a New York City native who dropped out of college to become a broadcast journalist. He joined the "Today" show in 1994. His latest contract with NBC, signed in 2012 and originally set to expire in 2018, was estimated to be worth around $25 million per year. (PageSix)

Tinder says it doesn't ban anyone from its dating service based on gender identity -- as a transgender woman is claiming in a lawsuit. A spokesperson for the dating app tells TMZ ... the company can't comment on pending litigation, but adds, categorically ... "We do not ban users from Tinder due to gender identity," which is why Tinder offers more than 37 gender options for U.S. users. The Tinder rep says, "We fundamentally believe that gender is not binary and we support inclusivity and acceptance of all people." We broke the story ... Ariel Hawkins -- a transgender woman in Oregon -- filed a class action lawsuit claiming her account was deleted after she added pre-op trans woman to her Tinder profile. (TMZ)

Stormy Daniels is getting a huge financial assist from the public in her legal battle with Donald Trump, but while the donations pile up ... so do questions about the loot. Stormy opened a crowdfunding page Wednesday, asking for donations to support her legal effort to get the "hush" agreement with the Prez tossed. So far she's raised more than $80k in the first 12 hours, and plans to keep collecting for another month. At that pace, she's easily looking at a 7-figure kitty ... possible more. She doesn't list a goal amount, so we called Stormy's lawyer, Michael Avenatti, and asked how much he's billed so far -- to get a sense of what the final bill might be. He wouldn't say. Avenatti did tell TMZ, he's NOT billing her for his media blitz, which include appearances on "Today," "CBS This Morning," multiple CNN and MSNBC shows, ABC ... plus the NY Times, NY Daily News, Washington Post, and NPR. Stormy's page says the money's for attorneys' fees and litigation costs, as well as possible "damages that may be awarded against me if I speak out." Avenatti did say Stormy will donate the extra cash to charity, but there's no mention of that on the crowdfunding post. We're guessing donors don't know their dough might go to charity, instead of her anti-Trump cause. BTW, most people who donate to charity also want a tax deduction, which they won't get here. (TMZ)

Music

Cardi B's set to pop out her baby this summer but, unlike Beyonce, she's not letting pregnancy stop her from performing at Coachella. Sources close to Cardi B tell TMZ ... the rapper's due the first week of July and will be close to 7 months pregnant with Offset's kiddo when she takes the stage next month at Coachella. It's unclear if she'll dress to cover up what will most likely be a noticeable baby bump by the time she takes the stage. Notice, she was more modest last week at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. TMZ broke the story ... Cardi's people told nightclub staffers she's pregnant during Super Bowl weekend. She denied it, and so did her baby daddy ... but we're told the baby train's full steam ahead. Our sources say Cardi plans to remain in work mode until she pops. For example, we're told she's spent the last 2 weeks buried in the studio to complete her debut album. She also fully intends to go on tour with Bruno Mars in September ... a whopping 2 months after giving birth to her first child. She's got a lot on the line -- about $100k per night of the tour, and the same goes for her Coachella dates. That's a lotta diapers. (TMZ)

TRL Is Not Canceled, But MTV Is Expanding It to 3 Times a Day. Despite reports of cancellation, MTV is not pulling the plug on its TRL reboot. TMZ reported earlier Wednesday that the show is canceled, but it's actually just making some big changes. "TRL has been a huge success for us and we're expanding the franchise with daily late night and morning shows this summer," an MTV spokesperson told E! News. The music and interview show has been airing once a day in the afternoon, but MTV has also been piloting a late-night version airing at 11 p.m. two nights a week. As MTV President Chris McCarthy told THR, the expanded version of the show will air three times a day -- morning, afternoon, and late night -- four days a week. TRL will continue the format it started when it returned in October, with a live two-hour block featuring rotating hosts and social media stars like Gigi Gorgeous and Eva Gutowski as correspondents, though the morning and late-night shows will be slightly different. The late-night version will partly serve as an aftershow for shows like Jersey Shore, but it will also feature performances and celebrity guests. The morning version will be "pure music play," McCarthy told THR, featuring a music video countdown and live performances. Before its April premiere, TRL had been off the air for nine years. It was formerly hosted by Carson Daly. TRL will return in April and the expanded version will launch full-time in the summer. (Eonline)

Carlos Vara Talks Viral Success of His Debut Single & 'High-Key Crush' on Adam Lambert. Last Friday, Nashville-based musician Carlos Vara released his debut single, the soulful "Numb." In just under a week, the track has managed to rack up more than 160,000 streams on Spotify -- impressive for an artist who doesn't have label support, let alone a manager or publicist. "I've spent the past two years in this little bubble. I wasn't out performing or anything. I was just writing my own stuff," the 20-year-old told Billboard. "So when I woke up that morning and saw my song on [Spotify's] New Music Friday playlist -- I had no idea that was going to be on there. And then it started charting on the U.S. Viral 50. It completely surpassed any expectations I had for it. I sobbed because I'm a little baby." "Numb" also ended up on a playlist curated by Adam Lambert. "I used to have a high-key crush on him when I was a teenager. His vocal range is insane. So when I saw that I was on his playlist, I was like 'what the fuck?'" Vara didn't always love "Numb" though: "It was the very first song I wrote when I moved to Nashville. There was one point where I absolutely hated it and I swore to God I'd never release it. But then I revisited it with my producer Josh Bruce Williams and our friend Jeff Bowman. We completely changed the delivery and made the song 'me' -- and now I love it and I'm glad we released it." He also explained the inspiration for the track: "You know how for typical straight people, seventh grade is when they start dating and going through those middle school insecurities? Well I feel like I didn't go through that until I was an adult, after I came out. 'Numb' is written in a way where it sounds very relationship-y, but it was really written at a time in my life when there were just so many emotions going on with a bunch of different relationships and I felt, well, numb to it all. It was all a blur, if that makes sense?" Vara is hoping to continue the momentum with the track's music video. He also plans to roll-out new tracks over the next few months. (Billboard)

Toronto's Field Trip Festival Drops Nestle as Sponsor Following Backlash. Toronto music festival Field Trip, created in 2013 by the Arts & Crafts label, has dropped sponsors Nestle and one of its brands Perrier after online backlashfrom fans arguing that the corporation's ethics were at odds with the festival's community focus. Originally started to celebrate the label's 10-year anniversary, the Live Nation festival has now become a regular fixture in the summer at Historic Fort York & Garrison Common downtown. This year's line-up, for June 2-3, was announced the first week of March and includes Metric, Yeah Yeah Years, Bahamas, Alvvays, Allan Rayman and Japandroids. "Driven by a love of community and discovery, Field Trip 2018 again welcomes an incredible array of musical performances, family programming, comedy and more," the press release announcing the ticket on-sale stated. "All the music, food, drink and activities integrate with collaborative explorations on themes of visual art, technology, fashion and beyond." The release included a quote from festival producer Aaron Miller: "Field Trip promises something for all of us. We challenge ourselves to improve the diversity and creativity of our offerings every year, but our deep connections to the City of Toronto and its creative communities remain unchanged." Then the backlash began. "Why do you have Nestle as a sponsor?" asked A. Richard on Twitter, March 9. "I find it impossible to think that you have no idea of their fiendish practices right here in Ontario. There's a movement starting to boycott Field Trip for this reason. You should probably consider a response." He wasn't the only one. On Tuesday the festival posted the following on its socials: "We have heard all of your feedback and concerns as they pertain to Field Trip's sponsorship agreement with Nestle. As a result, Nestle and Perrier will no longer be a partner of Field Trip 2018." Reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. "I am very pleased to hear this and will be buying a ticket as a result," wrote one person. "After reading the reasoning they were removed, I applaud Arts & Crafts. Way to continue to kick ass," reads another. Yet another: "Thank you for listening to fans. Really important you did this." Others were sarcastic: "As if anybody feels like a nice big glass of iced tea or sparkling water at a music festival." A few asked for a recap on the issue and were pointed to a page created by The Council of Canadians Acting for Social Justice asking people to boycott Nestle, in this case for buying up local groundwater. It received more than 60,000 pledges. "Nestle has been making profit by pumping groundwater all over the world," it states in one portion of the public appeal. "Communities are standing up and saying "no" to Nestle's water grabs and profit making off of a shared community resource." It also includes a chart and list of all Nestle products. The Nestle and Perrier logos have now been removed from Field Trip's web site. Remaining partners are Jim Beam, Mill St. Brewery, Brick Works, Palm Bay, RBC, Tweed and Big House Wine Company. (Billboard)

Movies

Pierce Brosnan Says He Was "Cheated" by Indian Breath-Freshener Brand. The former James Bond actor responded to a notice by Indian authorities, which asked him to explain why he was associated with the controversial Pan Bahar company. Pierce Brosnan has told Indian authorities that he was "cheated" by the Pan Bahar brand which the actor endorsed in an advertising campaign in 2016. Brosnan had featured in a commercial for Pan Bahar, a traditional Indian breath freshener -- or "pan masala" in Hindi -- that is a mixture of nuts, seeds, herbs and spices. Brosnan's association with the brand sparked a controversy, given that the use of pan masala has never been seen as a healthy habit, and some studies have suggested it may include an addictive form of tobacco and ingredients that can cause cancer. This led the state government of Delhi to issue a notice against Brosnan last month demanding an explanation for his association with the brand. It also issued a notice to Ashok & Co., which owns the Pan Bahar brand, but the company has yet to issue a statement. According to local reports Thursday, which quoted a government health official, Brosnan replied to the Delhi State Tobacco Control Cell stating that he was "cheated by the company, as the latter did not disclose the hazardous nature of the product and other terms and conditions of the contract of advertisement." The official also added that Brosnan said that his agreement with the company "was over and that he was ready to extend all kinds of support and cooperation to our department against such campaigns. He has given an undertaking in writing that he would never assist any company with regard to promotion of such products or other such harmful products in future." While Brosnan has distanced himself from the brand, the commercial is still running on television and cinemas. The commercial re-creates a 007-style scenario in which Brosnan overpowers some villains, all with the help of a Pan Bahar tin in his hand, impressing an awestruck wannabe Bond girl. Following the controversy when the campaign first ran, Brosnan had issued an apology stating that the use of his image in the campaign was "unauthorized and deceptive" and a violation of his contract. Brosnan said he agreed to advertise a single product presented as "all-natural containing neither tobacco, supari, nor any other harmful ingredient." He also added that the company "grossly manipulated" media outlets to make it seem as if he was a brand ambassador for an entire line of products. In the past some Bollywood stars, such as Saif Ali Khan, have endorsed such products. However, in 2016, the Delhi government issued a directive requesting Bollywood stars to not endorse pan masala. "Even if these pan masalas do not contain tobacco or nicotine, they surely contain areca nuts [known as 'supari' in Hindi], and now there are a lot of scientific evidences which prove that supari causes cancer," the directive stated. (Hollywood Reporter)

Box-Office Preview: Can 'Tomb Raider' Dethrone 'Black Panther?' Faith-based film 'I Can Only Imagine' and terrorist drama '7 Days in Entebbe' also open nationwide. Will Alicia Vikander-starrer Tomb Raider -- a reboot of the film franchise from the early 2000s that was headlined by Angelina Jolie -- be the film to finally dethrone superhero sensation Black Panther? Opening in more than 3,700 theaters, Tomb Raider is tracking to debut to $23 million-$25 million at the North American box office this weekend. Ryan Coogler's Black Panther also looks to earn $25 million or so in its fifth outing. If it stays atop the chart, the Disney and Marvel superhero blockbuster will be the first film since Avatar eight years ago to win for five consecutive weekends. From Warner Bros. and MGM, Tomb Raider hopes to restart the film series about an adventurous and fearless archeologist (the video game upon which the film franchise is based saw a major overhaul in 2013). This time out, Lara Croft sets out on a dangerous journey to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance. Norwegian filmmaker Roar Uthaug (The Wave) directs the $90 million film, which co-stars Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu and Kristin Scott Thomas. The first film in the original franchise, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, debuted to a rousing $47.7 million in June 2001, and more than $77 million when adjusted for inflation, while the sequel, Lara Croft: The Cradle of Life, debuted to $21 million two years later, unadjusted for inflation. The new Tomb Raider is making a major push overseas this weekend timed to its U.S. launch, including in China and a slew of other markets. It earned a promising $14 million-plus last weekend when rolling out early in select Asian territories. A Wrinkle in Time, which opened to a muted $33.1 million in North America last weekend, hopes to sport a small drop thanks to being the only broad family film in the marketplace. Among other new offerings besides Tomb Raider, Fox opens YA adaptation Love, Simon, the first film from a major Hollywood studio featuring a gay teen protagonist. Greg Berlanti directs the Fox 2000 dramedy, which stars Nick Robinson as Simon Spier, a closeted high schooler who tries to find out the identity of an anonymous classmate he's fallen in love with online. Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner co-star in the $17 million film, which will get a berth in more than 2,400 locations. Fox is projecting an opening in the $10 million-$12 million range for Love, Simon, but other box office observers think it could climb higher. (The movie has been embraced by critics.) Getting an early jump on Easter, Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate will open the faith based film I Can Only Imagine in more than 1,600 cinemas. The $7 million film stars J. Michael Finley as Bart Millard, the lead singer of the Christian band MercyMe who wrote "I Can Only Imagine," considered to be the most popular song in Christian music history. Dennis Quaid and Cloris Leachman also star in the film, which is tracking to open in the $3 million-$5 million range, with plenty of room for upside. Finally, Focus Features debuts 7 Days in Entebbe in roughly 800 theaters. Daniel Bruhl and Rosamund Pike star as German radicals in Jose Padilha's thriller about the 1976 rescue of hostages from a hijacked Air France flight diverted to Uganda. Working Title and StudioCanal produced the film, which made its world premiere in February at the Berlin Film Festival. 7 Days in Entebbe -- which wasn't surveyed by tracking services -- has been snubbed by critics, and currently shows a 14 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to 90 percent for Love, Simon and 51 percent for Tomb Raider. (Reviews haven't yet hit for I Can Only Imagine.) (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

What Did Scully Whisper to Mulder on The X-Files? The X-Files just added another mystery to the pile. In "Nothing Lasts Forever," the penultimate episode of The X-Files season 11, Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) had a deeply personal conversation about where they stand, mainly in each other's lives. At one point Scully leans in and whispers in Mulder's ear. "I don't know if any God is listening, but I am standing right here," Mulder told Scully. "And I am listening. Right beside you, all ears. That's my choice." Then she whispered in his ear, pulled away and said, "That's not my four-year-old self looking for a miracle," she said. "That's my leap of faith forward. And I'd like to do it together." What did Scully whisper? "That's between Mulder and Scully," episode writer Karen Nielsen told The Hollywood Reporter. "Having those private moments, it's important for any couple." Fox is calling the Wednesday, March 21 episode the season finale, but Anderson has made it clear she won't be back. Series creator Chris Carter has said he wouldn't continue the show without her, then hedged on those statements. Whatever happens, The X-Files as fans know it currently likely won't be back anytime soon. And that means there's no chance of finding out what Scully whispered... even if she comes back to the show. "It'll always be between Mulder and Scully," Nielsen said. "It's not for anyone else. That was their moment." When E! News visited the set of The X-Files in November 2017 we asked the dynamic duo if this would be a satisfying ending. "Well, we've been asked that every year for the past 20 years as well," Duchovny said. "Um, I haven't read number 10, but I'm going to say yes," Anderson said. And what would be their ideal ending? "I haven't thought about it. But it will involve the blobfish," Anderson joked about a prop from episode seven. "There may be three of us." "Scandalous," Duchovny said. The X-Files season finale airs Wednesday, March 21 at 8 p.m. on Fox. (Eonline)

Scandal! Megan Morrison Faints at Big Hollywood Event Causing a Major Media Frenzy on The Arrangement Is the pressure of being Hollywood's next rising star becoming too much for Megan Morrison (Christine Evangelista)? In the clip from Sunday's all-new The Arrangement, Megan faints at a big Hollywood event and her fall causes a major media frenzy, sending Deann (Lexa Doig) and Terence (Michael Vartan) into a PR tailspin. "1.8 million lives views. The agency keeps pestering me for answers," a frustrated Deann says after watching the viral video of Megan's fall. "Why? Because their new client launch fell apart? Screw 'em," Kyle (Josh Henderson) retorts. Not as concerned with Megan's health, Terence suspects the actress' fainting spell is the result of something darker. "This insider is going with drugs," Terence asserts. "No, it's not drugs, alright? I would know," Kyle snaps back. While the Institute for the Higher Mind's on-call doctor wasn't able to provide a diagnosis just yet, he suspects the fall came from Megan being "wound-up like a spring" and encourages Kyle to keep her relaxed. So he does just that, comforting his fiancee as she cries into her pillow. (Eonline)

Mindy Kaling Reveals Why She Thinks Champions Is Really Groundbreaking. Mindy Kaling's new NBC comedy Champions has been praised for its inclusiveness, being that it's centered on a half-Indian gay teenager -- a character that you don't see all too often on television -- but what makes the show truly groundbreaking doesn't just stop there. E! News sat down with Kaling and her young leading man, J.J. Totah, for a chat about the sitcom, and she admitted she believes it's the way in which the show doesn't make lead character Michael's sexuality the crux of his narrative that makes the show stand out. "It's also nice because this is a young gay man who the show is not about his struggles with being gay," she said. "It's something that is a foregone conclusion. We're sick of necessarily watching the brutalization, and those stories needed to be told, but it's like we're kind of past it or we'd like to just see that it's part of his personality, but he has a whole other set of issues that are entertaining and great." Totah, a relative newcomer, agreed with his boss and co-star. (Kaling guest stars throughout season one as Michael's single mom, Priya.) "Which is what makes it even more groundbreaking because the shows we have seen with gay characters in it, it was about them being gay or it was about them having to deal with it, and we deal with Michael being gay in 45 seconds of the pilot," he added. "And then we have a show to do." The series, which tells the story of Michael moving in with his father Vince (Anders Holm), a washed-up high school athlete who now runs his family gym, and uncle Matthew (Andy Favreau), only moments after meeting them, in order to follow his dreams and attend a prestigious performing arts school in the Big Apple, leaving his mom behind in Cleveland. And among a cast of comedy all-stars that also includes Fortune Feimster and Yassir Lester, Totah more than holds his own with a self-assuredness that belies his young age. "I think we discovered that in working with him, but we cast him because he was so funny," Kaling gushed. "And he has timing that was like just incredibly crisp, sophisticated timing for such a young person. It's really hard to find." "I appreciate that," Totah replied. "Also, it also goes to say, the writing is incredible. You and [co-creator] Charlie [Gandy] and your staff wrote so well. There's so many funny lines and all the characters are so dynamic. I'm so happy that I get to play one that is and has so many dimensions. It's super fun." Champions airs Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on NBC. (Eonline)

Leah Remini's Scientology show gets renewed for third season. Days after the Church of Scientology announced it was starting its own television network, A&E renewed a series dedicated to taking down the controversial religious group. The cabler has greenlit "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" season 3, our sister site Deadline reports. The series, in which the "Kevin Can Wait" star/former Scientologist says she wants to expose the religion's alleged mistreatment of its members, won a 2017 Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series or Special. A&E also picked up four new docu-series (all of which have working titles): "Lost for Life," about children who were given life sentences after murdering someone but who are now, thanks to a Supreme Court decision, allowed to plead their case; "Many Sides of Jane," about a 28-year-old woman learning to live with Dissociative Identity Disorder; "The Accused," about what happens when someone is falsely accused of a crime; and "Employable Me," about people with mental disabilities who are searching for their dream jobs. (PageSix)

Co-Founder of 'The Crown' Producer Left Bank Leaves Company. Marigo Kehoe has been serving as managing director of the production firm, in which Sony Pictures Television in 2012 acquired a majority stake. Marigo Kehoe, the co-founder and managing director of The Crown producer Left Bank Pictures, has decided to leave the company, according to company sources. She has been a driving force at the firm since launching it with Andy Harries in 2007. Sony Pictures Television in 2012 acquired a majority stake in Left Bank. Sony and Left Bank didn't immediately comment. Among her TV credits are serving as executive producer of Amazon/Channel 4 series Philip K. Dicks' Electric Dreams, the Channel 4/Amazon co-production and Starz's Outlander. Appearing Tuesday at a conference in Israel, The Crown producers revealed that star Claire Foy earned less than male co-star Matt Smith for the first two seasons of the Netflix hit. Foy played Queen Elizabeth in the drama from showrunner Peter Morgan, Sony Pictures Television Studios and Left Bank and earned a Golden Globe, SAG Award and Emmy nomination, among other accolades, for the part. Smith came into The Crown -- on which he played Prince Philip for two seasons -- with considerably more experience after having spent three seasons starring as The Doctor on Doctor Who. "Going forward, no one gets paid more than the Queen," Left Bank creative director and executive producer Suzanne Mackie said at the INTV Conference in Jerusalem. She acknowledged that Smith's experience on Doctor Who fueled the salary disparity. (Hollywood Reporter)