DMX Pit Stop After Prison Release ... Snaps Pics With Employees

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A few lucky DMX fans working at a Maryland gas station were among the first people to see the rapper after he got out of prison, and when they asked for a photo he replied ... "X Gon Give it to Ya!"

Folks at the Royal Farms store in Frederick tell TMZ ... DMX and his crew of about 20 pulled in Friday night around 7 PM to gas up and grab some goodies. We're told everyone immediately recognized him and he was super friendly to the staff ... agreeing to snap several pics before they took off.

We broke the story ... DMX became a free man again Friday after he was released from federal prison in West Virginia. He completed a one-year sentence for tax evasion. He was first seen out in public post-prison with his son and fiancee, grabbing breakfast at a local spot.

As we've told you ... the rapper is planning on dropping a new album and tackling some new movie projects in 2019, including a possible biopic. So, stay tuned!

Trace Cyrus Attacks Women Who Criticized Fiancee Photo on Insta

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Trace Cyrus went wild on his female followers after some of them reported him to Instagram as a porn peddler, for posting a pic of his fiancee.

Miley's older brother posted a pic of Lauren Sanders with his hand on her neck, and some clearly took issue by contacting the social media service. Trace launched, saying, "F*** ALL U JEALOUS GIRLS REPORTING MY PIC OF MY BAE!!!"

He went on ... "If you're not happy with your look then f*** do something about it!!! Go to the gym, learn to do your makeup properly, find out about fashions that fit your body type."

Trace didn't stop there ... "There's so much that can be done. But don't go hating on my girl because she's hot!! There was nothing wrong with the picture I had posted."

Instagram deleted the pic from his account and Trace blamed his female critics ... "So many of u miserable girls out there f***ing flagged it so it got taken down!! I believe every woman can be beautiful but JEALOUSLY & lack of confidence in yourselves makes u all look disgusting."

Demi Lovato Celebrates 6 Months of Sobriety

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Demi Lovato had a big day Friday ... celebrating 6 months of sobriety.

Demi hit up an L.A. gym and returned home to a delicious surprise ... a cake with a message from her team ... "HAPPY 6 MO WE ARE SO F***ING PROUD OF YOU."

Demi has landed on her feet after her extended stint in rehab, following her near-fatal overdose last July.

She's been back in L.A. since November and has been dating her sober companion, Henry Levy.

Demi, who has struggled with addiction for years, was sober for 6 years before her relapse and has clearly made sobriety her priority. Several years ago she chose to live in a sober house for an extended period of time to help ensure she would not relapse.

The photo shows a chip that signifies 6 months of sobriety.

Jason Momoa I'm a F***ing Amazing Snowboarder!!!

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TRADING WATER FOR SNOW

Jason Momoa not only owns the land beneath the sea ... he owns the ski slopes too!

We got the coolest man at the Sundance Film Festival Friday night leaving Butcher's Chop House in Park City, Utah, and he declared his impending dominance on the slopes. Jason says he's breakin' out the snowboard Saturday and he will be king of the mountain.

He's certainly king of the sea. "Aquaman" has become the highest grossing DC superhero flick, grossing more than a billion bucks.

Jason's at Sundance to host a panel on, "The Creatives Behind Some of YouTube's Buzziest Channels."

One thing Jason made clear he WON'T do ... challenge The Rock to a Haka dance. Apparently, you don't square off with family when you do the Haka.

Michael Jackson Documentary Accusers Arrive for Screening ... Get Standing Ovation

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1/26 1:00 PM PT -- Michael Jackson's estate has responded to the "Leaving Neverland" premiere by slamming it once more, saying, it "isn't a documentary, it is the kind of tabloid character assassination Michael Jackson endured in life, and now in death."

The estate claims the director intentionally avoided interviewing people who could attest that Jackson treated children with respect and never harmed them "so he could craft a narrative so blatantly one-sided that viewers never get anything close to a balanced portrait."

Jackson's estate refers to Robson and Safechuck as "admitted liars" and accuses them of trying to "achieve notoriety and a payday by smearing" Jackson.

For what it's worth ... Wade and James have claimed they were not paid for "Leaving Neverland."

1/ 25 1:15 PM PT -- Emotional Robson and Safechuck took the stage after the film and were given a standing ovation. They did a brief Q&A, and let the audience know just how important getting everything out was to them.

12:40 PM PT -- We're told there's a lot of emotional testimony from Wade and James in part 2, especially talking about coming to terms with their abuse and revealing it to their families.

At one point, Wade breaks down in tears describing having visions of Michael abusing his own kid. He talks about going to therapy and telling his family the truth. We're told some members of Wade's family has contempt for his mother for allowing the abuse to happen. James' mom also appears on camera and talks about her guilt.

Some of the evidence in the film used to support the allegations against Michael include "love notes" to both boys along with voice messages. We're told despite the upsetting nature of the film, the audience applauded at the end.

12:05 PM PT -- Part 2 heavily focuses on Jackson's case and trial, and how he allegedly treated Wade and James in the process. Both claim Jackson made legal threats, and Wade eventually decided to testify in Jackson's defense because he says he was scared of the repercussions if he told the truth.

James says he refused to testify and Jackson got mad and threatened him, but that was the last time they spoke.

11:30 AM PT -- We're told the second part of the documentary opens with Jackson's allegations surfacing publicly for the first time in the '90s, and later moves on to his 2003 arrest for child molestation.

It also details the lives of both James and Wade after their time with Jackson, and how they dealt with his arrest and their connection to the case.

11:10 AM PT -- Someone watching the preview tells TMZ ... the doc is airing in 2 parts. The first hour of part 1 features Safechuck's testimony, including his story about how Jackson befriended him and his family before the alleged sexual abuse began.

We're told Safechuck gives very graphic details of the abuse and sex acts, which he claims happened at Neverland and Jackson's home in Century City. He says the abuse started when Jackson taught him to masturbate in a hotel room in Paris.

There's also a lot of footage of James and Michael together, and we're told James shows the jewelry MJ allegedly bought him as rewards for sex acts.

The second hour of part 1 features Robson's account of how he won a dance contest to meet Michael, who then convinced him and his mom to move to L.A. to be closer to him.

We're told both James and Wade claim the abuse felt normal to them because Jackson coached them on how to keep a secret. He allegedly had drills with them, and had alarms go off so the boys knew to put clothes on when people would approach at Neverland.

Both men say the abuse got worse as they got older and Jackson introduced them to pornography. They claim that's when he began having anal sex with them.

The mothers of both men are also featured in the doc and talk about how they trusted the pop singer, but were blinded by his fame. We're told there's also mention of Macaulay Culkin -- allegedly, Michael would tell the other boys he was his favorite.

We're told part 2 just began ... opening up with when allegations first started surfacing about Jackson.

The explosive Michael Jackson documentary is about to be unveiled, and the 2 accusers at the center of the doc -- Wade Robson and James Safechuck -- just entered the theater for the premiere of "Leaving Neverland."

Both men say MJ molested them when they were kids. The Michael Jackson Estate has come out swinging, calling both men liars and even excoriating HBO for agreeing to run the documentary.

Police were out in force in Sundance for the premiere, but only a handful of protesters were present.

We got Robson -- who has become a famous choreographer with credits that include directing Britney Spears music videos -- Thursday on his way to Sundance, and he did not necessarily endorse a mute Michael Jackson movement. He said his participation in the movement goes way beyond MJ.

There's a Q&A session after the screening, and it's possible opposing sides may face off. We're there, so stay tuned.

Originally Published -- 9:57 AM PST

Kevin Hart You Really Askin' if MJ is Like R. Kelly?

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Kevin Hart had a visceral reaction to our photog who asked if there was any equivalency between Michael Jackson and R. Kelly.

We got Kevin Friday night in WeHo leaving The Nice Guy, and we wanted his take on whether people would react to "Leaving Neverland" the same way they did to "Surviving R. Kelly." Kevin seemed to visually show a combo of shock and disdain ... but wouldn't elaborate.

As we reported, the 2 accusers featured in the MJ documentary -- Wade Robson and James Safechuck -- were front and center for the premiere of the MJ doc Friday at the Sundance Film Festival. It was so emotional people in the audience were sobbing.

Earlier in the night we got Kevin in Bev Hills at Avra restaurant and asked about The Game's sexual references re: Kim Kardashian West. It seemed he hadn't heard, but he did talk about respecting someone's wife.

Kelly Rowland On Super Bowl ... I Would Not Perform!

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IT'S TRICKY

Kelly Rowland has a ton of respect for Gladys Knight -- but tells TMZ Sports she would NOT have made the same choice to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl.

Of course, Rowland is playing Gladys Knight in the BET series, "American Soul." She's previously talked about what an "honor" it is to play the 74-year-old singing legend.

So, with Knight at the center of the NFL controversy -- we asked the former Destiny's Child singer what she would have done if the NFL asked her to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the big game.

Rowland tells us ... she would have turned them down -- though, she doesn't go into detail.

As we previously reported, there's been a backlash from stars like Nick Cannon and Common who have told us they wish stars like Travis Scott would pull out of the Super Bowl over the way the league has treated Colin Kaepernick.

Despite the criticism, Knight has doubled down on her decision to perform -- saying she hopes to use the Super Bowl platform to unite the country.

Rowland has worked with the NFL multiple times in the past -- in fact, she performed with Beyonce at the Super Bowl back in 2013.

But, after watching this clip ... don't expect another DC reunion any time soon.

Stars and Scars You Be the Judge

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The Michael Jackson documentary hit like a lightning bolt at Sundance, and Chris Brown is going after the woman who accused him of rape. So, we gotta ask ...

Track Palin Released From Halfway House ... Gets Out Early

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Sarah Palin's oldest son is walking free in Alaska after being released from a residential center he was forced to live in following his domestic violence arrest ... TMZ has learned.

The Alaska Department of Corrections confirms Track Palin was released Thursday from the Cordova Residential Center, where he was serving his sentence for a domestic violence incident.

As we reported ... Track was sentenced to a year in the center in October for allegedly hitting a woman with whom he lived. Track checked into the facility Dec. 5, and Thursday's release means he's getting out way earlier than expected.

According to online court records ... Track is getting credit for time spent on an electronic monitoring device, hence the early release.

Palin is no stranger to the criminal justice system in Alaska. Back in 2016, he was arrested for drunken domestic violence ... he also allegedly had a gun on him. He also went through a nasty divorce in 2012 in which he made off with $30k, $500 in tools and a $1,000 gun collection.

Chris Webber GSW Starters > East All-Star Starters ... They're Too Stacked!!

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WARRIORS VS. THE WORLD

Could the Golden State Warriors starting 5 *actually* single-handedly beat the Eastern Conference All-Star starters?!?!

You better believe it ... so says Chris Webber, who tells TMZ Sports the Dubs are just too damn good to lose that fantasy matchup.

The 2019 All-Star game starters were announced Thursday night ... here's the East:

-- Kyrie Irving, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard and Kemba Walker

Here's the Warriors starting lineup:

-- Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Boogie Cousins, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green

Webber does a great job breaking down why the Eastern Conference All-Stars would LOSE if they took the court against the Warriors ... and he's pretty damn confident about it.

Of course, Webber used to play for the Warriors -- but there's no bias here. Webber's hittin' us with truth bombs.

As for the Western Conference All-Stars ... here's how that team looks:

-- LeBron, KD, Steph Curry, James Harden and Paul George.

That's scary.

We also got C-Webb's take on the Warriors ditching the White House for a meeting with Barack Obama ... and he does a great job explaining this one too.

TLC's Chilli I Muted R. Kelly ... When He Married A Child

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CANCELLED TO ME

Chilli from TLC says R. Kelly has been dead to her for decades ... because she knew he was trouble way back in the '90s when he put a ring on a teenager.

We got Chilli Friday in Atlanta where she told us she's been muting R. Kelly ever since he married Aaliyah in 1994 -- when he was 27 and she was only 15. Chilli says that was the first red flag, and from then on she's considered him a "monster."

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LET'S COLLAB!

While Chilli has always refused to work with Kelly, there ARE some people she's dying to get in the studio with ... Weezer! Turns out she loves the band's new album of covers.

As you know, Weezer covered TLC's smash hit, "No Scrubs" ... and Chilli is totally feeling their version. As she puts it, the guys in the band ain't no scrubs for covering the legendary jam.

Watch ... Chilli makes her pitch for a collab and tells us which Weezer tune she wants to cover. She also says she's got a major announcement coming soon ... about a tour!

What's The Big Frigin' Difference?!

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Don't let these two almost identical images of Gwen Stefani give you the boot, stand your ground and scan these snaps to see if you can find the differences between these two super similar shots!

**HINT -- There are THREE differences in the above photographs!**

'Black Mirror' Actress Alleged Stalker Put Tracking Device Under Her Car

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"Black Mirror" actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw told cops she's being stalked by a woman in Los Angeles ... and the case took a super dark turn when police found a tracking device under her car.

According to a search warrant obtained by TMZ, the alleged stalker placed a GPS tracker on Gugu's vehicle and has been tailing her around the city for over 2 months.

The details of the case are shocking ... in the docs, investigators say the alleged stalker keeps popping up wherever Gugu goes -- hotels, restaurants, spin classes and even her home.

Even more startling ... the warrant states Gugu's alleged stalker lives on her street.

According to the warrant, Gugu told cops the stalker has been calling her and her boyfriend and then hanging up ... this, in addition to snapping photos of Gugu.

In the docs, Gugu says she's been living in constant fear because she thinks the alleged stalker could show up to her place and become violent.

Our law enforcement sources say LAPD is still investigating the case.

TMZ Live The Game Takes Down Kim K With Rough Sex Lyrics

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HERE'S THE RUNDOWN
  • R. Kelly: FBI On the Hunt for Victims
  • DMX: First Photo After Prison Release
  • Tyga Sued For Ripping Off Hit Song
  • Chris Brown: Accuser Claims Non-Consensual Sex

Kanye Sues Roc-A-Fella Records and EMI

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7:50 PM PT -- Jay-Z sold his share in Roc-A-Fella back in 2004 and no longer has any involvement in the company. A source close to Kanye makes it clear, there's absolutely NO beef with Jay in filing the new docs.

Kanye West is suing Roc-A-Fella Records -- the company once owned by Jay-Z -- and EMI, the company that helped him launch his career ... because he says he's owed a lot of loot.

Ye filed 2 lawsuits Friday ... one against Roc-A-Fella, claiming he signed an exclusive recording agreement with the company. The suit is heavily redacted, but he's asking for a declaration of his rights over a dispute he's having and he wants money.

Kanye also filed a lawsuit against EMI April Music, claiming they owe him over a music dispute.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, in 2003, the year before he came out with his breakout album, "College Dropout," he signed a contract with EMI. The suit claims by the end of 2011, Kanye had written solely or with other writers more than 200 songs and gave the rights to those songs to EMI.

Those songs include some of the most influential and successful songs in his catalog, although the suit isn't specific.

The suit is heavily redacted, although it says there is a dispute and he wants a judge to declare his rights under the contract -- presumably for money.

He's hired one of the most powerful firms in the country -- Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, so the stakes are clearly high.