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George Foreman's death is still being felt in the boxing world ... and now the filmmaker behind the "Big George Foreman" biopic is opening up on the late-heavyweight champ's impact, especially amongst the Black community.

TMZ Sports recently spoke with George Tillman Jr., the man who not only directed but also co-wrote the film that was released in mid-2023 ... a movie most fans loved.

Tillman Jr. and Foreman came to know each other well ... and with the death of Big George, we asked about the legacy the larger-than-life figure leaves behind.

The pilot of the helicopter that went down in New York City's Hudson River Thursday was a former Navy SEAL who dreamed of flying ... so says his wife, about 24 hours after the crash.

Kathryn Johnson confirmed to Gothamist that her husband, Seankese Johnson -- who went by Sean -- was flying the Bell 206 helicopter when its rotor blades flew off, and it spun out of the sky ... crashing into the water below and killing all six people aboard.

Sean had recently moved to New York City to continue his pilot career ... and, Kathryn says she's at a loss for words about the crash -- adding it's a very difficult time for her.

Beyoncé coming face-to-face with a drugged-up guy wearing a penis mask must've been a crazy-ass fever dream -- the Diddy accuser who claimed Bey and Jay-Z saw him at a "freak off" has changed his mind.

Manzaro Joseph, who sued Diddy earlier this month, just filed an amended lawsuit -- and while he's still going after Diddy in court, he's very noticeably dropped the Carters from his narrative.

In the new docs, Joseph makes ZERO mention of Jay or Beyoncé -- and as far as we can tell, that's the only change he's made to the lawsuit. TMZ broke the story ... Joseph originally claimed the couple saw him in one helluva state during a 2015 birthday party in Miami for Diddy's son, King Combs.

There seems to be a rash of female educators accused of having sex with their underage students across the U.S. -- and there doesn't seem to be any end in sight.

In the latest case, Dr. Keiva Lark -- the assistant principal of Lake Marion Creek Middle School in Polk County, Florida -- was charged Thursday with lewd/lascivious conduct and lewd offense against a student by an authority figure.

According to police ... the 13-year-old student was sent to Lark's office after tossing crumpled-up paper across a classroom during an exam.

It's been more than a year since the shocking death of Vontae Davis ... but time hasn't come with answers, 'cause the medical examiner doesn't know what caused the former NFL star to die at just 35 years old.

TMZ Sports obtained the autopsy report from the Broward County Medical Examiner on Friday ... after Davis was found deceased by an assistant in his home gym in Southwest Ranches, FL, on April 1, 2024. The cause of death is listed as "undetermined." The manner of death is also a mystery to the ME.

"Due to the totality of the circumstances, including inconsistencies between the scene and the findings at autopsy, the cause and manner in this case is best classified as undetermined," the Medical Examiner wrote in the 11-page report.

Ted Kotcheff -- famous for directing iconic movies the likes of "First Blood" and "Weekend at Bernie's" -- has died, TMZ confirmed.

Thomas Kotcheff, Ted's son, tells TMZ ... the filmmaker died peacefully Friday night at Hospital Joya in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico surrounded by family.

A cause of death was not disclosed.

Cain Velasquez was recently moved into his new home for the foreseeable future -- Wasco State Prison -- where he posed for a brand new mugshot ... which TMZ Sports has obtained.

Velasquez, 42, who was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder on March 24, was transferred from the county jail near San Jose to the Cali state prison in Wasco.

When the UFC legend arrived, prison officials ordered Velasquez to pose for another mugshot ... and he appears serious and stoic.

Benson Boone has a special guest for his set at Coachella ... and it's Queen guitarist Brian May!!!

Our sources tell us Brian will join Benson onstage at some point during Benson's Friday night set at the famous music festival.

Benson and Brian have boots on the ground in the desert ... we obtained a photo of them getting off a private jet at the Palm Springs private airport earlier Friday morning ahead of their collab performance.

Joe Tacopina is blasting the judge in Wendy Williams' conservatorship case for telling the TV star her career is over ... calling the statements "outrageous" -- and adding Wendy's going to have a massive comeback when the conservator battle is over.

We spoke with Tacopina -- who is serving as Wendy's personal attorney -- on "TMZ Live" Friday ... and, he says these statements by the judge shouldn't have been made in court or in front of Wendy ... especially since the judge who said it isn't in the entertainment industry.

Tacopina doesn't know why the judge would make such statements about Wendy's career in an unrelated court hearing ... and, he adds that from his numerous conversations with Wendy, he knows she's as coherent and lucid as she ever has been.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA are on a red-hot streak with their "Luther" record owning the Billboard Hot 100 for 7 weeks straight ... a feat the song's sample inspiration cannot wrap her head around!!!

TMZ Hip Hop reached out to Cheryl Lynn, the veteran R&B powerhouse whose vocals from her 1982 duet with the late Luther Vandross, "If This World Were Mine," were used to construct "Luther" ... and she's pinpointed several reasons for Kendrick and SZA's latest success.

Cheryl calls the track multi-generational, bold, captivating, and filled with passion, noting how the fusion of Kendrick and SZA's voices seems to appeal to everyone -- Old School meets New School with great respect!!!

Harvey Weinstein's health is failing ... with the disgraced movie producer rapidly gaining weight and suffering from severe tongue inflammation in New York City's notorious Rikers Island prison.

Juda Engelmayer -- a rep for Weinstein -- tells TMZ ... Harvey's health is "rapidly deteriorating in custody," exacerbated by the terrible conditions at Rikers.

We're told Weinstein has gained more than 25 pounds since being transferred back from Bellevue Hospital several months ago ... 19 of those pounds in the last month alone.

America's standing in the world is taking a hit, but Phil Keoghan says turmoil in the United States isn't hurting American competitors racing around the world on a reality TV show.

We got the 'Amazing Race' host at LAX and our photog asked him if he was seeing any consequences on the show from the second Trump presidency.

Phil says from what he's seen, Americans are still welcome in different countries and they're not being treated poorly in areas where Trump's policies, rhetoric and antics aren't being well received.

Can you guess which reality star shared this eye-popping photo of her preggo belly?!? We'll give you a few hints, but then it's on you to deliver the name.

She rose to fame SUR-ving crispy chicken and goat cheese balls.

Still need more help??? Her spin-off show -- "The Valley" Season 2 -- premieres next week.

Sydnee Falkner wants another chance at the grand prize on "Million Dollar Secret" ... saying she's disappointed she couldn't win it all this time -- but, that comes with the territory of being the game's greatest threat.

We caught up with the reality star outside a hotel in Hollywood Thursday ... and, we had to ask her about the hit Netflix show everyone's talking about.

If you don't know 'MDS' ... it's a reality game show a lot like "The Traitors" -- where one contestant is awarded $1 million at the beginning of the game. While they try to keep their identity a secret, the rest of the contestants work to figure out the identity of the newly minted millionaire.

Yes, Coachella is about the good times and turnin' up for the tunes, but festival fashion also plays a key role ... loop by loop, these celebs are stitchin' their way through the desert in crochet, but can you guess who's who in these hot pics?

Hooked on crochet, babes like Olivia Culpo and Adelaine Morin are knot your average gals ... they're lettin' it all hang out, and see right through Avani Gregg and La Demi's cute crochet looks -- they're a hole in one!

Things are getting weird and intense in the Wendy Williams guardianship war ... multiple sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ, during a hearing this week, the judge told Wendy, she has no hope of restarting her career.

It's pretty outrageous ... Wendy showed up in court Thursday and appeared before Judge Lisa Sokoloff. Our sources tell TMZ, the judge railed on Wendy's niece, Alex Finnie, accusing her of leaking information to the media and threatening her with sanctions for future conduct.

The judge wasn't finished. We're told she attacked Wendy's family, essentially saying they were no good.