A shocking new report reveals that hip-hop stars Chris Brown and Lil Wayne reportedly misused pandemic relief funds, diverting millions of dollars intended for struggling businesses to lavish personal expenses. Both artists, along with others in the music industry, are under scrutiny for their misuse of funds from the U.S. government’s Shuttered Venue Operations Grant (SVOG).
Pandemic Relief Funds Intended for Struggling Venues
The SVOG, established under the Trump administration in 2020, was designed to provide financial support to independent event spaces, live music venues, and arts organizations severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a new investigation by Business Insider (BI) reveals that some artists exploited the system, using the relief funds for personal gain rather than for their intended purpose.
Chris Brown’s Excessive Spending of $10
R185.56 Million Grant
Chris Brown reportedly received a massive 10 million USD payout under the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. According to BI, more than half of that, 5.1 million USD, was paid directly to the singer himself. Additionally, the singer billed taxpayers 80,000 USD for his extravagant 33rd birthday party, which appears to have been unrelated to his music career. Other significant expenses included insurance premiums and payments to his manager and legal teams, totaling millions more.
A closer look at his expenditures reveals the following:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Himself | R94.6 million |
| Insurance | R24.7 million |
| Manager Anthony “Ant” Wilson | R15.5 million |
| Accountants at NKSFB | R9.3 million |
| Lawyers at Grubman Shire | R8.9 million |
| Crew Payroll | R7.2 million |
| Celebrity Basketball Tournament | R3.2 million |
| His Birthday Party | R1.5 million |
| Miscellaneous | R19.1 million |
Source: Documents viewed by Business Insider
Lil Wayne’s Spending Includes Lavish Flights and Cannabis Promotion
Similarly, Lil Wayne received an 8.9 million USD grant, part of which was used on private jets, designer clothing, and promotional expenses for his cannabis brand, GKUA. According to BI, Wayne charged taxpayers 1.3 million USD for private flights, 460,000 USD for clothing and accessories, and nearly 90,000 USD for a music festival that never took place.
In addition to his personal expenses, Wayne paid millions to his former managers and legal team, adding to the growing list of artists allegedly misusing the funds:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Debt to Manager Cortez Bryant | R41.5 million |
| Commissions to Manager Mack Maine | R34.7 million |
| Private Jets | R26.5 million |
| Legal Fees | R11.1 million |
| Accountants | R11 million |
| Clothing | R8.9 million |
| Contractors | R6 million |
| Former Accountant Debt | R5.4 million |
| Mystery Women | R290,000 |
| Miscellaneous | R22.6 million |
Source: Documents viewed by Business Insider
More Artists Involved in the Scandal
Other artists reportedly involved in the misuse of funds include Rae Sremmurd, who received a portion of their 7.7 million USD grant through Sremm Touring, and Chris Brown, whose lavish lifestyle raises questions about the true purpose of the relief funding. The widespread misuse of relief funds highlights the loopholes in the system and the lack of oversight over how the money was distributed.
Controversy and Unanswered Questions
Both Chris Brown and Lil Wayne’s representatives have declined to comment on the specifics of the report, leaving many questions unanswered. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what actions, if any, will be taken to hold these artists accountable for their alleged misuse of public funds. With the ongoing scrutiny, both Brown and Wayne’s reputations may suffer further damage if they are found to have violated the terms of the relief program.
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