Official government reports or press releases

Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Marshmello Allegedly Misused SVOG Funds for Luxury Spending

Dec 18, 2024, 06:01 PM

A Business Insider investigation has revealed that several high-profile musicians, including Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Marshmello, allegedly misused funds from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), a program designed to support struggling venues and arts groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lil Wayne received an $8.9 million grant, which he reportedly used for luxury spending such as $1.3 million on private jet flights, over $460,000 on designer clothes, and expenses related to a music festival promoting his marijuana brand, including $175,000 for festival expenses and $88,000 for a concert he did not perform. Chris Brown's company, CBE Touring, received a $10 million grant, with $5.1 million going directly to Brown and nearly $80,000 spent on his 33rd birthday party. Additionally, Brown charged $24,000 for a tour bus trip to Tulum and $179,000 for a celebrity basketball event. Marshmello reportedly received a $9.9 million grant, all of which he allegedly paid to himself. Other artists mentioned in the report include Alice in Chains, who received $3.4 million, Shinedown, who split $2.5 million among three members, Rae Sremmurd, and Steve Aoki, who received $1.9 million from a $2.4 million grant. The report highlights a broader issue of potential misuse of federal relief funds intended for those in need during the pandemic.