American rapper Lil Wayne and R&B star Chris Brown have been named as recipients of Shuttered Venue Operations Grant, a government program that was created to aid independent venues and arts groups struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two musicians are currently at the centre of an investigation as a Business Insider report accuses them of misusing the funds. A publication by the media outlet details how Wayne and Brown allegedly misused pandemic grants to pay themselves and fund their lavish lifestyles.
Business Insider had earlier in a March 2024 publication reported that Wayne and Post Malone were accused by feds of lying in order to obtain over $8 million each in pandemic loans.
In 2020 during COVID-19, while the Young Money rapper received $8.9 million, the ‘No Air’ singer received $10 million in pandemic grants.
A breakdown of how the musicians spent their funds has sparked a heated debate online and raised eyebrows. While Weezy’s expenses include private-jet flights, designer clothes like Gucci and Balenciaga, luxury hotel rooms for women including a waitress at a “Hooters-type restaurant” and a porn actress, among other things, Breezy’s share includes his birthday party, a celebrity basketball tournament and more.
Here is the breakdown of what Lil Wayne spent the $8.9 million grant on:
- Settling a debt owed to former manager Cortez Bryant: $2.14 million
- Commissions to then-manager Mack Maine: $1.71 million
- Private jets: $1.38 million
- Lawyers at Grubman Shire: $590,700
- Accountants at NKSFB: $589,700
- Clothes: $528,000
- Contractors who worked on Lil Wayne’s shows: $327,300
- Settling a debt owed to former accountant: $300,000
- Mystery women: $14,900
- Everything else: $1.3 million
Here is the breakdown of what Chris Brown spent the $10 million grant on:
- Himself: $5.11 million
- Insurance: $1.33 million
- Manager Anthony “Ant” Wilson: $823,000
- Accountants at NKSFB: $556,700
- Lawyers at Grubman Shire: $498,000
- Crew payroll: $383,100
- Celebrity basketball tournament: $179,400
- His birthday party: $79,200
- Everything else: $1 million
