Big Stars Accused of Misusing COVID Relief Money

In 2020, Congress passed the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant to help musicians and venues hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a new report from Business Insider reveals that some famous musicians misused this money, meant to support those struggling, for personal luxuries.

The report claims that rapper Lil Wayne received a huge $8.9 million grant. He allegedly spent over $1.3 million on private jet flights and more than $460,000 on high-end clothing from brands like Gucci and Balenciaga. Lil Wayne is also said to have spent $175,000 promoting his marijuana brand and even used the money for flights and luxury hotels for women with unclear connections to his tours, including a waitress and a porn actress. He also reportedly took $88,000 for a Coachella concert he didn't show up to.

Other musicians mentioned in the report include Chris Brown, who received $10 million for his tour company and $5.1 million for himself, along with $80,000 for a birthday party. Marshmello, another artist, was reportedly given almost $10 million—more than any other musician.

The article also highlights Alice In Chains, whose members received $3.4 million. It shares a troubling story about a longtime band associate, Scott Dachroeden, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2022. Despite the band's grant money, it seems they didn’t offer him any financial help, and instead, a GoFundMe page was created to assist with his medical costs.

These revelations have sparked outrage, especially as many of these artists already had significant wealth. The full report sheds light on the questionable spending of funds that were meant to help those in need during a global crisis.