Celebrity Piggy Bank Scandal: How Taxpayer-Funded Pandemic Relief Programs Became a Cash Grab for Hollywood Musicians

In a jaw-dropping exposé, new details reveal how the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG)—a taxpayer-funded pandemic relief program established to save businesses and independent arts organizations—allegedly turned into a financial free-for-all for Hollywood celebrities.

Signed into law by then-President Donald Trump in 2020 and championed by figures like Senator Chuck Schumer, the program aimed to support struggling venues during the pandemic.

But according to a Business Insider report, it has now become synonymous with wasteful spending by high-profile stars.

Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter Jr., received an $8.9 million grant. Instead of directing these funds toward sustaining his music operations, he reportedly spent over $1.3 million on private jet flights and more than $460,000 on designer clothing from brands like Gucci and Balenciaga.

Additionally, he billed taxpayers nearly $88,000 for a New Year’s Eve concert in Coachella, California, which he ultimately canceled, and $14,900 for “mystery women” hotel stays.

Similarly, Chris Brown’s company, CBE Touring, secured a $10 million grant. Brown personally pocketed $5.1 million and used approximately $80,000 to fund a lavish birthday party, complete with “atmosphere models,” an LED dance floor, and other extravagances.

Also, $179,000 for a charity baseball game, and $24,000 for a tour bus to New Mexico, where he reportedly vacationed for a month.

The abuse didn’t stop with rappers. Pop and EDM stars also joined the cash grab:

• DJ Marshmello (Christopher Comstock) reportedly received $9.9 million, with his business manager claiming the money went directly into Comstock’s personal account.
• Steve Aoki’s company DJ Kid Millionaire Touring used $2.4 million for “payroll costs,” with $1.9 million going to Aoki himself—the only officer of the company.

Even rock bands like Shinedown got in on the action, splitting $2.5 million among three members from their $8.3 million grant.

Alice in Chains members took large distributions from their grant, despite selling their catalog for $48 million.

The scandal extends to entertainment management firms like NKSFB, which reportedly secured at least $207 million for clients and pocketed over $7 million in fees for facilitating the grants.

What began as a lifeline for struggling venues during the pandemic has unraveled into what some have called “the largest fraud in history.”

The Gateway Pundit reported earlier this year that a report released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force uncovered a shocking scope of fraud during the pandemic, with over $400 billion in emergency funding either stolen or misappropriated.

According to the report, fraudulent claims and schemes targeted various pandemic relief efforts, including unemployment insurance benefits, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), among others.

These included fraudulent claims filed using stolen identities, inflated payroll expenses, doctored bank statements, and false tax forms.

The report reveals that fraudsters and swindlers may have stolen upwards of $280 billion in emergency funding, with an additional $123 billion lost or misappropriated, totaling more than $400 billion in funds intended to aid Americans during one of the most challenging times in recent history, The Politics Brief reported.

Even Democrat powerhouse Nancy and Paul Pelosi cashed in on federal COVID bailouts.

RealClearInvestigations reported:

“The Auberge du Soleil investment, held for decades by Paul Pelosi, has rarely turned a significant profit, according to Nancy’s financial disclosure forms. In some years, he has recorded a loss or a profit of between $50,000 to $100,000. But the year of the bailout money stands apart. In 2021, Pelosi’s ethics forms show that her family’s income from the resort surged to a range of $1 million to $5 million.

The French Riviera-themed resort may not be most people’s idea of a struggling business in need of a government bailout, yet the Auberge du Soleil – which shuttered briefly at the outset of the pandemic before swiftly rebounding – received about $9 million from a series of special taxpayer-funded emergency relief programs.”

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