Lil Wayne and Chris Brown Among Celebrities Who Used Pandemic Funds from Taxpayers for Luxury Expenses

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DSC01429LW topaz denoise

Lil Wayne and Chris Brown headline a list of celebrities who misused funds from the Shuttered Venue Operations Grant, designed to help venues and arts groups during the pandemic.

According to The Business Insider, they went on expensive trips, shopping sprees, lavish parties, and self-pay at the cost of everyday taxpayers. Celebrities who received grants include Rae Sreummurd, Steve Aoki, and Marshmello.

The law was enacted by Donald Trump in 2020, allowing artists to obtain up to $10 million for “ordinary and necessary” expenses. Still, it required a good-faith statement from the Small Business Administration, highlighting a 25% loss in revenue between matching quarters in 2019 and 2020.

The report notes Lil Wayne received $8.9 million, which he used to buy $460,000 in designer clothes, $2.14 million to pay off the debt owed to his former manager Cortez Bryant, and $1.3 million for personal private jet use. During a $8,000 shopping trip at Dover Street Market, Wayne purchased a Balenciaga sweater, Rick Owens sneakers, and more. There was also a near $15,000 fee to a mystery woman.

Chris Brown received the full $10 million for CBE touring, paying himself $5.1 million and $80,000 to cover the cost of his 33rd birthday party.

Rae Sremmurd received $7.7 million for Sremm Touring, which a majority went toward paying the duo.

You can see the full report here.

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Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Marshmello, And Steve Aoki Are Among The Stars Accused Of Misusing Pandemic Relief Funds

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During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government issued the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant law to help keep the recording industry afloat after performing live — one of the industry’s main sources of income — became impossible due to live venues being shut down. However, in a new report from Business Insider, several entertainers, including Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, and Marshmello, are being accused of abusing those funds, using them to fund travel, parties, and luxury shopping sprees instead of paying employees and keeping the lights on.

Brown, who received a $10 million grant, reportedly spent $80,000 on his birthday party, which included models in body paint, an LED dance floor, and $29,000 worth of hookahs, bottle service, and fees incurred by damages to couches rented for the occasion. More than double that was spent on a celebrity basketball tournament broadcast on YouTube. Meanwhile, Lil Wayne, who received $8.9 million, allegedly spent the funds on private-jet flights ($1.3 million), luxury clothing ($460,000), and accommodations for female companions ($15,000) whose connections with Wayne are “unclear,” per BI.

Marshmello’s manager told the publication, however, that the DJ paid himself out of the $9.9 million grant he received. He “expensed the entire Grant balance to Payroll” via a loophole that allowed the SVOG funds to go to the artists’ business entities as “owner compensation” provided it was less than their income in 2019. They also had to show that their companies made 25% less in 2020 than in 2019 — which was more or less a given, considering how much of their income is made up of touring and live performances. This is how Steve Aoki paid himself $1.9 million out of a $2.4 million grant, Rae Sremmurd gave themselves $7.7 million, and Alice in Chains members Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney received $1.4 million each (Mike Inez took $682,000).

Meanwhile, the report says that while stars like Lil Wayne did use funds to pay their managers, attorneys, and agents, it was more than 13 times what sound techs and other contractors received. The Small Business Administration says it has recovered some misappropriated funds, but is still investigating open claims.

Chris Brown Goes Viral With Historic South Africa Concert Drawing Over 90k In Attendance

In Johannesburg, South Africa, Chris Brown described his concert at FNB Stadium as “the moment he has been waiting his whole life for.” After being met with a viral petition following the announcement of the concert months ago, Brown hosted a historic evening on Saturday (Dec. 14) with over 90,000 in attendance. Footage from the concert circulated on social media, resulting in the artist trending. One of the biggest highlights of the evening was Brown soaring across the stadium.

In October, the petition to block Brown from performing in South Africa based on previous assault convictions, spearheaded by the women’s advocacy group Women for Change, went viral with nearly 40,000 signatures. The singer responded to the petition, commenting, “Can’t wait to come” in the comment section. On Saturday, before performing “Forever,” Brown took a moment to address the audience for their attendance. He said: “This is a moment I’ve waited for my entire life.”

Read more: Chris Brown Shows Love To Kendrick Lamar’s New Album “GNX”

Chris Brown Displays Greatness With Historic South Africa Show After Online Petition

The South Africa concert proved he is still beloved by the culture after his past shortcomings. His fans stood by him, packing the stadium for a night that showcased his evolution as a performer and his deep connection to his audience. He performed classics such as “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” and “Run It!” alongside the latests, “Residuals,” “Sensational,” and “Angel Numbers/Ten Toes.” Fans praised the planning, with controlled traffic flow and helpful staff guiding attendees safely out of the stadium.

Afterward, Brown took to Instagram to thank South Africa for its overwhelming support. He wrote: “South Africa. I Love You. See you tomorrow. First show was HISTORY. So let’s make it again!” As fans eagerly anticipate the second night of his tour, it’s clear that Chris Brown has etched his name into South Africa’s live music history, delivering an extraordinary performance that will be remembered for years to come.

Read more: Jess Hilarious Has Fans Curious About If She Dated Chris Brown
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Jess Hilarious Has Fans Curious About If She Dated Chris Brown

Jess Hilarious has sparked a social media frenzy with her response to Chris Brown‘s candid revelations about his dating life during Kai Cenat’s livestream. The R&B superstar’s appearance quickly became a trending topic, with fans—and Jess herself—sharing their reactions. During a conversation with Kai, Chris openly discussed his relationship status. When Kai directly asked if he was seeing someone, the singer casually replied, “I’m in multiple relationships.” 

During an interview on The Breakfast Club, Jess claimed that comments made by Chris might have been a subtle jab at her. According to the comedian, Chris had previously teased her about dating another man named Chris, which she described as the type of behavior you would expect from a “bitter ex.” Jess didn’t hold back; she added that Chris had bragged about purchasing a $400,000 ring for a woman. In a humorous twist, she decided to showcase her own ring in response. This prompted Charlamagne and DJ Envy to test its authenticity on air, and it turned out to be real.

Read more: Chris Brown Reveals He’s In Relationships With Multiple Women

Chris Brown’s Biggest Purchase Points To Possible Relationship With Jess Hilarious

Seeking clarification, Kai asked if Chris meant he had “more than one girlfriend,” to which Chris confirmed, “Yeah, something like that.” This response sent fans into a frenzy and didn’t go unnoticed by Jess, who provided her own sharp humor on the matter. Jess Hilarious’ comments on the show, paired with her trademark wit, sparked a wave of reactions online. Fans flooded social media with their inquiries. Some found her hilarious, while others questioned the purpose of her remarks.

One Instagram user joked, “This is how I talk to my friends with any Chris Brown update [crying face emoji],” while another quipped, “Wait, they dated? [crying face emoji].” Others embraced the humor, with one writing, “Not liking Jess Hilarious feels illegal [crying face emoji] she’s so funny,” and another declaring, “May your delulu come trululu [prayer hands emoji].” However, not everyone was on board, as one commenter asked, “I love you, girl, but what was the point of saying this?”

Read more: Chris Brown Dance Battles Kai Cenat During “Mafiathon 2” Twitch Event

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Chris Brown Earns First Diamond Certified Single With “No Guidance”

Chris Brown is one of the best-selling artists of all time. He’s been called the “King of R&B” by his peers. He also has the most RIAA Gold certified singles and RIAA multi-Platinum singles of any male star in pop history. It’s difficult to imagine an achievement that Chris Brown hasn’t already unlocked, and yet, he has topped himself. The singer recently scored his first ever Diamond certified single with “No Guidance,” his 2019 hit with Drake.

Chris Brown confirmed the massive achievement on November 13. He posted a response to the Diamond certification on Instagram, writing: “Diamond. Cook and remain humble.” A Diamond certification is given to songs that have managed to eclipse 10 million units. It’s a rare feat reserved for singles that stand the test of time, and continue to draw streams years after their release. “No Guidance” is a perfect example of this phenomenon. The single peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It marked Chris Brown’s highest charting pop song since “Forever” a decade earlier. It also set a record for most weeks on top of the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart.

Read More: Chris Brown Allegedly Prevented A Brawl Between Diddy’s Sons & Ray J

Chris Brown Holds The Record For Most Gold Singles

“No Guidance” may not have topped the Billboard Hot 100, but it’s become, statistically, the biggest song of Chris Brown’s career. It was a catchy song, but part of the song’s enduring appeal is definitely the crossover between Breezy and Drizzy. The two artists were passionate rivals for most of the 2010s, but they decided to set their differences aside and collab. The anticipation was high, and “No Guidance” delivered. “I just always had a lot of admiration for his talent,” Drake told Rap Radar in 2019. “And I think finally he gave me the mutual respect and admiration by allowing me to take the lead on the song.”

Chris Brown’s Diamond certification is a respite from the negative press that has been surrounding him in recent weeks. The singer is the focus of the new documentary A History of Violence, which delved into his troubled past and interviews various women who have accused him of violent behavior. The doc led to a renewed interest in the more sordid aspects of Brown’s career. Obviously, these allegations have done very little to impact his success, as his new RIAA plaque can attest.

Read More: Drake And Chris Brown Sued For $5 Million Over Song Theft Allegations

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Drake and Chris Brown Face $5 Million Copyright Lawsuit Over “No Guidance”

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Artists Tykeiya Dore and Marc Stephens have filed a $5 million copyright lawsuit against Drake and Chris Brown, claiming that their 2019 hit “No Guidance” borrows extensively from Dore and Stephens’ 2016 track, “I Got It.” The suit alleges notable similarities in chord progressions, tempo, and melodic structure, with particular emphasis on the parallel phrases “I got it” and “You got it” featured in both songs.

According to Hypebeast, The lawsuit goes beyond Drake and Chris Brown, naming an extensive list of collaborators, including producers Noah “40” Shebib, Vinylz, J-Louis, and Teddy Walton, along with songwriters Velous, Nija Charles, and Michee Lebrun. RCA Records and associated publishers are also implicated in the claim.

In their filing, the plaintiffs suggest potential avenues through which “I Got It” could have reached the “No Guidance” team via industry connections. Additionally, they challenge YouTube’s response to a related copyright claim, alleging that the platform improperly penalized Stephens’ channel after he requested a takedown.

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Drake And Chris Brown Sued For $5 Million Over Song Theft Allegations

Drake and Chris Brown were one of the most notable feuds of the 2010s. Nobody expected them to come together for a smash single in 2019, and yet they did. “No Guidance” was everywhere that year, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a comeback of sorts for Brown, and a cherry on top of Drake’s dominant decade. Now, however, “No Guidance” has both artists in legal trouble. They are among the people named in a new lawsuit by Tykeiya Dore. The singer alleges that they stole the basic melody and structure of her song.

Tykeiya Dore filed the lawsuit in New Jersey on October 25. AllHipHop reports that the lawsuit cites copyright infringement over the 2016 song “I Got It.” Dore alleges that Drake and Chris Brown stole the “chord progressions, tempo, pitch, key, melody, harmony, rhythm, structure, phrasing, and lyrics” of their song, which released three years prior. She also points to frequent Drake collaborator, Vinylz, to support her case. Benji Filmz directed the “I Got It” music video for Dore. She claims that Vinylz often keeps tabs on Benji’s YouTube account.

Read More: Drake & Omarion Compete In An Intense Dance Battle: Watch

Dore Alleges Drake’s Producer Vinylz Played A Role

“Defendant Anderson Hernandez, professionally known as Vinylz,” the lawsuit alleged. “Discovered and obtained access to Tykeiya’s song ‘I Got It’ and Cardi B’s songs on Benji Filmz YouTube channel.” The suit also names YouTube and Google as involved parties. Tykeiya Dore claims that her lawyer, Marc Stephens, also uploaded a copyright comparison video between “I Got It” and “No Guidance.” She then claimed that the video was wrongfully taken down. The singer is suing YouTube and Google for “defamation, common law fraud and emotional distress.” She’s seeking $5 million.

Drake and Chris Brown have dealt with these accusations in the past, however. Braindon Cooper Timothy Valentine sued the two artists, along with Noah “40” Shebib, for allegedly ripping off their 2016 single “I Love Your Dress.” Drake and Chris Brown dismissed the allegations outright. They issued a statement in which they noted that they are unable to scan millions of songs in order to commit such a theft. “It is implausible to assume that every musician in Toronto collaborates and shares music with Drake,” the statement read.” Drake and Chris Brown have to respond to the new lawsuit.

Read More: Drake Gets Reflective After Celebrating His 38th Birthday

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Woman Accuses Chris Brown of Drugging Her on Diddy’s Yacht in Upcoming Documentary

Woman Accuses Chris Brown of Drugging Her on Diddy's Yacht in Upcoming Documentary

Chris Brown and Diddy are no strangers to legal troubles and it seems that their troublesome paths may have converged as an unnamed woman has accused Brown of drugging her on Diddy’s yacht in 2020.

The anonymous woman (who is referred to only as Jane Doe) made the allegations in the Investigation Discovery Documentary, Chris Brown: A History of Violence, which is set to debut on October 27. She alleges that she was living in Los Angeles at the time and had taken a trip to Miami where a friend invited her to a party on Diddy’s yacht in late December.

The woman, an aspiring dancer, claims that she briefly spoke with Brown before he gave her a drink. According to People, the woman claims that she had little memory of what happened next, saying, “I’m not even sure… this is when my memory starts getting a little bit weird….I don’t remember if I saw him pour it, but I just drank it and he just hands me another drink. As I’m standing there, I did start to feel tired and my body was feeling a little heavy.” She claims that the singer raped her and did not use protection. The two apparently communicated via text message following the incident.

According to People, Doe claims that she worked with a legal team to attempt to prosecute the case, but a judge ultimately dismissed the case “without prejudice” in 2022, citing “lack of prosecution,” according to court documents. Her lawyers dropped her as a client when police uncovered the text messages between her and Brown.

However, Doe is apparently now pursuing charges again via other avenues. She is represented by attorney Ariel Mitchell, who said in a statement: “I adore my client and I believe what happened to her is 100% true. I feel that I failed her as an attorney because I couldn’t make her comfortable enough with me in such a short period of time where she felt 100% comfortable being forthcoming with me.”

Meanwhile, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is currently being held in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center on racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution charges. Neither Combs nor Brown’s representatives have commented on the most recent allegations.

The documentary, which explores Brown’s past allegations of abuse and run-ins with the law, is set to premier on October 27 on ID. It was made by the same production company that produced the docuseries Quiet On Set about the Nickelodeon child abuse scandal. Both pieces are part of the production company’s “No Excuse for Abuse” campaign.

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Petition Gains Traction to Cancel Chris Brown’s Johannesburg Concert Amid Gender-Based Violence Concerns

Chris Brown

Chris Brown

A global petition calling to stop Chris Brown from performing in Johannesburg on Dec. 14, 2024, has garnered nearly 40,000 signatures. The petition urges concert organizers ‘Big Concerts,’ promoters, and the South African government to reconsider hosting the controversial singer due to his history of violence against women.

The petition highlights that Brown’s performance is scheduled just days after the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The petition starter argues that allowing Brown to perform in a country facing a severe gender-based violence crisis would send a damaging message to survivors and the public.

Concerns have also been raised over how the Department of Home Affairs granted Brown a visa, given his violent past, particularly in a country with one of the highest femicide rates worldwide. The petition emphasizes the need for greater accountability in addressing gender-based violence issues.

The petition is available on Change.org, where supporters continue to rally for action.

Chris Brown has already sold over 94,000 tickets. According to BBC, Women for Change, an advocacy group in the country, has created a petition to stop the performance and has already collected over 20,000 signatures. “When I saw the news that Chris Brown was coming to South Africa, I was shocked and deeply disappointed,” executive director Sabina Walter stated.

“The petition was started to send a strong message that we will not tolerate the celebration of individuals with a history of violence against women. When someone like Chris Brown is given a platform in a country where GBV is at crisis levels, it sends a damaging message – that fame and power outweigh accountability.”

– Sabrina Walter

BBC also notes South Africa has one of the highest rates of femicide and gender-based violence, with a rape recorded every 12 minutes in the country. Additional cases go unreported. “When someone like Chris Brown is given a platform in a country where GBV is at crisis levels, it sends a damaging message – that fame and power outweigh accountability,” said Ms Walters.

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Bow Wow Claims His Upcoming Collab Single With Chris Brown Is “Timeless”

Bow Wow has been quiet on the music front for a long time. Seriously, a long time. The rapper’s last album was in 2009, but he has been promising fans that he has one more in him. Before 30 was the title he teased back in 2021. There haven’t been any singles or confirmed rollout plans as of yet. At least, not until October 13. Bow Wow sat down for an appearance More to the Podcast, and revealed some crucial information about the album. The rapper will be reuniting with his former collaborator, Chris Brown, for a new single.

“Me and Chris have a dope… I believe a timeless record,” Bow Wow explained. The rapper noted that he hasn’t worked with Chris Brown since “Ain’t Think About You” in 2010, and wanted to make sure the new song would be worth the wait. “It took us so long,” he continued. Bow Wow also noted that him and Chris Brown are still friends, and have simply not gotten in the studio due to unfortunate timing. “We don’t look at it like it’s work,” he explained. “I think that’s the friendship and the camaraderie is so authentic… When I did the record, Hitmaka was like, ‘Dawg, you gotta call him.’” Bow Wow admitted that the urging of guys in his circle ultimately convinced him to reach out to Breezy.

Read More: Chris Brown Faces Backlash In South Africa Over Upcoming Concert

Bow Wow Claimed Breezy Took A While To Record

“It’s a moment,” he admitted. “I sent the record to bro, he was playing me some records.” The process of getting Chris Brown on the chorus of the song proved trickier than Bow Wow anticipated, though. A trip to L.A. to get in the studio with the pop superstar resulted in a multi-day hang out in which the two men hung out and watched YouTube. “We still don’t do the record,” he recalled while laughing. “I’m like cool, I’m on a time [crunch], I really came out to L.A. to get this record done.” Bow Wow was frustrated that he went home after three days without the feature. At least, initially. By the time the rapper got home, Chris Brown has laid down the chorus and sent it over.

“He sent that file… Outta here,” Bow Wow recalled. “I got chills. I’m like nah, this is crazy. You just got to let him vibe.” The rapper then conceded that different artists have different approaches to making music, and each of them need to be approached differently. “If you want the best out of somebody, you gotta understand they got their own little thing, how they get down,” he concluded. No release date on the new song, but we definitely hope to hear this “timeless” collab sooner than later.

Read More: Bow Wow Claims That Diddy Scandal Has Killed The Celebrity Party Scene

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