Wayne’s World of Trouble: Lil Wayne’s Alleged COVID-19 Grant Abuse Caps Off a Rocky Year
For Lil Wayne, 2024 has been a year of headlines—and not the good kind. From his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar to being left out of Super Bowl halftime festivities, the rap legend’s recent streak has been anything but smooth. Now, a Business Insider report alleges that the Tha Carter rapper misused millions in COVID-19 relief funds, potentially cementing this as one of his most controversial years yet.
From Relief to Ridiculous
The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) was designed to support artists and venues devastated by the pandemic shutdowns. Instead, according to documents reviewed by Business Insider, Lil Wayne (real name: Dwayne Carter Jr.) allegedly turned the $8.9 million he received into a personal spending spree. Over $1.3 million reportedly went toward private jet travel, while another $460,000 was spent on designer labels like Gucci, Balenciaga, and Raf Simons. Even Wayne’s marijuana brand, GKUA, benefited: he billed taxpayers $175,000 for expenses tied to a music festival promoting the brand.
But the spending didn’t stop there. The report claims Wayne splurged nearly $15,000 on flights and luxury accommodations for women with no apparent connection to his touring operations. Another $88,000 went toward a New Year’s Eve 2021 concert in California that never happened.
A Year of Drama and Disappointment
These revelations come at a time when Wayne’s public image is already under fire. Earlier this year, his simmering feud with Kendrick Lamar boiled over, sparked by Wayne’s absence from the rap world’s much-discussed Super Bowl halftime lineup—a gig Kendrick landed alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem. Fans speculated that Wayne’s exclusion was a snub, and while the rapper stayed quiet on the matter, his absence was conspicuous for a five-time Grammy winner and one of hip-hop’s most influential voices.
Meanwhile, Wayne’s feud with Kendrick has continued to play out through subliminal lyrics and public jabs, adding another layer of turbulence to his 2024 narrative.
Other Stars, Similar Scandals
Wayne isn’t alone in the COVID-19 funding controversy. Chris Brown’s company, CBE Touring, reportedly received $10 million in SVOG funds, of which $5.1 million went directly to Brown. Among his alleged expenses: an $80,000 birthday bash featuring an LED dance floor, bottle service, and “atmosphere models.” DJ Marshmello also allegedly paid himself $9.9 million in grant money, taking full advantage of a system that based funding eligibility on 2019 income.
Steve Aoki and members of Alice in Chains were similarly flagged for questionable use of SVOG funds, highlighting a system where oversight was shockingly lax.
Loopholes and Luxury
The SVOG program, overseen by the Small Business Administration, was intended to be a safety net for struggling venues and independent artists. Instead, a gaping loophole allowed multi-millionaire musicians to benefit, provided their pre-pandemic income met the criteria. The SBA defended its decisions, claiming it was tasked with reviewing revenue rather than the overall wealth of applicants.
For Lil Wayne, the fallout adds yet another twist to a year marked by controversy and missed opportunities. As the allegations unfold, the legacy of one of rap’s titans faces an uncomfortable question: Is the Best Rapper Alive risking it all for a lifestyle that was already beyond reach for most?
And yet, despite these controversies, Wayne’s status within hip-hop remains fiercely defended by some. Fellow rapper Juvenile even recently crowned him “rap’s greatest”, a title now hanging in the balance as Wayne navigates one of the toughest years of his career. Anyway, remember “A Milli”?
