In a startling revelation, it has been reported that Lil Wayne may have diverted nearly $9 million from pandemic relief funds intended for struggling musicians towards lavish personal expenses, raising eyebrows and sparking outrage among fans and critics alike.

According to Business Insider, the famed rapper allocated approximately $14,100 specifically towards “mystery women,” which reportedly financed luxurious hotel rooms and flights for individuals not directly linked to his music tours, including a waitress from a well-known restaurant chain and even a porn star. This comes after Wayne, like many artists, benefited from the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant—an initiative designed to support venues and arts companies suffering from significant revenue loss during the pandemic.

In addition to the troubling expenditure on mysterious companions, Lil Wayne’s financial records reveal substantial spending on extravagant luxuries: $1.3 million on private jets, $528,000 on clothing, and even $88,000 for costs related to a New Year’s Eve performance he ultimately canceled citing 'wind and flights,' despite other private jets successfully making the journey. On social media, Wayne seemed to brush off the supposed responsibilities that came with the grant by partying with fellow artist 2 Chainz instead.

The Shuttered Venues Operators Grant was established to help businesses that reported at least a 25% drop in revenue compared to previous years, giving eligible musicians discretion over how they spent the funds. However, the misuse of these funds has drawn criticism, especially as other artists, like Chris Brown, faced scrutiny for similarly extravagant expenditures, including a lavish birthday party costing $80,000 and a celebrity basketball tournament costing $179,000. DJ Marshmello infamously paid himself the full $9.9 million grant amount, while Steve Aoki took $1.9 million from his company’s allocated $2.4 million payroll costs.

With Lil Wayne and other celebrities seemingly using the funds for anything but the intended purpose, the question remains: how much oversight is in place for pandemic relief funds? As the music industry continues to recover from the effects of COVID-19, these revelations reflect a troubling trend that could undermine the very foundation of aid designed to help artists and venues in dire need.

As the fallout continues, will these artists face repercussions for their spending choices? Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops!