Critics, including Senator Gary Peters, have described the spending of grant money by celebrities as an 'abuse of federal resources,' further complicating the public perception of government support for the arts.

A recent report revealed that Lil Wayne and Chris Brown received significant Shuttered Venue Operations Grants, with Wayne obtaining $8.9 million and Brown $10 million, intended to support struggling venues during the pandemic.

Lil Wayne controversially billed taxpayers nearly $88,000 for a Coachella concert he did not perform, citing flight issues while he was spotted partying elsewhere.

In addition to the Coachella expenses, Wayne's grant spending included over $1.3 million on private jet flights and $460,000 on luxury clothing, raising eyebrows about the use of funds meant for struggling artists.

Both Wayne and Brown allocated some of their grant funds towards legitimate touring expenses, with Wayne spending over $327,000 on contractors and Brown over $383,000 on crew payroll, although these amounts were minor compared to their overall expenditures.

Brown's spending included $5.1 million in personal payments and nearly $80,000 on a lavish birthday party featuring extravagant elements like a $3,650 LED dance floor and hired models.

The Small Business Administration, which oversees the SVOG program, faced scrutiny for its lax fraud controls and inadequate investigations into questionable grant spending.

The SVOG program initially was not intended for individual artists, but a change in eligibility allowed wealthy musicians to apply through their companies, leading to significant payouts despite their financial stability.

A report from Business Insider highlighted that several entertainers, including Lil Wayne and Chris Brown, misused pandemic relief funds, raising ethical concerns about the allocation of public resources.

The investigation revealed that both artists used the funds for personal expenses rather than for their intended purpose, drawing public scrutiny and potential legal implications.

Wayne also charged taxpayers upwards of $175,000 for expenses related to promoting his marijuana brand at a music festival, further questioning the appropriateness of his grant spending.

While some bands like Alice in Chains did not engage in overt extravagance, they still took substantial sums for personal gain, raising ethical questions about the use of public funds.