TOPLINE
FBI agents searched the home of YouTube star Jake Paul on Wednesday and could be seen leaving the Calabasas, California, mansion with multiple firearms, as they executed a warrant in connection to his presence at a mall looting in Scottsdale, Arizona in May.
Jake Paul at a press conference in January 2020.
KEY FACTS
Paul, who was No. 2 on Forbes’ 2018 list of Highest-Paid YouTube Stars (earning $21.5 million that year, though he has since fallen off the ranking), had his mansion searched by FBI agents Wednesday morning as an ABC 7 news chopper hovering overhead captured footage of agents leaving with multiple firearms.
The FBI confirmed that it is investigating “allegations of criminal acts surrounding the incident at Scottsdale Fashion Square in May 2020," but a spokesperson told BuzzFeed News the agency is “prohibited” from disclosing more because the warrant is sealed.
In June, Paul was charged with trespassing and unlawful assembly after social media videos were posted showing him entering a mall in Scottsdale, Arizona, that was being looted; in a statement Wednesday the Scottsdale Police Department said it dismissed the charges so a federal “criminal” investigation could move forward — Paul has denied the misdemeanor charges.
The search comes weeks after Paul, who has more than 20 million YouTube subscribers, hosted a party and invited other popular influencers, who then shared photos and videos with their millions of followers showing crowds of guests dancing, playing drinking games and hanging from machinery.
The party and the coverage it generated drew the attention of Mayor Alicia Weintraub, who called it a “big, huge disregard for everything that everybody is trying to do to get things back to functioning” and who told Fox 11 it led her to work with the local police to make sure there is a “zero-tolerance policy on house parties in the city in violation of health orders.”
Footage from the party was then apparently used in a music video Paul posted on July 24 which has already been viewed more than 10 million times.
Crucial Quote:
"I personally am not the type of person who's gonna sit around and not live my life,” Paul told Insider, adding he his not sure if he’ll continue to host parties during the pandemic.
key background
In recent weeks, police across the country have struggled to stop celebrities and residents of wealthy neighborhoods from hosting large parties despite concerns that large gatherings are contributing to an increase in Covid-19 cases. One of the most high-profile was a “drive-in” Chainsmokers concert in the Hamptons that turned into a dance party with “thousands of people in close proximity.” Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, who DJs under the stage name DJ D-Sol, kicked it off. Gov. Andrew Cuomo called it “egregious” and New York State's Department of Health is investigating the charity event, the party's organizer, the venue that hosted it and the town officials who signed off on it.
tangent
Paul is far from the only influencer who has been criticized during the pandemic. Popular bloggers Arielle Charnas, Naomi Davis and Ali Maffucci were all heavily criticized in March and April after fleeing New York City as Covid-19 cases were on the rise.
big number
4,748,806. That is how many confirmed Covid-19 cases in the U.S. as of Tuesday, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
further reading
Apparent firearms seized after FBI serves search warrant at Calabasas home of YouTube star Jake Paul (ABC 7)
Calabasas mayor outraged after YouTube star Jake Paul throws weekend mansion party (Fox 11)
Celebrities And Rich Neighborhoods Won’t Stop Hosting Massive Mansion Parties (Forbes)
