Jason Lee is under investigation for using $50,000 in public funds — allegedly without approval — to help pay for a “Wild ‘N Out” comedy event in Stockton, California.
The podcaster and founder of the Hollywood Unlocked blog grew up in Stockton, and was elected to the city government in 2024, according to his biography. Stockton is located about 45 miles south of Sacramento, in California’s Central Valley agricultural hub.
On Aug. 5, the Stockton city manager’s office announced it was investigating a $50,000 payment Lee made “from the City’s Risk Mitigation Fund” for an entertainment event.
Also Read: Newsom Hits Fox News With $787M Defamation Lawsuit Over Network’s ‘Lies’
In a news release, city spokesman Tony Mannor said the payment was made “without the City Manager’s knowledge or approval.”
Per Mannor, the goal of the investigation is to determine who authorized the payment and if any city policies were violated by Lee, who is a councilman and vice mayor.
“Reports of a sitting councilmember actively engaged between city staff and event promoters raise serious concerns about the appropriateness of such involvement and whether boundaries between policymaking and administration were crossed,” the release said.
In addition to his website and podcast, Lee has made regular appearances on VH1’s Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out.
Wild ‘n Out is a sketch comedy and battle rap show created and hosted by Nick Cannon. It debuted on MTV in 2005 and currently airs on VH1. The series kicks off its 21st season in the fall.
Jason Lee has denied wrongdoing and said he’s the target of a conspiracy. In a Facebook post on Aug. 4, he told his followers he brought the comedy event to Stockton to give back to the community.
“Let’s be clear: Nick and the ‘Wild ’N Out’ team came to Stockton as a favor to ME — to turn this city up and prove that we deserve world-class partnerships like Nick, Rip Michaels, and 5120 Entertainment. The attacks on our hardworking city staff for simply doing their jobs? Beyond disappointing,” he wrote.
[The full statement is below]
According to CBS 13 Sacramento, Cannon visited Stockton in May for a “Wild ‘n Out” show at the Adventist Health Arena. The station reported the $50,000 payment was used to cover remaining costs and prevent the event from being canceled.
Lee has called for California’s attorney general to open an independent investigation into Stockton’s interim city manager Steve Colangelo, amid the controversy.
In a news conference outside Stockton City Hall on Aug. 6, Lee and City Councilman Mario Enriquez — who has also faced ethics questions — fired back and accused Colangelo of fraud.
“Just this week, the City Council’s Audit Committee that I chair discovered that Mr. Colangelo knowingly and intentionally submitted a questionable budget that included the funding of a department that had been previously eliminated,” Lee said, per local news website Stocktonia.
The nonprofit Stocktonia reported there’s bad blood between Lee and multiple Stockton politicians, including City Councilman Brando Villapudua, who accused the influencer of political extortion.
Villapudua alleged Lee said he would support the councilman’s upcoming reelection bid if he backed a plan to oust the interim city manager. Villapudua alleged he was told he would face retaliation if he didn’t get on board with the plan. Lee denied the allegations.
Stocktonia also reported that Lee sent a letter last week to City Attorney Lori Asuncion “demanding a legal response against interim City Manager Colangelo relating to corruption, retaliation, organizational disruption and a Brown Act violation.”
The friction involving Lee picked up national attention after YouTube channels began reporting on the political drama. On Aug. 7, “Down the Rabbit Hole News” uploaded a 15-minute video on the story.
The video titled “OMG! Jason Lee INVESTIGATED AS STOCKTON OFFICIAL! IN TROUBLE For MONEY MISHANDLING of WILD’N OUT,” included footage of Lee clashing with Mayor Christina Fugazi at a recent city council meeting.
During a debate about diversity, equity and inclusion, Fugazi told Lee to wait his turn to speak and yelled, “I’m calling for an immediate recess!”
Lee cut her off and shot back, “Strangling the voice of a Black representative at this council is ridiculous!”
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.