Controversial YouTuber Jake Paul's LA home was yesterday raided by the FBI and firearms were allegedly removed from the property, according to new reports. Sources add that the raid came about due to Paul's arrest in June this year (he has been charged with looting during a Black Lives Matter protest in Arizona), the demonstration was declared a riot by police after the looting began.
Paul, who was not home at the time of the raid, has denied any wrongdoing with regards to his arrest – tweeting, "To be absolutely clear, neither I nor anyone in our group was engaged in any looting or vandalism. For context, we spent the day doing our part to peacefully protest one of the most horrific injustices our country has ever seen."
Unfortunately his run-ins with the law don't end there. He also came under fire in July for throwing a large party at his mansion that broke social distancing guidelines. In 2018, Paul was listed as Forbes' second-highest-earning YouTuber, taking home an estimated $21.5 million.
"The FBI is executing a federal search warrant at a residence in Calabasas in connection with an ongoing investigation," an FBI representative said in a statement, reported by the BBC. "The affidavit in support of the search warrant has been sealed by a judge and I am, therefore, prohibited from commenting as to the nature of the investigation. No arrests are planned."
Celebrity news website TMZ posted aerial footage showing what looks like officers carrying guns out of the property and according to the local ABC stations, the weapons include a gun found next to a hot tub.
Following his arrest at the protest-turned-riot (sparked by the death of George Floyd), Paul was charged with criminal trespass and unlawful assembly. Video footage (shared online) appeared to show him caught up in looting, causing outrage as peaceful protestors condemned him and his actions for taking away from the real purpose of the movement. Many called Paul, who said he was only there to meet fellow protestors, privileged and entitled.
Everyone's clicking on...
"Our investigation has revealed that Paul was present after the protest was declared an unlawful assembly and the rioters were ordered to leave the area by the police," a statement from the Scottsdale Police Department says. "Paul also unlawfully entered and remained inside of the mall when it was closed. As a result, Paul has been charged with criminal trespass and unlawful assembly."
Earlier this year, Paul was also widely criticised for his comments about anxiety on Twitter, in which he implied mental health issues were self-created. He also had a public falling out with model Gigi Hadid, who called him "irrelevant", after he tweeted about her partner (and the father of her unborn child) Zayn Malik.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
Follow Jennifer on Instagram and Twitter
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
