From Shrimp Mascot to R&B Star: The Tumultuous Rise of Giveon and the Viral “72-Hour Surveillance” Cheating Scandal

Giveon Desmond Evans, born on February 21, 1995, in Long Beach, California, has become one of the most distinctive voices in modern R&B, instantly recognizable by his deep, soulful baritone. His journey from a childhood shaped by poverty and a single mother’s dedication to an artist commanding a multi-million-dollar net worth is a classic Hollywood story—yet, it’s one that includes a bizarre pre-fame life, a monumental breakthrough, and one of the messiest, most public cheating scandals in recent memory.

The Baritone Voice Forged in Long Beach

Giveon’s childhood was marked by financial hardship. He was raised alongside his three brothers by his mother, a single nurse who worked grueling 12-hour graveyard shifts. His mother, who chose his name to mean “someone who gives,” created an atmosphere steeped in R&B, often playing “Black woman heartbreak music” by artists like Mary J. Blige and Anita Baker while cleaning. Noticing his talent, she gave him unusual vocal training, forcing him to sing “Happy Birthday” at every family gathering for years—a process he now refers to as his “Mr. Miyagi” training.

As a teenager, his voice dropped into the baritone range, causing him to lose confidence. Everything changed at a music education program at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, where he discovered and became inspired by fellow baritone singer Frank Sinatra. He began blending Sinatra’s timeless approach with the R&B storytelling of Frank Ocean and Miguel, finding his unique sound.

Before fame, Giveon lived a surprisingly humble life. After scrapping an early EP that he immediately deemed unworthy, he decided he needed more life experience. This led him to a job at Bubba Gump Shrimp as both a server and, incredibly, the restaurant mascot—forcing him to walk around in a shrimp suit and ask customers Forrest Gump trivia. He eventually quit on the spot after a confrontation with a child and later ran a dog-walking business to make ends meet.

The Breakthrough and the Fall

His career trajectory shifted rapidly after he uploaded the songs “Garden Kisses” and “Fields” to YouTube, catching the attention of producer Se7en Thomas. This collaboration led to his first hit, “Like I Want You,” and a record deal with Epic. The definitive moment came in 2020 when he appeared on Drake’s “Chicago Freestyle.” The song’s success was so immediate that many on Twitter initially confused Giveon’s voice with another artist, forcing him to clarify, “that’s me, not [the other artist].” His two critically acclaimed EPs that year, Take Time and When It’s All Said and Done, cemented his status.

It was during this ascent that he began a high-profile relationship with singer and model Justine Skye, which lasted over a year and involved them living together.

The “72-Hour CIA Mission” Cheating Scandal

The relationship publicly imploded in December 2021 when Justine Skye went live on Instagram to expose the details, complete with receipts. The extraordinary aspect of the scandal was that Justine didn’t catch him in the act; she gained access to his phone and, instead of confronting him immediately, watched his every move for 72 hours while he was out of town.

Real-Time Betrayal: Justine watched as he texted other women, coordinated meetups, and accepted his friends’ help in formulating lies to cover his tracks. All the while, she played the loving girlfriend on the phone, telling him to rest before her show, knowing he was texting other women the moment he hung up.
The Confrontation: On Day 3, as he was coordinating a physical hookup, he lied to Justine, saying he was “going out with friends.” When the girl texted, “I’m here,” Justine called him twice with no answer. He eventually called back, not to apologize, but to gaslight her, saying, “Why are you acting like this? Your friend is an idiot, they’re lying.” He then declared, “I’m done.”
The Proof: Justine ended the game by sending him a photo of his own phone in her hand, displaying the text messages where he and his friends planned the cover-up. The response was two hours of silence, followed by his only non-apology: “Are you trying to ruin me? You told everyone.”

Justine’s public revelation cemented his reputation as an R&B villain, with her declaring, “People like that don’t last. That for sure was the craziest lie I have ever caught someone in.”

The Aftermath: The 1,000-Day Album

After the internet explosion, Giveon went silent. He spent the next 1,000 days working on his highly anticipated album, Beloved, which he stated began in a relationship but finished when he was single—making the album a documented aftermath of the Justine Skye heartbreak and regret.

Released in 2024, Beloved utilized 98% live instrumentation and explored themes directly related to his ordeal. Songs like “Rather Be” deal with accepting his own flaws, and “Keeper” ironically deals with keeping secrets (even though he failed to keep his own). Most revealing is the song “Trying to Be,” in which he essentially gives a woman a warning that he might cheat—a pre-emptive acknowledgment of his tendencies that fans now sing the loudest at his shows.

As of 2025, Giveon’s net worth is estimated to be between $2 million and $4 million. He remains single and admits to keeping his guard up, only telling women, “All right, back at you for now” when they say “I love you.” He continues to write relentlessly, committed to avoiding another 1,000-day gap between projects, forever carrying the story of the man who went from Bubba Gump Shrimp mascot to R&B sensation, whose spectacular rise was nearly consumed by a real-life scandal he couldn’t keep secret.