TOPLINE
A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of 125 attendees of Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival and family members of those who died against the rapper, Drake, Live Nation, Apple Music and others, seeking $750 million and a jury trial.
KEY FACTS
The lawsuit, which was filed in Texas’ Harris County District Court by the Buzbee Law Firm, alleges the attendees suffered mental and physical distress from the event due to the Astroworld organizers and performers’ “senseless gross negligence.”
The lawsuit claims the people behind the event did not “make an even minimal effort” to keep concertgoers safe, citing the death of 21-year-old Axel Acosta, who was “crushed” by the “out of control” crowd and went into cardiac arrest before falling to the ground and being “trampled.”
The lawsuit alleges Scott had “glorified violence and other dangerous behaviors” prior to the concert, citing a 2015 incident at Lollapalooza, in which he faced reckless conduct charges, and posts encouraging the crowds prior to Astroworld.
Scott, whose real name is Jacques Webster, recently said he did not have the authority to stop the concert and although he was “not responsible” for what happened at Astroworld, he wants to be “responsible for the solution.”
Forbes has reached out to Scott’s representatives and Live Nation for comment.
BIG NUMBER
10. That’s how many people have died from the crowd surge at the concert, who ranged in age between 9 and 27.
KEY BACKGROUND
Houston officials and Travis Scott have traded blame over who was responsible for stopping the concert during the deadly crowd surge. Houston police said a “mass casualty incident” was declared after they received multiple reports of people suffering from heart attacks during Scott’s performance on stage. Scott has said he would pay for the funeral expenses for families who lost a loved one during the Astroworld event and is cooperating with the police’s investigation. Other civil lawsuits have been filed against the Astroworld organizers, Live Nation, Scott and Drake.
FURTHER READING
Astroworld Death Toll Rises To 10 As Ezra Blount, 9, Dies From Injuries (Forbes)