At least two investigations and one civil lawsuit have been filed after the horrific crowd-crushing incident at the Astroworld festival in Houston, Texas.
On November 5th, attendees at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival were caught up in a crowd-crushing event that claimed the lives of eight people and injured hundreds more. Over 300 people were reportedly rushed to hospital following the concert.
The victims, aged between 14 to 27, were killed when the crowd surged towards the stage. Manuel Souza, who suffered “serious bodily injuries” is seeking $US1 million in damages from Scott and promoters, Live Nation.
The crush began with Scott’s headline set at 9 PM. Attendees and commentators alike are now questioning what caused such a tragedy to occur, and how it could have been prevented.
But more specifically, many are asking why Scott did not halt the performance once ambulances and health professionals arrived. Unconscious festivalgoers were being pulled from the crowd in full view of the stage.
It’s clear that necessary safety protocols were not followed, with fans storming over fences and barricades earlier in the day. Attendees have also noted that the mosh pits only had one entrance and exit, making it extremely difficult to escape the “sinkholes” that appeared once people started falling on top of each other.
“Broken and Devastated”
Since the tragic night, Travis Scott’s statements have been touted as lukewarm. The performer stated in a notes-app apology that he is “absolutely devastated by what took place last night”, promising to work “together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need”.
Scott has also since announced that he will cover all funeral costs for the victims, as well as mental health services.
“Travis remains in active conversations with the city of Houston, law enforcement and local first responders to respectfully and appropriately connect with the individuals and families of those involved,” the statement reads. “These are the first of many steps Travis plans on taking as a part of his personal vow to assist those affected throughout their grieving and recovery process.”
Scott’s partner Kylie Jenner has said, “Travis and I are broken and devastated.”
“My thoughts and prayers are with all who lost their lives, were injured or affected in anyway by yesterday’s events. And also for Travis who I know cares deeply for his fans at the Houston community. [sic]
“I want to make it clear we weren’t aware of any fatalities until the news came out after the show and in no world would have continued filming or performing.”
But many are saying that these offers and apologies are too little, too late.
What Caused Such a Horrific Event to Occur?
Since the event, social media has been awash with disturbing videos and traumatic personal accounts. There have also been allegations of needle spiking, including one incident involving a security guard who was then treated with a drug used for opioid overdoses. However, some are viewing these reports as “fake news” intended to distract from those truly accountable.
This certainly isn’t the first time that a musical event has ended in tragedy. Indeed, crowd surges and crushing incidents are not uncommon at large events. Many have been drawing parallels with the 1969 Rolling Stones concert at Altamont that also ended in disaster.
But it’s also not the first time that Travis Scott himself has faced allegations of creating unsafe spaces for audiences. The ABC has reported that Scott has a history of encouraging dangerous behaviour at his shows.
He has previously pled guilty to disorderly conduct after inciting a riot at a concert. And past footage has emerged of Scott encouraging fans to beat up a minor in the audience who allegedly attempted to steal one of his shoes.
However, these previous events pale in comparison to this latest tragedy. The circumstances surrounding the deaths and injuries at Astroworld are under continuing investigation.
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