Travis Scott, Live Nation, and ScoreMore have been sued by an injured Astroworld attendee, Billboard reports. The 2021 edition of the music festival ended in chaos on Friday, November 5, with eight deaths, scores of injuries, and multiple incidents of cardiac arrest. The complaint accuses the organizers of negligence and gross negligence and is seeking at least $1 million in damages. Billboard notes that Scott’s Cactus Jack Records and multiple other individuals and companies involved in Astroworld were also named in the suit. Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for Scott, Live Nation, and ScoreMore for comment.
The suit was filed Saturday (November 6) in Harris County District Court by Manuel Souza, as Billboard reports. Souza reportedly referred to the incident as a “predictable and preventable tragedy,” and claimed that festival organizers disregarded potential warning signs, like when “concertgoers breached a security gate around the park, stampeded into the premises, and trampled over one another” earlier that day.
Souza’s complaint reportedly claims that the incident was the result of “a motivation for profit at the expense of concertgoers’ health and safety” and the “encouragement of violence,” noting that the concert continued even after audience members had “suffered serious obvious injury.”
Another lawsuit was also filed on Sunday by Texas attorney Thomas J. Henry against Scott, Drake (who appeared at the festival with Scott), Live Nation, and NRG Stadium on behalf of “one of the victims.” The attorney announced that he will provide “immediate consultations to all injured victims as well as to families who had loved ones hurt or killed at the concert.”
On Saturday, November 6, Scott shared a public statement reacting to the news. “I’m absolutely devastated by what took place last night,” Travis Scott said in a statement. “My prayers go out to the families and all those impacted by what happened at Astroworld Festival. Houston PD has my total support as they continue to look into the tragic loss of life. I am committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need.”
Scott’s set at the festival went on for 75 minutes. He was criticized on social media after video circulated of Scott acknowledging an ambulance in the crowd during his set before continuing to perform.