Multiple plaintiffs filed civil lawsuits Monday against rapper Travis Scott and myriad other defendants after multiple deaths during Scott’s Astroworld festival in Houston Friday. Plaintiffs Manuel Souza and Kristian Perades filed separate lawsuits in Harris County District Court, a Texas state court. Both plaintiffs seek medical expenses in addition to other damages.
Scott opened his Astroworld musical festival on Friday. Souza’s complaint describes uncontrolled crowd surges resulting in tramplings and unconscious patrons. Emergency vehicles attempted to enter the crowd but could not reach all injured concertgoers. According to Souza’s complaint, “so many people were hurt, and so few emergency personnel were provided by defendants, that patrons had to conduct CPR on their fellow concertgoers.” At least eight people died and many more suffered injuries in the commotion. The Houston Police Department established a reunification center to connect missing persons with their loved ones.
In the aftermath, Perades alleges negligent action by defendants Scott, rapper Drake, Live Nation Entertainment, and Harris Country Sports and Convention Corporation. Souza alleges negligence and gross negligence by 15 defendants, including Scott and Live Nation.
Both plaintiffs assert that organizers negligently hired and trained insufficient security and emergency personnel and allowed the concert to continue “despite the extreme risk of harm to concertgoers that was escalating by the moment.”
Souza claims that the defendants knew or should have known that Scott encourages reckless behavior at his shows and failed to plan accordingly. In 2015 and 2017, Scott was arrested for inciting violence at his concerts. In 2017, patron Kyle Green was pushed from a balcony by fellow fans at a Travis Scott concert and was paralyzed.
After Astroworld began to sell out in May 2021, Scott tweeted, “NAW AND WE STILL SNEAKING THE WILD ONES IN. !!!” Souza alleges that Scott’s statement encouraged fans to “bum rush” entrances, enter the concert without tickets and overwhelm security personnel. The tweet has now been deleted but is included in Souza’s complaint. After fans breached security gates on November 5th, Souza argues that defendants should have taken action to obvious address safety concerns.
Souza’s attorney Steve Kherkher called for defendants to preserve evidence in the case, including the physical Astroworld set. Kherkher filed a proposed temporary restraining order with the court and asked the court to enjoin defendants from destroying such evidence. Kherkher also requested access to the Astroworld premises.
Livenation, Scott, and Astroworldfest released brief statements on Twitter and vowed to cooperate with investigators. On Sunday, Scott’s Partner Kylie Jenner posted an Instagram story claiming she and Scott were not “aware of any fatalities until the news came out after the show.” Jenner’s prior Instagram posts showed medical vehicles attempting to enter the crowd.
Fans responded to the tragedy by sharing clips of artists, including Adele, Linkin Park, and A$AP Rocky, stopping their concerts to help injured fans.
