Travis Scott Insists Innocence: Rapper Claims He Was Not Responsible for Astroworld Festival Tragedy
(Photo : Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Travis Scott, through his lawyers, asked to be removed from the Astroworld lawsuits, explaining that ensuring the safety and security at live events is “not the job of performing artists.”
Over two years since the 2021 edition of the Astroworld Festival killed 10 people in the tragic crowd crush, the lawsuits filed by the injured victims and families of the dead attendees have yet to have the answers to their lingering questions.
On Monday, Scott’s lawyers formally submitted a motion in which they argued that the rapper was not in charge and responsible for the event’s safety.
Travis Scott Claims He Was Not Responsible for the Astroworld Tragedy
In the motion cited by Rolling Stone, Scott’s attorneys said, “performers are not expected to render special protection to the audience, nor to safeguard them from the rest of the crowd.”
Thus, the 32-year-old “SICKO MODE” rapper was unaware about the crowd crush happening during and after the concert.
“Like any other adrenaline-inducing diversion, music festivals must balance exhilaration with safety and security-but that balance is not the job of performing artists, even those involved in promoting and marketing performances,” Daniel Petrocelli, who is leading Scott’s attorneys, wrote. “Which only makes sense: Performing artists, even those who engage in certain promotional activities, have no inherent expertise or specialized knowledge in concert safety measures, venue security protocols, or site-design,” he added.
Per Billboard, Petrocelli also explained how Scott acted diligently to avoid claims of negligence and protected everyone by supporting festival organizers’ efforts to eliminate the risks.
The prominent litigator noted that the “sdp interlude” rapper agreed to remove rides and attractions from the site during the festival planning to ensure safety among the crowd.
In addition, Scott’s defendants noted that the performer ended his number as the team was told to do so.
Scott underwent a lengthy questioning during a civil deposition on September 18, 2023.
His representative, Ted Anastasiou, said at the time that the deposition was part of the typical legal procedure and reminded everyone of the Harris County grand jury’s ruling.
District Attorney Kim Ogg explained that “a tragedy isn’t always a crime, and not every death is a homicide” when they ruled Scott would not be criminally charged after the event.
However, the previous ruling did not make an impact on the ongoing civil lawsuits against Scott.
Litigation’s First Trial To Start
More details are expected to be released during the scheduled trial in the litigation set on May 6.
Prior to that, Scott maintained in the Monday motion that his involvement in planning was only in creative control and marketing.
Thus, he and his team were reportedly “neither responsible for nor involved in the approval of venue security, safety, or site layout decisions” that built the Astroworld Festival.
“[But] promoting and performing at a concert do not equate to the power to control a crowd or to design a venue safely. Basic tort principles prevent imposing liability on the Scott defendants for a tragedy arising from forces legally controlled by others,” Petrocelli went on.
