"Profit was more important to them": Travis Scott was sued after death stampede during his speech

On November 7, it became known about the first lawsuits filed against the American rapper Travis Scott after the incident at the Astroworld music festival.

During the artist's performance on Friday, November 5, a stampede began, as a result of which eight people died.

Among them were teenagers aged 14 and 16.

More than 300 spectators were injured, 25 were hospitalized.

According to Variety, Scott repeatedly interrupted his performance to draw the attention of the guards to what was happening in the hall, but then continued to perform the planned program.

At the same time, members of the fire brigade were involved in rescuing the victims.

Several people in the crowd lost their creation and required cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

In addition, the police detained 25 people - including for drinking alcohol in a public place and possession of prohibited substances.

According to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, when a security officer tried to stop the crowd, someone injected an unknown substance into his neck.

The victim lost consciousness, he and a number of those present required a drug for an overdose of opioids.

Travis Scott finished his performance only after the end of the program.

According to The Washington Post, judging by the videos made during the concert, when the crush began, the audience tried to call for help, but no one heard them because of the loud music.

Panic escalated for 70 minutes.

“I am absolutely shocked by what happened last night.

I pray for everyone who suffered from what happened at the Astroworld festival and their families, ”commented Travis Scott.

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Among the first plaintiffs to file charges against the artist, as well as the organizers of the Live Nation show, was Christian Paredes from Austin, who received serious injuries at the concert.

He described some of the injuries as irreversible, and included rapper Drake on the show's guest list.

“There are all the signs that the performers, the organizers of the festival and those who provided them with the site were aware not only of the commotion in the ranks of the audience, but also of the risk of injury or death there.

Nevertheless, the profit for them turned out to be more important (security. -

) of the guests of the event, and the show, which threatened to turn into death, was allowed to continue, "says a lawyer representing the interests of Paredes.

Also received a lawsuit from Houston resident Manuel Sousa.

“As a proud citizen of Houston, we are shocked by the terrible tragedy that struck Friday night.

Travis Scott has previously incited violence and created dangerous conditions for visitors at concerts.

So, after the tickets for the festival were completely sold out, the rapper wrote on Twitter that the raging fans (to the concert -

) would be allowed to pass.

He and those who promoted and supported this event must be held accountable for their monstrous actions.

We intend to ensure that they fully bear responsibility and show that such behavior in our wonderful city is unacceptable, ”says the victim's lawyer.

An investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing.

According to the Houston Chronicle, much of it will be based on videos posted online by festival participants.

Houston-based lawyer Rusty Hardin emphasizes that the key question to be answered during the investigation is what exactly caused the death and injury of the audience.

“If the facts indicate that the cause of death or injury was not the fact that people were trampled, but the crush, because of which they could not breathe, then I think the producers will be charged with an even more serious offense.

Thousands of visitors tried to push as close to the stage and break through the fences to get as close to Travis Scott as possible, as a result of which people were crushed (by the crowd -

), ”says Hardin.

If Live Nation is proven guilty, the company will be damaged in hundreds of millions of dollars.

It is also possible that Travis Scott himself will be responsible for what happened.

This will happen if it is proven that he incited the crowd.

In 2017, Live Nation organized a Las Vegas festival in which a Nevada man opened fire from a hotel room and killed 58 people.

According to the New York Post, Travis Scott has also been involved in such investigations on several occasions in the past.

He has been convicted of inciting riot, instigating audiences at music festivals, and disregarding security requirements.

In 2015, Scott was detained at the Lollapalooza festival after dozens of fans responded to his call and made their way onto the stage, ignoring the security staff.

In 2017, at the show with his participation at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion, several people were injured, including a security guard.

The artist pleaded guilty to hooliganism.

A few weeks later, at one of his concerts, the audience fell from the balcony and remained paralyzed.

The victim claims that Scott ordered the guards to drag him onto the stage, thereby aggravating the situation.