Push Admin

Lawsuits mount over deadly Travis Scott concert tragedy

Article (news)

Francois Picard, Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A makeshift memorial for the concertgoers who died in a stampede during a Travis Scott performance at the Astroworld Festival grows in Houston on November 9, 2021. Callaghan O" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/11/11/texas.jpg"/><figcaption>A makeshift memorial for the concertgoers who died in a stampede during a Travis Scott performance at the Astroworld Festival grows in Houston on November 9, 2021. <em>Callaghan O&#x27;Hare, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>At least 2 people — including a young boy remained in critical condition Wednesday — as lawsuits mounted over the disastrous Travis Scott concert that left eight people dead in Houston.</p><p>Prominent civil rights lawyer Ben Crump announced a suit against the hip hop megastar, concert organizers and venue management on behalf of the family of Ezra Blount, a 9-year-old left in a coma after being trampled at Scott&#x27;s Astroworld Festival.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/11/09/21/investigators-pursue-criminal-probe-into-stampede-that-killed-eight-at-houston-concert">Investigators pursue criminal probe into stampede that killed eight at Houston concert</a></li></ul><p>&quot;This little boy is currently fighting for his life,&quot; Crump said in a Tuesday statement.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/06/21/casualties-reported-in-crush-at-texas-music-festival">At least 8 dead and many injured in crush at Texas music festival</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Concerts and music festivals such as this are meant to be a safe place for people of all ages to enjoy music in a controlled environment. None of that was true about the Astroworld Festival.&quot;</p><p>A 22-year-old university student, Bharti Shahani, who attended the concert with a sister and cousin, was comatose on a ventilator, the family told local TV station ABC13.</p><p>&quot;I think she lost oxygen for 10 minutes one time and seven minutes at another time,&quot; the cousin, Mohit Bellani, explained. </p><p>&quot;The doctors, they say the chances of survival are nothing,&quot; her father Sunny Shahani told the station.</p><div><strong>- &#x27;Gross negligence&#x27; -</strong></div><p>At least 60 lawsuits have been announced singling out Scott and fellow singer Drake, who took to the stage in the final 15 minutes of the concert, well after authorities had declared an emergency.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/11/07/21/investigations-widen-into-deadly-stampede-at-houston-rap-concert">Investigations widen into deadly stampede at Houston rap concert</a></li></ul><p>Also named in suits are Live Nation, the huge national events organizer; Scoremore, a Texas concert group; ASM Global, an international venue group; and others involved in the music spectacle at NRG Park in Houston.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/08/18/6-people-mostly-teenagers-killed-in-italy-nightclub-stampede">6 people, mostly teenagers, killed in Italy nightclub stampede</a></li></ul><p>Some 50,000 people jammed into the open air venue, dancing and singing along with Scott but finding themselves increasingly crushed against barriers, unable to move and breathe as the mass pressed toward the stage.</p><p>Some fell and others tumbled on top of them, crushing the bodies beneath, and the density of the crowd closer to the stage made it hard to pick them up and evacuate them, attendees described.</p><p> &quot;There were like layers of bodies on the ground, like two people thick. We were fighting to come up to the top and breathe to stay alive,&quot; Bellani said.</p><p>The lawsuits accuse the organizers of failing to maintain the security demanded by such an event, and in some cases actively encouraging dangerous behavior.</p><p>The tragedy was &quot;predictable and preventable&quot; and was the result of &quot;gross negligence,&quot; said a suit filed by Manuel Souza, who said he &quot;suffered serious bodily injuries&quot; when he was knocked to the ground and trampled.</p><p>Souza blamed &quot;defendants&#x27; motivation for profit at the expense of concertgoers&#x27; health and safety&quot; for the eight deaths and dozens of injuries.</p><p>One lawsuit said that a dangerous stampede had already taken place earlier that day when the venue opened. </p><p>It was a &quot;near-carbon copy&quot; of Scott&#x27;s Astroworld Festival in 2019, when &quot;patrons were forcefully pushed to the ground by the mob and became trapped under a stampede of people unable to stand back up,&quot; according to the suit by Zoey and Bruce Ferguson. &quot;As a result, many suffered serious injuries and damages.&quot; </p><div><strong>- &#x27;Stop the show&#x27; -</strong></div><p>The case could focus on the inadequacy of preparations, but also on Scott&#x27;s and Drake&#x27;s own actions during the concert.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/05/14/fans-hurt-stampede-after-mayweather-fight">Fans hurt in stampede after Mayweather fight</a></li></ul><p>Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña said they declared a &quot;mass casualty event&quot; shortly after 9:30 pm that evening after emergency calls came in.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/10/03/16/52-dead-in-ethiopia-festival-stampede">52 dead in Ethiopia festival stampede</a></li></ul><p>People in the crowd repeatedly screamed &quot;stop the show&quot; and videos show the crowd trying to evacuate people who had collapsed.</p><p>From the stage at certain points Scott acknowledged some trouble and that an ambulance was trying to get through the crowd.</p><p>But then he and Drake, who appeared on the stage at 10:00 pm, continued to energize the crowd until the show ended at 10:15.</p><p>Asked on NBC&#x27;s &quot;Today Show&quot; Tuesday if Scott should have stopped the concert, Peña replied: &quot;Absolutely.&quot; </p><p>He said Houston police were taking the lead investigating the disaster. </p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re looking at everything,&quot; Peña said. &quot;We need to ensure that this does not happen again.&quot;</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1826389" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

The organizers were accused of failing to maintain the security demanded by such an event, and in some cases actively encouraging dangerous behavior.

Lawsuits mount over deadly Travis Scott concert tragedy

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Showbiz

Lawsuits mount over deadly Travis Scott concert tragedy

Francois Picard,

Agence France-Presse

Published Nov 11, 2021 06:34 AM PHT

|

Updated Nov 11, 2021 07:41 AM PHT

Read More:

Astroworld

Travis Scott

concert stampede

Texas concert

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.