First consequences after the Astroworld tragedy with eight dead: Fans have filed a lawsuit rapper Travis Scott (30).
The whole of Houston is still in shock after the weekend’s mass panic. At the festival hosted by organizer and live act Travis Scott, eight young people died on Friday and more than 300 were injured.
How could this happen? If you believe eyewitnesses, the whole event was pure chaos. Negligent security precautions, barely trained staff – and superstars who continued to stir up the crowd.
The first fans have therefore filed a lawsuit. Against Travis Scott, his colleague Drake (35) and the organizer Live Nation. The reason: negligence.
This cell phone recording shows Drake (left) and Travis Scott on the stage at the festival at the weekend. They are said to have spurred the crowd to come forward Photo: B4859 / Avalon
One of the plaintiffs, Kristian Paredes, claims that Travis’ behavior at previous concerts should have been remembered by anyone who helped plan and run the festival this year.
According to the lawsuit filed by TMZ, the fan accuses Travis Scott and superstar Drake of cheering the crowd to come on stage! The two rappers should have been aware of the reaction of the fans, according to the lawsuit.
Under the pressure of thousands of people who pushed from the back to the front of the stage, the victims were literally crushed in the front rows, some fell and were trampled to death by other fans.
The scene of the tragedy: flowers, candles, letters and T-shirts are where eight people were killed and hundreds were injured Photo: THOMAS SHEA / AFP
Here the crowd is still dancing to Travis Scott’s songs, but around 9 p.m. (local time) on Friday evening, mass panic broke outPhoto: Jamaal Ellis / AP
► According to his complaint, Kristian Paredes was also pushed forward and injured at the moment. He accuses those responsible that the crew slouched for logistics and security.
He’s now demanding a million dollars in compensation. A second concert guest, Manuel Souza, describes something similar. He too is suing for a million dollars and was injured in the crowd.
Souza says very clearly: The tragedy was “predictable and avoidable” – mainly because there were enough warning signs earlier in the day, which the organizers apparently ignored.
Souza describes how people “trampled” their way onto the festival site during the day when the gates were opened. Fans even climbed over security gates and ran over other fans who fell. Videos on Twitter prove that.
All of this was ignored, according to Souza, even though enough crew members saw people getting injured. They “consciously let the show go on”.
► Madeline Eskins, a professional nurse in an intensive care unit, was also among the fans. She passed out in the crowd and was carried forward by the fans where security guards pulled her out.
On Instagram, she describes the dramatic moments after the mass panic and how allegedly sloppy work was done on the security concept in advance.
When she woke up in the emergency tent, Madeline was helping the paramedics take care of the numerous fans that were being carried in!
She says many of the paramedics “didn’t know what to do and had no idea how to get a pulse or do chest compressions.” There was also a lack of equipment, such as defibrillators.
The entrance to the site. There were also dramatic scenes at the entrance Photo: ddp / Jennifer Lake
Kylie Jenner, friend of Travis Scott and just pregnant with their second child, was at the concert and was unharmed Photo: Andy Kropa / dpa
► Another fan, who claims to be a trained paramedic, writes on the Reddit platform: “I saw a girl die in front of me just because these ‘paramedics’ were so poorly prepared.”
► Concert guest Billy Nasser reports to CNN that he saw a victim’s eyes “rolled”. He tried to help, but when he checked the pulse, “I knew he was dead. I had to leave him there, ”says Nasser, describing the chaotic situation. “There was nothing I could have done. I had to go on. “
Meanwhile, Travis Scott, who started the festival in 2018, posted a new video on Sunday. In it he expresses his sympathy – after a written statement again – and says that he is working closely with the authorities.