Judge Denies Dismissal of Lawsuits Against Travis Scott in Astroworld Deaths
In a recent development surrounding the tragic events of the 2021 Astroworld festival, a Houston judge has made a significant ruling.
The judge declined to dismiss hundreds of lawsuits that had been filed against Travis Scott, whose performance was at the center of the incident where ten individuals lost their lives and countless others were injured due to a crowd surge back in 2021.
During a pivotal hearing on April 15th, Noah Wexler, representing the family of Madison Dubiski, one of the victims, passionately argued that Scott had exhibited “conscious disregard for safety.” Wexler pointed out allegations that Scott had actively encouraged individuals without tickets to unlawfully enter the festival grounds and had disregarded calls from the festival organizers to halt his performance, contributing to the chaos.
In response, Scott’s legal team countered with the argument that the rapper bore no responsibility for the safety planning of Astroworld.
They noted that Scott’s role was limited to creative aspects of the event, such as marketing and performing.
Daniel Petrocelli, Travis Scott’s attorney, stressed that expecting performing artists to oversee safety measures was unreasonable, as they lacked the expertise in concert safety protocols and venue security.
Scott himself underwent an extensive deposition back in October 2023, enduring eight hours of questioning by the plaintiffs’ attorneys.
Despite this, his attorneys sought to have him and his production company XX Global removed from the lawsuits.
State District Judge Kristen Hawkins’ recent ruling denied this request in a succinct one-page order. Furthermore, the order mandates Scott’s personal attendance at the upcoming jury trial, scheduled to commence in Houston next month.
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,
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.”
Scott’s attorney Daniel Petrocelli , per Billboard
This decision marks a significant legal development in the aftermath of the Astroworld tragedy.
Judge Hawkins had previously dismissed lawsuits against Drake, another artist who performed at the event.
As the legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on seeking accountability and justice for the victims and their families impacted by the devastating events at Astroworld.