Travis Scott Faces Legal Inquiry Over Fatal Incident at Texas Astroworld Festival Amid Numerous Lawsuits

Renowned rapper Travis Scott was extensively interrogated this Monday as part of a civil deposition tied to a multitude of lawsuits levied against him and other entities concerning fatalities and injuries that occurred during the 2021 Astroworld festival.

Scott faced the deposition in Houston, which spanned approximately eight hours, according to two individuals privy to the legal proceedings.

Due to a gag order imposed, lawyers and others involved in the civil lawsuits are restricted from discussing details outside of what is disclosed in court sessions.

“Travis Scott’s participation in the deposition is a standard legal formality. What sets this case apart is the continuous media scrutiny directed at him, despite being exonerated of any culpability by multiple governmental inquiries, including those by the Houston Police Department,” stated Ted Anastasiou, a representative for Scott. “Travis remains fully collaborative with the ongoing legal processes, all the while maintaining his dedication to his touring schedule in promotion of his chart-topping album ‘Utopia,’ as well as his philanthropic endeavors aimed at vulnerable communities.”

After a comprehensive inquiry led by Houston Police, Scott was not criminally charged; a grand jury in June opted not to indict him or five other individuals on any criminal allegations related to the tragic event. Police Chief Troy Finner did not disclose the final conclusions reached by the department’s investigation.

In July, the police department released a voluminous investigative report of nearly 1,300 pages, outlining concerns raised by festival staff and warning of potential fatal outcomes.

Based on a summarization in the investigative report, Scott conveyed to the police during an interview two days post-event that, although he did notice one individual receiving medical care close to the stage, he did not perceive any significant issues, as the crowd appeared to be engaged in the performance.

This marked Scott’s inaugural deposition by legal representatives of those who have initiated lawsuits following the crowd surge at his concert on November 5, 2021, in Houston, which resulted in the deaths of 10 attendees. The ages of the deceased ranged from 9 to 27, and they succumbed to compression asphyxia—a condition likened to being compressed by an automobile by experts.

Similar crowd surges causing fatalities have transpired globally, in venues ranging from a soccer stadium in England to the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and Halloween celebrations in Seoul, South Korea. The primary cause of death in such surges is typically suffocation.

This deposition occurs in the context of a court setting the first trial date related to the lawsuits for May 6, 2024, nearly two and a half years subsequent to the fatal event.

Court documents submitted in April cited over 1,500 active lawsuits, a substantial number of which target Scott and Live Nation, the event’s promoter. Of these lawsuits, 992 involve physical injuries, while 313 relate to “emotional distress, pain, suffering, and mental anguish.” Orthopedic surgeries have been performed in 17 cases, with additional surgeries suggested in 21 others.

Settlements have been reached in some of these lawsuits, including those launched by the families of three individuals who lost their lives during the concert.

Coinciding with Scott’s Monday deposition was a performance in Houston by hip-hop artist Drake, who shared the stage with Scott during the Astroworld event and has also been named in lawsuits concerning the tragic incident.

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More about Travis Scott Astroworld Deposition

• Travis Scott’s Official Statement on Astroworld Incident
• Houston Police Department’s Report on Astroworld Festival
• Civil Lawsuits Against Travis Scott and Live Nation
• Grand Jury Decision on Astroworld Incident
• Details on Scheduled Trials for Astroworld Lawsuits
• Live Nation’s Role in Astroworld Festival
• Overview of Compression Asphyxia
• Drake’s Involvement in Astroworld Lawsuits