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Agence France-Presse

Rappers Travis Scott and Drake have been sued for having “incited mayhem” after eight people were killed and dozens injured in a crush during a Texas concert, the law firm confirmed.
Texas firm Thomas J. Henry Law on Sunday tweeted a story published by The Daily Mail on the suit, confirming it had filed “one of the first lawsuits in Travis Scott Astroworld Festival tragedy”.
The plaintiff is 23-year-old concertgoer Kristian Paredes, who was one of those “severely injured” at the concert on the night of November 5.
Around 50,000 people were in the audience at Houston’s NRG Park when the crowd started pushing toward the stage as Scott was performing, triggering chaotic scenes.
Texas-resident Paredes, who is also suing concert organisers Live Nation and the venue, “felt an immediate push” at the front of the general admission section as Travis Scott got on stage, the complaint said.
“The crowd became chaotic and a stampede began,” it went on.
Why crowd surges can kill people
“Many begged security guards hired by Live Nation Entertainment for help, but were ignored.”
The suit, filed in Houston’s Harris County court, claims Scott “had incited mayhem and chaos at prior events” and that “defendants knew or should have known of (Scott’s) prior conduct”.
The suit accuses Canadian rap superstar Drake, who joined Scott’s headline set, of contributing to causing the surge toward the stage.

“As Drake came onstage alongside of Travis Scott he helped incite the crowd even though he knew of Travis Scott’s prior conduct,” the complaint charges.
He continued to perform even as the “crowd became out of control” and the “crowd mayhem continued,” it added.
Survivors of the incident described chaotic scenes of people squeezed up against one another, with many struggling to breathe.
Scott, who launched the Astroworld music festival in 2018, reportedly halted his act several times when he saw fans in distress near the stage.
Authorities in Texas have opened a criminal investigation into the tragedy, involving both homicide and narcotics detectives, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told reporters on Saturday.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said authorities were looking at video footage and talking to witnesses, concert organisers and people who were hospitalised.
He told reporters on Saturday that the eight people killed were aged from 14 to 27, with one person’s age unknown.
The chaos also resulted in 25 people being transported to the hospital and more than 300 people being treated on the scene for minor injuries.
In statements made since the concert, Scott said he is “devastated” by the deaths and pledged his support to Houston law enforcement investigating the incident.
“Any time I could make out anything that was going on, I’d stop the show and help them get the help they need,” said Scott, who did briefly pause his set at points to acknowledge the presence of emergency medics and instruct security to aid one person who passed out.
“I could never imagine the severity of the situation.”
In a second lawsuit, reported by Billboard, concertgoer Manuel Souza sued Scott as well as Live Nation and concert organiser ScoreMore.
Additional reporting by Tribune News Service


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Music

Astroworld festival: rappers Travis Scott, Drake sued over deadly crush at Texas concert

US rappers Travis Scott and Drake. Photo: AFP

(FILES) In this file photo taken on June 4, 2019 Executive Producer US rapper Drake attends the Los Angeles premiere of the new HBO series "Euphoria" at the Cinerama Dome Theatre in Hollywood. - Rappers Travis Scott and Drake have been sued for having "incited mayhem" after eight people were killed and dozens injured in a crush during a Texas concert, the law firm confirmed on Sunday. Texas firm Thomas J. Henry Law on Sunday tweeted a story published by the Daily Mail on the suit, confirming it had filed "one of the first lawsuits in Travis Scott Astroworld Festival tragedy." (Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP)

An empty stage is seen at the 2021 Astroworld Festival days after a stampede killed at least eight people in Houston, Texas, U.S. November 7, 2021. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Nathan Frandino

US rapper Travis Scott said he is ‘devastated’ by the deaths at the Astroworld music festival in Houston. Photo: AFP

Astroworld festival: at least 8 dead in crowd surge at Travis Scott concert in Houston

Fans attend the Astroworld music festival on Friday in Houston. Photo: Invision/AP

Travis Scott performs at Day 1 of the Astroworld Music Festival at NRG Park on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Houston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

An ambulance is seen in the crowd during the Astroworld music festiwal in Houston, Texas, U.S., November 5, 2021 in this still image obtained from a social media video on November 6, 2021. Courtesy of Twitter @ONACASELLA /via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT.

Rapper Travis Scott performs at the Astroworld music festival on Friday in Houston. Photo: Invision/AP

Why crowd surges can kill people

Mourners lay flowers outside the cancelled Astroworld festival after at least eight people died in a crowd surge. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Fans are crushed against the fencing in the Liverpool enclosure at Hillsborough soccer stadium, Sheffield, April 15, 1989, where it is reported a 95 people were killed after a crush in the crowd as the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham forest got underway. The game was stoped after six minutes play and then abandoned. Derbie Routledge (L) and Lisa Riding (C) both 19, said that although they thought they were going to die they were helped to safety. PA PHOTO for AP

Ambulance is seen in the crowd during rap star Travis Scott's Astroworld festival in Houston, Texas, U.S., in this still image from social media video November 5, 2021. TWITTER @ONACASELLA/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT

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World

United States & Canada

First Astroworld lawsuits land; Travis Scott and Drake are named as defendants
Criminal probe opened into crush at outdoor rap concert in Houston that killed eight


The first lawsuits have been filed in the Astroworld music festival tragedy that left eight people dead and at least 25 injured.


Fame and celebrity

United States

Drake

Travis Scott

Astroworld festival: rappers Travis Scott, Drake sued over deadly crush at Texas concert

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}First Astroworld lawsuits land; Travis Scott and Drake are named as defendants Criminal probe opened into crush at outdoor rap concert in Houston that killed eight

First Astroworld lawsuits land; Travis Scott and Drake are named as defendants

Criminal probe opened into crush at outdoor rap concert in Houston that killed eight