He has also promised "further aid" for others who have been affected including 25 people who were hospitalized and hundreds of others who were injured.
Travis Scott's concert at the Astroworld Festival on November 5 took place to a sold-out audience. Despite safety concerns expressed by Houston's police chief Troy Finner, the concert took place as 50,000 people eager to witness the rapper caused a wave of commotion. The New York Times reported that the movement of the bodies was unstoppable and people started fighting for their lives as the 30-year-old rapper took to the stage. Concertgoers were gasping for air and many people started collapsing. Others started shouting for help and medical assistance, begging for the concert to stop. But it went on and claimed the lives of eight people, leaving hundreds of others injured.
BREAKING: Travis Scott to cover funeral costs of Astroworld victims, provide therapy to survivorshttps://t.co/vvDp2n1bhv
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) November 8, 2021
Scott has now announced that he will be covering the funeral expenses of the eight people who were killed in the crowd surge. Among the dead were two teenagers. He has also promised "further aid" for others who have been affected, including 25 people who were hospitalized. Scott has also partnered with the therapy service BetterHelp to provide free one-on-one online therapy and other mental health services for concertgoers impacted by the incident, reported TODAY. "These are the first of many steps Travis plans on taking as a part of his personal vow to assist those affected throughout their grieving and recovery process," the rapper's representative stated.
Statement from Police Chief @TroyFinner on #ASTROWORLDFest:#hounews pic.twitter.com/RouNcMErv2
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) November 8, 2021
The brother of one of the victims took to Facebook to share, "Travis Scott provoked these people and made them do just that and more he called people to the stage to jump into the crowd and did not stop the show. This is not the end, my family and I will go to the full extent to make sure he is brought to justice." Families of those impacted are also criticizing the rapper for not taking enough measures to ensure the safety of the concertgoers. A civil lawsuit has already been filed against Scott, who organized the festival along with promoter Scoremore and entertainment company Live Nation.
A ninth-grader, a 16-year-old dancer, and two best friends celebrating a birthday were among the eight people who lost their lives at Travis Scott's Astroworld music festival on Friday.
— Insider (@thisisinsider) November 8, 2021
Here is what we know so far about the people who died. https://t.co/pN72hPwO1m
Scott is also being sued by at least three concertgoers. "Eventually, due to defendants' active decision to let the show go on, the scene devolved into a complete melee, resulting in the needless, untimely death of at least eight people and injuries to scores of others," the lawsuit stated. Authorities are investigating whether any criminal charges will be filed. CNN legal analyst Jennifer Rodgers said, "One of the keys is whether what happened is reasonably foreseeable," she said. "If you're told about a risk in advance, that makes it much more foreseeable." Rodgers also noted that the standard for criminal liability will likely be higher than the standard for civil liability. Scott has not commented on the suits filed against him yet.
UPDATE: At least 12 lawsuits have reportedly been filed against Travis Scott and Astroworld organizers, one citing his alleged history of "creating dangerous conditions" at concerts.
— AJ+ (@ajplus) November 8, 2021
▪️ At least 8 people died, as young as 14.
▪️ 13 others were still hospitalized as of Sunday. pic.twitter.com/wvCOpw3Z40