Trigger warning. Videos and social media posts in this article include scenes of violence, drug use, and harsh language.
Over 50,000 fans were packed in ready to see rapper Travis Scott perform at his Astroworld Festival in Houston on Friday. What began as a normal concert quickly turned into a tragic event. During the show, a crowd rush occurred resulting in the death of eight people and injuries to hundreds of others. The descriptions of the scene are daunting.
An account in the New York Times described the event. “Some collapsed. Others fought for air. Concertgoers lifted up the unconscious bodies of friends and strangers and surfed them over the top of the crowd, hoping to send them to safety. Others shouted out for help with CPR and pleaded for the concert to stop.”
A video has surfaced of a fan trying to get the attention of a camera operator. The fan is visibly distraught and calling for help. Instead of being met with the help he was looking for, other fans berated him as the concert goes on. The interaction can be seen below. (NSFW)
Another concerning video has surfaced as Travis Scott can be seen urging fans to put their middle fingers to the sky as emergency personnel entered the venue. (NSFW)
This is you literally encouraging the crowd to disrespect security, while they are trying to make a path for medical to pass through. pic.twitter.com/ZMv6UWSkN1
— sí (@sisihunni) November 6, 2021
The concert continued for roughly half an hour after city officials said the “mass casualty event” had begun. Houston police chief, Troy Finner, said they were concerned that shutting down the venue would cause more riots, escalating the situation. Reports suggest that security and emergency personnel did not have adequate communication channels in place with the venue staff. As fans began to fill the arena, cell service became near non-existent.
Madeline Eskins, an intensive care unit nurse attending the concert, describes a scene where the event’s medical staff appeared unprepared and overwhelmed in a New York Times report. “She said she was taken to an area where three people were laid on the ground, all receiving CPR. Some of the medical workers did not appear to know how to check a pulse or properly conduct chest compressions, she said. “They looked terrified,” she said.”
Investigators are looking to determine the cause of death of all the victims. Along with the crowd surge, there is speculation that laced, counterfeit drugs may have accounted for some of the deaths. Officials state it may take weeks for the toxicology reports to shed more light on the situation. Videos have surfaced of one fan appearing to have a seizure.
This kid dropped in the middle of the crowd in the vip section and started having a seizure.#astroworldfestival #AstroWorld #TravisScott 🙏 pic.twitter.com/YUESam1rmS
— $ALEHIARI$ (@ArisSalehi) November 6, 2021
At least 18 lawsuits have been filed since the event. Live Nation Entertainment, the event’s organizer, has been named as a defendant in all but one of the suits along with Travis Scott being named in most of the suits. Drake, who was a guest performer at the concert, has been named in at least one of the suits. Travis Scott and Drake have since posted on social media addressing the event.
JUST IN: Travis Scott shares video addressing the tragedy at Astroworld Fest pic.twitter.com/MSjVpJH3fK
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) November 7, 2021
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWCr3ydlVVA/
Travis Scott and Drake were not the only ones to take to social media. Since the event, keywords “Travis Scott” and “Astroworld” have been mentioned almost 2.5 million times across social media channels. The vast majority of the posts, 89.7%, hold a negative sentiment. Posts consist of jarring scenes of the event, but most posts are calling out the rapper for how he handled the situation, how this is becoming a pattern at his shows, and calling him out for poorly thought out relief efforts for the victims.
Videos across social media show the insanity that occurred during the concert.
Travis Scott’s #AstroWorld concert looks like an episode of Metalocalypse pic.twitter.com/2IiK858xQE
— 𖤐Unknown Comic𖤐 (@Sad_Clown_666) November 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/DexterL07617514/status/1456933595956662272
Multiple users point out that Travis Scott has a history of encouraging rages at his show and glorifying violent behavior.
https://twitter.com/Emerald_Prncs/status/1457918595330191364
Users are quick to judge Travis Scott on his poorly planned relief effort for victims of the show claiming the rapper is taking advantage of a tragedy by signing a partnership with Better Help.
THIS MF DID A *PARTNERSHIP*??????????? A MONTH OF THERAPY????????? https://t.co/EhyVQKUk78
— Zara Rahim (@ZaraRahim) November 9, 2021
Others are in shock how Travis could go out after the show unaware of what had just occurred.
Travis Scott went to Dave and Buster's right after his concert killed 8 people. He was ordering Long Island Iced Teas and playing Dance Dance Revolution while parents found out their kids died from an easily-preventable death at Astroworld. pic.twitter.com/6YNjzuM14y
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) November 10, 2021
Travis Scott has informed local authorities that he will be fully cooperative in their ongoing investigations regarding this tragic event, and that he is keeping the victims and their families in his thoughts and prayers.
Author: Jacob Luksik
