- The Astroworld festival witnessed a massive tragedy
- Travis Scott's headline show ended in death for some fans
- Drake has been cleared of charges as one of the producers
This festival, headlined by rap superstar Travis Scott, ended in tragedy with 10 attendees losing their lives amidst a deadly crowd surge. The question on everyone's mind: How did Drake, a special guest at the event, manage to dodge legal repercussions? The details are still coming out in spades now.
The nightmare that is still giving
One thing is clear: the tragedy is still as sad now as it was then...
On that fateful night, as Drake performed alongside Travis Scott, the crowd's excitement turned into a nightmare. Attendees were trapped in a crush so intense, moving or even breathing became impossible for many. Despite attempts to shut down the concert, the tragedy unfolded, leaving families devastated and seeking justice.
In the aftermath, Drake, alongside Scott and event promoter Live Nation, found themselves entangled in a web of lawsuits filed by the victims' families and injured concertgoers. However, in a recent ruling, state District Judge Kristen Hawkins has dismissed the case against Drake, citing his lack of involvement in the concert's organization.
The relatives of those who tragically lost their lives, as well as the countless injured in the chaos, pointed their fingers at Drake, Scott, and Live Nation — the festival’s chief promoter, accompanied by a litany of other individuals and companies, pushing the legal responsibility onto their shoulders.
The pain of family members
All of the defendants, Drake and Scott among them, appealed to state District Judge Kristen Hawkins for a dismissal of the mounting lawsuits. In a succinct order issued on Wednesday, Hawkins ruled in favor of Drake, formally exempting him from the legal proceedings.
Drake’s legal team had argued fervently during an April 1 court appearance in Houston that the celebrated rapper was not implicated in the orchestrating of the festival, thus absolving him from any liability for the ensuing fatalities and injuries.
During a deposition held in Toronto in November, Drake argued that at the moment he graced the stage, he had not been informed about the escalating crises in the crowd, which ranged from cardiac arrests to a host of other injuries. He likened his onstage vista of the crowd to a blow of blurred faces, saying he was virtually unable to discern any distinct details.
In the heat of his deposition, Drake was presented with a video taken by the youngest casualty of the tragedy, Ezra Blount, a mere 9-year-old who had been perched on his father’s shoulders. On viewing the video, Drake conceded to seeing discernable panic distorting the faces of the concert-goers.
During a deposition, Drake expressed his shock upon learning the extent of the disaster, stating he couldn't discern the crowd's distress from the stage. "I think I would want answers for what happened, yes," he remarked when confronted with the harrowing footage of the youngest victim, nine-year-old Ezra Blount.
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While Drake may have been cleared, the legal battles are far from over. With the first trial set for May 6, the world watches as other key players, including Travis Scott and major corporations like Apple Inc., await their fate.
The Houston Police's investigation concluded without charges against Scott, but the court of public opinion remains in session.
This ruling not only impacts Drake's career but also sets a precedent for how artists and organizers might be held accountable in future events. As the music industry reflects on the Astroworld tragedy, one thing is clear: ensuring the safety of concertgoers must be a top priority.
