2021 Astroworld Festival Archives

Live Nation CEO Ordered To Attend Deposition For Travis Scott Astroworld Disaster

October 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

While Travis Scott and Live Nation are slowly getting out of the woods when it comes to the Astroworld Festival tragedy in 2021, things aren’t over. In case you didn’t know, the concert series resulted in ten dead and hundreds injured following a catastrophic crowd crush during Scott’s headlining set, prompting investigations and hundreds of lawsuits against him and the touring company for mismanagement, lack of planning, unfulfilled safety guidelines, and other similar issues. Even though La Flame and Live Nation settled most of these lawsuits, the Texas Supreme Court continues to litigate as a jury trial is on the horizon.

Furthermore, the court reportedly ruled last week on October 15 (per Billboard) that Live Nation’s CEO, Michael Rapino, must face a deposition for his alleged involvement in the Travis Scott Astroworld disaster. The company had petitioned to halt the move, as they accused victims of using him as a scapegoat to “harass Live Nation and to coerce settlements.” But the Texas Supreme Court upheld a judge’s ruling earlier this summer that orders Rapino to testify. Some victims continue to move in the direction of a jury trial, but a purported bellwether trial faced a delay to February of next year from an original start date of this week.

Travis Scott At The 2024 BET Hip-Hop Awards

Travis Scott Astroworld Festival Live Nation CEO Deposition Hip Hop News — LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 08: In this image released on October 15, 2024, Travis Scott accepts the I Am Hip Hop Award onstage during the BET Hip Hop Awards 2024 at Drai’s Beachclub & Nightclub on October 08, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

As for why the court delayed this trial, it’s due to the various settlements that Travis Scott and Live Nation reached. Nevertheless, the latter argued that Michael Rapino was “not involved in the festival” or its decision-making process. “Mr. Rapino’s only connection to the festival was as Live Nation’s ultimate executive,” defense attorneys expressed. “Any knowledge he may possess was obtained from others who have knowledge superior to his own.” In response, victims’ lawyers cited an email that Rapino sent the night of the tragedy, telling the company’s festival director to hold off on canceling the festival until they had more updates on the death toll. “If 5 died we would cancel,” he reportedly wrote.

“Remarkably, Live Nation claims that Rapino was not the decision-maker on whether to cancel the Festival,” victims’ attorneys shared. “This email proves otherwise, and plaintiffs want an opportunity to examine Rapino about it.” They claim that Live Nation’s legal team obfuscated Michael Rapino’s actual involvement in the decision-making process of Travis Scott’s festival. We still have no word on when this deposition would take place, so keep checking in with HNHH for the latest updates.

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Drake Officially Dismissed From Astroworld Lawsuits

April 11, 2024 by newhiphopnews

It’s been two-and-a-half years since the Astroworld Festival disaster where 10 people died in the crowd. It happened during the 2021 edition of Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival and led to discussions about crowd safety and emergency protocol for similar live experiences. There’s still a long legal battle ahead of Scott and some of the companies that helped promote and run the festival. But one person who won’t have to be concerned with the legal proceedings anymore is Drake.

Drizzy appeared on stage alongside Travis Scott during the now-notorious performance. He was named as a defendant in some of the lawsuits filed against the festival as some believed he helped contribute to the chaotic nature of the event. When the dozens of lawsuits filed were collected into one big lawsuit his name carried over as a defendant. But his days of having to worry about the case are officially over. According to TMZ, a judge has ruled in the rapper’s favor in his request to be released from all claims in the lawsuit.

Drake Dismissed From Astroworld Festival Lawsuit

The new ruling releasing Drake from the lawsuit follows his original filing last month. Travis Scott himself also attempted a similar move claiming that he wasn’t responsible for things like festival safety since he was merely an artist performing at the event. The judge shut that claim down and denied his motion to be released from the suit. Apple was also declined a release from the lawsuit. The tech company streamed the performance through their Apple Music platform.

After an extended absence from new studio albums, Travis Scott returned with his new album UTOPIA last year. The record even featured a collaboration with Drake on the track “Meltdown” which would become one of the record’s biggest hits. What do you think of Drake being dismissed from the Astroworld Festival lawsuit? Do you think it’s the right move to let him off the hook for what happened at the festival? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Travis Scott Requests Dismissal From Astroworld Festival Lawsuit

March 29, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Travis Scott is looking to avoid a major legal burden. Back in 2021 his Astroworld Festival in Houston became the site of a now notorious festival tragedy. As the crowd rushed the stage during Scott’s performance, tons of people were dangerously compressed with fatal results. A total of 10 people died as a result of the performance getting wildly out of hand. Subsequently, after an investigation into the incident a grand jury declined to indict Scott or anyone else with criminal charges spawning from the tragedy.

But that doesn’t mean anyone is legally off the hook. Hundreds of lawsuits were filed in the months following the festival almost all of which name Scott as a defendant. Now in a newly filed motion he’s attempting to separate himself from the proceedings. “Like any other adrenaline-inducing diversion, music festivals must balance exhilaration with safety and security—but that balance is not the job of performing artists, even those involved in promoting and marketing performances. Which only makes sense: Performing artists, even those who engage in certain promotional activities, have no inherent expertise or specialized knowledge in concert safety measures, venue security protocols, or site-design,” the motion his lawyers filed reads.

Travis Scott Seeking Release From Astroworld Festival Lawsuits

This request for removal comes just a few days after some concerning news about the tragedy leaked via court docs. They showed that one of the heads of security at the festival expressed concerns about overcrowding ahead of the tragedy. In Scott’s dismissal request they specifically mention adjustments being made beforehand in an attempt to alleviate concerns, though they obviously didn’t do enough.

Last week, Scott contributed to what it likely to be one of the biggest rap records of the year. He teamed up with Future, Metro Boomin, and Playboi Carti for the song “TYPE SH*T.” What do you think of Travis Scott asking to be removed from the Astroworld Festival lawsuits? Do you think he has a point that safety isn’t the responsibility of the artists performing? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Travis Scott Teases New Album

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Travis Scott Opens Up About Astroworld Tragedy: “I Always Think About It”

November 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Travis Scott has gone through quite a bit over the past couple of years. Overall, most would point to the 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy. Ten people died and countless others were injured during the show. Subsequently, Scott was hit with numerous lawsuits and was even criminally investigated. Now, he is waiting for the lawsuits to begin in civil court, and there is no doubt that it will be a huge undertaking for everyone who is involved.

Today, Scott graced the cover of GQ where he was asked about the tragedy. Scott spoke candidly about what took place, noting that it was an awful event. He understands the effect it had on the families and the people who witnessed it all go down. Furthermore, he made sure to mention how he is constantly thinking about what happened and how he could have handled it differently. “I always think about it. Those fans were like my family. You know, I love my fans to the utmost… You just feel for those people. And their families,” Travis said.

Travis Scott Speaks

Subsequently, Scott talked about the song “My Eyes” on Utopia. Overall, this track was about the feelings he has from the event. Although some feel like he doesn’t care, he actually does care a great deal. “[I want them] to know I have pain too,” Travis Scott said. “I have concerns, things that I think about, and the things I see on a day-to-day basis I think about them. And every day I want to find change in the things, to make things better, make myself better. It’s just like: I go through things like everyone else. And even recently through something like I never could imagine.”

Overall, it is going to be hard for these parties to really process what went down. Closure is on the horizon, however, nothing will erase the pain of the victims’ families. Let us know what you think of Travis’ response, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will always be sure to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists.

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