Travis Scott Dodges Criminal Charges for Fatal Astroworld Tragedy

A jury has ruled Travis Scott is not guilty on any criminal charges for the deadly tragedy that occurred at Astroworld 2021.

Last Thursday, a Texas grand jury concluded a 19-month investigation into the tragic incident that occurred at the 2021 Astroworld Festival. This was the third edition of the festival that occurred in Travis Scott’s hometown of Houston, TX. After a six-hour meeting of hearing testimonies from homicide detectives, the Texas grand jury decided not to indict Travis Scott on any criminal charges.

The grand jury also cleared Live Nation festival manager, Brent Silberstein, and other organizers of any criminal responsibility for the tragic outcome. District Attorney Kim Ogg stated, “In this instance, the grand jury of the 228th District Court of Harris County found that no crime did occur, that no single individual was criminally responsible.”

During the event, ten people lost their lives due to compressive asphyxiation caused by the immense pressure from the tightly packed crowds around the stage. At least 4,900 people were injured according to lawyers representing victims in lawsuits against Scott and festival organizers. At the time, police ruled the incident a mass casualty.

Numerous videos surfaced online, showing Travis Scott performing while screams of terror could be heard from the audience via livestream. However, Scott claimed that he was unaware of the extent of the injuries during his performance.

“While waiting patiently for the District Attorney’s decision to not file charges, Travis Scott has been inaccurately and wrongly singled out, despite stopping the show three separate times and being unaware of the events as they were unfolding,” said Ted Anastasiou, a spokesperson for Scott. “Now that this chapter is closed, we hope for the government efforts to focus on what is most important – stopping future heartbreaking tragedies like Astroworld from ever occurring again.”

There are still ongoing lawsuits, including one filed by the family of the 10-year-old boy who tragically lost his life. Additionally, in October 2022, the family of another victim reached a settlement on undisclosed terms with Travis Scott, Live Nation, and other involved parties.

Despite the grand jury’s decision not to press criminal charges, the Astroworld Festival tragedy remains a deeply saddening and contentious event, with ongoing legal battles and the loss of precious lives forever etched in memory.