Travis Scott has settled his first of many lawsuits following the tragedy at his Astroworld concert last year.
Travis Scott settles first Astroworld lawsuit with the family of victim
As per TMZ, the family of Axel Acosta, one of the people who died after a crowd surge at the Astroworld music festival last year, has settled their lawsuit against Travis Scott and Live Nation. The family of Acosta reached a confidential settlement. The family’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, released a statement on Thursday, 20 October 2022.
“Victim Axel Acosta was a beloved son, brother, and student,” Buzbee said. “He was kind and loving. He is greatly missed. Please keep his family in your prayers.”
In November 2021, Buzbee filed a lawsuit on behalf of at least 125 victims, including Acosta, seeking more than $750 million (est. R13 billion) in damages. On 5 November 2021, in Houston, Texas, during the festival, it was claimed that the 21-year-old was crushed by a crowd of at least 50 000 people pushing toward the stage.
Before being trampled by the crowd, Acosta suffered a cardiac arrest. According to the complaint, the music continued for “almost 40 minutes” as Acosta lay on the ground. A medical examiner determined his cause of death to be compression asphyxia.
Ten people died in the crowd, including nine-year-old Ezra Blount, and over 2 000 needed medical treatment. The rapper claimed he was not immediately aware of the gravity of the situation at the festival in an interview with radio host Charlamagne Tha God.
Scott offered to cover the victims’ funeral expenses. In addition, he said festival goers could sign up for a free month of virtual therapy through BetterHelp, which led some to wonder if it was just a business arrangement.
Travis and Live Nation have been named in hundreds of lawsuits. Scott requested the dismissal of numerous lawsuits in a “general denial” of these claims submitted in December 2021. In addition, numerous lawsuits against the rapper are still pending, including a $2 billion (est. R36 billion) lawsuit brought by Texas trial lawyer Thomas J. Henry on behalf of 280 victims.