A Houston judge dismissed Drake from a lawsuit surrounding the death of concertgoers at Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival.
Drake, appearing as a special guest alongside headliner Travis Scott, took to the festival stage on Nov. 5, 2021. The crowd surged, leading to tight packing that left many unable to move or breathe freely. Authorities and festival organizers worked to regain control of the situation.
Lawsuits were directed at not only Drake, Mr. Scott, and Live Nation—the festival’s organizers—but also at numerous other parties involved. Subsequently, many defendants, including Drake and Mr. Scott, petitioned State District Judge Kristen Hawkins for the dismissal of these lawsuits. Judge Hawkins granted Drake’s dismissal from the case in a succinct ruling issued on Wednesday.
During a court hearing in Houston on April 1, Drake’s legal representatives argued that his lack of involvement in concert organization absolved him of liability for the unfortunate outcomes. Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, emphasized this detachment during a deposition given in Toronto in November, asserting that he had received no indication of the crowd’s distress before taking the stage.
Despite Judge Hawkins dismissing seven companies and individuals from the lawsuits, motions to dismiss filed by ten other entities, including Apple Inc. and companies linked to Mr. Scott, were denied. The legal proceedings continued, with the first trial scheduled for May 6, 2024.
The victims, aged 9 to 27, succumbed to compression asphyxia, likened to being crushed by a car. While some lawsuits have been settled, including those involving four deceased individuals, legal actions persist, with the most recent settlement disclosed in court filings on Feb. 5, pertaining to 23-year-old Rodolfo “Rudy” Peña.
Astroworld Tragedy
Over 300 people were treated on the scene for minor wounds. Eleven individuals were rushed to hospitals in cardiac arrest, with 10 succumbing to their injuries.Astroworld, in a statement, extended condolences to those affected, acknowledging the profound loss and expressing gratitude to local emergency services for their swift response.
The ordeal unfolded on Nov. 5, 2021, as the crowd rushed toward the stage, triggering panic and subsequent injuries. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as fans hyperventilated and struggled amidst the crush, prompting Travis Scott, the festival’s founder, to pause his performance multiple times to assist distressed fans and direct security interventions.
As the severity of the situation became apparent, organizers halted the event, but the overwhelming scale of casualties quickly overwhelmed medical resources on-site, according to fire officials.
Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing experiences near the stage, with concert-goers pressed tightly together, struggling to breathe or escape the throng. Amidst the distress, a reunification center was established for families seeking information on missing loved ones.
Live Nation, the event organizer, remained silent in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, while Astroworld, an annual event since 2018, had been on hiatus due to the pandemic the previous year.
Among the scheduled acts were rappers Chief Keef and 21 Savage, along with Australian rock outfit Tame Impala.
In a united effort, lawyers representing both the victims and the festival organizers requested that the court combine the cases into a single multi-district litigation overseen by one judge. This consolidation allows a single judge to coordinate pre-trial proceedings, streamlining complex tasks like evidence discovery. It also facilitates the possibility of negotiating a single settlement to resolve all the cases. There are currently at least 275 cases.
