Two concertgoers have taken legal action against rapper Travis Scott and the organizers of a Houston concert that resulted in the tragic deaths of eight people and injuries to dozens more.
On November 8, concertgoer Manuel Souza filed a lawsuit in Harris County Court, Houston, Texas. Souza is seeking accountability from Travis Scott, along with the event organizers—Live Nation, ScoreMore, and ASM Global—over the chaotic events that unfolded on November 5. He claims he suffered injuries after being pushed and trampled by an overwhelming crowd. In his lawsuit, Souza argues that the incident could have been prevented had the event adhered to established safety protocols.
The lawsuit states, “The organizers have a responsibility to ensure safety and create a positive environment. Their financial motivation has cost them the health and safety of their guests. Combined with the encouragement of violence during the concert, eight people were killed and many others were injured while trying to have a fun night.”
Another concertgoer, Kristian Paredes, has also filed a lawsuit against Scott and his companies for negligence in organizing the event. Paredes has included rapper Drake in the lawsuit, asserting that Drake shares responsibility since he was on stage with Scott when the chaos erupted.
As of now, neither Travis Scott nor Drake has publicly responded to media inquiries regarding the lawsuit. According to the New York Times, approximately 50,000 fans gathered in Houston—Scott’s hometown—to attend his Astroworld tour performance. The disaster occurred when the crowd surged forward, pushing one another in a desperate attempt to get closer to the stage. Among the deceased were young individuals, with ages ranging from 14 to 27. The police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic events.
Witness accounts reveal that the area near the stage was densely packed. “I was there around 3 p.m., and it felt like there wasn’t enough space to stand up straight. Aggressive behavior was rampant as people fought for places to buy souvenirs and food. There were multiple fights throughout the show,” recounted a female witness to the New York Times.
Videos captured during the event show attendees pleading for help amidst the chaos, though many were unaware of the unfolding tragedy. On stage, Travis Scott encouraged the audience to engage enthusiastically, stating, “I want to see angry actions. Who wants to see anger?” Moments later, upon noticing an ambulance in the crowd, he expressed surprise, stating, “There was an ambulance in the crowd.”
As the situation escalated, the event organizers shut down the music. Scott then prompted the audience, “If you’re okay, give a thumbs up,” before continuing to perform, calling for the crowd to “make the ground shake.” The concert persisted for about 30 minutes until Scott waved goodbye to the audience and wished them a safe journey home.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner remarked that it is premature to determine if the concert had safety shortcomings. The event reportedly employed 505 security personnel, of which 91 were armed, alongside 76 officers from the Houston Police Department.
In a chilling account, a security guard present during the chaos reported being shot with a tranquilizer while attempting to manage the crowd. He was treated with Narcan, a medication used to counteract opioid overdoses, after falling unconscious due to an injection he received in the neck while restraining a concertgoer.
The ongoing investigation into this tragic event aims to uncover the factors that led to such a catastrophic outcome at a concert that was meant to celebrate music and community.
