Travis Scott, whose November 5th concert took a very deadly turn, announced on Monday that he would be offering to cover funeral costs and mental health services for the families of the eight people who were killed. The casualties ranged from 14 to 27 years old, and hundreds more were injured, including a police officer stabbed in the crowd by a hypodermic syringe.
Scott’s Astroworld Festival, launched in 2018, has a reputation for “boisterous” crowds. Hours before the tragedy, video was posted of crowds forcing their way through collapsed gates to get inside, with several people injured in that crush before the concert even began. Over 50,000 people in all would be in attendance.
A firsthand account tells about an intense crush toward the stage as soon as Scott’s set began, with people collapsing because they had no space to breathe. The afflicted couldn’t even fall.
“My friend began to gasp for breath,” the account reads, “and she told me we needed to get out. We tried. There was nowhere to go. The shoving got harder and harder. If someone’s arms had been up, it was no longer a possibility to put it down. …. we begged security to help, for the performer to see us and know something was wrong. None of that came. We continued to drown.”
Once people did fall, they were trampled.
The police declared the concert a mass casualty event at 9:38, but Scott continued to play until 10:15. Two of those killed were less than 15 feet from his stage.
Representatives of Travis Scott announced his intentions about funeral cost coverage before they privately contacted any of the families.
“These are the first of many steps Travis plans on taking as a part of a personal vow to assist those affected throughout their grieving and recovery process,” the statement reads. He has also announced intentions for a blanket refund of any ticket purchased to attend Astroworld Festival 2021.
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