No Criminal Charges Filed Against Travis Scott in Astroworld Tragedy

Travis Scott cleared of criminal charges in Astroworld Festival tragedy.

Rapper Travis Scott has received news regarding the criminal charges stemming from the tragic events that unfolded at the 2021 Astroworld Festival. A Texas grand jury has decided not to indict Scott, along with chief of security John Junnell and festival director Brett Silberstein, as reported by CNN.

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."

The Astroworld Festival, held in Houston, Texas, in December 2021, turned into a scene of tragedy when a dangerous crowd surge resulted in the death of 10 individuals and left hundreds injured. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was "compression asphyxia," explaining that the immense pressure from the large crowd had forcibly expelled all air from the victims' lungs.

Ogg acknowledged the gravity of the situation, saying, "It is tragic that 10 innocent people were killed while trying to enjoy an evening of music and entertainment, something many of us do routinely and without a second thought to our safety. But a tragedy isn't always a crime, and not every death is a homicide. This grand jury's determination has no impact on the many civil lawsuits pending."

Following the incident, Scott, festival promoters, organizers, and security personnel faced numerous lawsuits from the families of the victims. While Scott reached a settlement with two families in October 2022, he still faces several ongoing lawsuits. Scott's attorney Kent Schaffer expressed his client's relief, stating, "He is ecstatic. It's a huge weight that has been removed from his shoulders. He's looking forward to getting back home after being cleared by the grand jury."

Ted Anastasiou, Scott's spokesperson, emphasized the need to move forward and prevent similar tragedies in the future. Anastasiou told CNN, "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. 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."

Despite not being held criminally responsible, Scott's reputation continues to suffer, and his career has yet to regain its former heights. While he has performed at a few private nightclub shows, afterparties, and international festivals, the shadow of Astroworld looms over him within the United States.