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Travis Scott speaks about Astroworld tragedy for first time

Travis Scott says he is “1000 percent” sure he did everything he could to help dying audience members during the Astroworld tragedy. 

In his first interview since the Nov. 5 hip-hop festival that ended in the deaths of 10 people, including the youngest victim 9-year-old Ezra Blount, Scott claims he didn’t hear his Houston audience’s screams for help as the victims fell into peril.  

“I just didn’t hear that,” 30-year-old Scott said Thursday during a tête-à-tête with Charlamagne Tha God on “The Breakfast Club.”

When Charlamagne, 43, asked him if he did everything he could, an emotional Scott struggled to find words, saying, “Everything I physically [could], sure, yes. And, if knowing what was going on … you just wish you could have done something better. But, standing there, 1,000 percent.”

Scott also insisted that “I’m that type of artist” who would have stopped his show if he was aware that concertgoers were in imminent danger. 

“Anytime you can hear something like that, you want to stop the show,” the “Sicko Mode” emcee continued, adding that he did stop the music a few times during the fateful event. “You want to make sure fans get the proper attention they need. I just go off the fans’ energy. But I just didn’t hear [screams].”

Travis Scott speaks out about AstroWorld tragedy, addresses families of victims of the tragedy.
Travis Scott speaks out about Astroworld tragedy, addresses families of victims of the tragedy. “I have a responsibility to figure out what happened here. I have a responsibility to find a solution,” he said. “Hopefully this takes a first step into us as a artist having more insight as to what’s going on.”
Instagram / Power 105.1
Travis Scott said he did not hear the scream for help form his audience members.
Travis Scott said he did not hear the scream for help form his audience members. “I’m always here. I’m in this with you guys I love you and I always be there to help you guys heal through this,” he said to the families effected by the misfortune. 
Amy Harris/Invision/AP

The Astroworld disaster — noted as one of the most fatal live music crowd events in American history — has resulted in over 140 lawsuits and a mass litigation suit by 1,500 show attendees against Scott, Live Nation, Apple Music, Drake and other defendants. 

In most of the suits, per court documents, victims claim the “Antidote” rhymer and his cohorts were “negligent” during the show, which held over 50,000 crowd members, and stood to make huge sums of money from the concert.

Ezra Blount, 9, was the youngest of the 10 victims who died as a result of Scott's massively attended AstroWorlf festival on Nov. 5.
Ezra Blount, 9, was the youngest of the 10 victims who died as a result of Scott’s massively attended AstroWorlf festival on Nov. 5.
AP

Meanwhile, Scott recently denied responsibility for the deaths in legal documents — but now says his mission is to try to identify what factors contributed to the loss of so many lives during his performance.  

“Fans come to the show to have a good experience,” Scott explained to Charlamagne. 

“I have a responsibility to figure out what happened here. I have a responsibility to find a solution,” he said. “Hopefully this takes a first step into us as artists having more insight as to what’s going on.”

Over 50,000 of Scott's "rager" fan base attended the deadly event.
Over 50,000 of Scott’s “rager” fan base attended the deadly event.
AP

“And the professionals to figure out what’s going on…in the future move forward in concert safety,” he added, referring to Live Nation and other defendants named in the suits. 

Scott blamed the media for fingering him as culpable for the tragedy. 

“I’m the face of the festival,” the musician said, . “I’m the artist. So yeah, the media wants to put it on me.”

But, his plea of innocence notwithstanding, Scott expressed remorse for the victims, calling them his family. 

“I’m always here. I’m in this with you guys I love you and I always be there to help you guys heal through this,” he said to the families effected by the misfortune. 

Scott said he"1000 percent" did everything he could to help during the concert tragedy.
Scott said he”1000 percent” did everything he could to help during the concert tragedy.
Instagram / Power 105.1

“I understand that you guys are grieving right now. Finding understanding right now. And it’s not just a right now thing it’s a forever thing,” the musician continued. 

“And these people that came to the show, they are my family. And I’ve always had a connection to the people that listen to the music or came to my shows. And it’s really hard on me. They lost their love ones. So it’s tough,” he went on to say before doubling down on his vow to “fix” the problems that lead to the disaster.

“I’m going to fix this for the future people,” he added. “I’m going to fix this problem and find a solution to make sure that this doesn’t happen in the future and definitely be a number one voice for this.”

About the author

Tina Sanders

Tina is the mind behind Gruntstuff.com, and she ideated it when she was working for an online magazine company where she used to cover US-based headlines news. She holds a degree in journalism and has more than 4.5 years of experience in an online magazine company. She had the idea while working there but when she was quite sure about starting something on her own, she took the risk and left the job to start Gruntstuff. Since then she added a few team members, and along with them, she creates General US news content on the site.

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