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Astroworld concertgoer names Drake in addition to Travis Scott and Live Nation in lawsuit after festival leaves 8 dead

A picture of Drake and Travis Scott.
Drake and Travis Scott. SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP/Getty Images/AP Images
  • Drake has been named alongside Travis Scott in an Astroworld lawsuit.

  • Kristian Paredes, 23, from Austin, Texas, said the rapper "helped incite the crowd" at the show.

  • Eight people have been confirmed dead following the concert where crowds surged.

Drake has been named alongside Travis Scott in a lawsuit filed by an Astroworld concertgoer, who says he was left "severely injured" at the Houston music festival where crowds surged leaving eight people dead and hundreds more injured.

Kristian Paredes, 23, from Austin, Texas, filed the complaint, according to court documents obtained by Insider. The lawsuit accuses the two rappers, Live Nation Entertainment Inc., and Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation of negligence. Paredes is seeking $1 million for his injuries, some of which he says are permanent, and to cover medical expenses, according to the docs.

The suit states that Drake, who was a special guest at the festival, "came on stage alongside Travis Scott and helped incite the crowd" into actions that left Paredes, who was at the front of the general admission section, which was separated from VIP by a metal gate, seriously injured. The suit further states that Drake continued to perform with Travis Scott "while the crowd mayhem continued."

"The crowd became chaotic and a stampede began leaving eight dead and dozens including Kristian Paredes severely injured," the filing reads.

"Many begged security guards hired by Live Nation Entertainment for help, but were ignored," it continues.

The suit seeks a trial by jury.

Insider has contacted representatives for Drake, whose birth name is Aubrey Graham, Scott, whose birth name is Jacques Webster, Live Nation, and Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation for comment, but didn't immediately hear back.

Travis Scott performs during 2021 Astroworld Festival at NRG Park on November 05, 2021 in Houston, Texas.
Travis Scott performs during 2021 Astroworld Festival at NRG Park on November 5, 2021 in Houston, Texas. Photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage

Thomas J. Henry, the Texas-based attorney who is representing Paredes, told the Daily Mail there is "no excuse for the events that unfolded" at the festival, which took place at NRG Stadium in Houston on Friday night.

"There is every indication that the performers, organizers, and venue were not only aware of the hectic crowd but also that injuries and potential deaths may have occurred," Henry said. "Still, they decided to put profits over their attendees and allowed the deadly show to go on."

Henry added that "live musical performances are meant to inspire catharsis, not tragedy."

"Many of these concert-goers were looking forward to this event for months, and they deserved a safe environment in which to have fun and enjoy the evening. Instead, their night was one of fear, injury, and death," he said.

Insider reached out to Henry, but didn't immediately hear back.

Eight people, who ranged from a 14-year-old to a 27-year-old, have been confirmed dead following the concert, according to the local ABC station.

The 2021 Astroworld festival.

Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña told reporters at a news conference Saturday morning that around 50,000 people compressed toward the stage at around 9:38 p.m. while rapper Scott was performing at NRG Park. In total, Pena said 17 people were taken to hospitals, 11 of whom were in cardiac arrest. Thirteen people remain hospitalized, as of Sunday, reports ABC 6.

"The crowd began to compress towards the front of the stage, and that caused some panic, and it started causing some injuries," Peña said. "People began to fall out, become unconscious, and it created additional panic."

Video footage captured at the event and shared on social media showed festivalgoers dancing on top of ambulances and causing a stampede.

Paredes later stated that Scott - who launched the Astroworld festival in Houston in 2018 - has "incited mayhem and chaos" at prior events.

In 2015, the 30-year-old rapper was given one year of court supervision after pleading guilty to reckless conduct charges that originated from an incident at Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago that same year. Chicago officials said Scott encouraged fans to jump over the security gates and come on stage with him, Billboard reported at the time.

And in 2017, Scott was arrested after authorities accused him of inciting a riot during a concert at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion, the AP reported. Insider reporter Lauren Edmonds said that a "security guard, police, and others reportedly suffered injuries as a result. Scott pled guilty to disorderly conduct in a plea deal, according to the outlet."

Neither Drake nor the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation have spoken publicly about Astroworld. However, Live Nation posted a statement to their Twitter account on Saturday.

"Heartbroken for those lost and impacted at Astroworld last night," the statement started. "We will continue working to provide as much information and assistance as possible to the local authorities as they investigate the situation."

In a statement posted to Twitter on Saturday, Scott said he was "absolutely devastated" following the event.

"My prayers go out to the families and all those impacted by what happened at Astroworld Festival," he added.

Read the original article on Insider