Rapper Drake dismissed from Astroworld tragedy lawsuit over concert deaths

Rapper Drake, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, has been dismissed from a lawsuit regarding the tragic events that occurred at the Astroworld festival. 10 concertgoers lost their lives during a crushing crowd surge at the festival, with hundreds more injured. The families of the victims, as well as numerous injured individuals, filed a lawsuit against Drake, fellow rap star Travis Scott, promoter Live Nation, and other parties, holding them responsible for the tragic incident.

The incident took place in Houston, Texas, on 5 November 2021, during Travis Scott’s headlining set. Drake made a guest appearance at the concert. The crowd surge resulted in festival-goers being tightly packed to the point where breathing and movement became extremely difficult. The victims, whose ages ranged from nine to 27, tragically lost their lives due to compression asphyxia, a condition similar to being crushed by a car.

In a court hearing in Houston on Wednesday, state District Judge Kristen Hawkins dismissed Drake from the lawsuit. This decision followed earlier arguments made by Drake’s lawyers, who emphasized his lack of involvement in organizing the concert as a key factor in his dismissal from the case. Drake maintained in a deposition given in November in Toronto that no one informed him of the audience’s cardiac arrests or injuries prior to his stage appearance. He also described the crowd as a blur, making it impossible for him to discern any details.

In addition to Drake, seven other companies and individuals have been dismissed from the lawsuit. However, motions to dismiss from ten other entities, including Apple and two companies associated with Travis Scott, have been denied. Ms Hawkins is scheduled to hear other motions to dismiss on Monday, including one involving Scott.

Following an investigation performed by the Houston Police, no charges were filed against Travis Scott personally. In June, a grand jury declined to indict him and five others on criminal counts related to the tragic concert. To date, Police Chief Troy Finner has not disclosed the overall conclusion of their investigation.

The Houston Police Department made public an extensive 1,300-page investigative report last July. The report included concerns raised by festival workers, who had warned of possible grave consequences. The first trial resulting from the lawsuits is set for 6 May. Certain lawsuits have since been settled, including those filed by the families of four of the victims.