Sh-Ron Almeida
Asst Arts and Entertainment Editor
We’ve had school shooters, road rage drivers and deadly viruses running amok in our world. Now we must deal with another menace - drugged up concertgoers. Nine people were killed and hundreds more were injured when a packed crowd of 50,000 surged toward the stage early in Travis Scott's headline performance at Houston's Astroworld Festival on Friday, Nov. 5.
Of the two stages at the venue, only one was used by the event managers upon Scott's performance. The decision eventually proved to be a fatal error. During the concert, fanatics practically climbed on top of each other to get a closer look at their favorite rapper. Others were being trampled upon, their desperate pleas for help fallen on deaf ears. A survivor among the victims was an 18-year-old boy who valiantly tried to stop the concert if it meant saving his classmate and many others from dying; and even then, nobody listened.
Several days later families of the victims are now suing Drake and Travis Scott for 2 billion dollars, holding them responsible for the destruction. While their grief and outrage is understandable and Travis Scott is for many the face of the event, going so far as to sue Travis Scott for such a ridiculous amount of money is quite the stretch. Instead, it’s important to remember that, more often than not, artists and musicians don’t get much say in how their concerts are organized. Concerts and tours are usually managed by the artists’ agents and/or managers and tour promoters. Artists themselves may only get a say in which areas they’d like to visit. Even then, it’s not necessarily a guarantee.
In addition, the blame for the tragic stampede really rests at the feet of shoddy and unprepared security personnel, who were taken off-guard by the stampede. It was evident security was severely lacking when people started rushing through the gates to the concert. If anything, the company in charge of security should be the targets of lawsuits, as they showed little compassion for those crying for help. They choose to remain unaware of another person's agony.
The manager and organizers had every power to prevent deaths from happening. This is a tragic incident that never should’ve happened and that’s the most devastating thought of all. Nine people, including a nine-year-old boy, should still be alive with their friends and families. However, this story doesn’t have a happy ending. I suppose money has higher priority over safety and human lives. I’ve never been to a concert before; and after learning about the horrendous disaster that was Astroworld, I don’t think I ever will.
You don’t have to be hopped up on ecstasy or molly to enjoy your favorite singer. Just bring yourself, for crying out loud.
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