Travis Scott has settled the last remaining wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the 2021 Astroworld concert tragedy, which claimed ten lives, including that of 9-year-old Ezra Blount.
Rolling Stone reports that Scott West, attorney for the Blount family, confirmed the settlement in an email on Thursday (May 23). The agreement involves Scott and LiveNation, among others. Blount was the youngest victim of the fatal crowd crush during Scott’s performance at the festival.
“The family will continue its journey to heal, but never forget the joy that Ezra brought to everyone around him,” West stated. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
This settlement arrives just ahead of a court appearance for Travis Scott in September 2024, when jury selection for the trial was set to begin. The Blount case was scheduled to be heard before State District Judge Kristen Hawkins on September 10, 2024. However, efforts by the Blount family to expedite the case were thwarted by scheduling and logistical issues.
Blount’s lawsuit was one of ten filed against Travis Scott and other involved parties following the Astroworld tragedy. While all other wrongful death suits have been settled confidentially, approximately 2,400 injury cases remain active.
In March, Scott’s attorneys argued that the responsibility for safety at the festival lay with the event organizers and venue staff, not the performing artists. Daniel Petrocelli, one of Scott’s lawyers, emphasized that artists do not have the expertise in concert safety measures.
“Performing artists, even those who engage in certain promotional activities, have no inherent expertise or specialized knowledge in concert safety measures, venue security protocols, or site-design,” Petrocelli wrote. He added that Scott and his team supported festival organizers' efforts to mitigate risks, including removing certain rides and attractions, and ended the show as directed when concerns about safety arose.
The Astroworld tragedy has had a lasting impact on the music industry and concert safety protocols. The resolution of the Blount family’s lawsuit marks a significant step in the ongoing legal fallout from the incident.