Current:Home > FinanceRobert Brown|Drake dismissed from Astroworld lawsuit following deadly 2021 music festival -ProfitPoint
Robert Brown|Drake dismissed from Astroworld lawsuit following deadly 2021 music festival
TradeEdge Exchange View
Date:2025-04-08 21:47:12
Following his performance at the deadly Astroworld festival in 2021,Robert Brown Drake has been cleared from a lawsuit that centered the rapper's alleged involvement in the concert.
Drake, who filed a motion in March to be dismissed from a sprawling lawsuit on the music festival headed by fellow rapper Travis Scott, was removed from the complaint in a ruling Wednesday, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY Thursday.
The Harris County District Court of the 11th civil district granted Drake's request for a summary judgment in the case and dismissed "all claims asserted against defendant (Drake) by all plaintiffs and intervenors in this multidistrict litigation," per the filing.
Other defendants in the case, including Apple and Scott's company Cactus Jack Enterprises, had their requests for dismissal denied in court Monday, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. Apple Music was tapped to stream Scott's performance at the Astroworld festival, which took place in Houston, Texas.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Drake for comment.
Drake speaks out:Rapper expresses support for Tory Lanez after Megan Thee Stallion shooting
In a March 8 motion, attorneys for Drake reportedly argued that the "Slime You Out" emcee had no involvement in the music festival's planning and was not made aware of any safety concerns for attendees before his performance, according to Billboard and the Houston Chronicle.
"Mr. Graham did not receive any security briefings, was not informed of any crowd control issues, injuries or deaths in the crowd, or any stop show orders at any time either before or during his 14-minute performance," Drake’s attorneys wrote at the time, per Billboard.
Drake calls Astroworld festival a 'devastating tragedy'
Drake, who made a surprise appearance with Scott at the Astroworld festival, released a statement days after the concert, calling the event a "devastating tragedy." The rapper said on Instagram that he'd "spent the past few days trying to wrap my mind around this."
"I hate resorting to this platform to express an emotion as delicate as grief but this is where I find myself," Drake wrote. "My heart is broken for the families and friends of those who lost their lives and for anyone who is suffering."
"I will continue to pray for all of them, and will be of service in any way I can," he concluded in his statement. "May God be with you all."
Other performers who took the stage at Astroworld included SZA, Roddy Ricch, Toro y Moi and Master P.
Astroworld reactions:Toro Y Moi, Roddy Ricch donate festival earnings to victims; Drake speaks out after deaths
Travis Scott cleared of criminal charges in Astroworld concert
In June 2023, Scott was cleared of criminal charges over his Astroworld concert that left nearly a dozen concertgoers dead and hundreds injured, his lawyer confirmed to USA TODAY at the time.
At a subsequent press conference, Kim Ogg, the district attorney of Harris County, Texas, confirmed that a grand jury reviewed the case and found that "no crime did occur" and "no single individual was criminally responsible."
"Today’s decision by the Harris County District Attorney confirms what we have known all along − that Travis Scott is not responsible for the Astroworld tragedy," attorney Kent Schaffer said. "This is consistent with investigative reporting by numerous media outlets and federal and state government reports that have squarely placed the onus for event safety crises on organizers, operators and contractors − not performers."
Astroworld legal battles:Travis Scott will not face criminal charges over Astroworld concert that left 10 dead
On Nov. 5, 2021, an overflow crowd of 50,000 people descended on the Houston event helmed by Scott. Fences were overrun, and security was overwhelmed. In all, 10 concertgoers lost their lives, succumbing to asphyxiation, while 25 were hospitalized and 300 others were treated for injuries at the site. Those who died ranged in age from 9 to 27 years old.
Scott was named in at least 14 personal injury lawsuits in the days following the festival, with attendees alleging negligence and gross negligence. More than 500 lawsuits have been filed since the deadly concert.
Contributing: Elise Brisco, Charles Trepany, John Bacon, Hannah Yasharoff and Rasha Ali, USA TODAY
veryGood! (76723)
Related
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Emily in Paris' Lucien Laviscount Details Working With Shakira
- Embattled Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice suspected in a nightclub assault, per reports
- Why Kim Kardashian Needed Custom Thong Underwear for Her 2024 Met Gala Look
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Reggie Miller warns Knicks fans ahead of MSG return: 'The Boogeyman is coming'
- Cruise ship worker accused of stabbing 3 people with scissors on board vessel bound for Alaska
- Taylor Swift bill is signed into Minnesota law, boosting protections for online ticket buyers
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Pennsylvania Senate approves GOP’s $3B tax-cutting plan, over objections of top Democrats
Ranking
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Brittney Griner's book is raw recounting of fear, hopelessness while locked away in Russia
- Survivors of alleged abuse in Illinois youth detention facilities step forward
- Charm Necklaces Are The Jewelry Trend of Spring & Summer: Here Are The 13 Cutest Ones To Shop ASAP
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Bernard Hill, actor known for Titanic and Lord of the Rings, dead at 79
- The Fed just dashed hopes for lower mortgage rates. What homebuyers need to know.
- Georgia woman identified as person killed in stadium fall during Ohio State graduation
Recommendation
Travis Hunter, the 2
'Pretty Little Liars: Summer School': Premiere date, time, cast, where to watch Season 2
The Daily Money: How much does guilt-tipping cost us?
Hamas says it approves of Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal, but Israel says plan has significant gaps
Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
Brittney Griner's book is raw recounting of fear, hopelessness while locked away in Russia
Hamas says it approves of Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal, but Israel says plan has significant gaps
Bucks' Patrick Beverley: 'I was absolutely wrong' for throwing basketball at Pacers fans