Travis Scott Questioned for 8 Hours in Astroworld Festival Lawsuits, Lawyer Says He's 'Fully Cooperating'

Travis Scott underwent an exhaustive eight-hour deposition on Monday as part of the ongoing legal disputes arising from the tragic events at the 2021 Astroworld Festival, as reported by The Associated Press. This marked the first extensive round of questioning the 32-year-old rapper faced from lawyers regarding the festival, which resulted in 10 fatalities and multiple injuries.

The deposition took place in Houston, Texas, and was part of the numerous lawsuits filed against Scott and other organizers of the Astroworld Festival. The questioning covered various aspects of the event and its aftermath.

Travis Scott's representative, Ted Anastasiou, issued a statement emphasizing the rapper's cooperation. Anastasiou stated, "Travis Scott’s deposition is a standard legal procedure. What is noteworthy is the ongoing media focus on him despite his exoneration in extensive government investigations, including by the Houston Police Department."

Anastasiou also highlighted Scott's continued commitment to his ongoing tour in support of his record-breaking album, Utopia, and his charitable work aimed at assisting at-risk communities.

In June, a Harris County grand jury in Houston cleared Scott of any criminal wrongdoing related to the tragic incident at the Astroworld Festival.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced during a news conference that "the grand jury determined that no criminal activity occurred" and that "no single individual could be held criminally responsible." This lengthy investigation, spanning 19 months, involved a meticulous review of extensive video footage from the fatal event and witness interviews.

Ogg stated, "It is a tragedy that 10 innocent lives were lost while they were simply trying to enjoy an evening of music and entertainment, something many of us do without thinking twice about our safety. However, a tragedy is not always a crime, and not every death is a homicide." She clarified that the grand jury's decision has no impact on the various civil lawsuits still pending.

According to Ogg, the grand jurors thoroughly examined all the evidence and considered the applicable laws before declining to indict not only Travis Scott but also festival manager Brent Silberstein, Live Nation's John Junell, and BWG production's Emily Ockenden and Shawna Boardman, along with Seyth Boardman from crowd management Contemporary Services Corporation.

In response to the Harris County D.A.'s Office decision, Scott's attorney affirmed that it aligns with what they have maintained all along—that Travis Scott bears no responsibility for the Astroworld tragedy. They pointed to investigative reports from media outlets and government agencies that squarely attribute event safety issues to organizers, operators, and contractors, not performers.

The attorney continued, saying, "While we waited patiently for the District Attorney’s decision not to press charges, Travis Scott was wrongly singled out, despite stopping the show three separate times and being unaware of the unfolding events. With this chapter now closed, we hope government efforts will concentrate on preventing future tragic incidents like Astroworld from ever occurring again."

The tragic incident occurred on November 5, 2021, when a crowd of over 50,000 fans gathered at the Astroworld Festival in Houston. As Travis Scott's performance began, a surge of attendees rushed the stage, resulting in numerous injuries and fatalities.

The day after the Astroworld tragedy, Scott expressed his devastation on Twitter, offering condolences to the affected families and pledging support for the ongoing investigation. He vowed to collaborate with the Houston community to heal and assist families in need.

A month later, in a one-hour interview, Scott denied hearing any signs of distress from the crowd during his performance. He expressed his desire to ensure fans' safety and well-being during his shows and claimed he would stop the performance if he sensed any issues, relying on the collective energy and feedback from the audience.