In a three-page open letter, the members of a congressional committee point out that the tragedy at Astroworld Festival follows a long line of other tragic events and safety violations involving Live Nation.
- Dec 23, 2021
AceShowbiz - The U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee has launched a bipartisan investigation into Live Nation regarding the tragic crowd crush that resulted in 10 concertgoers killed at the Astroworld festival in Houston. In an open letter, the congress asked for detailed information about the concert.
The probe was initiated on Wednesday, December 22 by a four-person ensemble, including Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney. It will investigate Live Nation's role in the festival's planning, including how it organized logistics and planned for potential safety hazards, how it handled signs that Astroworld's crowd-control measures were failing earlier in the day and how those representing the company reacted when chaos broke out in the crowd for Travis Scott (II)'s headlining set.
The letter was addressed to Live Nation's president and CEO Michael Rapino. In it, the Congressional committee demanded answers to seven questions by January 7, 2022, as well as related contracts.
"Recent reports raise serious concerns about whether your company took adequate steps to ensure the safety of the 50,000 concertgoers who attended Astroworld Festival," the letter stated, noting the 10 deaths that occurred at or as a result of the festival. It continued noting that "the tragedy at Astroworld Festival follows a long line of other tragic events and safety violations involving Live Nation."
In a three-page letter outlining the inquiry, the congresspeople added, "We are also concerned by reports about Live Nation's conduct following Astroworld Festival," referencing news reports that some employees at the concert were being asked to sign waivers to be paid for their work at the show. They stressed, "Live Nation and its subsidiary reportedly have withheld pay until part-time employees who worked the festival have signed a revised employment contract."
Live Nation responded Wednesday afternoon with the following statement that read, "We are assisting local authorities in their investigation and will of course share information with the Committee as well." The entertainment company added, "Safety is core to live events and Live Nation engages in detailed security planning in coordination with local stakeholders including law enforcement, fire and EMT professionals," before concluding, "We are heartbroken by the events at Astroworld and our deepest sympathies go out to the families and friends of the victims."
Following the deadly Astroworld festival, nearly 2,800 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Travis and other parties. The victims also sued Live Nation, Drake, NRG Energy, the Harris County Sports Authority and the 30-year-old rapper's two companies, Jack Enterprises and Cactus Jack.
Earlier this month, however, Travis requested the billions worth of lawsuits submitted against him to be dismissed, with a representative for the rapper arguing he is "not legally liable" for the incident. Live Nation and its subsidiary ScoreMore, Astroworld's promoters, also denied all allegations made against them.
Speaking out on the tragedy earlier this month in his first-ever interview with Charlamagne Tha God since the tragedy happened, Travis insisted he wasn't immediately aware of the severity of the situation, "It wasn't really until like minutes until the press conference until I figured out exactly what happened. Even after the show, you're just kind of hearing things, but I didn't know the exact details. No idea. People pass out, things happen at concerts, but something like that?"
Elsewhere during the sit-down, Travis said, "Fans come to the show to have a good experience and I have a responsibility to figure out what happened here." The "SICKO MODE" rapper added, "I have a responsibility to figure out a solution."
