Travis Scott has spoken publicly for the first time in years about the 2021 Astroworld Festival disaster, telling Rolling Stone he wants to “heal” his hometown of Houston after the crowd crush that left 10 fans dead and thousands injured.
In a cover story published January 21, the 34-year-old rapper recalled the night that shattered what was meant to be a celebration. “When I did that festival, I was trying to bring something to where I’m from, and when you look back, it’s like a time that was supposed to be so enjoyable just went wrong,” he said.
Scott said he still hopes to restore trust in the city, adding, “I would love to heal that in the city. But I would also want people to be receptive [to it]. I don’t want to force a reception.”
He argued the tragedy created “a distorted view of who I am and what I care about,” insisting, “I think there’s always been this distorted view of what I am. And it’s my responsibility just to keep showing what it really is.”
The Night of November 5, 2021
- 10 audience members died from compression asphyxia during a crowd surge at NRG Park.
- Thousands more suffered injuries ranging from broken bones to PTSD.
- Festival organizers canceled the second day immediately after the incident.
In the aftermath, Scott faced intense scrutiny over whether he could have stopped the show sooner. During his December 2021 interview with Good Morning America, he claimed he never heard cries for help and asserted he paused the performance three times to check on fans.
Legal Aftermath
- A Texas grand jury declined to indict Scott in June 2023.
- The final wrongful-death lawsuit was settled in May 2024.
- Attorney Kent Schaffer told News Of Los Angeles the decision “confirms what we have known all along – that Travis Scott is not responsible for the Astroworld tragedy.”
Creative Process and Healing
Scott told GQ in November 2023 that memories of the victims fuel his daily thoughts. “Those fans were like my family,” he said. “You just feel for those people. And their families.”
He described channeling the grief into his 2023 album Utopia, calling the recording process “therapeutic” after “months and months and months” of creative paralysis. “That moment for families, for the city, you know, it was devastating,” he noted.
Looking ahead, Scott remains focused on rebuilding trust without imposing himself. “I don’t want to force a reception,” he reiterated, signaling a cautious approach to any future hometown projects.
Key Takeaways
- Scott accepts public skepticism but insists his intentions were never malicious.
- All criminal and civil matters have concluded without findings of fault against him.
- The rapper frames future outreach as optional for Houstonians, not an obligation.
The Astroworld episode continues to shape Scott’s public image, yet he maintains the tragedy stemmed from systemic failures beyond any single performer’s control.
