A judge has ruled to dismiss hip-hop artist Drake from lawsuits concerning his involvement in the tragic 2021 Astroworld festival in Houston, where 10 people lost their lives.
Drake, who made a guest appearance alongside rap superstar Travis Scott, the festival’s headliner, was performing at the end of the concert on November 5, 2021. As the crowd surged and attendees were packed tightly, many struggled to breathe or move. Efforts to halt the show were underway by authorities and festival organizers.
Families of the deceased, along with numerous injured attendees, filed lawsuits against Drake, Scott, Live Nation (the festival’s promoter), and other individuals and entities.
During a court hearing on April 1 in Houston, lawyers representing Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, argued that he was not involved in organizing the concert and therefore should not be held liable for the tragic events that unfolded.
In a deposition given in November in Toronto, Drake stated that he was unaware of any injuries or emergencies in the crowd before he took the stage. He described the crowd as a blur and mentioned being unable to discern any details.
In response to questioning about a video taken by the youngest victim, 9-year-old Ezra Blount, Drake acknowledged seeing the panic in the crowd’s eyes.
Judge Kristen Hawkins issued a brief order on Wednesday, dismissing Drake from the case. This follows the dismissal of seven companies and individuals named in the lawsuits by Hawkins on Monday. However, motions to dismiss filed by 10 other entities, including Apple Inc. and companies associated with Scott, were denied.
An investigation by the Houston Police concluded without charges being filed against Scott. A grand jury also chose not to indict him or five others connected to the event.
The victims, aged 9 to 27, died from compression asphyxia, a condition likened to being crushed by a car.
Trials stemming from the lawsuits are scheduled to begin on May 6, with some cases having been settled already. The most recent settlement related to the case of 23-year-old Rodolfo “Rudy” Peña, whose family reached an agreement as announced in court filings on February 5.
