Travis Scott fans slam Apple over ‘insensitive’ Astroworld Festival tweet after tragic stampede at concert kills 8

TRAGIC MESSAGE ON MERCH: ‘SEE YA ON THE OTHER SIDE’

Scott told festival-goers he would see them “on the other side” of his sell-out concert in a message tragically followed by a deadly stampede.

The words were emblazoned in LED lights behind the rapper as he performed on stage at the third annual Astroworld music festival at NRG Park in Houston on Friday.

“See ya on the other side” was also featured on merchandise for the gig.

The message written in large neon lights behind him takes on devastating meaning following the tragedy.

WHAT CAUSED THE CROWD SURGE AT ASTROWORLD FESTIVAL?

A large number of police and firefighters were scrambled to the area of the event on Friday night.

According to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, organizers paused the concert when they realized how many people had been hurt.

“At some point, the show was stopped when the crowd was surging,” Finner said.

He added that it was too early to determine what caused the crowd surge and urged people not to speculate.

KYLIE SHARED BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE BEFORE CROWD CRUSH

Kylie Jenner, Scott’s partner, and her daughter Stormi were sitting safely out of the crowd when the surge began.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians starlet, 24, shared backstage videos and clips of the crowd enjoying the night before the chaos broke out.

TRAVIS SCOTT POINTED OUT COLLAPSED MAN: ‘SOMEBODY HELP HIM’

The crowd is said to have surged towards the stage while Scott was performing on Friday night.

In footage shared on social media, he is heard saying: “Somebody help him, somebody has passed out right here.

“Don’t touch him, don’t touch him. Everybody just back up. Security, jump in real quick.

“Somebody jump in. Come on, come on!”

TWITTER USER POSTS VIDEO OF AMBULANCE IN THE CROWD

In some other videos on the site, people appear to be dancing on the roofs of vehicles in the crowd, though it’s not clear if they’re ambulances.

GRAPHIC VIDEOS CIRCULATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Videos on Twitter and Instagram show medical staff performing CPR on bodies in the crowd at the festival.

In the clips, medical personnel work on unconscious concertgoers, while more bodies are visible on the ground in the surrounding area.

FESTIVAL BEGAN WITH CROWDS RUSHING ENTRY BARRICADES

ABC13 shared a video from the first hours of the festival, where fans were trampled as the crowd rushed a security checkpoint on Friday.

In the footage, attendees jump barricades, climb over portable toilets, and step on one another while entering the festival.

In one sequence, the attendees pull down what appear to be the metal detectors for the event.

Security guards, including some on horseback, were unable to stop the rush of the crowd.

WOMAN BEGGED FOR HELP BUT CAMERA MAN ‘WOULDN’T LOOK’ AT CRISIS

On Instagram, @SeannaFaith wrote that she climbed out of the crowd and onto a platform where cameras were set up to film the festival.

There, she begged a security guard and a cameraman for help, but they “wouldn’t look in the direction” of the chaos.

“Here were two people that could actually do something,” she wrote. “Cut the camera, call in backup, pause something. They did nothing.”

On her Instagram story, she posted footage of the encounter taken by someone in the crowd.

Clad in athletic pants and a cropped shirt, Seanna calls to the camera operator, who gestures for her to get back down.

She paces the platform, shaking her head and throwing her hands up in disbelief.

After climbing down from the platform, Seanna writes, she ducked underneath it to call 911.

‘PEOPLE BEGAN TO DROWN’ SAYS INSTAGRAM USER WHO ATTENDED SHOW

An Instagram user under the handle @SeannaFaith took to Instagram to record her experience of the show.

“Within the first 30 seconds of the first song, people began to drown–in other people,” Seanna writes.

As the crowd began to grow more fearful, “sinkholes of people” opened up, pulling concertgoers down.

“There was a floor of bodies, of men and women, below two layers of fallen people above them,” Seanna recounted, expressing that for anyone trapped in place by the crowd, there was no way to move and nowhere to go.

TRAVIS SCOTT POSTS STATEMENT TO INSTAGRAM

Travis Scott posted a statement to Instagram on Saturday.

“I’m absolutely devastated by what took place last night,” the statement reads.

“My prayers go out to the families and all those impacted by what happened at Astroworld Festival.

“Houston PD has my total support as they continue to look into the tragic loss of life. I am committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need.”

Scott thanks Houston Police, the Houston Fire Department and NRG park, before signing off, “Love You All.”

SCOTT HAD SPOTTED, HELPED DISTRESSED FANS DURING SHOW

The Houston Chronicle said Scott stopped a number of times during his 75-minute performance when he spotted fans in distress near the front of the stage.

He reportedly asked security to make sure they were all okay and get them out of the crowd safely.

WHAT HAS DRAKE SAID ABOUT THE CATASTROPHE?

Drake appeared in a surprise performance on the first night of the festival.

He has not made a statement yet about the crowd surge or resulting casualties.

WERE THE REMAINING SHOWS AT ASTROWORLD FESTIVAL CANCELLED?

The show was called off shortly after the horror crush and the second day of the event has also been cancelled.

ATTENDEE: ‘IMAGINE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PUSHING YOU FORWARD’

One concert-goer revealed his horror as he saw a young woman snap her ankle in the chaos.

He told The Sun: “Myself and eight friends made it out safe. Imagine thousands of people pushing you forward – over 50,000 plus people.

“I’ve never been to a concert this chaotic. The smaller individuals, under 5ft 4 were like struggling for air. Children being trampled.

“I was holding onto the rail with my buddies, I had it easy. I saw many people cry and scream.”

INJURED VICTIMS INCLUDED A CHILD AS YOUNG AS 10

Officials in Texas transported 17 people to hospitals, with 11 of them in cardiac arrest.

It is feared hundreds more are injured, including a child as young as 10.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE AT THE EVENT?

A crowd of 50,000 showed up for the two-day event, which sold out within an hour of tickets going live in May this year.

‘People began to fallout & become unconscious’

Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena said: “At approximately 9.15pm the crowd began to compress towards the front of the stage and that caused some panic and it started causing some injuries.

“People began to fallout, become unconscious, and it created additional panic.”

Several people were treated at the scene at NRG Park, where a field hospital was set up.

A tragedy

Responding to the tragedy, Houston’s mayor Sylvester Turner, tweeted today: “The city of Houston extends our condolences to the loved ones of 8 people killed and several injured at #ASTROWORLDFest.

“Organizers held the event to bring people together for music, but it sadly ended in tragedy. Thanks to police, fire & other agencies that responded to assist.”

What was the festival line-up?

Astroworld 2021 had a stacked lineup, full of the industry’s top artists.

Of course, Travis Scott was due to be headlining. There were also meant to be performances from: SZA, Chief Keef, Bad Bunny, Young Thug + YSL, Master P, Tame Impala, Baby Keem, 21 Savage, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Also appearing on the bill was Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Yves Tumor, Don Toliver, SoFaygo, Toro Y Moi, Sheck Wes, Bia, Teezo Touchdown, Metro Boomin, and Houston All Stars.

However, the event is now cancelled following the mass casualty incident.

Too early to determine what caused the crowd surge

According to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, organizers paused the concert when they realised how many people had been hurt.

“At some point, the show was stopped when the crowd was surging,” Mr Finner said.

He added that it was too early to determine what caused the crowd surge and urged people not to speculate.

Festival release statement

In a statement the festival wrote: “Our hearts are with the Astroworld Festival family tonight – especially those we lost and their loved ones.

“We are focused on supporting local officials however we can. With that in mind, the festival will no longer be held on Saturday.”

The statement continued to say: “As authorities mentioned in their press conference earlier, they are looking into the series of cardiac arrests that took place. If you have any relevant information on this, please reach out to @HoustonPolice.

“Thank you to our partners at Houston Police Department, Fire Department, and NRG Park for their response and support.”

Usually a concert attended by a host of celebrities

Astroworld is rapper Travis Scott’s music festival and is being attended by a host of celebrities, including Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner.

Tickets sold for $180 for general admission and $490 for ‘stargazer’ tickets.

The event sold out its 100,000 tickets within an hour of going on sale in May, ABC 13 reported.

It came after the show was cancelled during the pandemic last year.

Astroworld Music Festival cancelled

NRG Park where the Astroworld festival is held has announced that the event is cancelled.

This is following the mass casualty incident on day one that left eight people dead and hundreds injured.

Travis Scott yet to make public statement

Travis Scott is yet to make a public statement following eight deaths at the third annual Astroworld music festival.

Hotline set up for families searching for loved ones at the festival

Houston Office of Emergency Management has set up a hotline for families searching for their loved ones who attended the Astroworld Music Festival.

On Twitter, the office wrote: “If you have not been able to contact your loved one who attended #ASTROWORLDFest please call 832-393-2991 or 832-393-2990”.