Families of Astroworld Victims Reject Travis Scott Offer To Pay Funeral Expenses
Half of the families of Astroworld victims who died at the festival last month declined the rapper’s offer to pay for the funeral.
Scott offers to take care of the funerals of all the victims. However, Rolling Stone reports that the families of five victims declined his offer.
Earlier this week, the family of nine-year-old Ezra Blount announced that they would not accept the rapper’s offer, and family lawyer Bob Hilliard wrote that he was “certainly Mr Scott feels remorse” about the incident .
“His journey ahead is going to be painful,” Hilliard continued. “He must realize this and hope he takes some responsibility for this tragedy.”
Many lawyers are now talking about Scott’s decision to decline the offer. Richard Mithoff, an attorney for the family of 14-year-old victim John Hilgert, who recently filed a lawsuit against the rapper for the tragedy, said the offer was “undervalued and genuinely inappropriate.”
“It’s not an offer [the Hilgerts] are seriously considering,” Mithoff told Rolling Stone.
“Of all the things this case is about, this is the least worrying. This family is starting to change and make sure it never happens again at a concert.”
Philip Corboy, lawyer for the families of Jacob Jurinek and Franco Patino, said Scott’s approach – through legal teams – made it clear to the families “that he was only trying to contain the public uprising around his case.”
“When he tries to impress families that he is sincere, caring and realizes that funerals can be expensive, what Scott’s team has done is not the way to go,” he said. Corboy continued.
“You haven’t received a single letter from a Beverly Hills lawyer saying he’s representing Travis Scott. These families are still intact; they lack personal contact.”
Tony Buzbee, who represents the Axel Acosta family, was more open about Scott and called the offer “bullshit”.
“If you spoke badly about these families, you wouldn’t have to issue a press release to show people that he was prepared to pay for a funeral,” Buzbee continued.
“He said he felt sorry for them, but he was quick to say it wasn’t his fault. He was no different from any other accused who was pointing fingers at others. They don’t want funeral expenses from him. Whatever we do get from him, we go through the legal system.”
Buzbee had previously filed a $ 750 million (£ 555 million) lawsuit on behalf of the 125 festival-goers, saying: “No amount of money will ever make these plaintiffs live well; no amount of money can restore human life.
“But the damages claimed in this case are intended to restore, sustain or compensate for the damage and loss of these plaintiffs – no more and no less.”
This lawsuit is just one of many lawsuits against Travis Scott, Live Nation and other parties involved in the festival.
