Rapper's rowdy past raises red flags in Astroworld lawsuits

Lawsuits are piling up less than a week after the deadly crowd crush at the Astroworld concert in Houston

Lawsuits are piling up less than a week after the deadly crowd crush at the Astroworld concert, and legal experts say it’s not looking good for rapper Travis Scott and the companies behind the tragic event in Houston.

Several legal experts told The Associated Press that Scott’s past incitement of concertgoers offers a history that could make it easier to pursue negligence claims against companies that planned and managed the show, which killed eight people and left hundreds injured. And although the investigations have just begun, experts expect dozens more lawsuits seeking damages that could climb into hundreds of millions of dollars.

At the center of the legal maelstrom is Scott, a 30-year-old rapper famous for whipping fans into a frenzy who has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges tied to stirring up crowds at previous concerts.

“This put everyone on notice: ‘This is what has happened, and there is no reason it can’t happen again,’” said John Werner, a lawyer in Beaumont, Texas, who is not involved in Astroworld cases. “They know this is a situation that can get out of hand.”