Months after his Astroworld Festival that left behind multiple casualties and deaths from the chaotic night of Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, rapper Travis Scott is facing backlash over what reportedly is a new multimillion-dollar car purchase for himself. The family of 9-year-old Astroworld victim Ezra Blount publicly has denounced the superstar over the car purchase, TMZ reported. Scott allegedly purchased a $5.5 million Bugatti Chiron Super Sport car that was parked outside his home in Los Angeles. He was spotted driving the same luxury vehicle in West Hollywood on June 22, according to Daily Mail. The outlet also captured a photo of the inside of the custom vehicle with blue interior on his Instagram story. Scott’s team claims the purchase is an old one.
Nine months after the incident, families and loved ones are still mourning the loss of 10 patrons; dozens more were injured on the first day of the rapper’s two-day concert in Houston, Texas. At least 300 people had to be examined by medical units after a group of concertgoers charged the stage as Scott performed at NRG Park, before a crowd of over 50,000.
Within days of the mayhem, the “SICKO Mode” artist found himself under a mountain of lawsuits. Most sued for damages and accused Scott, NRG Stadium and concert organizers like Live Nation for negligence. The 31-year-old since has endured months of ridicule and criticism over the tragic incident. He promised to offer cover funeral costs for the victims and refunds for all ticket holders. The father of two also offered free therapy sessions to those impacted by the tragic event through the online, phone-driven therapy service BetterHelp.
Bob Hillard, the family’s attorney, told TMZ Ezra Blount would still be alive today had Scott spent half of what he spent on the car on safer security measures at the deadly concert. Hillard called the vehicle purchase “excessive,” claiming he wants all of the rapper’s actions to be viewed within the context of that night.
TMZ reached out to Scott’s team about the vehicle, which they claim was purchased in 2020. “This latest attempt to exploit Astroworld victims and gaslight the media and public is a new low,” they wrote in a statement to the outlet. “The car referenced was purchased way back in 2020 (well before the tragic events at Astroworld), and covered widely by the media, including TMZ, at the time.”
It continued, “Misrepresenting a two-year-old car purchase to make an unprovoked and unjustified attack on Travis Scott is nothing more than another desperate publicity stunt to try and falsely blame Travis and intentionally manipulate public opinion, which won’t work.”
Scott has made attempts to reach out to he victims of Astroworld. In March, he launched Project HEAL, a long-running series of community-focused philanthropy and investment efforts in order to overcome the challenges facing today’s youth.
In conjunction with the Cactus Jack Foundation, the organization has four initiatives offering academic scholarships, free mental health, a creative design center and other youth-related matters. In particular, one involves working with government and local officials to “effectively address the safety challenges faced by future large-scale events,” according to the company’s website.
