Families Of Astroworld Victims Turn Down Travis Scott's Offer To Pay For Funeral

At least three families of the 10 people who lost their lives at the Astroworld festival have turned down headliner Travis Scott's offer to pay for the funeral, according to the Associated Press.

The sold-out concert in Houston, Texas, was attended by 50,000 people. Following a crowd surge that spiraled out of control and resulted in people suffocating to death, 300 concert-goers were treated at the festival site and 13 were hospitalized, adds ABC News.

Attorneys for the families of four victims said they received a letter from Scott’s attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, in which the offer was made. In a letter, sent Nov. 24, to the attorneys for the family of 9-year-old Ezra Blount, Petrocelli said Scott extended his “deepest sympathies and condolences” to Ezra’s father, Treston Blount. The letter also mentioned that Scott wanted to reach out personally “but does not wish to intrude on Mr. Blount’s privacy during his time of grieving.”

“Travis is devastated by the tragedy that occurred at the Astroworld Festival and grieves for the families whose loved ones died or were injured. Travis is committed to doing his part to help the families who have suffered and begin the long process of healing in the Houston community,” Petrocelli wrote.

Ezra was the youngest person to die at the concert that took place on Nov. 5. Robert Hilliard, an attorney representing Treston Blount in the lawsuit against Scott, the concert promoter and others, declined the offer.

Hilliard said that though he does believe the rapper is "devastated", he must see “that he bears some of the responsibility for this tragedy.”

“And perhaps one day, once time allows some healing for the victims and acceptance of responsibility by Mr. Scott and others, Treston and Mr. Scott might meet — as there is also healing in that,” Hilliard said. “For now, Mr. Scott must respect the fact that his pain and his devastation pale to Treston’s, Ezra’s mom, and the other victims.”

Michael Lyons, an attorney for the family of 27-year-old Mirza “Danish” Baig, said his client declined the offer, as he felt it was partly a PR stunt by Scott to “soften people up” in the court of public opinion. “Sadly, for my clients, a check from Travis Scott ... is not going to relieve the pain and suffering that they presently are experiencing,” Lyons said. “I think it will only make it worse.”

Richard Mithoff, an attorney for the family of 14-year-old John Hilgert, also declined Scott’s offer.

However, Valerie Cortinas Fisher, a lawyer for the family of 23-year-old Rodolfo “Rudy” Peña, said her clients are yet to consider Scott's offer. Peña’s family is from Laredo, Texas, and they traveled to Houston on Monday to visit a memorial site that has been set up close to where the concert was held.

Maria de los Angeles Peña, Rodolfo Peña’s mother, recalls her son being a joyful person who loved life and was a good student. “I want to say to the world, take care of your children, pray for them, watch where they go, and Travis Scott, God bless him. How there is earthly law, there is also divine law," she said.

Tony Buzbee, who is the attorney for the family of 21-year-old Axel Acosta Avila, said in an email Tuesday he had received a voicemail from a lawyer who was not Petrocelli making an offer for funeral expenses. “The offer made didn’t warrant a response,” Buzbee said.

Attorneys for other families are yet to respond to mails and calls asking for comments.

The organizers of the concert and 30-year-old Scott are currently the focus of a criminal investigation by the Houston police, but no date has been set for when the investigation will be completed. Families of the victims have filed a lawsuit of $750 million which names Scott, Drake and Apple Music among others.