Grandparents Of Youngest Astroworld Victim Call Travis Scott’s New Safety Initiative A “Publicity Stunt”
On Tuesday, Travis Scott announced the launch of Project HEAL, an initiative that aims to make events safer and protect youth. He wrote on Instagram, “Over the past few months I’ve been taking the time and space to grieve, reflect and do my part to heal my community. Most importantly, I want to use my resources and platform moving forward towards actionable change.” He added, “This will be a lifelong journey for me and my family.” The philanthropic effort will also provide $5 million for community-based initiatives in Scott’s home state of Texas.
The big move comes months after the tragic Astroworld Festival festival where 10 fans were crushed to death and hundreds were injured. Travis faced major backlash following the horrific event. However, he says “I feel as a leader in my community, I need to step up in times of need,” he wrote. “I will always honor the victims of the Astroworld tragedy who remain in my heart forever,” he added.
According to Rolling Stone, the grandparents of Astroworld’s youngest victim Ezra Blount, are criticizing Scott’s newly unveiled “Project HEAL,” calling it a PR stunt. They also believe his move violates the gag order placed on the mountain of lawsuits filed over the deadly tragedy:
“It’s a PR stunt. He’s pretty much trying to sway the jurors before they’re even assembled,” the Texas-based grandmother told the outlet. “He’s trying to make himself look good, but it doesn’t look that way to someone with our eyes. What we’re seeing is that he’s done wrong, and now he’s trying to be the good guy and trying to give his own verdict on safety.”
Robert Hilliard, the lead lawyer for Ezra’s father, Treston Blount, also said in a court filing on Wednesday that Scott’s efforts are “designed to gain goodwill and prejudice Blount and the other plaintiffs’ ability to obtain a fair trial in this case.”
Hitting back, Stephanie Rawlings Blake, a spokesperson for Scott, called it “shameful and beyond cynical” that Hilliard “would accuse Mr. Scott of violating a court order when he has done nothing of the kind.”
“It is also disappointing that Mr. Hilliard would attack Project HEAL, a series of philanthropic gestures designed to give students and young people a leg up. Project HEAL is a continuation of Travis Scott’s longstanding work, including academic scholarships and creative design programs for underprivileged students,” Blake said in a statement to Rolling Stone. Blake added, “Mr. Hilliard’s outburst holds no merit and is just a publicity stunt when the court expressly prohibited the very same actions that Mr. Hillaird has engaged in,” the news site quotes.
Following the Astroworld tragedy, thousands of lawsuits were filed against Scott, including 400 that have been consolidated into a larger suit.
Ezra’s grandfather Bernon Blount ultimately feels disappointed and he said Wednesday that he simply has a problem with Scott’s announcement: “Every time he does something like this, it’s an ongoing reminder.”
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