Travis Scott's Missing Phone Adds Twist to Astroworld Lawsuits

Grammy-nominated rapper Travis Scott has found himself at the center of legal troubles once more as his missing phone, submerged in the Gulf of Mexico, becomes a focal point in the ongoing civil litigation surrounding the tragic 2021 Astroworld Festival. Ten people lost their lives, and thousands were injured during the event.

Travis Scott’s Astroworld Lawyers Are Unable To Retrieve Travis Scott’s Phone Records As His Attorney Says That Phone Fell Off A Boat Nearly 2 Years Ago & Is At The Bottom Of The Gulf Of Mexico. His Rep Releases A Statement #TravisScott pic.twitter.com/5oAHlmiI46

— Real1Of1TV (@Real1of1TV) September 21, 2023

Attorneys representing plaintiffs filed an "emergency motion to compel production" of Scott's phone and other electronic devices, according to Rolling Stone. During a hearing on September 15, Scott's attorney, Steve Brody, revealed that records from Scott's manager, David Stromberg, could be provided by September 27. However, retrieving Scott's phone proved challenging as it had "fallen off a boat in January of 2022 and landed somewhere at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico," Brody informed the judge, Kristen Hawkins. He also noted that they could not access messages from Apple or Scott's phone carrier because Scott had not backed up his phone to iCloud.

Travis Scott's phone ended up in the ocean during a stay in Mexico in January 2022, two months after the Astroworld Festival. Scott was in Cabo San Lucas on January 14, working on his album Utopia, as confirmed by his producer, Wheezy.

Scott's team had previously resisted efforts to obtain his phone, citing confidential information and an unreasonable request. Scott, along with others connected to the festival, faces a vast, multi-district litigation combining numerous individual lawsuits. The rapper was never charged by the police in connection with the festival's tragic events.

Scott's deposition, which lasted eight hours, occurred nearly two years after the Astroworld Festival tragedy in Houston. He answered questions as part of the civil lawsuits.

Ted Anastasiou, a spokesperson for Scott, expressed frustration with the continued media attention on the rapper despite his exoneration in government investigations, including one by the Houston Police Department. Anastasiou noted that Scott remains committed to his Utopia album tour and charitable work in at-risk communities.

Due to a gag order, the content of Scott's testimony remains confidential. The first trial for the lawsuits is scheduled for May 6, 2024, with more than 1,500 lawsuits filed against Scott and Live Nation, the concert promoter. The tragic festival resulted in eight immediate deaths and two additional deaths in the hospital due to crowd-related injuries.

Scott's performance at the Astroworld Festival preceded the crowd surge and tragic deaths. On June 29, a Texas grand jury decided not to indict Scott or anyone associated with the concert on criminal charges.

Following the festival, Scott took a hiatus but returned with his album "Utopia" on July 28, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It featured collaborations with artists like Drake, Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, SZA, Future, and more. Scott is set to be questioned again in October after Stromberg's phone and messages have been reviewed.