Astroworld tragedy: Rapper Roddy Ricch will donate show earnings to families of victims
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
HOUSTON — Rapper Roddy Ricch announced that he will donate his net performance earnings from the Astroworld festival to the families of the eight people killed after a crowd surged toward the stage.
“Please have the families of those who we lost yesterday reach out,” Ricch wrote in his Instagram Stories feed. “I’ll be donating my net compensation to the families of this incident #Pray4Houston.”
Ricch, 23, asked the families to contact Shawn Holiday, who is part of the singer’s management team, Billboard reported.
Roddy Ricch Promises to Donate His Astroworld Earnings 'to the Families of this Incident' https://t.co/lw38whuQTs
Eight people were killed and hundreds were treated for injuries after a sold-out crowd of nearly 50,000 people converged on the stage during rapper Travis Scott’s performance Friday night in Houston. Twenty-five people were taken to area hospitals and more than 300 people were treated at the scene at NRG Park.
Ricch was among several acts during the first evening of the two-day festival, which was inaugurated by Scott in 2019. Other acts Friday included SZA, Lil Baby, Don Toliver, Toro Y Moi and Master P, according to Billboard.
On Saturday, Scott tweeted that he was “absolutely devastated” by the events at Astroworld. He later went on Instagram and told fans that he was “working right now to identify the families to assist them through this tough time.”
SZA performed at the festival before Scott but tweeted that she left early because she was not feeling well, USA Today reported. SZA expressed shock about the tragic event Saturday in a tweet.
Speechless about last night I’m actually in shock n don’t even know what to say .. just praying for everyone in Houston especially the families of those that lost their lives 😔🙏🏾
Astroworld aftermath Stacey Sarmiento places flowers at a memorial in Houston on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in memory of her friend, Rudy Pena, who died in a crush of people at the Astroworld music festival on Friday. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) (Robert Bumsted/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Visitors cast shadows at a memorial to the victims of the Astroworld concert in Houston on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) (Robert Bumsted/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Stacey Sarmiento holds a photo up of her posing with her friend, Rudy Pena, who died in a crush of people at the Astroworld music festival in Houston. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) (Robert Bumsted/AP)
Astroworld aftermath A man cries at a memorial for the victims of the Astroworld music festival in Houston on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) (Robert Bumsted/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Two people who knew an unidentified victim of a fatal incident at the Houston Astroworld concert embrace at a memorial on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) (Robert Bumsted/AP)
Astroworld aftermath A man places a candle at a memorial in Houston for the victims of the Astroworld music festival on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) (Robert Bumsted/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Flowers lie against the south fence surrounding the Astroworld festival grounds the day after several people died and scores were injured during a concert the night before at NRG Park, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) (Michael Wyke/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Festival goers are seen rushing into the VIP area prior to Travis Scott performing during day one of the Astroworld Music Festival at NRG Park on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Houston. Several people died and numerous others were injured in what officials described as a surge of the crowd at the music festival while Scott was performing. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) (Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Astroworld aftermath A pedestrian cross Main Street in front of a sign announcing the cancellation of Astroworld on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Houston. Several people died and numerous others were injured in what officials described as a surge of the crowd at the music festival while Travis Scott was performing Friday night. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) (Michael Wyke/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Festival attendants, from left, Brandon Beauval, Joshua Robinson, Andrew Diaz and Billy Nasser talk about their experiences after several people died and scores were injured during the music festival the night before, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) (Michael Wyke/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Still wearing his concert wristband, festival attendant Joshua Robinson recounts his experiences after several people died and scores were injured during a music festival the night before, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) (Michael Wyke/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Flowers lie against the south fence surrounding the Astroworld festival grounds as festival attendants, from left, Andrew Diaz, Brandon Beauval, Joshua Robinson and Billy Nasser walk by the day after several people died and scores were injured during a concert the night before at NRG Park, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) (Michael Wyke/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña speaks during a news conference, as Mayor Sylvester Turner stands at left, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Houston, after several people died and scores were injured during a music festival the night before. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) (Michael Wyke/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Houston County Judge Lina Hidalgo, center, flanked by Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, left, and U.S. Rep. Al Green, right, speaks during a news conference, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Houston, after several people died and scores were injured during a music festival the night before. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) (Michael Wyke/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Houston Police Chief Troy Finner speaks during a news conference, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Houston, after several people died and scores were injured during a music festival the night before. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) (Michael Wyke/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner speaks during a news conference, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Houston, after several people died and scores were injured during a music festival the night before. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) (Michael Wyke/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Edgar Acosta, the father of Houston concert victim Axel Acosta Avila, speaks at a news conference with an attorney in Houston on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) (Robert Bumsted/AP)
Astroworld aftermath A memorial is seen outside Heights High School, where Brianna Rodriguez attended, Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, in Houston. Rodriguez died from injuries sustained during a stampede at the Astroworld music festival days earlier. (AP Photo/Jamie Stengle) (Jamie Stengle/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Joel Acosta, brother of Axel Acosta, looks into the camera at a news conference with a family attorney in Houston on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. Acosta's brother was killed at a concert in Houston on Nov. 5. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) (Robert Bumsted/AP)
Astroworld aftermath Attorney Tony Buzbee speaks to reporters at a news conference on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. Buzbee is representing the family of Axel Acosta Avila who was killed at a concert in Houston. (AP Photo/Robert Bumsted) (Robert Bumsted/AP)
