On Friday, Nov 5, in Houston, Texas, rapper Travis Scott hosted his “Astroworld” concert. The event was sold out with more than 50,000 attendees. Junior Skylar Ritter and her friend were among the concert-goers, witnessed the chaos, and were victims of the overcrowding.

“We got there at 5 a.m. to get to the front of the line, and there were already about 500 people there on the street,” Ritter said.

The junior reported that the concert got exponentially more crowded as the two girls were waiting in line to get in. People were lying on the streets waiting impatiently for the doors to open.

“We were laying there for [about] two hours, and then more people kept coming,” she said. “Everyone stormed forward towards the fence, and they were trying to break it down.”

The pre-concert rowdiness continued. Ritter and her friend noticed that despite security’s efforts to keep the crowd under control, they still managed to cause damage to the venue and others.

“Cops were saying that if they broke down the fence, the concert would get canceled, [but] people broke the fence anyways,” she said. “There were people underneath the fence, screaming for help.”

The concert required proof of a COVID-19 vaccination card or a printed copy of a negative COVID-19 test, according to the Astroworld Festival website. Ritter reported that none of of the safety protocols were implemented as swarms of Scott’s fans rushed into the venue to get their “merch” and take their spots in the stadium.

The “merch” lines were soon packed with people trying to grab a souvenir from the concert, including Ritter and her friend. While waiting, the witnessed people were passing out on the ground.

“There was no room, and everyone was like sardines [packed] together trying to get to the front,” she said. “Then, [there were] people passing out in the “merch” line, I was the last person to [get merchandise] before they shut it down because someone stole a cash register.”

Only one water station was seen by the pair and few food options were available. They did not witness enough security helping people throughout the concert entry process.
Once the opening performances started, the mosh pit started. According to Ritter, there were so many people in the venue that she started having difficulty breathing and began screaming for help. She stated that standing on other people’s shoes was the only way she could collect solid ground.

“Kayla and I were pretty close up, and [then] a mosh pit started. I lost her, I fell on the floor, and I skidded across the floor,” Ritter said. 

“I got lifted out by security [and] I couldn’t even have fun because my hair was getting ripped out, you’re just getting shoved, and you couldn’t move,” she said.

Then, Travis Scott came out, and Ritter and her friend returned towards the front where she and her friend had more space.

“[When I came back], it wasn’t that crowded, but when Drake came out, everyone stormed forward, but I told [my friend] that we need to stay in the back because it got too hectic,” she said.

Ritter did not witness any deaths while she was there because of the noise; she sustained minor injuries from the mosh pit that occurred. When she arrived at her hotel, she learned about the deaths that occurred at the concert.

“There was a vigil outside with flowers and stuff,” she said. “It was pretty sad. I feel bad for the people that died and all the people that got injured.”