Travis Scott's performance at the Grammys on Sunday has sparked uproar on social media, with viewers promising to "never forget Astroworld."
The rapper performed the tracks "My Eyes," "Fe!" and "I Know" from his latest album Utopia. The 32-year-old's set featured a post-apocalyptic background, complete with fog and flames, with the Grammy nominee finishing his show by smashing folding chairs against the stage floor.
However, several viewers were not amused by Scott's performance and made reference to a fatal crowd crush at one of his concerts in 2021. Eight people were killed by compression asphyxia during the musician's Astroworld Festival that year after concert-goers swarmed towards the stage. Two more later died in hospital, with hundreds of others injured.
Scott faced multiple lawsuits related to the tragedy but was not indicted. Following the Astroworld incident, Scott announced Project HEAL in 2022, a charity that works with local communities to improve event safety.
"Why does Travis Scott still have a career after astroworld. Genuinely asking," said @goslinggrry on X, formerly Twitter.
"Still very odd to me how everyone and their mother seemingly collectively forgot all about the travis scott astroworld incident," wrote @recklessrexha.
"Showing Travis Scott with the raging crowds after what happened at the Astroworld festival is a choice…" said Ken, while Natalie commented: "I can not believe they let him perform tonight."
@AlliePsychic said: "NEVER FORGET ASTROWORLD."
Newsweek has reached out to Travis Scott for comment via email.
Other users were confused by the set, with Lena asking: "What the hell is going on here."
"Travis Scott performing at the Grammy's is f****** insane," said 713.
"Yall got Meryl Streep watching Travis Scott throw chairs????" wrote @bsaun99.
"Whose idea was it to place Travis Scott after that riveting and emotional Joni Mitchell performance?????" asked JoiBella.
"That Travis Scott performance was like a WWE tables ladders and chairs match," said @RealityTv.
Scott was nominated for Best Rap Album at this year's awards show, his ninth nomination since 2014. However, he lost out to Killer Mike, who won three Grammys before being carted off by police.
The 48-year-old was arrested following an alleged physical altercation backstage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, where the annual awards ceremony was held.
According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department, Killer Mike, real name Michael Render, was in the process of being released in the early hours of Monday morning.
Update 02/05/24, 4:15 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with further information.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Sophie is a Newsweek Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in Lincoln, UK. Her focus is reporting on film and ... Read more
