Over the weekend, eight people died and hundreds more were injured at rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival, and many are still trying to make sense of how one of the deadliest concert tragedies in American history could happen in 2021.
What exactly went wrong at the Houston event is still being unpacked by the local fire and police departments, but many in the media are attributing it to a shocking lack of security, poor crowd control, and too many people packed into too small a space.
And while that all sounds like a recipe for disaster, others aren’t so convinced it was entirely an accident. Indeed, many on social media are calling this a ritual sacrifice to Satan, suggesting that his unholy hand was behind the Astroworld tragedy.
What Happened at Astroworld
The Astroworld Festival tragedy occurred on November 5th in Houston, Texas. The annual festival, organized by rapper Travis Scott, drew some 50,000 excited concertgoers. Right away, problems began; Early in the day, hundreds of people stormed the festival’s perimeter, jumping fences and skipping security in an attempt to get in.
The crowd crush began around 9 PM, as Travis Scott took the stage and scores of fans pushed forward to get closer to the headliner. Many concertgoers reported later that the crush was intense, the crowd packed in so tightly that their movements were totally out of their control and drawing breath was difficult. As people passed out, panic ensued, but the show went on and security allegedly reinforced crowd control barriers despite pleas from audience members to stop the show.
The event left eight people dead, with victims ranging in age from 14 to 27. Dozens more were taken to local hospitals, and hundreds were treated by medical staff at the festival venue.
Although more will undoubtedly come out in the following weeks, for many it’s clear that the tragedy is the result of lax security, poor crowd control, and a performer who encouraged fans to sneak into the event.
Others, however, say that this tragedy is Satan’s handiwork.
A Satanic Ritual?
It didn’t take long for the conspiracies to begin. The following day, social media users began pointing out the striking number of satanic imagery at the festival, with some going as far as to call this an intended satanic ritual sacrifice.
“If you don’t believe that there was nothing demonic about that whole concert, you are spiritually blind and I pray that God opens your eyes,” said one man in a viral TikTok video that got over one million views in a day.
They point out that the stage was shaped like an inverted cross, and that Travis Scott wore a shirt to the event that depicts what appears to be human beings walking through a portal and emerging with horns on the other side.
Perhaps the biggest proof of satanic influence, critics say, is that the entrance to the festival is the mouth of a giant Travis Scott head, an apparent nod to famous depictions of the entrance to the underworld - primarily, the painting “Harrowing of Hell” by Hieronymus Bosch.
Still others see proof of Satan’s touch in numerology. Some pointed out that Travis Scott was born on the anniversary of The Church of Satan’s founding… which coincidentally was 666 months before the festival.
For those putting the pieces together, it all adds up to a ritual sacrifice – perhaps orchestrated by Satan himself – on an unsuspecting audience.
However, others insist these parallels are purely coincidental and that the tragedy is purely the result of bad crowd control and (non-Satanic) negligence on the part of Travis Scott and the event's organizers.
What do you think?
41 comments
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Christians see what they want to see.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Every tragedy is sad enough without adding Satin to the mix. There is evil, but it doesn’t have to be the work of Satin. This was due to poor planning, poor execution, and ignorance at the time of the event. With a little dash of the performing artist not paying attention to his audience and stopping the concert when it was obvious people were pushing forward. The Devil made me do it is just ridiculous.
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Minister Carlos Ricardo Walls
The crowd was too large,not enough security.There should've a barricade between concert goers,musicians onstage.Also they should've had more exits.
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Lionheart
People, especially those involved in religion, will love to say it’s the work of the Devil because people have died, even though their god has been involved in killing people for millenni if you want to believe in the Bible stories. No doubt people will be sending their “thoughts and prayers” to their God, presumably under the impression their God doesn’t know yet what happened. 🤷🏼
If it (a deity) really existed, and was seriously concerned, being omnipotent it would have stepped in to prevent it ever happening. In reality, the reason it happened was due to man’s inability to anticipate the dangers of overcrowding, with not enough safety precautions being taken. The same thing, of man’s incompetence, happened on the film set of Rust. No mythical God, or mythical Devil, was involved, it was man’s unprofessionalism in their job functions.
During my time of writing this response, and you reading it, more people will have died worldwide in all forms of accidents, some will have been children, than died at Astroworld. If it was within your power to have done something to prevent it….would you have done? If the answer is yes, your morals far surpass the morals of your God.
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Robert W. Slater
But then again, we will never know all the tragedies and horrendous things that have been prevented by God, because he has prevented those and therefore they never happened.
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Lionheart
Why would any omnipotent deity be selective as to who should die horrifically, and who shouldn’t? If it was within your power to stop the Holocaust, or the December 26, 2004 Tsunami, to name just 2 events, would you have done? If your answer is yes, you are more moral than any God. Clearly, those gods that ignored them, which means all of them if any truly exist, are definitely not worth worshipping.
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Reverend Kurt
you speak truth and wisdom. Truly admirable qualities
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Lawrence Albert Taylor II
If you look at previous events like this where people were trampled to death. You take into consideration the layout of the venue itself entrance points security barriers and the stage itself. As posted by others this was a recipe for disaster poor planning very little security for the amount people attending the show. Also Travis Scott himself is to blame for allowing the concert to continue while people were getting trampled to death. If we want to throw conspiracy theories around is covid Satan's work or biological/ chemical warfare from another country.
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Justin Gabriel Ardolino
I think is is dangerous, irresponsible and incredibly low brow to even post this nonsense.
I think criminal and certainly Scott’s self-agrandizement were certainly involved - but Satanic ritual?
Year check: 2021 Science Level: Highest in human history Satan: Never been seen
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Robert C Wichert
Just because you can’t “see” it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It simply means that your human ego is limited in its perception of the dualistic nature of our existence. We live in a universe that thrives on the vibration of love. Love is good. If there is good, there must also exist bad, or evil. Whether your eyes can see it or not is insignificant to its reality.
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Kathy Crosby
I suggest you read the following "boots on the ground" article - https://medium.com/@mr.minnow/astroworld-2021-408fb9da7c00
Also take a look at the articles on pages 74 and 76 in the issue of the International Festival and Events Association's latest newsletter here: https://www.ifea.com/p/resources/iemagazine/currentissue?fbclid=IwAR2St0q9SfKMSTmnrL7Aog4wK_J9PA1aSvm4RYFn35FPdg8UpFPq9qVr318
I still have no idea who this entertainer is. I do know that this tragedy began to unfold long before he took the stage.
I'm not defending or disparaging anyone here. I simply feel that we need to be objective, ask A LOT of questions, and ALWAYS show the utmost respect for those who were affected by this tragedy before we start throwing around opinions, no matter how strongly we feel them.Most importantly, we need to work together to make sure that this never happens again.
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Nathaniel Robert Hunt
Headdesk
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David Arthur Lewis
Sure, blame it on the invisible boogeyman.
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Walter Riggs
Never attribute to conspiracy, or divinity, that what is much more easily explained by idiocy and greed.
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Nicholas J Page
Conspiracy theorises that's what it is According to the media.Travis Scott has been warned a couple of times about inciting these incidents So he doesn't want to listen? That's why his victims want to take out law suits against him and the venue owners .So no its not the work of Satan any proof he exists?I'm not being prejudiced.As my brother is an American Citizen But you do go over the top on crazy idea's etc .Yes security should be adhered to safety instructions followed and listen to the law and enforcement and safety officers If a venue is overcrowded Don't let the gig happen Use counters and radio contact ad soon as the venue fills up.Do not let the general public access if the venue is full.I'm ex Security for the MOD worked for the military police and done all lines of security work including close protection. Its the greedy owners who are more concerned about money over safety fact
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
A ninth person has passed away.
Human agency is to blame for this tragedy.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I live fifty miles south of Houston, on Galveston Island, and haven't been to Astroworld since 1980. With this in mind, regardless of it's cause, it's a mighty good reason for me to never go there again. I'm too cautious and health minded to get a round all those fools who are spreading the virus anyway. I know, I plane could crash into my home, but I feel a lot safer staying home anyway, as much as possible anymore. I've even quit going to local festivals, and do all my shopping online. I bet a lot of the people who didn't get trampled on contracted covid-19, and will be dead soon anyway. The old ways are gone, a ND people better quit crying about it, and demanding to have their American freedom to hang out in crowds whenever they want to, or life is going to cease to exist, for one reason or another, a lot faster than it would, if people would take precautions, and use common sense.
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JPrime
“Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity" - Hanlon’s Razor
This was nothing more than cutting corners and corporate greed. And lives were lost because of it.
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Amber Fry
Wow has this been blown way out of proportion. It was that people forgot how to behave the last year or two when in a group and just got overly excited. That's it. It happens. People can completely loose their senses when getting all excited. It's a terrible tragedy that so many got hurt and some lost their lives in this whole thing but do not misunderstand people are perfectly capable of such things no demons or other entities involved.
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Barry Lewis
Nope. Just more proof that people are stupid
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Jarrod Nathan Powell
Most definitely not the work of Satan... More the work of idiots who don't know how to pay attention, and people who just didn't care. That's how sad our world has become. There's been countless times a musical artist has stopped their concerts due to people getting hurt in the audience. And this man just let it continue no stopping the concert to try to help people nothing even limp Bizkit was willing to stop his concert when he saw an injured person in the crowd but not Travis Scott no not a devil not Satan just some idiot artist who didn't care and doesn't care.
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Sarah Covert
Cultural appropriation leading directly to many deaths? Not even surprising. This was untrained security (and not enough of it!), bad planning, and a rapper stealing from other people's culture. Hip hop doesn't have moshing! If you don't understand it, don't do it! I've been a metalhead for 40 years and been to hundreds of concerts and not once have I seen this level of callousness. Rule One of the pit: IF SOMEONE FALLS DOWN PICK THEM UP!!! It's not rocket science!
People seem to think mosh pits are chaos. They are not. There's a specific etiquette to it and for the most part it works. Don't let people fall, don't grope anyone, don't grab anyone, don't swing a fist, no kicking. Outsiders see a fight, but it's more akin to gas molecules bouncing off each other in a cloud. We touch briefly and go off in different directions no harm done, generating energy as we go.
If you don't come from metal or punk, don't mosh. You don't know what you're doing and this is how people get hurt!
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David Ciambrone
Satanic? Give me a break. No way. It was tragic but predictable and should not have happened. next time hire competent security people to do the job right.
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Aphia Stanwood
What a load of tripe.. people need to stop blaming Satan or "Evil forces" for what was a case of improper event planning and poor crowd control.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
The Christian God sacrificed his only son, to save humanity from all the wrongs that humanity was causing on Earth, then convinced his son to commit suicide, by allowing himself to be tortured to death — then blaming on the Jews (instead of the Romans, who actually helped Jesus to commit suicide, by allowing himself to be tortured to death,(
The Christian God, had screwed up, by enabling humanity to become lawless, and at first, he drowned everyone (except Noah) then had his son crucified ( tortured to death — for two days)
Justice, Christian-style. .
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Angel
This was no ritual sacrifice, but I do feel there was a supernatural hand in it..
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Clyde Lawrence Wilson
It's hard to believe that you still post this kind of garbage. Promoting this stuff just promotes stupidity. What's wrong with you?
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Sandra D Morgan
Just as I believe GOD, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is real, I also believe Satan and his demons are real. People believe what they want to believe! It is appointed that man will die, and we all have an appointed time. How are you choosing to live and die is up to you. I mean, whomever chose to attend that festival, seeing that many people, and walking through a symbol of a mouth open. I mean really, as if you're about to be eaten. My wonder is will they have packed the house for Jesus? Travis Scott is just a man. God gave us all senses, not just for show! He gave it to us to use, and there's no way I would have walked through those doors with that many people. Common sense tells you that's dangerous, SMH. As for, the 9 year old child, that's truly sad but baa-bae my 9 year old would not have been in that crowd. You can like whatever musician/artist but you will like him from the TV screen. My heart goes out to all lost... People we gotta do better!!!
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John Peter Dugan
a bunch of nut balls worse things happen every day around the world with far more fatalities..................
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Murray Nick Jones
First of all, and I wish that Fundamentalists and Evangelical "Chicken-Little" Alarmists would stop blaming every unfortunate event on the allegorical "Satan." Whether the biblical trope is called Satan, Lucifer, or The Devil, doesn't matter. What matters is that groups of people us this trope as an excuse and/or reason for bad behavior. They try to draw parallels with something else, entirely, then "blame it on Satan," instead blaming it on the really bad decisions of one or more humans.
Second of all, I wish they would learn that, "correlation is not causation." Comparing artwork to current events is easy. There are tens and tens of thousands of classical and current artwork that one can "parallel" with nearly every single daily event, if one tries hard enough. I am sure if they dig hard enough, someone will come up with a scripture to "prove this was ordained and prophesied thousands of years ago." Well, I'd bet there is a decent recipe for potato salad in the Bible, if one looks hard enough.
Thirdly, Travis Scott is to blame. Security at the venue is to blame. The fans are to blame. Event organizers are to blame. Satan? The scapegoat and not at fault. Self-righteous finger-pointers? They're a dime a dozen and unwilling to show mercy, compassion, respect, or offer assistance in any way.
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Shannon MacConnell
No such thing as coincidence is what I believe.
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Marathuzula
I don't think most people understand the dangers of Crush... Mob mentality is scary and it sounds like everyone there was a idiot who deserved what they got. The devil needs to exist before it can try and do anything. Religions people are fucked in the head. If you need to find god, look to people doing selfless acts, if you want to search for a devil... look only to politicians who use this trash for power. Human... All too Human.
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Shaun Thomas Villafana
Firstly just so everyone learns and then remembers - the word "conspiracy" means "a crime pre-planned by two or more people." Secondly, this most definitely was conspired. There is a Simpsons episode for it.
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Nikki Tate- Coates
Travis Scott deserves to spend the rest of his life in Prison. He incited that crowd & people died. People were screaming for help, screaming for him to stop the @#%*ing show & he not only ignored them & continued with his set but he continued to incite the crowd! I'm surprised there weren't more people dead. He murdered those people! I am so triggered now. It wasn't the devil or demons, it was Travis Scott himself. He needs to change how he does is shows or this is going to happen again. Travis Scott needs to wake up!
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Samantha Louise Allison
Clearly satanic ritual using frequency and vaccinated is epilepsy with graphene to response to the low hi waves
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Kathryn Darcy Smith
"Satan" and all the rest of the fantasy demon fiction created by Christians is a construct to explain science and physics by the weak-minded. FACT.
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Minister Raydeen
Satan is the prince of music, better read up on it, he gets our children thru the music, and some adults.....anything that is not of God, its Satan
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Lionheart
So, do you have any demonstrable evidence that your god, and Satan, are real, apart from reading about them in a book, which if course isn’t evidence?
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Idiots one and all. The problem is and remains with the rapper and the person who set up the concert. And both of them should be sued out of existence since they clearly didnt spend any money on security or safety measures, as such any injuries and the death of the 9 year old child is all on them
I didn't hear about anything like this happening at the original Woodstock, and didn't they have a crowd of about 600,000? And that lasted for a few days, a lot of the time in the mud, and rain. How can anyone walk on a person without knowing it, or stopping to render aid. Even if they were drunk and high, I can't see it. They ought to give all the survivors life, without the possibility of parole!
Woodstock had two stages, which divided the crowd a bit, a lot more room, and didn’t have a lead known for inciting riots at his concerts. Travis Scott plead guilty to reckless conduct after Chicago’s Lollapalooza for leading the crowd in a chant of “We want rage!” He was also charged with misdemeanor inciting a riot, endangering a minor, etc. after encouraging fans to rush the gates a concert in Arkansas. It’s part of his act.