Travis Scott announces event safety initiative following Astroworld tragedy

Travis Scott has now unveiled a new initiative called Project HEAL, following the tragedy at his Astroworld Festival in November 2021.

Project HEAL is a “multi-tier, long-term series of community-focused philanthropy and investment efforts," according to a statement.

It will include the A Waymon Webster HBCU scholarship fund, an expansion of the CACT.US Youth Design Center, free mental health resources, and the United States Conference of Mayors Task Force on Event Safety are among the four components of the effort.

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The US Conference of Mayors Task Force on Event Safety, according to Project HEAL's website, will bring together stakeholders from government, public safety, emergency response, health care, event management, music, and technology sectors to examine the safety problems of large-scale events.

He has officially pledged almost $5 million in community outreach programs through his initiative for struggling youth — according to reports from Variety.

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In an Instagram caption, Scott wrote: "Over the past few months I’ve been taking the time and space to grieve, reflect and do my part to heal my community. Most importantly, I want to use my resources and platform moving forward towards actionable change. This will be a lifelong journey for me and my family.

"My team and I created Project HEAL to take much needed action towards supporting real solutions that make all events the safest spaces they can possibly be. I will always honor the victims of the Astroworld tragedy who remain in my heart forever."

The first night of Astroworld 2021 ended in a "mass casualty incident" that left ten individuals dead from compression asphyxia and hundreds wounded, according to authorities.

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According to Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pea during a news conference following the concert, the incident started as the audience began to push towards the front of the stage, producing panic and injury.

Scott claimed he had no knowledge people were being injured while he was performing. "Of course, everything kind of sounds the same, and, at the end of the day, you just hear music," he said when asked whether he couldn't tell the difference between danger and crowd enthusiasm in a Charlamagne tha God interview.

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Astroworld attendees have filed various lawsuits against the rapper, Live Nation, and other groups. Live Nation is also being investigated by the House Oversight and Reform Committee for its handling of the festival.

Aneesa Ahmed is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter