Travis Scott
WireImage,Hulu has pulled a documentary about the Astroworld tragedy hours after it appeared on the streaming service, quickly sparking a backlash over the timing of the special.
On Wednesday, Dec. 1, Astroworld: Concert From Hell was uploaded onto Hulu with little fanfare or promotion; soon after, word of the insensitively titled documentary — which, on the surface, appeared to look like new and original programming — spread on social media.
“Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival was supposed to be the concert of a lifetime,” the Hulu synopsis read. “But it turned into a tragic nightmare. A minute-by-minute look at what happened in the crowd, the young victims who were killed, and what happens next.”
However, a spokesperson for Hulu clarified in a statement Thursday (via The Hollywood Reporter) that the 50-minute documentary “was an investigative local news special from ABC13/KTRK-TV in Houston that originally aired on Nov. 20,” just two weeks after a crowd surge at Travis Scott’s Houston festival killed 10 people and injured hundreds more.
The streaming service added, “This was not a Hulu documentary and has since been removed to avoid confusion.”
As Variety notes, the local news special — also titled Astroworld: Concert From Hell — is still available to view on ABC 13 KTRK’s website, which also states that it can also be streamed on Roku, Apple TV, Google TV, and other services.
Sade will not be attending their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony this week.
The English group, made up of Sade Adu, Paul Denman, Stuart Matthewman, and Andrew Hale, are among this year's inductees into the prestigious institution. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles this Saturday.
However, a representative for Sade confirmed on Tuesday through the band's official website that none of the members would be attending the event.
"We're sorry that we won't be able to join everyone in person to celebrate alongside the other artists. However, our absence does not lessen how deeply this recognition means to us," they stated. "Being welcomed into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a wonderful honour and a meaningful opportunity to express our gratitude, not just to everyone who voted for us, but to every person who has made our music part of their lives."
The representative also acknowledged their manager Roger Davies for his support and paid tribute to the late engineer and co-producer Mike Pela, who passed away in 2022.
"We owe so much to everyone who has supported us throughout this journey," they continued, before signing the message: "Sade, Stuart, Andrew, and Paul. Mike Pela, the fifth member of Sade... This recognition belongs to you just as much as it does to us, Mike. You will always be our soul mate."
Sade will be joining Oasis among the artists missing this year's ceremony. Liam Gallagher previously addressed his absence in a message on X, saying the journey was "too far" for him to make just "for the night".
The other musicians being recognised at this weekend's ceremony include Billy Idol, Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, the late Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan.
