A young Australian has branded attendees of the Knockout hardstyle music festival ‘stupid’ after the event tragically ended fatally following suspected drug overdoses.
More than 53,000 partygoers visited Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday to attend the outdoor party.
Jason Lee, 26, was one of two men who collapsed and later died after attending the event that kicked off the city’s music festival season.
A man has since been charged with supplying the drug that allegedly killed the second reveler, 21, who has not yet been publicly named.
Sydney entrepreneur Hady Saleh, who has more than 204,000 followers on social media, has slammed the Knockout participants in the wake of the tragedy.
“I’m not afraid of losing my life and going crazy,” he said.
Influencer Hady Saleh criticized Knockout festival goers in scathing social media rant
“So when I say Knockout is not the place to be, this is what I mean,” he says, after highlighting how two people died at the festival.
“There were so many drugs at Knock Out; Pablo Escobar would have had more than enough.
‘So many drugs were consumed that it was heaven on earth for a junkie.
‘When you see people wearing glasses, do you think it’s because of the light? No, that’s because they shine so brightly that they can see into the future.
‘The music is so bad it’s killing my ears. Imagine dying in a place like this. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.’
Mr Saleh also mocked the outfits and behavior of festival goers.
“To anyone who attended the Knockout, this is how stupid you are. That’s why you’re a farmer!’ he smoked.
‘Wasting your money on rack (cocaine), taxis, drinks and a stupid ticket to a stupid show.
“People come from all over Australia for this knockout. But those same people don’t want to travel five minutes to see their mothers.
“And you complain that you’re broke and that inflation is part of the problem.”
Jason Lee (pictured right with a friend) was one of two revelers who collapsed and died after attending the Knockout Festival at Sydney Olympic Park
Hady Saleh (pictured) faced online backlash after labeling festival goers as ‘stupid’
He said the hardstyle music “sounds like demons trying to talk to you.”
“No wonder you’re out of your mind,” he concluded.
The videos sparked a huge backlash from viewers, with Knockout fans quickly firing back at Saleh’s claims.
“Knockout is the place to be if you like the music, the artist and the people who organize it do their best to stop all the drugs from coming in and that’s all anyone can ask for,” said one fan.
Another said: ‘My first time going and I loved it. The music was amazing, people helping each other to make sure everyone was safe!’
Others pointed out that many more drug arrests were made on the same night at the Listen Out festival on the other side of the city.
About 85 of the 27,500 people who attended Listen Out were reportedly caught with drugs, according to NSW Police.
The Knockout Outdoor festival attracted 53,000 people, 27 of whom were charged with drug possession and four with supplying illegal substances.
More than 53,000 partygoers (pictured) attended the Knockout festival in Sydney on Saturday. There is no suggestion that any of the people depicted have used illegal substances
In the wake of the deaths, partygoers came forward to report that a bad batch of drugs was circulating in Sydney.
“(I) had noticed that the quality is more crap than usual, but also that suppliers are pushing drugs to make a profit, and things like that are happening because our government refuses to allow pill testing,” one person wrote.
The incidents occurred days after NSW Health warned about high-dose ecstasy tablets, which Health Minister Ryan Park feared were “particularly harmful”.
Debate continues to rage over whether pill testing should be introduced at festivals, with pressure on the government to implement facilities likely to increase if the two fatalities turn out to be overdoses.
Pill testing at Canberra’s Groovin the Moo festival in 2019 found seven tablets containing the deadly Nethylpentylone, which has been linked to multiple overdoses at festivals abroad.
All seven revelers threw the pills away when they discovered what they contained.
Several criminal lawyers have made public pleas ahead of the first weekend of the festival season, warning drug users to remain vigilant as police patrol the festival.
“If you come in and look like you’re going to fuck yourself or try to avoid the sniffer dogs, you’re probably going to get searched,” attorney Ray Thai explains.
‘If they find caps (capsules) or bags, you will be thrown out, given a warning or fine and given a six-month suspension.’
Jahan Kalantar warned Knockout partygoers that there would be a “magnificent” police presence at the event.
In my ten years of experience, there is no community that is over-policed than the hardstyle community,” he says.
‘It’s almost like any police briefing they go to: if they like hardstyle music, they must be criminals.
“It’s banal, but the easiest way to avoid trouble is not to do anything naughty.”
“Don’t take anything or smoke before you go there so the dogs give you an indication.”
‘Go in there as a model citizen.’