‘Blunt Words of a Young Australian: Those Who Died at Knockout Festival Made a Foolish Choice’

A young Australian has branded attendees of hardstyle music festival Knockout “stupid” after the event turned tragically deadly following suspected drug overdoses.

More than 53,000 revelers visited Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday to watch the outdoor party.

Jason Lee, 26, was one of two men who collapsed and later died after attending the event which kicked off the city’s music festival season.

A man has since been charged with supplying the drugs which allegedly killed the second partygoer, 21, who has not yet been publicly named.

Sydney entrepreneur Hady Saleh, who has more than 204,000 followers on social media, blasted Knockout participants following the tragedy.

“I’m not afraid of losing my life and losing my mind,” he said.

“So when I say Knockout is not the place, that’s what I mean,” he says, after pointing out the deaths of two people at the festival.

“There were so many drugs at Knock Out; Pablo Escobar would have had enough.

“There were so many drugs being used that it’s a drug addict’s paradise.”

“When you see people wearing glasses, do you think it’s because of the light? No, it’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 revelers.

“To everyone who attended Knockout, this is how stupid you are. That’s why you’re a peasant! he fumed.

“Wasting your money on (cocaine) racks, taxis, drinks and a stupid ticket to a stupid show. »

“There are people coming from all over Australia for this Knockout. But those same people are not going to drive five minutes to see their mother.

“And you complain about being broke and inflation, you’re 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 backlash online after calling festival revelers ‘stupid’

He said hardstyle music “sounds like demons trying to talk to you.”

“No wonder you’re not right,” he concluded.

The videos sparked a massive backlash from viewers, with Knockout fans quick to hit back at Mr Saleh’s claims.

“Knockout is the place to be if you love music, the artist and the people behind it are doing their best to keep all the drugs out and that’s all anyone can ask for,” he said. commented a fan.

Another added: “This is my first time here and I loved it. The music was crazy, people were helping each other to make sure everyone was safe!’

Others pointed out that many more drug-related arrests took place at the Listen Out festival held across the city that same evening.

According to New South Wales Police, around 85 people of the 27,500 people who took part in Listen Out were allegedly detected using drugs.

The Knockout Outdoor festival attracted 53,000 people, including 27 charged with drug possession and four with supplying illicit substances.

More than 53,000 revelers (pictured) attended the Knockout festival in Sydney on Saturday. It is not suggested that those photographed have taken any illicit substances.

Following the deaths, partygoers came forward to report a bad batch of drugs circulating around Sydney.

“(I) noticed that the quality was worse than usual, but also that suppliers were appropriating sex drugs to make a profit, and then shit like this happens because our government refuses to authorize pill testing,” one person said. wrote.

The incidents came days after NSW Health warned about high-dose ecstasy tablets, which state Health Minister Ryan Park said were “particularly harmful”.

Debate continues to rage over whether pill testing should be introduced at festivals, with pressure on the government to put in place facilities likely to increase if the two deaths turn out to be overdoses.

Pill testing trials at Canberra’s Groovin the Moo festival in 2019 found seven tablets contained the deadly Nethylpentylone, linked to multiple overdoses at overseas festivals.

The seven partygoers threw the pills away after discovering what was in them.

Several criminal lawyers made a public appeal ahead of the first weekend of the festival season, warning drug users to remain vigilant as police would be patrolling the festival.

“If you come in looking like you’re about to get pissed off or trying to avoid the sniffer dogs, you’re probably going to get searched,” said attorney Ray Thai.

“If they find caps (caps) or bags, you will be expelled, punished with a court notice or fine and banned for six months.”

Jahan Kalantar warned Knockout revelers that police would be “omnipresent” and present in force at the event.

In my decade of experience, there is no more over-policed ​​community than the hardstyle community,” he says.

“It’s almost like every police briefing they attend: if they like hardstyle music, they must be criminals.

“It’s trivial, but the easiest way to avoid problems is to do nothing wrong.”

“Don’t take anything from it and don’t smoke before you go so the dogs will give a cue.”

“Go as a model citizen as possible.