Twitch streamer Kai Cenat is in a world of trouble after his giveaway announcement brought a raucous crowd to Manhattan’s Union Square and unleashed hell on citizens and the New York Police Department on Friday.
According to ABC 7 NY, Cenat was arrested and now faces two misdemeanor charges of inciting a riot. He’s also charged with causing public injury and damage, a felony.
It started after Cenate announced his giveaway at Union Square Park at 4 p.m. on his website and Instagram. He planned on distributing free PlayStation equipment and technology.
The lines started around 1:30 p.m. and grew to thousands by 3 p.m. The mayhem started before Cenat arrived, with young people throwing rocks and paint cans from a construction site, breaking windows, climbing on top of cars, buses and a gazebo, etc.
NYPD attempted to get the crowd under control, but the crowd of anxious and rebellious people overpowered. Police said they didn’t want to arrest the young people but were out of options.
Police arrested about 65 people, including 30 juveniles. Police somewhat organized the chaos by utilizing a city bus to place the arrested people to separate them from the crowd.
“It was a lot of people. It was uncontrolled. It took us a while to get it under control, and a lot of young people got hurt,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said.
Maddrey explained that the assembly caused damage to the giveaway attendees, passersby and police. The chief said he witnessed people having panic and asthma attacks and motorists being trapped by the crowd.
Multiple people assaulted and injured as riots caused by a gathering for streamer Kai Cenat’s live giveaway erupt in Union Square Park, NYC
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) August 4, 2023
Officers ordered Uber driver Dinesh Sharma to depart from his vehicle through the passenger side to get him to safety.
“They said,’ ‘Leave everything. Get the hell out of here,'” Sharma recalled. “‘Otherwise, they’re gonna kill someone here today.'”
Those who climbed on the cars were thrown off when the drivers sped away on 14th Street.
Videos showed police using plywood to take cover and shield themselves from the rowdy assemblage that threw objects at them.
Police eventually armed themselves with batons and used metal barricades to push the mass back.
The mayhem caused a sergeant to suffer a broken hand and three officers to obtain injuries, with one being transported to a nearby hospital. A 17-year-old reportedly was hospitalized after getting an injury from a firework, which was initially thought to be caused by a firearm.
While live-streaming on Twitch from a vehicle, Cenat told his fans to ensure everyone was safe while showcasing gift cards. He then exited the vehicle, causing the people to go crazy and shove each other.
Videos showed Cenat helping a fan endure an asthma attack.
Kai Cenat aided a fan who was struggling to breathe amidst the chaos that took place at NYC’s Union Square.pic.twitter.com/Cmm4rJUSK3
— BoreCure (@CureBore) August 5, 2023
Eventually, his entourage ruled his presence made things worse, and they escorted him to the vehicle for safety, and the young ones hopped on the SUV as it attempted to move through the crowd.
One woman had to protect herself and her baby by seeking refuge in an ATM lobby.
“I understand you’re a fan of Kai Cenat, but it’s one thing to just come and try to support him,” she told reporters. “But to come and make a mess of, not just this city, but of just other pedestrians like me that are just trying to get by and go throughout their day. There’s no consideration, and it’s just ridiculous, honestly.”
Maddrey said that giveaways have happened in Union Square Park, but they were organized. The chief said it was so bad that kids were stealing the plates of those dining outside and throwing them at police.
During his press conference, he affirmed that parents should’ve interfered.
“There were some parents who came out here. There were parents who called. There were parents who came to us and said, ‘I believe my child’s in there. I want to get my child out of there,'” Maddrey said. “But I had thousands of kids out there. I needed thousands of parents out there.”
He emphasized that the NYPD had no problem with kids and teens going out and having fun, but they destroyed the city and harmed patrons and officers. He urged parents to get involved.
Cenat was released.
