Kai Carlo Cenat III, aka. Kai Cenat is a 21-year-old popular YouTube creator and Twitch streamer from New York City. He is notable for his high-energy videos, boisterous personality, and video game streams. Kai Cenat is among the most-watched streamers on Twitch. Kai’s fan base consists mainly of younger generation people ranging from teens to mid-twenties. Rolling Stone named him one of the 20 most influential creators of 2023.
Kai Cenat and fellow streamer Fanum announced to their millions of followers that they would give away the most coveted PlayStation 5 consoles. It would occur at Union Square Park on August 4, Friday at 4 PM But by 3 PM, several juveniles had gathered at the park. And the crowd soon grew “exponentially,” spilling onto nearby streets and blocking pedestrians and cars. The gridlock soon started to turn violent.
The crowd was mostly peaceful in the beginning. After a point, some became unruly, especially as the scheduled giveaway time passed. Around 4 PM, chaos erupted as some people began to hurl objects, including building materials, rocks, and bottles. Fireworks were also set off, and young people stormed a construction site.
Images from the scene showed people climbing onto cars, stopping traffic, and vandalizing cars, storefronts, and food carts. Rioters were seen storming pharmacies for food and water. The chaotic gathering ended around 6 PM, with Mayor Eric Adams suggesting that “outside agitators” might have aggravated the situation.
Kai Cenat released from custody
After the giveaway turned brutal, the police stepped in. They took Kai Cenat under custody; he was charged with first-degree rioting, a felony, and inciting a riot and unlawful assembly, both misdemeanors. Notably, a city spokesperson said the giveaway was held without requisite permissions. Further, Kai was released from police custody soon after and given a court appearance date.
Moreover, Youtuber Cenat posted an eight-minute video soon after his release on Friday. It was titled “Kai Cenat Shuts Down New York City.” In this video, he acknowledged the uproar and urged those outside to stay safe.
🚨 Kai Cenat was released from jail. #DramaAlert pic.twitter.com/IQxOEbRehi
— DramaAlert (@DramaAlert) August 5, 2023
Indeed, the incident at Union Square Park has become a significant event, highlighting the influence of social media personalities and the potential risks associated with uncontrolled public gatherings. Nevertheless, Kai Cenat was released soon after his arrest on bail. But the legal proceedings will likely continue to draw attention to this incident.
The PS5 giveaway event turned into an unruly scene, leading to the arrest of 65 people, nearly half of whom were juveniles. The incident has sparked discussions about the responsibilities of social media influencers and the need for proper planning and permits for large-scale public events.