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A social media influencer finds himself in the midst of allegations of "incitement to riot" after a giveaway event in a New York City park spiraled into chaos last Friday.
As reported by an NYPD official, Kai Cenat, a live-streamer known for his video game content, now faces charges of rioting, inciting rioting, and engaging in an illegal assembly.
This led to the issuance of a desk appearance ticket, mandating his presence in court at a later date.
According to the New York City Police Chief, Jeffrey Maddrey, the incident occurred on Manhattan's Union Square where hundreds of predominantly young individuals gathered on that fateful Friday afternoon. Concerns for Cenat's safety prompted his removal from the area, as he is only 21 years old.
During the tumultuous gathering, 65 persons were detained, including thirty children. The chaos ensued as individuals began hurling stolen construction site items, such as paint cans, pyrotechnics, and bottles, into the park. Tragically, three policemen sustained injuries, with one sergeant suffering a fractured hand. Chief Maddrey recounted the gravity of the situation, saying, "Officers were attacked, we were crushed," and he bore the brunt of "multiple objects" hitting him.
Heartbreakingly, the scene witnessed young individuals suffering from anxiety and panic episodes. Maddrey expressed his distress, stating, "Out here, people were in pain."
The source of the turmoil was a colossal giveaway announced by Cenat on his Twitch account two days prior. The giveaway featured gaming consoles, computers, keyboards, seats, and various other accessories. As of Friday afternoon, the announcement video had garnered over 2 million views.
Despite the event being scheduled to start at 4 p.m., the park was already teeming with eager participants by 3 p.m., as reported by NBC New York.
Remarkably, the city authorities neither approved nor disapproved of the event, leading to an uncertain outcome.
Aerial footage captured on Friday afternoon showcased a massive crowd congregated in Manhattan Park. Some others were even spotted standing on automobiles, apparently attempting to record the tense scenario.
The park was surrounded by both plainclothes and uniformed officers, trying to maintain control. At one point, a loud boom reverberated through the area.
By 5:30 p.m., the chaos had subsided, and the police had cordoned off all entrances. Teenagers in groups seemed carefree, claiming they weren't concerned about their safety.
A 16-year-old attendee who went by the name Rodrigo revealed that he was a fan of Cenat and had hoped to win cash or a gaming device. However, his experience was marred by the sudden surge of people and a heavy police presence.
Other teenagers admitted they attended for the "vibes" and to meet Cenat, whom they regarded as the "best person in the world." Instead, they were witness to pushing, shoving, and people throwing objects. One youngster even nearly passed out from the intense situation.
Since Cenat has been actively producing video, games, practical jokes, and amusing reactions have been some of his most popular Twitch streams. In March, he broke the Twitch record for the most active subscribers after completing a 30-day nonstop live stream, also known as a substation. However, his flamboyant actions on the platform have led to temporary suspensions on five occasions.
In conclusion, the giveaway event took an unexpected turn that had unfavorable results and damaged Kai Cenat's otherwise successful social media influencer career.
Kai Cenat is a popular social media influencer and Twitch streamer who organized a giveaway event in New York City's Union Square Park on Friday, August 4, 2023. He announced on his Twitch channel that he would be handing out 300 PlayStation 5 devices, PCs, keyboards, gaming chairs, headphones, and other items to his fans. However, the event turned into chaos as thousands of people showed up and started throwing bottles, fireworks, rocks, and paint cans at the police and each other. The police declared a "level four" mobilization and arrested 65 people, including 30 juveniles. Three officers were injured, one with a broken hand.
Cenat was taken into custody by the police for his safety and later charged with riot, inciting to riot, and unlawful assembly. He was issued with a desk appearance ticket that will require him to appear in court at a later date. The police said that Cenat did not have a permit or sanction from the city for the event. Cenat said on his livestream that he was not going to do anything until it was safe and that it was a "war out there".
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