Popular social media personality Kai Cenat was caught up in a riot and illegal assembly in Union Square in New York City. The online influencer attracted thousands of fans, mostly teens, with alluring promises of giving away goods, including a brand-new PlayStation.

Kai Cenat rose to fame for his captivating programming on websites like Twitch and YouTube. However, what was supposed to be a fan appreciation gathering descended into mayhem and disorder.

The mob grew to thousands, and things quickly got out of hand. The fact that 65 individuals were detained, including 30 minors, emphasizes how severe the situation was, according to USA Today. In pictures and videos, scores of individuals can be seen being led by police as they are restrained and stand on Manhattan sidewalks.

(Photo : Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: Members of the NYPD respond to the disruptions caused by large crowds during a "giveaway" event hosted by popular Twitch live streamer Kai Cenat in Union Square and the surrounding area on August 4, 2023 in New York City. Cenat, who announced on social media that he would be giving away video game consoles and other items, is reportedly in police custody after a crowd of thousands sparked disorder in the park leading to numerous arrests.

Unruly Crowd

As young guys made up the majority of the gathering on Friday afternoon, it illustrates the powerful effect that social media influencers like Kai Cenat have on their mostly youthful following.

In order to deal with the deteriorating situation, the New York Police Department announced a "level four" mobilization and sent almost 1,000 police to the area. The gathering was an unlawful assembly that caused severe disturbances and raised issues about public safety since it was neither approved nor sanctioned.

Kai Cenat live-streamed the chaos as it developed and urged his followers to put their safety first and hold off taking action until it was declared safe.

On Friday, around 4 p.m., Cenat promoted a PlayStation 5 giveaway on Instagram. However, excited supporters began arriving around 1:30 p.m. by 3 p.m., the throng had grown to thousands and was getting disorderly.

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NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey stated how the gathering swelled quickly and swiftly, creating a vast crowd that was impossible to handle. Police formed lines with shields and barriers to manage the crowd. They used a smoke bomb in Union Square to disperse wild crowds.

The rowdy mob trashed police cars and food vendor carts, giving law enforcement extra problems. Maddrey described the teenage crowd's unparalleled degree of danger and lack of cooperation. The police official emphasized the use of pyrotechnics aimed at police and other public members, as well as the use of sharp objects like shovels and axes, per the BBC.

Authorities said the event purportedly lacked the required authorization and was thus an unauthorized gathering, which increased the seriousness of the circumstance.

Cenat's Camp Apologizes

With 6.5 million Twitch followers and 4 million YouTube subscribers, Kai Cenat has a significant online following that reflects his profound influence on his audience. Over 276 million people have seen his videos, and at the 12th annual Streamy Awards in December, he received the Streamer of the Year award.

In a press briefing on a separate incident, New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed concern about the safeguarding of youngsters from the negative influence of the internet, emphasizing that children should not be "raised by social media," as reported by AP News.

Cenat was given a desk appearance ticket and released from police custody on Saturday following the wild incident, requiring him to appear in court on August 18 to address the allegations.

Amid the uproar sparked by the incident, media representatives for AMP, Cenat's representation company, expressed sincere regret and recognized the rising responsibility linked to their clients' power. They promised to work closely with the authorities to resolve the issue.

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