There were scenes of absolute chaos in Manhattan on Friday evening as over 65 people were arrested outside an event hosted by influencer Kai Cenat, where PS5 were being given away.
The popular Twitch streamer was one of the people lead away in handcuffs, charged with 'at least two counts' of inciting a riot and unlawful assembly. It's understood he did not have a permit for this event. He was released on bail in the early hours of Saturday morning.
kai cenat is officially getting charged by NYPD pic.twitter.com/QrVW5K50eq
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) August 5, 2023
Over 2,000 people - many of them teenagers - turned up at the event in Union Square, where Kai Cenat and Youtuber Fanum promised to give away 300 PS5s. Bedlam ensued, with many different kinds of projectiles being thrown at pedestrians and police.
30 of the people who were arrested were juveniles. Social media was flooded with videos of chaotic scenes from outside the event.
This gone be Kai cenat last link up😭 pic.twitter.com/NgWel4HKZ8
— NATE (@NATERERUN) August 5, 2023
Streamers Duke Dennis and Agent00, who each have over 1 million subscribers on youtube, were also reportedly arrested for their role in mayhem..
Following the arrests of Duke Dennis and Agent, it has been reported that Kai Cenat has also been arrested.pic.twitter.com/XPj5ZJF2yP
— BoreCure (@CureBore) August 4, 2023
NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said his officers had never experienced anything "to this level of dangerousness."
"You had people walking around with shovels, axes, and other tools from the construction trade.
"In addition, individuals were also lighting fireworks. They were throwing them towards police, and they were throwing them at each other."
Some footage from Cenat's channels was posted to youtube before his own arrest.
Cenat said:
"They're throwing tear gas out there.
"We're not going to do nothing until it's safe. Everybody for themselves, because it's a war out there man."
Cenat has over 300,000 followers on Twitch, and has the most subscribers on the platform.
The incident is a startling reminder of the power of influencer culture. Both police and Cenat himself seemed totally taken aback by the sheer numbers of people who turned up for this giveaway.
