Popular Twitch streamer and content creator Kai Cenat will not face prosecution after sparking a riot in Union Square Park last summer when he announced a PS5 giveaway without a permit. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg dropped the charges against Cenat after he issued a public apology and paid thousands to cover damages caused by the mayhem. Despite having over 10 million followers on Instagram, Twitch, and TikTok, the giveaway quickly turned destructive and violent as fans brawled, smashed car windows, hurled rocks and fireworks, and assaulted police officers.
Videos of the rioters tossing cones, garbage cans, and bottles at each other and innocent passersby led to the arrest of 65 people, including 30 juveniles. Cenat, who was facing two counts of inciting a riot and one count of unlawful assembly, along with two others, Denzel Dennis and Muktar Din, had charges dropped after paying over $57,000 for damages and clean-up. Cenat alone paid $55,000 to the Union Square Partnership, Inc. and issued a public apology on Snapchat, acknowledging the dangerous situation he created.
In his apology, Cenat admitted that he had created an intentionally dangerous situation through his promotion of the PS5 giveaway. He expressed regret for the disruption and damage caused to the community, park, vehicles, and storefronts in the area, as well as the safety of first responders and attendees at the event. The case will be officially dismissed once the public apology remains on social media for a full 24 hours. Cenat acknowledged that he had learned a valuable lesson about the power of social media to both do good and create dangerous situations if not used properly.
The decision to drop the charges against Cenat and the others involved in the riot came after they paid for damages and cleanup and issued public apologies. The district attorney’s office deemed this resolution appropriate given the circumstances of the incident. The case serves as a cautionary tale about the responsibilities of social media influencers to consider the potential consequences of their actions and the importance of using their platforms responsibly. Cenat’s experience highlights the fine line between using social media for positive purposes and inadvertently inciting chaos and harm.
Overall, the incident involving Kai Cenat’s PS5 giveaway turned riot in Union Square Park underscores the significant impact that social media influencers can have on public behavior and safety. While Cenat’s intentions may have been to engage his followers and create excitement, the lack of proper planning and permits led to a dangerous situation that resulted in property damage, injuries, and arrests. The aftermath of the event serves as a reminder for influencers to carefully consider the potential outcomes of their actions and to take responsibility for mitigating any harm caused by their activities.
