In a now-deleted tweet, Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, with a massive following of over 13 million people across social media platforms, announced a PlayStation giveaway at Union Square Park in New York City Friday.
The announcement attracted a large crowd of at least 1,000 kids and teenagers, leading to a chaotic scene.
A spokesperson from the New York Police Department confirmed the gathering, stating, “1,000 kids gathered in the area of Union Square Park for a PlayStation giveaway organized by a social media influencer.”
However, the event took a troubling turn, and Cenat is now facing serious charges. The police spokesperson revealed that Cenat is being charged with inciting a riot, unlawful assembly, and a few other charges, but did not specify what those were.
Cenat, a 21-year-old influencer known for posting videos about daily life and comedy, has a significant online presence. His videos on YouTube and Twitch have collectively gained over 276 million views, and he was awarded “streamer of the year” at YouTube’s 12th annual Streamy Awards in March.
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This particular incident at Union Square Park showed the darker side of social media influence. Videos captured the chaos, with several individuals seen throwing bottles at police officers.
In total, 65 arrests were made, with 30 of those apprehended being juveniles, according to officials.
New York Police Chief Department Jeffrey Maddrey, expressing his concern during a press conference, remarked, “As you see, I’m a little embarrassed because I’m very dirty right here. But I was in the middle of the crowd. I was hit with multiple objects as well. I think I have a couple of injuries, but I’ll figure that out once I have time to think about it.”
Maddrey emphasized that this incident highlights the dangers of social media’s influence, saying, “This speaks to the power of social media and the danger of social media.”
He further detailed the severity of the situation, stating, “We have encountered things like this before, but never to this level of dangerous, this where young people would not listen to our commands.”
Videos from the event showed the level of unruliness that unfolded. Despite the chaotic scene, the police managed to take the social media influencer into custody.
Maddrey confirmed, “The social media influencer is in custody, and discussions are being held over potential legal action.”
The Union Square Park gathering serves as a grave notice of the significant impact that social media personalities can have and the responsibility that comes with wielding such influence.
