Kai Cenat Giveaway Turns Violent, Thousands Arrested
Entertainment
Entertainment
Social media influencer Kai Cenat accused of inciting violence and unlawful assembly during a giveaway event at Union Square in New York City.
The incident led to thousands of people gathering at Union Square Park and resulted in several arrests and injuries to police officers.
Kai Cenat, with millions of subscribers and followers on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch, announced the "massive giveaway" during a Twitch stream.
The giveaway included items like computers, PlayStation 5s, microphones, keyboards, webcams, gaming chairs, headphones, and gift cards.
Chief of NYPD, Jeffrey Madre, reported that people started gathering in the park around 3 PM, causing obstructions to traffic and pedestrians.
The crowd escalated, committing acts of violence against the police and the public, and some individuals engaged in destructive behavior and used fireworks and bricks
NYPD had to escalate their response to "Level 4" due to the crowd's unruliness, initially activating a "Level 2" response to control the gathering.
The police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly due to lack of proper notification or permits from Kai Cenat, leading to disbandment for safety reasons.
Many police officers were injured, and a significant number of people were arrested as police tried to clear the area.
Kai Cenat faces charges related to inciting the riot and unlawful assembly, among other allegations, as emphasized by Chief Madre during a press conference.
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Kai Cenat Giveaway Turns Violent, Thousands Arrested