Twitch streamer Kai Cenat faces charges after a PS5 giveaway in NYC turns into a riot
Twitch Streamer Kai Cenat is facing multiple charges after a PlayStation 5 giveaway in New York City turned into a chaotic riot that required over 1,000 police officers to control. After handing out $100 gift cards and PS5 consoles to the first 2,000 people in line at Union Square, Cenat’s crowd rapidly swelled to an unmanageable size as people rushed to receive free gifts. The situation turned violent quickly, with the crowd throwing barricades, dinner plates, and even fireworks at police officers, resulting in injuries.
In addition to the over 2,000 people who showed up for the giveaway, approximately 1,000 officers were needed to respond to the incident, which resulted in the arrest of 65 people. Thirty of those people were juveniles, and the New York Police Department (NYPD) is planning to pursue charges against all of them.
Cenat, whose real name is Kai Flores, is facing charges of inciting a riot, unlawful assembly, and other unnamed charges due to the lack of event approval. Potential punishments range from fines to jail time, considering the significant police response and the damage that was caused, not to mention the potential for the riot to get out of control and endanger the public.
Twitch has yet to make a statement regarding Cenat’s use of the platform and his potential violation of its guidelines. The popular streamer, who is known for playing games like GTA and NBA, has a controversial past filled with various examples of questionable content.
Perhaps Cenat’s large Twitch following, filled with fans who show up for his gameplay streams, contributed to the large crowd that showed up for the giveaway. He has also become known for his controversial past streams, filled with examples of drug use, indoor fireworks, and even motorcycle crashes.
The incident involving Cenat’s giveaway and the resulting chaos has become a trending topic on Twitter, with many users voicing their opinions on the situation. Some users suggest that Cenat’s reputation may have contributed to the chaotic response, while others claim that the police response was over the top.
Take a look at some of the Twitter reactions to the Kai Cenat PS5 riot below:
Featured image credit: NYPD via Twitter.
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