Twitch streamer Kai Cenat has been taken into custody after a PS5 giveaway caused a riot in New York City’s Union Square, according to a report by NBC 4 NY.
According to the NYPD, a “couple thousand people” took to the streets in Union Square at around 4pm local time as the streamer promised a “HUGE GIVEAWAY.”
“The highest level of police mobilization” was triggered after the streets filled, according to NBC 4. Kai was “pulled out from the massive crowd by police officers and placed into custody.”
NBC 4 video footage of the chaos showed the crowd throwing items at police as they attempted to move barricades, and it appeared that some form of tear gas was deployed to attempt to disperse the crowd.
Kai Cenat went live on Twitch for the event, but the only VOD from today was just under three minutes long. In the VOD, Kai and his security team can be seen being swarmed and surrounded by fans looking to get a glimpse at the streaming star or to win a PS5 as part of the giveaway.
Earlier in the day, Cenat posted a video from inside a vehicle showing off multiple PS5s and a large stack of $100 gift cards that he intended to give away to fans.
NBC 4 said the crowd extended far from the Union Square plaza where the giveaway was set to take place, extending “into multiple streets, blocking E 14th Street and Broadway” south of Union Square.
Over an hour after the event was set to take place, police were still attempting to clear out the crowd, according to NBC 4.
Update Aug. 4, 10:53pm CT: Cenat is expected to be charged with two counts of inciting a riot and unlawful assembly following the out-of-control event as confirmed by NYPD chief of department Jeffery Maddrey in a report via NBC 4.
Via a press conference with media, Maddrey confirmed the giveaway had not been pre-planned with police or the city. “This speaks to the power of social media and the danger of social media,” Maddrey said. In all, three police offers were injured and over 65 people were arrested in Union Square Park and the surrounding area.
