On Friday afternoon, a massive crowd gathered in Manhattan’s Union Square for a giveaway organized by popular livestreamer Kai Cenat descended into violence and chaos. The crowd began throwing chairs, climbing onto vehicles, and engaging in physical altercations, leaving the police struggling to restore order.
The mob disrupted traffic, scaled park structures, and vandalized car windows. Some people even climbed onto a moving vehicle, causing additional chaos. Despite increased police presence, smaller clashes continued to break out, with individuals toppling barricades and throwing objects at officers.
NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey announced plans to charge Cenat with multiple counts of inciting a riot, unlawful assembly, and possibly other crimes. The event resulted in 65 arrests, including 30 juveniles.
In addition to the public disorder, several people sustained injuries, with at least four being taken away in ambulances. Maddrey noted that he saw others leaving with bloodied heads, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
Cenat, who has 6.5 million followers on Twitch and 4 million YouTube subscribers, had promoted a 4 p.m. giveaway at the park on his Instagram feed. Young people expecting to receive items such as computers for livestreaming or new PlayStations started lining up early in the afternoon. The crowd had grown significantly and become unruly by 3 p.m.
While the event was finally brought under control around 5:30 p.m., the incident underscores the potential risks associated with large public events and the critical need for appropriate safety measures and crowd control strategies.