What are the responsibilities of an internet personality like a Twitch streamer or YouTuber? This is the question everyone is asking after a mass gathering situation went out of control, and the police had to step in.
While no one could have anticipated the riots-like problem, it can’t be denied that steps could be taken to prevent it from happening.
The crowd, reportedly exceeding 2000 people, gathered at Union Square in New York City on Friday to receive free PS5 giveaways from Twitch influencer Kai Cenat. But things went out of control when the undisciplined gathering began scaling structures, hurling objects, and throwing punches.
The New York police arrested Kai Cenat, and he was charged with trying to incite a riot. The famous influencer, who boasts 6.5 million Twitch followers and 4 million YouTube subscribers, was holding a PS5 giveaway at Manhattan’s Union Square Park, New York City when things went out of control.
More than 2000 people gathered at the place and began attacking city buses full of people, lobbed fireworks, started fights, climbed on car roofs, etc. Police had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd ultimately.
Did Kai Cenat Get Arrested?
Kai Cenat, 21, known as a YouTube and Twitch influencer, was arrested by the New York police after his PS5 giveaway event spiraled out of control and caused uncontrolled chaos, as a response to which police had to be deployed.
Aerial footage of the event shows thousands of people, reportedly estimated to be about 2000, thronging to Union Square and throwing objects, climbing structures, and dealing punches.
That’s not all. The people gathered also broke through barricades, threw fireworks, lofted things at cars, and broke windows. As per The Guardian, Jeffrey Maddrey, the NYPD chief of department, said that they have put criminal charges on Kai Cenat for inciting a riot. Cenat was taken into custody at around 5:00 PM, but the crowd didn’t disperse even then.
The herd began thinning only after an hour, and even then, minor skirmishes started breaking out, which the authorities had to break up. The authorities revealed that the internet star didn’t get permits for the event he hosted with another YouTube star.
Even the subway trains going past the Union Square stop had to exercise caution as the situation increased in intensity.
Why Was Kai Cenat Arrested?
Kai Cenat had informed his fans on his social media platforms that he would giveaway 300 PS5s at Union Square at 4 PM ET Friday.
As expected, thousands came for a chance to get the coveted device. Cenat has 6.5 million Twitch followers and 4 million YouTube subscribers. The crowd had gathered by 1:00 PM NY Time, and it continued increasing till people were seen climbing on cars and even the train station roof.
The busy streets became packed to the point that passage was impossible. Soon the crowd became unruly and uncontrollable. Fights broke out, and people began harming each other. In response, the New York Police Department deployed about 1000 officers to the scene, calling the situation a level four emergency.
Initially, the police force tried to control the situation calmly, but no one listened to their commands. So they used tear gas to bring the chaos under control. Jeffrey Maddrey revealed that he was astonished by the unprecedented danger people were in from the uncontrolled crowd. He said:
“We have encountered things like this before, but never to this level of dangerousness.”
He revealed that people carried dangerous construction tools, used fireworks, and even attacked a city bus filled with people. Also, police officers were injured while trying to control the crowds.
Multiple arrests were made, although Maddrey didn’t give any specific numbers. People on social media are debating the moral responsibility of social media influencers regarding such situations. Many also upheld the need for having a permit for large gatherings.
What are your thoughts about this incident? Were the authorities right to charge Kai Cenat for inciting riots? Should the giveaway event ever have been held in public?
Let us know in the comments below.
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