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Gaming influencer Kai Cenat said he’s ‘beyond disappointed’ after Union Square chaos
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Aug 10, 2023
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By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Aug 10, 2023
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Twitch star and Bronx native Kai Cenat spoke publicly for the first time on Wednesday night since his arrest for kicking off a Union Square giveaway last Friday, which drew a chaotic crowd of thousands that police struggled to quell.
Cenat, 21, took to the streaming platform briefly to say he was disappointed in his fans for the damage caused.
“Being from New York, it has literally always been my dream to wanna give back to the community that made me who I am,” Cenat told a stream of more than 80,000 viewers. “I am beyond disappointed in anybody who became destructive that day — 100%.”
After Cenat announced that he would be giving away gaming devices like Playstation 5s to fans in Union Square, the park overflowed with mostly teenage crowds. The NYPD was alerted to the crowds and urged the public to stay away from the area.
Police trying to corral a raucous crowd at Union Square Friday
Charles Lane/Gothamist
Police then arrived with riot gear and dispersed the crowds. Officials said 66 people were arrested, 30 of whom were juveniles.
Cenat addressed his charges for inciting a riot on the stream and said he would be taking a short time away from the platform while appearing in court. He said his first court date is on Aug. 16.
“None of that was my intention. I don’t condone any of the things that went on that day, none of that is cool,” Cenat said. “Anything we do like this has to be safe and fun.”
Cenat was also critical of himself for what happened and said that if he were to host another meetup, he would plan better by making the “right calls” ahead of time.
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public safety
union square
Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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