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NYPD arrests social media influencer in Washington Square Park snowball fight
By
Charles Lane
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Feb 26, 2026
Modified Feb 26, 2026
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Ryan Murphy/Getty Images
By
Charles Lane
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Feb 26, 2026
Modified Feb 26, 2026
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Police arrested a 27-year-old man on Thursday morning in connection with a massive snowball fight in Washington Square Park that resulted in two NYPD officers being pelted with snowballs by members of a large crowd, according to the department.
Gusmane Coulibaly was taken into custody for allegedly assaulting officers, the NYPD wrote in a post on X. Police officials said they were still looking for three others in the incident, which went viral online.
Coulibaly is a content creator who appears to go by “Diaper Man” across multiple online platforms. He usually posts man-on-the-street videos, including about couples and relationships.
As recently as early Thursday morning, he was reposting visuals of the snowball fight on his Instagram Stories.
“I started getting hot,” he wrote in a caption above a photo apparently showing him shirtless and wearing shorts in the park as he faced off with someone holding a big chunk of snow.
Two of his Instagram accounts have about 270,000 followers, while his Snapchat page has 141,000 followers and his YouTube channel has more than 47,000 subscribers.
Relatives of Coulibaly’s who spoke to Gothamist on Thursday morning said they were shocked by his arrest because, while he often does pranks for social media, he never does anything violent or illegal.
Attorney information for Coulibaly was not immediately available.
The arrest comes after Mayor Zohran Mamdani suggested participants should not face criminal charges and called the episode a snowball fight that got “out of hand.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the incident “disgraceful” and “criminal,” while Gov. Kathy Hochul and the city’s police unions criticized the mayor’s response.
Mamdani reiterated his position Wednesday morning, before Thursday’s arrest.
"I stay in regular touch with my police commissioner and I appreciate the work that she's doing," he said. "I've said time and time again that I, having seen these videos, to me it was a snowball fight that got out of hand and it should be treated accordingly."
The snowball fight, which was promoted by the popular Instagram account Sidetalk, drew many people to the park on Monday afternoon after a historic blizzard that dumped at least 20 inches of snow across the city.
Police said officers responding to a 911 call for a disorderly crowd were struck with snow and ice at close range. The NYPD said the two officers in the viral video were injured in the face and neck and were treated at Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital for a bruised eye and a headache.
Video posted online shows parkgoers throwing large chunks of snow at a police car. The NYPD later released images of four people wanted in connection with the incident.
The case now heads to the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which previously declined to pursue charges in a similar high-profile crowd case. DA Alvin Bragg dropped riot-related charges against online influencer Kai Cenat and two others a couple of years ago, after a chaotic crowd descended on Union Square for a giveaway he promoted in 2023. The three paid more than $57,000 in restitution and issued public apologies.
Bragg's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether it would prosecute the snowball fight cases.
Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association union, said Coulibaly’s arrest sends a message that assaults on officers “cannot and will not be minimized or tolerated.”
“We thank all of the NYPD members who have worked so hard on this case, and all of the New Yorkers who have spoken up in support of our police officers,” he said in a statement Thursday. “There is more work to be done to hold accountable all who participated in this shameful attack.”
This story is based on preliminary information from police and has been updated with additional details.
Tagged
February 2026 Blizzard
manhattan
new york city
public safety
washington square park
west village
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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