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In a dramatic turn of events, a popular youtube streamer, Kai Carlo Cenat III, faced charges of inciting a riot at Manhattan’s Union Square Park last Friday. The event, which was planned to give away video game consoles, attracted thousands of young people and quickly spiraled into mayhem, resulting in injuries, damage, and 65 arrests, with almost half of them being juveniles.

The chaos began shortly after 3 p.m. and continued until around 6 p.m., leaving behind a trail of destruction. Some members of the massive crowd, drawn by the prospect of free video game consoles, became unruly and engaged in violent acts. Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey described the scene as “uncontrolled” and took a while to bring it under control. Many young people were hurt during the incident.

Kai Carlo Cenat III, along with another streamer named Fanum, had announced plans to distribute PlayStation 5 consoles at the park, despite not having a city permit for the event. Both streamers are members of the popular streaming group AMP, with millions of followers on YouTube and Twitch. The announcement of the giveaway spread like wildfire on social media, leading to the exponential growth of the crowd.

As the giveaway time approached, the situation escalated further. The police initiated a Level 4 mobilization, the highest response level, to deal with the increasing unrest. Some people in the crowd began hurling building materials, rocks, and bottles at one another and engaged in clashes with the police. The scene turned chaotic, with water bottles, basketballs, and even fireworks being thrown around.

Despite several warnings from the police to disperse, the crowd refused to comply. Eventually, the police managed to push most of the crowd onto Park Avenue, where they continued to block traffic and cause disruptions. The situation worsened when a group of protesters chanted “Black Lives Matter,” and others looted a nearby CVS store.

Chief Maddrey said that the young people at the event were not following police orders and were determined to see Kai Carlo Cenat III. The streamer’s involvement in the incident raised questions about his potential liability for inciting the riot.

While some attendees blamed the chaotic scene on poor planning and lack of proper security, they also acknowledged the role of social media in drawing such a massive crowd. One participant mentioned that Kai Cenat could have chosen a more suitable and open area for the event.

The aftermath of the event left Union Square Park in disarray, with businesses damaged, food carts destroyed, and a significant police presence required to control the situation. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the power of social media and the potential dangers when events are not adequately planned and managed.