NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Kai Cenat recently found himself entangled in controversy following an incident during a Playstation 5 giveaway event at New York's Union Square Park, leading to detainment. Following his release from the custody of the New York Police Department, both Cenat and fellow AMP members conveyed their apologies through an Instagram story.
Cenat, alongside his AMP crew, is recognized for their content creation, which includes streaming videos and collaborative pranks with fellow streamers on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. In their message, they candidly expressed their lack of awareness regarding the giveaway event, attributing their actions to their relative inexperience in such matters.
'Hoped to create a positive experience'
In the midst of the PS5 giveaway event, Cenat and the members of AMP encountered a series of obstacles, including a swatting incident. Moreover, numerous participants apparently resorted to violence, hurling bottles, rocks, debris, and even fireworks in the crowded area. A riot ensued in the aftermath of the contentious giveaway contest orchestrated by Cenat, leading to the police getting involved.
The prominent Twitch figure and his AMP crew subsequently addressed the situation through an Instagram story, writing, "Yesterday members of AMP hoped to create a positive experience for fans and give back as a show of appreciation for their support." Additionally, they conveyed that the circumstances they encountered were unprecedented and beyond their prior experiences, stating, "We've hosted fan meet ups and video shoots in the past, but we've never experienced anything at the scale of what took place yesterday."
Furthermore, the members acknowledged that they should have exercised greater responsibility in their actions, expressing, "We recognize that our audience and influence are growing, and with that comes greater responsibility," adding, "We are deeply disheartened by the outbreak of disorderly conduct that affected innocent people and businesses, and do not condone that behavior." They concluded, saying, "We apologize to all of those impacted, and we are fully cooperating with local authorities."
What are the charges against Kai Cenat?
The impromptu gathering managed to draw an unexpectedly large crowd, numbering in the thousands, surpassing the initial expectations of both the streamer Cenat and his crew. It escalated to such an extent that the New York Police Department (NYPD) had to implement a level four deployment, sending approximately 1,000 officers to the location, as reported by the New York Post. Following the swatting incident involving Cenat, he was taken into custody at a Midtown station and faced charges of inciting a riot and participating in unlawful assembly, as confirmed by law enforcement.
According to Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey from the NYPD, three officers sustained injuries in the middle of the turmoil. The tumultuous scene unfolded as a response to Cenat's offer of free PlayStations, resulting in a chaotic environment and necessitating substantial police intervention. Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey disclosed in a press conference later that day that the NYPD executed a total of 65 arrests, with 30 of those taken into custody being juveniles, as per CBS News.
