Manhattan, NY, USA (TEH) – Friday afternoon witnessed an unexpected outbreak of chaos in Manhattan’s Union Square as a video game influencer’s promotional event turned riotous. Twitch streamer Kai Cenat’s promises of PlayStation consoles and gift card giveaways attracted thousands to the venue, with the crowd rapidly growing beyond control even before the event’s designated 4 p.m. commencement, as reported by NBC.
As crowd estimates surged to a “couple thousand people,” the police reported instances of participants chucking garbage, pulling down barriers, and hurling chairs and bottles. The situation escalated to such an extent that the New York Police Department (NYPD) had to mobilize an estimated thousand officers to tackle the pandemonium.
The disorder was not contained within the Union Square plaza alone. Thousands of attendees, primarily young people, spilled over into the surrounding streets, blocking E 14th Street and Broadway, situated directly south of the Square. The chaos caused a gridlock, with vehicles being swarmed and halted by the massive crowd. Helicopter footage revealed individuals climbing atop stranded cars and nearby food carts.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) had to reroute their services, leading to trains bypassing the Union Square station for nearly an hour. The unusual situation resulted in considerable delays during the evening rush hour, impacting both drivers and public transit commuters.
In response to the escalating disorder, the police arrested an estimated 65 individuals, with juveniles making up nearly half of the detainees. The well-known Twitch streamer, Kai Cenat, was also taken into police custody, though authorities have yet to disclose whether he will face any criminal charges.
Cenat, who organized the chaotic event, has been an influential online content creator since 2018. His Twitch streams, YouTube videos, and prank-based content have garnered him a massive fanbase. As of February 2023, he became the most-subscribed Twitch streamer of all time, boasting more than 100,000 subscribers.
The full repercussions of the chaotic event are yet to be ascertained. As officers work to regain control and disperse the crowd, the total number of arrests, the extent of the damage, and the final count of minor injuries are still being assessed.
