Social media influencer Kai Cenat will not face prosecution for charges related to inciting a riot and unlawful assembly stemming from a chaotic giveaway he promoted in New York City's Union Square last year.
According to ABC, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the event produced chaos, with dozens of people arrested — some jumping atop vehicles, hurling bottles and throwing punches.
Last August, during a Twitch stream, Cenat announced a "huge giveaway" of computers, PlayStation 5s, gift cards, and other prizes in Union Square, attracting a crowd that quickly grew from a few hundred to thousands within minutes.
Cenat failed to obtain a permit for the event, as legally required.
The large turnout resulted in injuries, significant property damage, and over 60 arrests after the NYPD activated a "Level 4" response – its highest level for disaster responses.
Cenat was arrested and released the following day with a court summons to address the charges of inciting a riot and organising an unlawful assembly.
Cenat publicly apologized on social media and agreed to pay $55,000 for damages caused by the crowd.
Prosecutors stated that the case would be officially dropped once the apology had been online for 24 hours.
Cenat denounced the violence saying he was "beyond disappointed in anybody who became destructive that day."
Despite facing backlash, Cenat's social media following has continued to grow, with over 5 million followers on YouTube, 9 million on Instagram, and 10 million on Twitch.
He is among the platform's most popular personalities and was named streamer of the year at the Streamy Awards in both 2022 and 2023.
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