NY - Twitch streamer holds video game giveaway, thousands overrun Union Square Park, Manhattan, 4 Aug 2023 *arrests*

[imstilla.grandma]

UNION SQUARE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Thousands of people overran Union Square Park and surrounded lanes of traffic Friday as a popular Twitch streamer held a video game giveaway.

Just before 5 p.m. police had gained the upper hand on the crowd as many people began to disperse.

NYPD sources had told Eyewitness News they did not want to arrest people and they did not want to escalate the situation further. Despite that guidance, Eyewitness News observed several arrests being made as prisoners were loaded onto an MTA bus.

At a 6 p.m. briefing police said they took dozens into custody and we're told charges against many are pending.

Twitch streamer Kai Cenat charged over Union Square riot

A crowd of thousands packed Manhattan's Union Square for Kai Cenat's hyped giveaway that quickly got out of hand Friday afternoon.

abc7ny.com

Influencer charged after chaos erupts in New York City's Union Square

A promise of free PlayStations appears to have led to a chaotic scene of unrest in New York City's Union Square, police said.

abcnews.go.com

LIVE | Twitch streamer's giveaway sparks mayhem in Union Square

Thousands of people have overrun Union Square Park and surrounding lanes of traffic Friday as a popular Twitch streamer held a video game giveaway.https://ab...

www.youtube.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

This YouTuber and Streamer should face accountability and responsibility measured in dollars$. A mob of out of control young people influenced by social media. Ridiculous.

 

[glassheater]

I am so confused here. A YouTuber promised free playstations among other things and when he showed up, the crowd went wild trying to get into his van? Did he rile the crowd up or were they trying to be the first ones to get a hold of his free goodies? Either way, this shows the sad state of our society. Even after the NYPD told them if they go home they won't be arrested they continued to be destructive? Do these people live in poverty and the enticement of these free objects send them in a destructive frenzy? (NOT excusing. Trying to figure out the driver behind putting yourself on the line and potentially having a criminal record/ arrest.)

 

[MsMarple]

Did anyone actually receive a PlayStation?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Did anyone actually receive a PlayStation?

Idk, I watched the video (crazy) they only had 300 PlayStations. I don’t think you could fit 300 PlayStations in that van. Were they vouchers, maybe?

 

[MsMarple]

What exactly turned the crowd unruly isn't quite clear, but by 3:30 p.m. people were seen chucking garbage at police and taking down barriers around the perimeter. Witnesses reported seeing others throwing chairs and bottles. One person had a bruise on his face and he said he was pushed to the ground.
…
One young person who had initially attended the event told News 4 he decided to leave after feeling worried about his personal safety. But he and a friend turned back around, he said, because "it's not every day you see a famous person."
…
While it didn’t appear that Friday’s stunt was a prank of any sort, [Cenat] has done other prank videos like pretending to break his brother’s PlayStation 4 controller, or knocking on neighbors doors and running away — a video which became his first one to break a million views.

Twitch streamer arrested after ‘inciting a riot' of thousands in Manhattan

A famous video game influencer known for streaming on Twitch is in custody after a giveaway event attracting thousands of young people sparked pandemonium in Manhattan’s Union Square. The Friday afternoon event advertised by Kai Cenat, one of the most popular streamers online, grew out of...

www.nbcnewyork.com

Oy vey.

 

[thefragile7393]

What exactly turned the crowd unruly isn't quite clear, but by 3:30 p.m. people were seen chucking garbage at police and taking down barriers around the perimeter. Witnesses reported seeing others throwing chairs and bottles. One person had a bruise on his face and he said he was pushed to the ground.
…
One young person who had initially attended the event told News 4 he decided to leave after feeling worried about his personal safety. But he and a friend turned back around, he said, because "it's not every day you see a famous person."
…
While it didn’t appear that Friday’s stunt was a prank of any sort, [Cenat] has done other prank videos like pretending to break his brother’s PlayStation 4 controller, or knocking on neighbors doors and running away — a video which became his first one to break a million views.

Twitch streamer arrested after ‘inciting a riot' of thousands in Manhattan

A famous video game influencer known for streaming on Twitch is in custody after a giveaway event attracting thousands of young people sparked pandemonium in Manhattan’s Union Square. The Friday afternoon event advertised by Kai Cenat, one of the most popular streamers online, grew out of...

www.nbcnewyork.com

Oy vey.

You summed up my feelings. Oy vey indeed....lordy

 

[sds71]

Twitch streamer Kai Cenat charged with multiple counts after gaming giveaway causes Union Square chaos

Police say 65 people arrested - including 30 juveniles


https://abc7ny.com/union-square-crowds-kai-cenat-twitch/13599469/

 

[MsMarple]

CNN —
Social media influencer Kai Cenat has been charged with inciting a riot and unlawful assembly after thousands-strong crowds gathered in Union Square in New York City for a giveaway, leaving dozens of people arrested and several police officers injured.

Cenat, who has over 4 million followers on YouTube, over 5 million on Instagram, and 6.5 million on Twitch, said during a Wednesday Twitch stream that he would be hosting a “huge giveaway” Friday at 4 p.m. in Union Square Park.

In the stream, he said they would be giving away computers, Play Station 5s, microphones, keyboards, webcams, gaming chairs, headphones and giftcards from a truck in Union Square. “I feel like New York really deserves it,” he said.

Twitch streamer's 'huge giveaway' sparks police response at Union Square in NYC | CNN

Social media influencer Kai Cenat has been charged with inciting a riot and unlawful assembly after thousands-strong crowds gathered in Union Square in New York City for a giveaway, leaving dozens of people arrested and several police officers injured.

amp.cnn.com

The views and new subscribers the young man will gain will probably far outweigh any fine or community service he’ll face. Anything harsher IMO would just cause more unrest given his popularity.

I doubt he planned or even anticipated the huge unruly turnout, his claim to fame is apparently ringing neighbors’ doorbells and running away so maybe not a deep thinker.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Some rioters were spotted carrying axes and shovels as they weaved through the crowd.

Maddrey believes the event wouldn’t have flown out of hand if it had been organized through the proper municipal channels, allowing the NYPD the time to set up barriers and deploy an appropriate police presence.

But he places some of the blame on the parents, whom he called to intervene in their children’s social lives, especially when it involves social media.

“There were parents who came up and said, ‘I believe my child is in there. I want to get my child out of there,” Maddrey said.

“But I had thousands of kids out here. I needed thousands of parents out here. We don’t want to do this. We want our young people to come out and have fun. But when it gets to the point of disorderly, we want the parents to take control and let us take a step back.”

Twitch influencer Kai Cenat gets desk appearance ticket, walks free after Union Square giveaway leads to riot

The influencer walked free after he was issued a desk appearance ticket over the violent chaos in NYC’s Union Square Friday.

nypost.com

 

[arielilane]

Steven Vago @nypost reporter posted this last Friday.

Chaos in Union Square right now as cops try to squash a riot

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