Twitch streamer Kai Cenat was arrested on August 4, 2023, after a PlayStation 5 giveaway he promoted in Manhattan’s Union Square Park drew thousands of fans and collapsed into a riot that injured civilians and officers, damaged the park, and ended with 65 arrests. He was charged with first-degree riot, a felony, plus misdemeanor inciting to riot and unlawful assembly. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office dismissed the case on May 8, 2024, after he paid $55,000 in restitution, posted a public apology, and stayed out of trouble.1CBS News New York. Kai Cenat Union Square Riot Case Dismissed
What Happened at Union Square
Cenat, then 21, announced a “huge giveaway” on a Twitch livestream, promising free PS5 consoles, computers, gift cards, and other prizes to anyone who showed up at Union Square Park at 4:00 p.m. on a Friday. He also pushed the event on Instagram and his website. The city had not issued a permit, and the NYPD was not notified in advance.2ABC7 New York. Union Square Crowds Kai Cenat Twitch
The NYPD’s entertainment unit and intelligence division first picked up the promotion around 12:30 p.m. that day and treated the gathering as a routine social media meetup, sending a small detail of officers.3The New York Times. Kai Cenat Union Square NYC Riot About 300 fans were on hand early. Police later estimated the crowd peaked at 5,000 to 6,000 people, swamping the park and surrounding streets within minutes.4NBC New York. Kai Cenat No Prosecution Chaos NYC PlayStation Giveaway Union Square
People broke into a park construction site and seized paint cans, rocks, bottles, axes, and shovels, hurling them at officers and bystanders. Others climbed on cars, city buses, and the George Washington statue. Fireworks were set off. Along Park Avenue, participants swung traffic cones, scaled street poles, jumped on outdoor dining structures, and threw plates and knives taken from restaurant patrons. At least four civilians went to hospitals, including a 17-year-old hurt by fireworks. At least three officers were injured: a sergeant with a broken hand, another cut by a paint can, and others struck by bottles or physically assaulted. NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, who responded in person, said he was hit by multiple objects.5CBS News New York. Union Square Kai Cenat Giveaway Police
After repeated dispersal warnings, the department declared an unlawful assembly, activated its highest level-four mobilization, and ultimately deployed roughly 1,000 officers. Police used a smoke device to break up part of the crowd and had to defend a city bus carrying detainees. Officers trailed the dispersing crowd 14 blocks before the area cleared. Sixty-five people were arrested, including 30 juveniles. Officers removed Cenat from the scene for his own safety during the disorder.6NY1. Union Square Crowd
The Charges Cenat Faced
Cenat was booked on three counts under New York Penal Law and released on desk appearance tickets from a Manhattan precinct in the early morning hours of August 5, 2023.7ABC30. Kai Cenat New York Union Square PS5 Giveaway
- Riot in the first degree, Penal Law § 240.06, a class E felony carrying up to four years in prison. The statute requires a person to engage, with ten or more others, in tumultuous and violent conduct that causes or creates a grave risk of public alarm, resulting in injury to a non-participant or substantial property damage.8New York State Senate. Penal Law § 240.06 – Riot in the First Degree
- Inciting to riot, Penal Law § 240.08, a class A misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail. It applies when a person urges ten or more people to engage in tumultuous and violent conduct likely to create public alarm.9New York State Senate. Penal Law § 240.08 – Inciting to Riot
- Unlawful assembly, a class B misdemeanor carrying up to 90 days in jail.2ABC7 New York. Union Square Crowds Kai Cenat Twitch
Two associates, Denzel Dennis and Muktar Din, were also charged in connection with the event. Their specific charges were not publicly detailed.1CBS News New York. Kai Cenat Union Square Riot Case Dismissed
How the Case Was Resolved
On May 7, 2024, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced it would not prosecute Cenat, Dennis, or Din. The non-prosecution deal set three conditions, all met before the announcement:
- Restitution totaling $57,099 to the Union Square Partnership, the nonprofit that manages the neighborhood. Cenat paid $55,000; Dennis and Din paid $1,049.50 each. The money covered landscaping damage and the extra staff hours needed to clean up.10PIX11. Kai Cenat to Have Union Square Riot Case Dismissed After Public Apology
- A public apology from Cenat on Snapchat, kept visible for at least 24 hours. Dennis and Din were required to repost it.10PIX11. Kai Cenat to Have Union Square Riot Case Dismissed After Public Apology
- No new arrests since the August 2023 incident, which all three had satisfied.11ABC7 New York. Twitch Streamer Kai Cenat Won’t Be Prosecuted for Alleged Role in Union Square Riot
The case was officially dismissed on May 8, 2024, once the apology had been live for the required 24 hours.1CBS News New York. Kai Cenat Union Square Riot Case Dismissed Cenat was not sentenced, pleaded to nothing, and has no conviction tied to the incident.
What Cenat Said in His Apology
In a three-paragraph Snapchat statement, Cenat wrote: “I am from NY and would never want to see the city turned upside down due to unwanted, irresponsible, and dangerous behavior. I wanted to do something cool and fun for people and did not think it was going to turn into something that caused harm to the city, and I should have thought more about the post before I announced it.”12Rolling Stone. Kai Cenat New York Union Square Giveaway Riot Charges Dropped He called the destructive behavior of some attendees “unacceptable” and apologized to the community, business owners, first responders, and followers who had turned up without taking part in the violence.13Complex. Kai Cenat Won’t Be Charged Union Square Incident Apologize He added that social media is “a very powerful tool to do good, but it can also cause dangerous unwanted situations if it is not used properly,” and acknowledged the responsibility that comes with his platform.
With the dismissal, Cenat has no known outstanding charges tied to the Union Square event.