Thousands of people gathered in Union Square, New York City, on Friday for a highly-anticipated giveaway event organized by renowned Twitch and YouTube livestreamer Kai Cenat. The event, which had been heavily promoted on Cenat's social media accounts, promised a "huge giveaway" of computers and PlayStation 5 game consoles. However, chaos quickly ensued before the event even began, as the area became overwhelmed with a tightly-packed crowd that flooded the streets, climbed on park structures, and obstructed traffic.

News footage captured the escalating disorder, with individuals flinging bottles and chairs, climbing onto the roof of a subway entrance, standing on top of cars, and even discharging a fire extinguisher. The crowd grew increasingly rowdy, prompting the arrival of hundreds of police officers who attempted to regain control of the area. Despite their efforts, small skirmishes continued to erupt, with young people knocking over barricades and hurling bottles and a flowerpot at officers.

In an effort to disperse the unruly crowd, the police arrested a total of 65 people, including 30 minors. Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey revealed that officers were attacked and overwhelmed by the violence perpetrated by individuals in the park. Maddrey also mentioned that Cenat was being questioned by the police and could potentially face charges. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as of 4:45 p.m.

Given the escalating situation, the New York Police Department urged people to avoid the park and its surrounding area, which is located near New York University. Approximately 1,000 officers were deployed by the NYPD to handle the chaotic scene, and buses were utilized to transport those taken into custody.

Cenat, who was evacuated from the scene by police for "safety reasons," boasts a massive following on Twitch and YouTube, with 6.5 million followers on Twitch and 4 million subscribers on YouTube. He was even awarded "Streamer of the Year" at the prestigious 2022 Streamy Awards. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the influence and perils of social media, as thousands of fans flocked to the event, only to turn unruly.

Chief Maddrey emphasized the need to carefully consider potential charges against Cenat, including inciting a riot. The investigation into the event and the actions of those involved is currently ongoing.