Thousands of people swarmed Union Square in New York City on Friday as a highly-anticipated giveaway event organized by popular Twitch and YouTube livestreamer Kai Cenat descended into chaos. The event, which was promoted on Cenat's social media accounts, promised a "huge giveaway" of computers and PlayStation 5 game consoles. However, before the event even began, the area was overrun with a tightly packed crowd that ran through the streets, climbed on structures in the park, and obstructed traffic.

News footage captured individuals flinging bottles and chairs, climbing onto the roof of a subway entrance, standing on top of cars, and even unloading a fire extinguisher. The crowd grew increasingly rowdy, leading to the arrival of hundreds of police officers who attempted to regain control of the area. However, small skirmishes continued to break out, with young people knocking over barricades and throwing bottles and a flowerpot at officers.

In total, the police arrested 65 people, including 30 minors, as they worked to disperse the crowd. Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey stated that officers were attacked and overwhelmed by the violence from individuals in the park. Maddrey added that Cenat was being questioned by the police and could potentially face charges.

Despite the chaos and arrests, no injuries were reported as of 4:45 p.m. The police department urged people to avoid the park and surrounding area, which is located near New York University. The NYPD deployed approximately 1,000 officers to handle the situation, and buses were filled with individuals taken into custody.

Cenat, who was evacuated from the scene by police for "safety reasons," has a massive following on Twitch and YouTube, with 6.5 million followers on Twitch and 4 million subscribers on YouTube. He was named "Streamer of the Year" at the 2022 Streamy Awards.

The incident highlights the power and dangers of social media, as the event drew thousands of fans who turned unruly. Maddrey emphasized the need to consider potential charges against Cenat, including inciting a riot. The investigation into the event and the actions of those involved is ongoing.