Kai Cenat finally addresses New York City giveaway riot: 'I'm being hit with multiple charges'

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

In his first stream since an attempted PlayStation giveaway caused chaos in New York City's Union Square Park, Twitch streamer Kai Cenat said he's now facing "multiple charges" as a result of the incident, and so he's going to have to slow down his streaming schedule for a little while.

The incident occurred on August 4 when Cenat, one of the most popular streamers on Twitch, announced a surprise giveaway in Union Square, and invited, well, everyone. And everyone showed, with predictable results: Instead of handing out game consoles and gift cards to a couple dozen fans, Cenat was forced to flee as thousands of people flooded the area. Some injuries were reported, and of course the police got involved.

Cenat has kept a low profile since then, but today he addressed the incident in a brief stream, saying that his only goal was to "give back to the community that made me who I am," and that he's "beyond disappointed" in the people who caused trouble.

"That's not cool. None of that is cool," Cenat said. "I'm beyond disappointed in the things that went on on Friday. And I want people to know that none of that was my intention. I had good intentions for this whole thing, and none of that was my intention. 

"I don't condone any of the things that went on that day. None of that is cool. I'm seeing random videos of people getting started on people's cars, and I'm asking myself while I'm watching the video, 'Why?'"

Cenat seemed genuinely surprised by the response to his giveaway, saying the incident led him "to realize the amount of not only power but influence that I have on people." He also acknowledged that if he does something like this again in the future, "I need to hit up the right people, make the right calls, and do it the correct way."

First, though, he has to deal with somewhat more immediate and pressing problems arising from last week's unpleasantness.

"I'm being hit with multiple charges," Cenat said. "For me streaming, I'm gonna have to chill for a little bit due to the fact that, one, I got court dates that I gotta appear to. My first court date is August 16, that's my first court date. I have things that I actually have to handle ... y'all not going to be seeing me for a little bit, and I mean like a little bit—it's not gonna be nothing long, okay."

A representative of New York City's Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information confirmed with PC Gamer that Cenat is facing charges of riot, inciting to riot, and unlawful assembly. Inciting to riot and unlawful assembly are both misdemeanors, while a charge of first degree riot is a class E felony, which carries a potential penalty of up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. I've reached out to the Bronx District Attorney's office for more information, and will update if I receive a reply.

Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

Read more
The streamer Emiru gives the peace sign to camera.
Three women livestreaming on Twitch harassed by man who then goes for them while making repeated death threats: 'This happens off-camera to women all the time'
Streamer Kai Cenat makes a sign at the camera.
Streamers including Kai Cenat named in Drake's UMG lawsuit for their reaction videos instantly respond with reaction videos: 'The biggest Ls come from not knowing how to take an L'
talk to the joneses fortnite
Epic sues Fortnite cheater, donates his winnings to charity, forces him to publicly apologise, bans him for life, and all but sends him to his room without dinner
Mister Fantastic giving a thumbs up
'Who planned this garbage?' Streamers unite in slamming the official Twitch Marvel Rivals tournament for last-minute rule changes and unbalanced chaos
Shroud.
After losing his father to cancer, mega streamer Shroud is running a January 'Fragathon' where he'll donate to cancer research for each in-game kill
rainbow six siege sledge
Rainbow Six Siege coach and manager 'ejected' from the $3 million Invitational after raging like big babies
Latest in Gaming Industry
SUQIAN, CHINA - OCTOBER 6, 2024 - Illustration Tencent's plan to buy Ubisoft, Suqian, Jiangsu province, China, October 6, 2024. (Photo credit should read CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Ubisoft and Tencent are forming a new company that will take control of its most successful franchises: Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six
Kinich, a character in Genshin Impact, stands prepared to brawl with an enemy.
'Diabolical': Genshin Impact's English cast gives new VO the cold shoulder after he frames replacing a striking actor as an 'opportunity to carry the flame'
PC Gamer magazine issue 408 Doom: The Dark Ages
PC Gamer magazine's new issue is on sale now: Doom: The Dark Ages
Two brightly colored stormtroopers dressed like Run-DMC stand in front of PAX Australia's WELCOME HOME banner.
Tickets for PAX Australia 2025 are on sale now
Lara Croft Unified Art
Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics lays off 17 employees 'to better align our current business needs and the studio's future success'
Monster Hunter Wilds' stockpile master studying a manifest
As layoffs and studio closures continue to deathroll the western AAA industry, analyst points out 5 of 8 major Japanese companies hit all-time share prices this year
Latest in News
Marvel Rivals tier list - Wolverine
Marvel Rivals director says a future patch will reduce the shooter's insatiable hunger for RAM: 'It's a very big problem'
Hogwarts Legacy potions professor holding a potion
An unannounced Hogwarts Legacy expansion and 'definitive edition' have reportedly been cancelled
Story of Seasons - A cahacter in a purple tuxedo stands outside in a town square talking to the player
Story of Seasons is doing another Harvest Moon remake and it might be the best the series has ever looked
Assassin's Creed Shadows change seasons - An upper-body shot of Yasuke looking cheerfully up into the distance.
Assassin's Creed Shadows puts up the 'second highest day-one sales revenue in Assassin's Creed franchise history'
A witch riding a broom sails past a Fish and Chips shop.
Cozy gamers rejoice: Witchbrook finally has a release window, and yes, you can fly around on a broom with your friends
starcraft 2 face
StarCraft fans taunted by the announcement of a new StarCraft... board game