Kai Cenat’s riot charges dropped after he apologizes and pays for Union Square mayhem

NEW YORK — Charges of inciting a riot against online streamer Kai Cenat will be dropped after he agreed to pay damages and apologize for drawing thousands of fans to New York’s Union Square last year, prosecutors said.

Cenat, 22, and two co-defendants agreed to pay more than $57,000 in restitution and apologize on social media for the Aug. 4 chaos that followed Cenat’s announcement that he would be giving away video game consoles and other electronic devices there, it said Manhattan district attorney’s office. Tuesday.

After Cenat, who has millions of followers on Twitch, YouTube and other platforms, announced the giveaway, the teenage fans who showed up smashed car windows, climbed onto buses, threw paint cans and lit fire extinguishers. Dozens of people were arrested and at least four were taken to hospitals with injuries.

Cenat apologized on Snapchat on Tuesday for “the disruption and damage to the community, park, vehicles and storefronts in the area.”

The streamer, who was born and raised in New York City, wrote, “I wanted to do something cool and fun for people and didn’t think it would turn into something that would harm the city, and I should have put more thought into it. about the message before I announced it.”

Cenat was charged with inciting a riot and promoting an unlawful assembly. M’Niyah Lynn, spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, said the case would be officially dismissed after Snapchat’s apology lasted 24 hours. Cenat’s co-defendants also had to post the apology and pay about $1,000 each, Lynn said.

Cenat had to pay $55,000 to the Union Square Partnership to cover cleanup and landscaping repair costs.

Cenat apologized for the chaos days later.

“Beyond disappointed in everyone who got disruptive that day, man,” Cenat said on Twitch.

Cenat said he’s seen videos of people jumping on cars “and I ask myself when I watch the video, ‘Why?’ Why?’ Do you feel what I’m saying?’