Twitch streamer Kai Cenat as broken his silence after his New York giveaway turned into a riot.
“I’m beyond disappointed in anybody who became disruptive that day,” he told viewers. “I had good intentions for this whole thing and none of that was my intention.”
Cenat asked his online followers to come out to Union Square and thousands turned up. He promised he would be giving away free PlayStation consoles and gift cards and other items. The crowd began to get rowdy later in the afternoon and some caused injury to others by throwing heavy items.
He is facing charges for inciting a riot, unlawful assembly “and a few other charges,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey per NBC New York.
“Ever since I’ve started everything like this it has been my dream to want to give back to the community that made me who I am,” Cenat contined. “After Friday I’ve come to realize the amount of not only power but influence I have on people.”
The streamer added that in future, he would go through the proper channels and do it the “correct” way. “We all have to do better, from the citizens of New York to the police, everything’s gotta be treated with equal respect.”