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New York City Published August 6, 2023 12:08pm EDT

Adams suggests 'outside agitators'

involved in NYC influencer Kai Cenat
riot
NYC mayor says 'children cannot get their values, their beliefs from social media and other outside entities'

By Danielle Wallace | Fox News

Adams warns parents after giveaway devolves into riot: 'Not a policing issue'
New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a warning to parents after Twitch influencer Kai Cenat's event in Union Square erupted into chaos, saying that
"children cannot be raised by social media."

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Saturday suggested that the riot involving thousands
of young people that unfolded in Manhattan's Union Square could have been driven by
"outside agitators."

Asked about the incident – sparked by what intended to be a PlayStation giveaway

organized by Twitch influencer Kai Cenat – during an unrelated press conference, Adams
referenced Cenat, noting that the influencer "had a substantial number of followers" and
"people came from outside of the city to be there."

"We are further looking into were there even some outside agitators. You don't come to get
free Game Boys and bring smoke bombs and bring M-80s and bring other disruptive
items," Adams said, mentioning a different video gaming system. "We believe there were
some outside influencers that may have attempted to aggravate this situation."

Cenat, a 21-year-old social media influencer who boasts more than 13 million followers
across platforms that include Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Twitch, had advertised a
giveaway of a PlayStation and other electronics in Union Square. The NYPD said
thousands of kids and young people showed up, and the Friday afternoon event produced
chaos.

WHO IS KAI CENAT? TWITCH STREAMER CHARGED WITH INCITING RIOT, UNLAWFUL
ASSEMBLY AFTER NEW YORK CITY CHAOS

Rioters climb a sculpture, Aug. 4, 2023, in New York's Union Square. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Video that circulated online showed some young people jumping atop vehicles, hurling
bottles and throwing punches. Other footage showed crowds chanting vulgar anti-NYPD
slogans.

During the news conference, Adams also issued a warning on the negative effect of social
media on young people, speaking to his own experience as the father of a now-27-year-old
son.

"It isdifficult being a parent now with so much weight and so many obligations they are
facing," Adams said. "Our children cannot be raised by social media. Our children cannot
get their values, their beliefs from social media and other outside entities. And it's about
being aware that the things that my mother needed to raise me is different from the things
that parents need today. Our children are being inundated by influencers, by those who
consider themselves to be credible messengers."

A person jumps on top of a car as another punctures one of its tires near Union Square park, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, in New
York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Adams praised the NYPD for how they handled the volatile situation.

"Icannot say enough for the police department yesterday, I don't think people realized the
level of discipline that was showed to take a very dangerous, volatile situation and to be
able to bring it to a level of resolve without any loss of life or any substantial damage to
property, and without young people harming themselves," he added.

At a prior press conference Friday night, NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said 65 people were
arrested, 30 of them juveniles. Speaking to both the power and danger of social media,
Maddrey said how the giveaway event, which was not sanctioned or permitted, grew
"exponentially, rapidly, fast" from just about 300 attendees to thousands in a short time
frame.

NEW YORK CITY PLAYSTATION GIVEAWAY DEVOLVES INTO STREET CHAOS AS POLICE
OFFICERS DODGE FLYING PROJECTILES

"We wanted the kids to just comply with us and leave, but we were met with a lot of
resistance. We were attacked," Maddrey said. "My older brother just called and said he saw
video of me getting hit in the head with an object. It was a very tough situation out here,
and I really have to commend the women and men of this department, the level of restraint
they showed in addressing these young people."

Maddrey said young people destroyed NYPD vehicles, including his own, damaged food
carts and grabbed plates from people dining outside on the street and threw them at
officers. At least one person, a 17-year-old, was at Bellevue Hospital with injuries
determined to be from fireworks debris.

"When you have M-80s and heavy-duty explosives being thrown around a crowd of
thousands of people, you’re talking about a very dangerous chaotic situation. We can’t let
this happen here. We can’t let this happen with our young people," Maddrey said.
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"Ihad thousands of kids out there. I needed thousands of parents out there," he added, use ‘power of the
purse’ to force
thanking the few parents who did show up or call. "We don’t want to do this. We want our changes at DOJ,
young people to come out and gather and have fun, but when it gets to the point when DHS: Rep. Chip Roy
they’re disorderly, we want the parents to come and take control."

Cenat is facing multiple charges, including at least two counts of inciting a riot, unlawful
assembly and others, Maddrey said. The influencer was released early Saturday from
police custody after being issued a desk appearance ticket, which police issue to require a
suspect to appear in court to answer charges.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips
can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace.

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