Will Kai Cenat pay for the NYC riot? Union Square nonprofit under fire for asking locals to pay $55K for repairs: 'Bad behavior goes unpunished'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Kai Cenat, a prominent Twitch streamer boasting a substantial following, is currently facing legal troubles, as he was charged with inciting a riot and organizing an unlawful assembly following his announcement of a PS5 giveaway.
The controversial situation from August 4 has once again managed to gain media attention due to a Union Square nonprofit's recent request for residents to contribute $55,000 toward repair costs.
In light of this appeal, numerous residents in the vicinity of Union Square have expressed strong criticism toward Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, holding him responsible for the damages incurred and indicating that he should pay for the repairs.
Residents slam Kai Cenat over his role in the Union Square riot
In the aftermath of the riot, which broke out during Twitch personality Cenat's PS5 giveaway event, a Union Square nonprofit initiated fundraising efforts among residents to repair the damaged areas infuriating them even further.
As residents were approached for financial support, some of them began criticizing Cenat and called on him to take responsibility to cover the expenses for the damages.
"How about we ask the influencer to pay something towards this? He was not remorseful. If there was a flood in the neighborhood, you wouldn’t be asked to donate to fix the sewer," said a local, Danawyn Sherman, as per the New York Post.
Another resident, Chelsea, stated, "Why are law-abiding citizens asked to pay for unruly behavior? I am sorry to be old school, but I am not paying for bad behavior that goes unpunished!”
As of now, it appears that Cenat has not yet addressed the concerns of paying for the damages incurred in Union Square.
Union Square nonprofit seeks help from locals
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), a Union Square nonprofit called Union Square Partnership expressed worries regarding property damages. The organization posted images showing the condition before and after the riot, urging for contributions.
One of the posts highlighted the absence of plants around the rose garden, and it read, "The plantings that were lost included a rose garden around the George Washington Statue, installed by Union Square Partnership in 2020. We estimate it will cost at least $55,000 to replace all the material that was destroyed."
In a separate post, the nonprofit spoke about actively seeking donations and appealing to individuals to demonstrate their compassion to aid in the renovation of Union Square, saying, "Your donation will also support ongoing landscape maintenance for Union Square Park to create a cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable environment."
Union Square made headlines last week when a crowd descended on the park to see a famous influencer. Unfortunately, in the aftermath, a substantial amount of plantings were destroyed. pic.twitter.com/OPsBRyHhsb
— Union Square (@UnionSquareNY) August 11, 2023
The plantings that were lost included a rose garden around the George Washington Statue, installed by Union Square Partnership in 2020. We estimate it will cost at least $55,000 to replace all the material that was destroyed.
— Union Square (@UnionSquareNY) August 11, 2023
Your donation will also support ongoing landscape maintenance for Union Square Park to create a cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable environment.
— Union Square (@UnionSquareNY) August 11, 2023