Topline
A promise of free gaming consoles from popular YouTuber and Twitch streamer Kai Cenat ultimately led to his arrest on a felony riot charge when thousands of fans swarmed Union Square Park in New York City last weekend, and Cenat isn’t the only one whose quest for views landed them in a courtroom.
Kai Cenat accepts the Streamer of the Year award during the 2022 YouTube Streamy Awards at the ... [+]
Key Facts
Kai Carlo Cenat III, who has 3.6 million YouTube subscribers and 6.5 million followers on Twitch, sent thousands of people to the park with the promise of free PlayStation 5 consoles Friday, but the crowd quickly became unruly and several civilians and police officers were hurt in the chaos.
Cenat, 21, was arrested and charged with felony first-degree rioting, as well as misdemeanor inciting a riot and unlawful assembly, the New York Times reported, charges that carry up to four years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.
Some 65 others were arrested during the incident, and New York City Police Department Chief Jeffrey Maddrey called the incident an example of "the power of social media and the danger of social media."
Cenat was given a court appearance date of August 18 and did not respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
Cenat, who began his YouTube career in 2018 by making prank videos, isn’t the first social media influencer who's following of internet trends led to an arrest record, and several other popular pranksters have taken their antics one step too far in the eyes of the law.
Other Influencers Who’ve Been Arrested
Alex Stokes and Alan Stokes attend Marvel Studios "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" Los Angeles Premiere ... [+]
The Stokes twins—Alan and Alex Stokes were sentenced to community service and a year of probation after they pleaded guilty to faking a bank robbery. The two filmed a series of staged bank heists in 2019 and then, while dressed in black and carrying bags stuffed with cash, called an unsuspecting Uber. The driver was unaware of the prank and refused to drive them before he was ultimately ordered out of the car at gunpoint by police, BBC reported. Authorities called the prank "irresponsible and reckless."
Pitch invader Vitaly Zdorovetskiy is apprehended by security during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ... [+]
Vitaly Zdorovetskiy—YouTube and Instagram personality Vitaly Zdorovetskiy has had multiple run-ins with the law, starting with his 2012 arrest in Florida for threatening to detonate a bomb in a hidden-camera video. The charges were later dropped. He was arrested in 2014 for running onto the field during the FIFA World Cup Final, in 2017 for running onto the field during Game 5 of the World Series and in 2016 for streaking during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. He was also charged with trespassing after climbing the Hollywood Sign in California for a video. He was again arrested in 2020, when he allegedly attacked a female jogger with no motive, months after he spent five days in jail in Egypt for climbing to the top of one of the Pyramids of Giza near Cairo for an Instagram video. Zdorovetskiy spoke about the assault charges two years later and said they were dismissed. The Russian personality was also carried off the field of the FIFA World Cup quarter final in Qatar last year. Punishment for his antics has been rare, though he said in an Instagram post following his run onto the Qatar pitch that he is "banned from every stadium in the world."
Trollstation—Four members of the Trollstation YouTube channel were sentenced to jail in 2016 when they staged fake robberies at two London art galleries, "terrifying" visitors, according to TK. Daniel Jarvis, Helder Gomes, Endrit Ferizolli and Ebenezer Mensah were sentenced to several months in jail after they wore tights over their heads and pretended to steal art they'd already bought. They played a fake alarm during the prank, causing one woman to pass out and sending others running from the gallery.
Ruslan Sokolovsky, a blogger who played Pokemon Go on his phone in a church, leaves his hearing at ... [+]
Ruslan Sokolovsky—Pokemon Go turned from a fun challenge to an actual crime for Russian YouTuber Sokolovsky, who ignored warnings from the government about playing the mobile game inside churches at the height of the game’s popularity. Sokolovsky recorded himself catching a few Pokemon inside the Church of All Saints in Yekaterinburg in 2017 and was later arrested for violating two articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Amnesty International reported—Article 282, incitement of hatred or enmity and humiliation of human dignity, and Article 148, violation of the right to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion. Sokolovsky pleaded not guilty and was given a 3.5 year suspended sentence. He also apologized.
Charles Ross—Florida Youtuber Ross has been arrested half a dozen times for crimes related to the pranks he films for his channel. In 2019, was charged with misdemeanor unlawful use of a badge when he impersonated a police officer, adding to a list of arrests that starred with a 2013 battery charge for giving people wedgies outside a movie theater. His other crimes include disorderly conduct for "leapfrogging" over police officers sitting at a picnic table in 2013, jumping onto a parade float in 2014 and removing stop signs from an intersection in 2017. In a review of his criminal record, the Florida Times-Union said Ross "has never been seriously punished for any of the charges, beyond some fines and community service hours."
Jake Paul reacts to knocking out Tyron Woddley in the sixth round during an eight-round ... [+]
Jake Paul—Youtuber Jake Paul was charged in 2020 with criminal trespassing and unlawful assembly for allegedly participating in a looting at a Scottsdale, Arizona mall. The FBI later searched his home in connection to the incident, but authorities later dropped the misdemeanor charges. Paul was also charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission in May for allegedly promoting cryptocurrencies without disclosing he was being paid to do so. He was one of six who agreed to pay a total of more than $400,000 to settle the charges.
Prince Zee—YouTuber Prince Zee, whose real name is Zeeshan Saroya, apparently faked a medical episode in Times Square for a video that saw him pretend to pass out while driving. First responders broke his car window to rescue the influencer before he admitted it was a prank. He was charged with obstructing governmental administration, false reporting of an incident, criminal nuisance and disorderly conduct, the New York Post reported. Forbes reached out Thursday seeking comment on the charges.
Further Reading
SEC Charges Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul, Soulja Boy, Akon In Crypto Promotion Scheme (Forbes)
FoodieCon, An Instagram Food Influencer Event, To Debut In New York This Fall (Forbes)
Top Creators 2022 (Forbes)
