Twitch streamer’s NYC giveaway draws massive crowd, police: report

UNION SQUARE, Manhattan (WPIX) – A large crowd estimated to be in the thousands gathered at Union Square Plaza Friday, prompting a police response, video from the Citizen App shows.

It appears the crowd was waiting for Youtuber and Twitch streamer Kai Canat. On Thursday, he tweeted that he would be heading to Union Square Plaza at 4 p.m. for a giveaway.

“Due to police activity, avoid the area surrounding Union Square Park and use alternate routes. Expect a police presence in the area and residual traffic delays,” the NYPD tweeted.

Several fights broke out as the crowd swelled, video of the scene showed.

A witness told Nexstar’s WPIX the crowd turned into a mosh pit, with people throwing chairs, garbage cans, umbrellas, basketballs, and fruit.

“It was the uttermost chaos,” the witness told WPIX. “We had to run for our lives due to a stampede … it was really scary.”

WPIX reached out to UTA Cenat’s talent representative for a statement but did not immediately receive a response.

This is a developing story.