Twitch star Kai Cenat has recently become the centre of a heated controversy following a stunt during his ongoing Mafiathon 2 subathon. A video clip from Cenat’s livestream, that appeared on Reddit and X, showed an individual with a noose around his neck and the internet was rife with concern and backlash.
The incident happened on 27 November, 2024 when Cenat was instructed to pull one of the two ropes in front of him. The person later identified as YouTuber and magician Max Major was seen floating in the air after Cenat pulled the rope whose handle had red-colored markings. The viewer, including Cenat himself, were left visibly shaken by this sight. Cenat instructed his cameraperson immediately to stop recording and even expressed fear that he might be banned from the platform.
As the livestream went on, it was discovered that hanging stunt was a performance act by Max Major. Major explained in a video later that the entire act was to influence Cenat to make the “wrong” choice, highlighting the theme of choices that had been central to his performance.
Although the stunt had an explanation, it was really controversial. Many viewers of the stunt criticized it, saying that it was in bad taste and could cause damage to the sensitive images used in the stunt. Kai Cenat addressed the situation on the livestream when he expressed his frustration and concern over how the stunt portrayed him and his community.
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Max Major has been known for his mentalist and magical shows, but he hasn’t said anything about this backlash yet. The event also makes us think about the limits of fun and the responsibility artists have for the safety and well-being of their public.
