Kai Cenat’s courtroom problems are stacking up. A New York man claims the streaming superstar’s longtime bodyguard punched him without warning during the 2025 Dominican Day Parade, and he wants Cenat and the business team behind him held responsible.
Dustin Batista filed the civil lawsuit June 2 in Bronx County Supreme Court against Cenat, bodyguard Lamont “Cuddy” Gilbert, Night Inc. and an unidentified security company. According to reports, Batista says the alleged attack happened July 27, 2025, near East 210th Street in the Bronx while Cenat moved through the parade with security.
The complaint alleges Gilbert “struck, punched, and assaulted” Batista while working as Cenat’s bodyguard. Batista insists he “did not threaten, attack, provoke, consent to contact with, or otherwise justify the attack.”
Batista is accusing Gilbert of assault and battery, but his lawsuit reaches beyond the man accused of throwing the punch. He argues Gilbert was acting as an employee, contractor or security agent responsible for protecting Cenat and managing the crowd. Because of that relationship, Batista is attempting to hold Cenat liable under claims including vicarious liability and negligent hiring.
Batista also accuses Cenat, Night Inc. and the unidentified security provider of failing to properly investigate, hire, train, supervise and control security personnel. He reportedly claims the defendants lacked adequate crowd management and de-escalation procedures for a packed public event where Cenat’s appearance was expected to draw attention.
The lawsuit says the alleged incident caused physical pain, emotional distress, medical expenses, lost income and difficulty enjoying normal life. It does not reportedly identify a specific medical diagnosis or state an exact amount of requested damages. Batista is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, costs, interest, and other relief approved by the court.
None of Batista’s allegations have been proven, and none of the defendants have been found liable. The timing is rough because this is not the only active lawsuit connected to Cenat, Night and the massive crowds surrounding his content.
New Jersey resident Caleb Gottfried filed a separate federal lawsuit June 26 against Kai Cenat LLC and Night Media, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The public federal docket identifies the case as Gottfried v. Night Media, Inc. et al.
Gottfried, who is representing himself, says he attended a June 12 Streamer University audition at John Jay College of Criminal Justice as a member of the public. He claims organizers intentionally filmed him in high definition and used his likeness as “background talent” to make the audition look packed and energetic for commercial content.
According to the complaint, Gottfried was never presented with a model release, publicity waiver, or another document asking permission to use his image. He alleges the defendants bypassed those procedures to speed up production and distribution.
His case also raises safety accusations. Gottfried claims attendees were confined inside an enclosed, poorly ventilated area without adequate crowd control. He says he suffered two near heat stroke incidents and alleges NYPD officers were present while he experienced medical distress.
Gottfried is seeking $330,000 in compensatory damages, along with punitive damages and costs. He also wants the court to order the defendants to surrender and permanently delete raw footage depicting him, including an alleged audition recording that was never publicly released.
The federal complaint asserts unauthorized commercial use of Gottfried’s likeness under New York civil rights law and gross negligence or premises liability tied to the alleged conditions. Kai Cenat LLC was reportedly served July 16, making its response due August 6. Those claims also remain unproven.
Cenat has already experienced how quickly a viral gathering can become a legal and logistical mess. In August 2023, thousands flooded Manhattan’s Union Square after he promoted a giveaway involving gaming consoles and gift cards. The scene escalated into property damage, injuries, and arrests. Prosecutors later dropped the charges after Cenat and two codefendants paid more than $57,000 in restitution and posted public apologies, according to the Associated Press.
Streamer University is now one of Cenat’s biggest properties. Its first session at the University of Akron brought together more than 200 creators, producers and crew members. Cenat’s team estimated that viewers watched 23 million hours of footage from the four-day event.
That reach comes with a bigger spotlight. Cenat is not accused of personally punching Batista, but the court will have to determine whether Gilbert was acting within his security role and whether Cenat or the named companies can be held responsible. With one plaintiff challenging his security operation and another accusing Streamer University of unauthorized filming and unsafe conditions, the content may be viral. Still, the legal consequences are becoming very real.
