Kai Cenat sued over alleged security guard attack at parade
Dustin Batista claims in a lawsuit that Lamont Gilbert assaulted him while working security for Kai Cenat at a 2025 Dominican Day Parade.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Kai Cenat is facing a lawsuit from a man who says the streamer’s security guard assaulted him during a Dominican Day Parade in New York.
TMZ, citing a lawsuit it obtained, reported that Dustin Batista has sued Cenat and Lamont Gilbert over an alleged encounter at the 2025 parade. Batista claims he ran into Cenat and Gilbert at the event before Gilbert allegedly attacked him.
According to TMZ’s account of the filing, Batista alleges Gilbert “struck, punched, and assaulted” him while serving as Cenat’s security guard. The lawsuit claims Batista had done nothing to trigger or justify physical contact.
Batista says in the suit that he did not threaten, attack or provoke Gilbert, and did not consent to being touched, TMZ reported.
What the lawsuit claims
The legal action names Gilbert in claims for assault and battery, according to TMZ. Cenat is being sued under claims of vicarious liability and negligent hiring.
The allegations remain claims in a civil lawsuit. TMZ did not report any ruling in the case or any admission of wrongdoing by Cenat or Gilbert.
The dispute centers on the 2025 Dominican Day Parade in New York. A verified Instagram account, thebronxnative, posted footage captioned as showing Kai Cenat and Fanum at the Bronx Dominican Day Parade on Grand Concourse.
A TikTok embed included with TMZ’s report also carried hashtags including Kai Cenat, Dominican, Bronx and NYC. The lawsuit allegations, however, are Batista’s claims as described by TMZ, not findings by a court.
Cenat has not responded publicly
TMZ said it reached out to Cenat for comment and had not received a response. TMZ did not report a response from Gilbert.
Cenat, one of the best-known figures in streaming, has drawn large crowds at public appearances before. TMZ’s recent coverage of the streamer has included crowd scenes tied to his Streamer University event in New York and footage of him with fans in a Los Angeles parking lot.
The lawsuit now puts the focus on security around those public appearances. Batista is asking the court to hold Gilbert responsible for the alleged physical attack and to hold Cenat responsible through the claims brought against him, according to TMZ’s report on the filing.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.