Kai Cenat is used to going viral, but the streamer is currently getting heat from Reneé Rapp fans after his reaction to the singer’s 2025 AMAs performance was caught on video.
When Rapp took the stage to perform her newly released single “Leave Me Alone” at this year's American Music Awards on Monday evening, fans were thrilled to hear their fave perform her first new song — outside of the Mean Girls soundtrack — in years.
However, one audience member wasn't so sure about it: enter megastar streamer Kai Cenat, who was seen on camera maybe, uh… not exactly feeling the song.
In the now-viral clip (which you can see here), Cenat was caught with a skeptical look on his face while Rapp performed. Now, this is something that often happens at an awards show, in case you were unaware; during major ceremonies like the AMAs, cameras are constantly floating over the crowd to capture guest reactions and snacky little clips, which often go viral.
Just ask Taylor Swift, whose awards show dancing has become a genre of memes, or Selena Gomez, who said she would “never be a meme again” after some of her reactions went viral at the 2023 VMAs.
Celebrity attendees also run the risk of getting caught on camera by a guest with a cell phone, so any little facial expression can be subject to speculation. In the case of Kai Cenat, he streamed his entire experience at the show, as he was also a presenter, though the reaction to Rapp's performance does not appear in the final cut of his YouTube video.
Reneé Rapp fans defended the musician in the comments of the viral TikTok, saying of her song, “Good thing it wasn't for him" and “It's not for the male gaze,” while also dismissing Cenat's opinion by questioning his relevance. “What does he even do?” one person asked.
In turn, Cenat fans defended him, pointing out that Cenat is one of the highest-paid and most popular streamers in the world, and argued that he is “more famous” than Rapp. (Further proof that there we all exist on so many different sides of the Internet.) One commenter served as the voice of reason, saying, “Y'all got to understand everyone has different music taste and that's okay,” they wrote. Maybe Cenat just needs to listen to Snow Angel.
Cenat had a major moment of his own during the show when he presented the award for Favorite Female R&B Artist alongside fellow internet superstar Alix Earle; after winning the award, SZA shouted out Cenat and his recently-completed Streamer University onstage. “Congrats to Kai,” she said. “I'm so proud of you.” Looks like it was an amazing night for both Rapp and Cenat, TBH!
