Nine issues bizarre statement after Logan Paul, KSI stunt leaves teen in Sydney hospital

Channel Nine has downplayed this morning’s events after a teenager was hospitalised and multiple people were injured at Logan Paul and KSI’s appearance. Ray Hadley has slammed their handling of the spectacle.

A TEENAGER has been hospitalised and multiple people injured at Logan Paul and KSI’s appearance at Channel Nine, but the television network has downplayed the incident, claiming “we experienced no issues with crowd behaviour.”

A 14-year-old boy caught up in the large crowd suffered a fall and was transported to Sydney Children’s Hospital. He is reported to be in a stable condition on Monday afternoon.

NSW Ambulance confirmed the call for the boy came through at 8:30am, with paramedics arriving on the scene to find others in need of treatment.

A security guard monitoring the crowd of thousands outside the Denison Street building was thrown to the floor after getting caught behind the cement barricade separating him and fans and later treated by paramedics.

After being informed the social media stars would address fans and give out free samples of their Prime Energy drink from the ground level, rather than the balcony above, fans overcome with excitement pushed and shoved their way to the stone barricade, knocking it over.

Police were left to scramble as thousands of people flooded North Sydney streets. Picture: John Grainger

Police scrambled in packs to control the crowd and assist fallen fans and staff while others attended to the guard lying on the ground and wincing in pain.

Groups of fans were escorted and told to walk to grab their Prime Energy drinks before being told to leave.

The event spiralled out of control after the internet stars made their way to the balcony and spoke to the crowd of thousands while throwing energy drinks into the sea of fans.

Logan Paul and KSI with Karl Stefanovic on Today. Picture: Channel 9

The appearance was cancelled prematurely as police ushered crowds away from the street, causing chaos among cars.

One man stopped traffic as he attempted a “shoey” with the Prime Energy drink, causing fans to congregate on the road as they erupted in cheers.

The Sydney event comes as Paul’s Woolworths meet-and-greet appearance in Perth was cancelled amid “safety concerns”.

“We love you guys so much thanks for showing up,” Paul said from a balcony in North Sydney.

Insane energy https://t.co/kcHd13Ibhe

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) February 12, 2023

Commuters on their way to offices in the CBD were told to make a detour avoiding Denison Street, while others were guided by police past the growing crowd.

Confused workers stopped to ask fans why so many were gathered, while others laughed and pulled out their phones to record the chaos.

“It’s for KSI and Logan Paul, you know the YouTubers,” one man said to a puzzled worker.

“I don’t know who that is,” said the man.

One woman was evacuated from the crowd by police after fans shouted “someone’s fainted, someone’s passed out,” at police.

The woman appeared pale, light headed and dizzy as she sat limp asking police for water. She had left her home at 5:30am to see the social media stars.

Logan Paul stepped out onto the balcony, at the Today Show Studios in North Sydney as the crowds of Fans gathered below. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Fans attempted to climb ledges, surrounding office buildings and even their friends for a better view of their heroes, while others tried to muscle their way through the chaos.

Plenty of school students, both high school and primary school aged, appeared at the site in uniform and woke up extra early for the spectacle before making their way to their morning classes.

The crowd shouted “KSI”, “KSI”, “KSI”.

Fans begged Police to let them jump out of the line, go to the toilet and return, but they were refused.

One father brought his son waiting in the line an orange juice and breakfast in a paper bag, with the boy not wanting to risk his spot in line for his morning meal.

Paul told his 24.8 million Instagram followers on Sunday night the lines would officially open at 7am however by 7:05 most of Denison Street was full.

Thousands of people turned out to see Logan Paul and KSI. Picture: Channel 9

The Daily Telegraph contacted Channel Nine following the crowd chaos and reports of injury, asking whether the network would apologise for the chaotic situation.

Despite the late night scramble on Sunday night from police to organise an operation for the event, the late notification of the event to North Sydney Council, multiple injuries, traffic disruption and overall mayhem, Nine issued a statement on Monday afternoon, denying any wrongdoing.

“We want to thank NSW Police for making sure everyone arrived and left the scene safely, and to the Nine security team for ensuring the crowd knew what was happening throughout the morning,” Director of Morning Television at Nine Steve Burling said, claiming the crowd behaved well.

“Many fans camped out overnight - they were passionate, excited and we experienced no issues with crowd behaviour.”

Ray Hadley has slammed Nine and the event involving the WWE Fighter, Singer and Influencer KSI and social media celebrity Logan Paul. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Nine stablemate Ray Hadley was among the first to criticise Nine’s handling of the “spectacle.”

Hadley condemned the event on his 2GB show on Monday morning, calling for accountability for the injuries and crowd chaos.

“Someone needs to be held accountable,” Hadley said.

“Would the management of Channel Nine be happy if someone had been really, really injured as a result of this lunacy outside of denison street.”

The Today Show’s Karl Stefanovic was seen on the balcony of the Denison Street building getting close with Paul and KSI and hyping the pair.

“Karl, what are you doing among this mate,” Hadley said of the hosts’ involvement in the chaos.

“I mean fair dinkum.

“It’s like an English soccer crowd.

“Has the world gone completely mad?”

Paul is no stranger to controversy. He rose to fame in 2013, known for his controversial YouTube videos. The YouTube star is reportedly worth $45 million and his videos amass millions of views.

His most controversial stunt was his 2017 video, in which Paul visited the Aokigahara Forest in Japan, also known as the “suicide forest” as many people go there to end their lives.

Paul showed footage of a dead body in the forest, which got millions of views. He later removed the video and tweeted an apology.

In 2018 Paul posted a video of himself tasering two dead rats, saying “no rat comes into my house without getting tased”. The video caused YouTube to temporarily suspend ads on his videos.

In 2021 videos surfaced of Paul and fellow Youtuber Sam Pepper lassoing women on the street and refusing to let them go until they kissed the men. The video was highly criticised for its coercive nature.

Originally published as Nine issues bizarre statement after Logan Paul, KSI stunt leaves teen in Sydney hospital