Kai Cenat's Dad: The One Thing He 'Failed to Do' Was Be There for His Son
Kai Cenat became an internet sensation recently, and the YouTuber has been candid about his upbringing. He was raised by a single mother alongside his siblings and developed an estranged relationship — which remains so — with his father.
In June 2022, Kai Cenat posted a screen recording of one of his Twitch live streams on his YouTube channel, which currently boasts over 3.6 million subscribers. The video showed him playing on his setup when an unexpected visitor dropped by.
The man claimed to be Kai Cenat's father. Throughout their interaction, the YouTuber continually broke into laughter as he processed the absurdity and hilarity of the situation. Still, the gentleman insisted he was his father and maintained his front as a stereotypical dad asking stereotypical dad questions.
Kai Cenat attends Fame Fridays on June 9, 2023, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Getty Images
Fans immediately went to the comment section to express their confusion and disbelief; however, one assured, "For everyone's confirmation, this isn't Kai's real dad." The comment sparked a lengthy discussion as others debated the so-called confirmation.
Other viewers only found humor in the video, noting how Kai and his supposed "real dad" shared similar traits. The two appeared in another video where the YouTuber taught "his dad" a popular dance move called "getting sturdy." However, the story of Kai's birth father isn't so cheery.
Kai Cenat's Father Was an Absent Parent
In a recent interview, Kai spoke about his humble beginnings, growing up in shelters with his mom and siblings. His mother, Trisha Cenat, is Trinidadian, and his father, whose identity remains unknown, is Haitian.
They struggled as a family, as his father wasn't in the picture. The internet personality once commented on his dad's absence in a March 2021 tweet, writing, "One thing my dad failed to do was be for ME & maaaannn... I promise to be the best dad EVER one day."
When asked about his relationship with his father, Kai described a somewhat estranged connection between them. "It's on some more like I could call him, but I just choose not to. We don't have a close connection because my mom's been there majority of my life," he explained.
Kai Cenat's Relationship with His Father Did Not Change Following His Rise to Fame
Sharing more insight into his relationship with his dad, Kai said his father didn't change after he gained success. Their communication remained minimal, and his father didn't ask for anything, which Kai said he respected.
Kai added that his sister formed a close bond with his dad since it was something she wanted. He also revealed that his father had sons who engaged with his content and looked up to him as the older half-brother.
Kai Cenat accepts the Streamer of the Year award during the 2022 YouTube Streamy Awards on December 4, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Kai Cenat's Mother Talked about Her Relationship with His Dad
Kai's brother, Devonte Cenat, talked to his mom, Trisha, about his father in a YouTube video posted in August 2022. Trisha described her former beau as a quiet and loyal person she could confide in.
She revealed he was among less than a handful of people who knew her "darkest secrets" and saw him as a "brother" and "best friend." Trisha also said Kai's father was "a good dad" despite initially not being around for his older kids.
Kai is among many public figures and celebrities either estranged from or have complicated relationships with their parents, including Coi Leray, Margot Robbie, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant, Dave Bautista, and the actress twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.