A clip of Shawn Fonteno calling out Kai Cenat is doing the rounds online again. Fonteno, the voice and motion capture actor behind GTA 5’s Franklin, says the Twitch star broke a promise to a young fan. However, there’s an important update to the story.
What Shawn Fonteno said about Kai Cenat
Fonteno told the story on the Dope As Usual podcast. He began by praising Cenat, calling him “a cool dude.” Even so, he admitted that one incident upset him so much that he won’t stream with him again.
The pair streamed together twice in November 2024, including during Cenat’s Mafiathon 2. On one of those streams, Fonteno took Cenat around the Los Angeles neighbourhoods that inspired parts of GTA 5.
A promise to a young fan
During that tour, the group visited a family that, in Fonteno’s words, “didn’t have much at all.” A young boy walked up and told Cenat he was a big fan. Cenat then asked the boy what he could get him.
The boy asked for a bike, specifically a motorcycle. According to Fonteno, Cenat told him they would make it happen. Fonteno said viewers can go back and watch the moment on the stream.
Why it upset him
The problem came afterwards. Fonteno said he called and texted Cenat’s side repeatedly in the weeks that followed. As he explained, “it’s just a bike,” probably costing around $1,000 to $1,200.
Meanwhile, the boy’s family had Fonteno’s phone number. As a result, the child kept asking him whether he was getting his bike, and Christmas was coming. Fonteno said he ended up giving the boy’s father money himself while he tried to sort things out.
For Fonteno, it was a matter of principle. “If I make a promise to a kid, bro, especially, I’mma honor it,” he said. He added that he may not have as much money as Cenat, but he’s content with what he has.
Shawn Fonteno and Kai Cenat settle things
Thankfully, the story has a happier ending. After the podcast clip spread, Cenat reached out to Fonteno directly. According to Dexerto, Fonteno then said in an Instagram comment that he had “just talked with Kai.”
Fonteno described the situation as an “honest mistake” and said, “It’s fixed.” He also suggested that requests like this can easily get lost once they’re passed to assistants or management. Before that, he had also asked viewers not to harass Cenat, calling him “a good kid.”
It’s still not publicly confirmed whether the boy has received his bike. Cenat hasn’t addressed the situation publicly either.
Why the clip is still doing the rounds
The original podcast interview came out in September, but short clips like this often resurface months later. Many viewers who see it now won’t know that the pair have since spoken.
Fonteno has become one of gaming’s most recognisable faces since GTA 5 launched. Like other Rockstar actors, he regularly shares behind-the-scenes stories with fans. This one, though, ended with the two making peace.