Talk about a big birthday blowout. On Saturday (May 22), police made nearly 200 arrests connected to a birthday party invitation that went viral and spurred at least 1,000 people to Huntington Beach for a little cake and ice cream.
The party was for Adrian López, a 17-year-old kid from Eastvale, California. When the invitation López created, which was dubbed “Adrian’s Kickback” on social media platforms like TikTok, started getting shared by social media influencers, party guests started showing up for the festivities in droves.
“The party blew up,” one attendee told CBS Los Angeles. “Everyone didn’t know who Adrian was. Everyone was asking, ‘Who’s Adrian?’”
People might know who López is now because of his unintentionally massive birthday blast, but the event is not something he wants to be known for. According to CBS Los Angeles, 178 people who showed up for the party were arrested for vandalism, illegal use of fireworks, curfew violations and assault with a deadly weapon.
“I did not start or encourage any illegal activity!” López says in a statement. “Safety is and has always been my number one concern both for myself and others. I have not made any money related to Adrian’s Kickback whatsoever, but my management team will be addressing this.”
López partnered with a local apparel store to sell tickets for $40. One teenage partygoer and YouTuber, Jamar Zelaya, told the New York Times that he was there to get footage for his social media channel.
“The chaos, the entertainment, the electricity – people want to see people wild out and look stupid,” he said. “If you don’t go, you’re missing out on history.”