On August 18, French streamer Raphaël Graven, known by the pseudonym Jean Pormanove, died during a live broadcast of over 280 hours on the Kick platform . This tragedy brought to light online abuse practices and sparked a wave of outrage in France, leading to political reactions and a judicial investigation.
Months of humiliation and abuse
For several months, Jean Pormanove had been the target of physical and psychological violence from his streaming partners, including Safine Hamadi and Owen "Naruto" Cenazandotti. These acts included public humiliation, electric shocks, slaps, and humiliating scenes, often broadcast live on Kick.
An article published in December 2024 had already denounced these practices, leading to a preliminary investigation for violence against vulnerable people and the dissemination of images that violate the integrity of individuals.
The article even led to the two men being taken into custody as part of a preliminary investigation opened by the Nice prosecutor's office for "incitement to hatred , " "violence against vulnerable persons," and "dissemination of images that infringe upon the integrity of persons ," in connection with the content they had published. But nothing was done!
A filmed death and a delayed reaction
On August 18, during the live broadcast, Jean Pormanove was found dead in his streaming studio in Contes, near Nice. Although authorities did not detect any apparent signs of violence, an autopsy was ordered to determine the exact cause of his death.
Clara Chappaz, the Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, described the incident as "absolutely horrific ." She contacted ARCOM and reported the incident, emphasizing the responsibility of digital platforms in the dissemination of illegal content.
Kick under pressure
The Kick platform, which distributed the videos of these acts, is under fire. Videos showing scenes of abuse have circulated on social media, fueling public outrage. Kick removed Jean Pormanove's account but has not commented publicly due to its privacy policies. Drake announced that he would cover Jean Pormanove's funeral expenses.
A judicial investigation is underway to determine the causes of Jean Pormanove's death and the responsibilities of those involved. This case could have significant repercussions for the regulation of streaming platforms and the practices of online content creators.
Watch the videos showing Jean Pormanove being abused and humiliated:
