Who was Jean Pormanove? The eerie tale of a French streamer's collapse after days of live humiliation

Time of India

6 hours ago

French authorities
have launched a criminal investigation into the
death of livestreamer
Raphaël Graven, better known by his online name
Jean Pormanove
, after the 46-year-old collapsed and died during a marathon broadcast in an extended livestream on Kick.
Graven, who lived in the village of Contes near Nice, had built an audience of more than one million followers across platforms, including
TikTok
,
Instagram
, and Kick. His streams, often featuring extreme endurance challenges, attracted both fascination and controversy.
A marathon that ended in tragedy
Graven died on August 18 during a live stream that had stretched on for more than 10 days. Local media, including BFMTV, reported he had been subjected to repeated bouts of humiliation, physical violence, and sleep deprivation by other participants in the broadcast. At one point, the stream showed attempts to wake him before abruptly cutting off.
French prosecutors confirmed an autopsy has been ordered and that a judicial investigation is underway. The Nice prosecutor's office said it is examining whether 'deliberate violent acts' were committed against a vulnerable person, a line of inquiry that had already been under review for months after French outlet Mediapart documented similar abusive broadcasts.
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Government condemnation
The death has provoked widespread outrage in France. Clara Chappaz, the French minister delegate for artificial intelligence and digital affairs, called the case an 'absolute horror.' She said Graven had been 'humiliated and mistreated for months live on the Kick platform' and emphasized that platforms are legally accountable for failing to stop illegal content.
Sarah El Haïry, France's High Commissioner for Children, described the streamer's death as 'horrifying', warning parents to remain vigilant and urging platforms to prevent young audiences from being exposed to violent content.
Authorities have also referred the case to Arcom, the French media regulator, and Pharos, the government system for reporting harmful online content.
Kick responds
Kick, the streaming platform where the fatal broadcast took place, said it was 'urgently reviewing' the circumstances. In a statement to AFP, the company added: 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jeanpormanove and extend our condolences to his family, friends, and community.'
The company stressed its community guidelines are designed to protect creators and said it was committed to enforcing them more rigorously.
A digital star with a controversial rise
Graven began streaming several years ago and cultivated a loyal following under the alias Jean Pormanove. His broadcasts frequently pushed boundaries, long-duration challenges, stunts involving physical strain, and collaborations with fellow streamers that often drew criticism for appearing abusive.
Despite the controversy, he amassed a strong community. On Instagram alone, he had 148,000 followers, while Kick streams regularly reached tens of thousands of live viewers.
Fellow creators, including Owen Cenazandotti, known online as Naruto, paid tribute on Instagram, calling Graven his 'brother, sidekick, [and] partner' and urging the public not to circulate videos showing his final moments.
A wider reckoning for livestreaming platforms
Graven's death comes amid increasing scrutiny of livestreaming services, which critics say have struggled to prevent harmful or exploitative content. In France, the case has already triggered political debate about stronger oversight of digital platforms and the need for real-time moderation of abusive streams.