Investigation launched into 'horrifying' death of French online streamer
Raphael Graven, who went by Jean Pormanove, was found dead in Contes, near Nice, on Sunday night.
Viewers of the Frenchman's last live stream on the Twitch-like platform Kick had reportedly become concerned about him lying lifeless on a mattress, unresponsive to their comments.
According to France24, prosecutors said he had been in accommodation rented for the purpose of broadcasting internet live streams. The broadcast had reportedly been running for 10 days.
French newspaper Le Monde said Graven was known for participating in videos in which he suffered violence and humiliation, alongside two colleagues. One man was seen throwing a water bottle at him as he laid on the mattress.
France's digital technology minister, Clara Chappaz, said he had been "humiliated and abused for months".
"A judicial investigation is underway," she said.
"Holding online platforms responsible for the dissemination of illegal content is not an option: it is the law.
"This type of failure can lead to the worst and has no place in France, Europe, or anywhere else."
Sarah El Hairy, France's high commissioner for children, described his death as "horrifying".
"Platforms have an immense responsibility to regulate online content so that our children are not exposed to violent content," she said. "I urge parents to be extremely vigilant."
Graven had more than one million followers across social media.
He was particularly popular on Kick, which was founded in 2022 as a competitor to Amazon-owned Twitch. It's known for having looser moderation, and offers creators a higher share of revenue.
A spokesperson for Kick told the AFP news agency the firm was "urgently reviewing" Graven's death.
They said the platform's community guidelines were "designed to protect" users, and it was committed to upholding them.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
9 minutes ago
- The Sun
Horror motorway crashes caused by ‘phantom braking' as cars screech to a halt from 60 to 0mph & urgent probe launched
FRANCE has launched an urgent probe into a series of motorway crashes blamed on 'phantom braking' – when cars suddenly screech to a halt at high speed for no reason. The probe follows a terrifying incident near Lyon, where driver Joanna Peyrache said her Peugeot 208 suddenly dropped from 65mph to a complete standstill on the motorway. 3 3 The car behind smashed into her vehicle, spinning it around, and leaving it badly damaged. Miraculously, she escaped with no serious injuries. Joanna told local media: 'The car behind collided with me, and my vehicle spun around 180 degrees under the shock. "I don't understand why the car suddenly braked.' Neither her insurance company nor the other driver's would take responsibility. She was left to dig for answers herself. Her ordeal has since sparked more than 300 similar reports from drivers who claim their vehicles also stopped without warning. Most of the cases involve cars fitted with Automatic Emergency Braking and other high- tech safety systems designed to prevent accidents. Instead, these gadgets appear to be triggering crashes by mistaking shadows, roadside signs or even harmless obstacles for danger. Some drivers have been so shaken by the incidents that they are considering launching a class-action lawsuit against carmakers. Moment idiotic driver receives 'instant karma' for brake checking lorry on motorway Experts warn the problem could be far wider than France. As modern cars rely more on driver-assistance systems, a single software glitch could put millions at risk. In one tragic case in December 2023, a passenger was killed when her car braked sharply on a motorway and was hit from behind. Another driver, Aurélie Tormos, said her own vehicle slowed without warning in a similar smash. Her passenger died and she was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Campaigners say these convictions must be reviewed if phantom braking is proven to be the true cause. A petition calling for a parliamentary inquiry has already picked up more than 450 signatures. It urges MPs to 'launch an immediate inquiry into the malfunctions of automatic braking systems'. The petition adds: 'Several car brands are affected. "The common thread among all these incidents: the presence of a driver assistance system, particularly for braking.' Christophe Theuil, vice-president of the French Federation of Automotive Expertise, explained: 'If the sensors are poorly adjusted, it's a bit like a nearsighted person driving without glasses. "With a difference of just one degree, the car can brake for objects that, in reality, are not present in the lane.' Officials say the investigation will examine sensors, algorithms and even weather conditions to understand what is going wrong. So far, there has been no official recall in France, though drivers say the fault appears across different makes and models. The row in France comes just days after thousands of UK motorists were slapped with a separate 'do not drive' recall. More than 100,000 Citroën and DS models on British roads have been grounded over potentially deadly airbags. The airbag scandal is not linked to phantom braking – but both cases raise questions about car safety and how quickly manufacturers act. Industry insiders warn the latest scare could damage trust in self-driving technology, which relies heavily on the same type of sensors now under suspicion. Some fear 'phantom braking' could even delay the rollout of autonomous vehicles if the issue is not fixed. Practical steps to take today Stop driving immediately. Park the car safely and remove the keys. Confirm your status by using the recall checker and then call your dealer with your VIN. Book the repair. Push for the earliest available slot or at‑home fix. Ask for mobility support. If no courtesy car is offered, request it explicitly - and ask about alternative options if the waiting list is long. Keep records. Save emails, note call times, and keep receipts for any extra travel costs. 3
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
French ‘influencer' dies after months of abuse filmed live on website
A French social media influencer has died on camera during a two-week livestream marathon after months of being 'humiliated and mistreated' for the entertainment of viewers. Raphaël Graven, better known to his 500,000 subscribers as Jean Pormanove, died in his sleep on Monday during a broadcast on the website Kick. The 46-year-old from Contes, north of Nice, is said to have suffered from a serious heart condition and had been broadcasting for more than 298 hours before his death. Videos seen by The Telegraph featuring Mr Graven with influencers Owen Cenazandotti, 26 – known as Naruto – and Safine Hamadi, 23 – alias Safi – apparently show him regularly being beaten, strangled, force-fed, doused in unpleasant liquids and targeted with a paintball gun. The creators of the videos allegedly received financial donations from viewers, who encouraged more and more degrading and extreme acts to be broadcast. The death has caused outrage in the French media, with Le Monde describing the dark side of human nature as 'reminiscent of some of the most chilling episodes from the British dystopian tech series Black Mirror '. Politicians called on regulators and livestreaming platforms to explain how the apparent abuse was broadcast online without any intervention. Prosecutors in Nice confirmed they had opened an investigation into Mr Graven's death and are conducting a post-mortem examination on Thursday. Police seized the group's recording and digital equipment during a search of a property in Contes. 'At this stage, there is nothing suspicious, interviews are under way,' a police spokesman said. In one video, Mr Graven, reportedly a former soldier, screams 'call the cops' to viewers after being pummelled by paintball pellets. In another that resurfaced after his death, Mr Cenazandotti and Mr Hamadi are apparently heard explicitly discussing the possibility of Mr Graven dying live on air. They urged him to tell viewers that if he were to die tomorrow it was 'because of his s----- health and not because of us'. Mr Cenazandotti is seen to say: 'People will come after us but it's because of your 46 years of a miserable life.' Eventually Mr Graven reluctantly stated to the camera: 'If something happens to me live, I take full responsibility.' Mr Graven is said to have sent a message to his mother shortly before his death that was read out by Mr Cenazandotti. In it, he stated: 'I think this is going too far, I feel like I'm being held captive with their s----- concept. I'm fed up, I want to get out, the other guy won't let me, he's holding me hostage.' In an excerpt from the latest 'XXL' livestream, which was widely shared on social media on Tuesday, Mr Cenazandotti can be seen expressing concern about his 'partner's' breathing problems and the risk of 'physical troubles'. The final video of Mr Graven, since deleted, shows him lying immobile under a duvet as a plastic water bottle is thrown in his direction. 'He's in a really weird position,' one man says before the broadcast is swiftly turned off. A fundraising counter shown on the video suggested the group had collected more than £31,000. Mr Cenazandotti and Mr Hamadi were detained in January before being released as part of a preliminary investigation into suspected violence against vulnerable people, Le Parisien reported. They have both denied any wrongdoing and dispute the facts of the case. Damien Martinelli, the prosecutor leading the preliminary investigation, said three charges were being considered, including 'public incitement via electronic communication to hatred or violence against a person or group due to their disability'. Clara Chappaz, France's deputy minister for digital affairs, said the nature of Mr Graven's death and the violence he endured are an 'absolute horror'. She has referred the incident to Arcom, France's media watchdog, and Pharos, the public platform for reporting illegal online content. 'I extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Jean Pormanove was humiliated and mistreated for months live on the Kick platform,' she said. 'I have also contacted the platform's management to obtain explanations. The responsibility of online platforms regarding the dissemination of illicit content is not optional: it is the law. This type of failure can lead to the worst and has no place in France, Europe or anywhere else.' Arcom has been criticised for failing to act despite repeated warnings from the media and viewers regarding Mr Grazen's alleged treatment. On Wednesday, Arthur Delaporte, the Socialist MP for Calvados, pointed out that Arcom had been notified of the problem following an investigation by news website Mediapart last December and would have to 'explain why nothing has happened since'. But he said the regulator 'does not have the resources to carry out its mission, with only 23 people to enforce the [European] Digital Services Act, compared to 60 in Germany'. In a written response, Arcom said it had been unable to act because the Kick platform has no legal representative within the European Union. Mr Delaporte said the 'parallel police investigation' had also failed to prevent this 'tragedy' and that French authorities in general had 'failed to protect this man'. Kick is one of the world's most popular livestreaming platforms and is often used by teenagers to film themselves playing games. The Australian-based website said it was 'urgently reviewing' the circumstances surrounding Mr Graven's death, including its own community guidelines. According to its terms of service, Kick specifically prohibits streamers from featuring anything that 'contains self-harm or excessive violence' and 'content in furtherance of harmful or illegal activities'. In a message posted on his Instagram account, Mr Cenazandotti said: 'My brother, my partner, my friend. Six years side by side, never letting go of each other. I love you, my brother, and we will miss you terribly.' Yassin Sadouni, his lawyer, told Le Monde: 'We are waiting for the results of the investigation to determine the full circumstances of JP's death and to identify the responsibilities of each party.' Mr Hamadi posted 'Rest in peace, my brother'. A spokesman for Kick said: 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jean Pormanove and extend our condolences to his family, friends and community. 'We are urgently reviewing the circumstances and engaging with relevant stakeholders to investigate the situation. Kick's community guidelines are designed to protect creators, and we remain committed to upholding these standards across our platform.'
Sky News
3 hours ago
- Sky News
Investigation launched into 'horrifying' death of French internet streamer
Why you can trust Sky News Several people have been interviewed and equipment seized by police investigating the death of an internet streamer who was known for taking part in extreme online challenges. Raphael Graven, who went by Jean Pormanove, was found dead in Contes, near Nice, on Sunday night. A post-mortem is taking place. Viewers of the Frenchman's last live stream on the Twitch-like platform Kick had reportedly become concerned about him lying lifeless on a mattress, unresponsive to their comments. "Several interviews with people present at the time of the death have been conducted, but at this stage they have not provided any guidance as to the causes of the death," said Nice's public prosecutor Damien Martinelli. "Numerous seizures of equipment and videos were made in order to clarify the events that occurred prior to the death and which may have contributed to it," he added. According to France24, prosecutors said the 46-year-old had been in an accommodation rented for the purpose of broadcasting live internet streams. The broadcast had reportedly been running for 10 days. French newspaper Le Monde said Graven was known for participating in videos in which he suffered apparent violence and humiliation, alongside two colleagues. France's digital technology minister, Clara Chappaz, said he had been "humiliated and abused for months" and confirmed that "a judicial investigation is underway". "Holding online platforms responsible for the dissemination of illegal content is not an option: it is the law. "This type of failure can lead to the worst and has no place in France, Europe, or anywhere else." What is Kick? Streaming platform Kick has been making waves since it was launched in early 2023. Built as a competitor to the Amazon-owned platform Twitch, it hosts livestreaming for everyone from gamers to influencers to gamblers. Although Kick's ownership isn't fully public, it is backed by some of the founders of the online casino and streamers can currently make more on Kick than on other platforms. While Twitch lets creators keep 50% of their profit, and YouTube lets creators keep 70%, Kick lets creators keep 95% of their earnings, according to Internet Matters. Those potential earnings have drawn a number of streamers - and their fans - over to the newer platform. Kick currently boasts around 57 million users worldwide, according to data reported by Digiday in April. Although its community guidelines have been recently updated, Kick is seen as having a more relaxed approach to moderation. This approach has led to some influencers who are banned on other platforms making their way over to Kick. Sarah El Hairy, France's high commissioner for children, described his death as "horrifying". "Platforms have an immense responsibility to regulate online content so that our children are not exposed to violent content," she said. "I urge parents to be extremely vigilant." Graven had more than one million followers across social media. He was particularly popular on Kick, which was founded in 2022 as a competitor to Amazon-owned Twitch. It's known for having looser moderation and offers creators a higher share of revenue. A spokesperson for Kick told Sky News: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jean Pormanove and extend our condolences to his family, friends, and community. "We are urgently reviewing the circumstances and engaging with relevant stakeholders to investigate the situation.
