Latest news with #extremechallenges
Sky News
23 minutes 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.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Raphael Grave: Investigation launched into 'horrifying' death of French online streamer
An investigation has been launched into the 'horrifying' death of a French online streamer known for taking part in extreme challenges. Raphael Graven, who went by Jean Pormanove, was found dead in Contes, near Nice, on Sunday night, prosecutors said. The 46-year-old was live streaming on the live video streaming platform Kick, when viewers raised concerns about him lying unconscious on a mattress. Mr Graven was known for taking part in videos in which he suffered violence, alongside two colleagues, according to French newspaper Le Monde. One man was seen throwing a water bottle at him as he laid on the mattress. He had been living in rented accommodation at the time of his death for the purpose of broadcasting internet live streams. French government minister Clara Chappaz described Mr Graven's death and the violence he endured as an "absolute horror", adding he had been "humiliated" for months. A spokesperson for Kick — which emerged as a competitor to Twitch — told the BBC the company was "urgently reviewing" circumstances around the streamer's death. They expressed their 'sadness' at the loss of Jean Pormanove and extended their 'condolences to his family, friends and community.' Platform guidelines were 'designed to protect creators' and it was 'committed to upholding these standard across our platform' the spokesperson added. Chappaz said the issue had been referred to Arcom, the French media regulator, and Pharos, a French system used to report online content. Sarah El Haïry, France's High Commissioner for Children, described the death as 'horrifying'. She wrote on X: 'Platforms have an immense responsibility in regulating online content so that our children are not exposed to violent content. I call on parents to exercise the utmost vigilance.' Graven had more than one million followers across social media and was particularly popular on Kick, which was founded in 2022. Kick is known for having looser moderation and offers creators a higher share of revenue.
Sky News
16 hours ago
- Sky News
Investigation launched into 'horrifying' death of French online streamer
An investigation has been launched into 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. 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.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
French online star known for extreme challenges dies during live stream following 'ten days of torture, sleep deprivation and ingestion of toxic products'
A French online star known for carrying out extreme challenges died after a reported 'ten days of torture, sleep deprivation and ingestion of toxic products'. Raphael Graven, better known online as Jean Pormanove, died aged 46 at his home in Contes, Alpes-Maritimes, on Sunday night. Officers arrived at his home on Monday morning at around 10am where they found the popular streamer alone and deceased in his bed. On social media, several internet users reported an abrupt end to his livestream on the Kick platform, after he had just spent 'ten days and nights of torture,' including 'extreme' physical violence, 'sleep deprivation,' and 'the ingestion of toxic products', according to BFMTV. In a clip shared on social media following the incident, another streamer who had been present during what is billed as 'the last live,' is seen quickly cutting the stream after attempting to wake up Pormanove. Known for taking part in extreme challenges online alongside his streamers Naruto and Safine, Pormanove's content ranged from gaming sessions to humiliation streams that sparked controversy. In clips, he has been seen having objects thrown at him, food pushed into his mouth while being restrained, and being tackled to the ground in what appears to be a basement. Naruto and Safine were taken into custody in January 2025 on suspicion of violence against vulnerable people, according to Mediapart. A report from Le Parisien states Pornanove and another disabled influencer had been humiliated live, which both streamers denied. Taking to X on Tuesday, Clara Chappaz, French Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs wrote: 'Jean Pormanove was humiliated and mistreated for months live on the Kick platform. 'A judicial investigation is underway. I have contacted Arcom and filed a report on Pharos. I have also contacted the platform's managers to obtain explanations.' Following the content creator's death, Naruto announced the death of his 'brother, sidekick, partner', on Instagram, and asked for 'respect for his memory'. Paying tribute to the late streamer, he wrote: 'I've always dreaded the day I'd have to write these words. 'Sadly, last night, JP (Raphael Graven) left us. My brother, my sidekick, my partner, six years side by side, never letting go. I love you, my brother, and we will miss you terribly. 'I ask you all to respect his memory and not share the video of his last breath in his sleep. For his family and for us, his second family. 'Rest in peace, my brother, Owen'. It comes after a TikToker was shot dead while livestreaming to her followers last month. Keyla Andreina González Mercado was allegedly blasted in the head by her friend's partner while they drank alcohol together. The victim appeared to tease the suspect, named Manuel Andrés Álava Lázaro, before he allegedly pulled the trigger. In the livestreamed footage, Keyla told him: 'Shoot me twice, I beg you, but later, let me get drunk.' The 28-year-old added: 'You'll hit me in the head twice, you'll kill me in one go, I don't want to suffer, two in the head.' Her friend was heard saying 'no, no' in the background. Keyla appeared to shout the suspect's name before he allegedly fired twice. Keyla's friend reportedly stopped the livestream and went to her family's house to inform them of the shooting.
