A French streamer known as Jean Pormanove died during a livestream on Kick, prompting an investigation into alleged abuse and humiliation he endured for months. The autopsy has ruled out trauma, but authorities are examining the circumstances leading to his death.
Raphaël Graven, a French internet personality who streamed under the name Jean Pormanove, was the victim in this incident. He was known for his content on the livestreaming platform Kick, where he engaged with viewers and co-streamers.
The event involved his death during a prolonged broadcast, with allegations that he was subjected to mistreatment and humiliation by others on the platform. This abuse was reportedly encouraged by viewer payments to generate more engagement and revenue.
The death occurred on Monday, August 18, 2025, and the news gained widespread attention with articles published on August 21, 2025, following the autopsy results and ongoing investigations.
The incident took place at a residence in Contes, a village north of Nice, France, and was broadcast live on the Kick platform, which is based in Australia but has a global user base.
The motivation behind the abuse appears to be financial gain, as co-streamers and viewers allegedly participated in or encouraged the mistreatment to boost subscriptions and donations. French investigative website Mediapart had previously reported on what it called the ‘online abuse business’ involving Pormanove.
How the death occurred is still under investigation, but the autopsy conducted on August 21 found that it was not due to trauma or the intervention of a third party. Equipment and videos from the stream have been seized to clarify events leading to the death.
The impact has been significant, with public outcry, government statements condemning the abuse, and a judicial investigation already underway into allegations of violence and humiliation. Kick has banned all co-streamers involved in the broadcast pending the outcome, and there is broader discussion about ethics in livestreaming.
What’s next includes the continuation of the investigation to determine the exact cause of death and whether criminal charges will be filed. There may be calls for stricter regulations on livestreaming platforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.