French authorities are investigating the death of Raphaël Graven, an internet personality who died on Monday during a broadcast on the livestreaming platform Kick. Mr. Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove, was subjected to humiliation and abuse on Kick, where he had over 500,000 followers.
The investigation is ongoing, with French authorities reviewing footage of the live stream that showed Mr. Graven being humiliated by other streamers. The death has sparked a debate about the role governments should play in regulating parts of the internet where harassment and violence can go unchecked.
Kick’s moderators have identified 15,000 people who watched the live stream, but the platform has faced criticism for its lax approach to content regulation. The company prioritizes safety, but it seems that not enough was done to prevent Mr. Graven’s abuse.
French officials say a probe into the actions of other streamers is underway, and Clara Chappaz, a junior minister, described the violence as “horrific.” An autopsy found bruises on Mr. Graven’s body but no traumatic lesions, suggesting that his death was not linked to external factors.
The investigation comes after an article by Mediapart in December exposed how a group of streamers were engaging in abuse and humiliation on Kick to attract donations from viewers. The platform has since barred the involved streamers from participating while it re-evaluates its French content.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/world/europe/jean-pormanove-dead-streamer-kick-french.html