French Authorities Investigate Death of Streamer Jean Pormanove During Livestream
French prosecutors are investigating the death of 46-year-old streamer Jean Pormanove, who died during a livestream that involved mistreatment and humiliation.
French prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the death of 46-year-old Raphaël Graven, known online as "Jean Pormanove" or "JP," who passed away during a livestream in Contes, near Nice. Graven had gained a substantial following by broadcasting live internet shows where he was subjected to mistreatment and humiliation.
The livestream, broadcast on the Australian platform Kick, reportedly showed Graven lying immobile under a bed cover while one of two men in the room threw a plastic water bottle in his direction. French government minister Clara Chappaz described the streamer's death as an "absolute horror" and stated that Graven had been "humiliated and mistreated for months live on the Kick platform." She emphasized that the responsibility of online platforms regarding the dissemination of illicit content is mandated by law.
The Nice prosecutor's office has launched an investigation to determine the cause of death and has ordered an autopsy. This inquiry follows an ongoing eight-month investigation into alleged deliberate violent acts against vulnerable individuals that have been disseminated online. The platform Kick, known for its less stringent user terms compared to its rival Twitch, declined to provide information about the investigation, citing its policy of confidentiality.
Graven emerged on social media about five years ago and had approximately 500,000 followers on platforms like TikTok and Twitch. He was known for his gaming streams and extreme challenges with other streamers. His death has raised concerns about the safety and regulation of online content, especially involving vulnerable individuals.
In recent months, other social media influencers have been targets of deadly violence during livestreams. In June, the Venezuelan prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the livestreamed murder of a popular TikTok user. In May, the murder of a young influencer during a livestream in Jalisco, Mexico, shocked the country, leading prosecutors to open an investigation for "femicide" after the murder of 23-year-old Valeria Márquez.