French authorities have initiated a judicial investigation into the death of a 46-year-old streamer, known as Raphael Graven, who went by the online alias “Jean Pormanove” or “JP.” The man died on Monday during a live broadcast on the streaming platform Kick, according to reports.
Graven had amassed a following of over a million across social media platforms for his extreme challenges, which reportedly included physical violence, humiliation, and sleep deprivation. The death occurred after a marathon stream that viewers described as “10 days and nights of torture.” Reports suggest viewers grew concerned after Graven was seen lying motionless on a mattress during the stream, leading to the broadcast being cut off.
The death has prompted outrage from French officials, with Clara Chappaz, the Minister for Digital Affairs, stating that “the death of Jean Pormanove and the violence he suffered are an absolute horror.” She has referred the matter to France’s media regulator, Arcom, and a police investigation has been launched to determine the cause of death. The streaming platform, Kick, has also issued a statement expressing condolences and affirming its commitment to creator safety while banning those involved in the stream.