The shocking death of French online personality Raphael Graven, better known by his streaming name Jean Pormanove, has sparked outrage across France and far beyond.
The 46-year-old content creator, who had built a following of more than a million across platforms, reportedly endured days of humiliation and dangerous stunts before he was found dead in his home in Contes, near Nice.
What makes this even more disturbing is that much of his suffering played out live for viewers on Kick, a streaming platform similar to Twitch.
Clips later circulated online showing him motionless in bed during what friends described as one of his “humiliation streams.”
A Mother’s Pain and a Sister’s Grief
Speaking publicly after the tragedy, Graven’s mother described her son as a “boy with a big heart” who had created a second family in Nice.
She remembered him as someone loved and welcomed everywhere he went.
His sister shared her own heartbreak, saying she believed he had died from sheer exhaustion.
“I was very, very proud of what my brother became,” she said. “But he shouldn’t have died like this. What he went through is intolerable.”
Disturbing Content Before His Death
Graven was no stranger to controversial challenges online.
Past livestreams showed him being slapped, strangled, force-fed, covered in foul liquids, and even shot with paintballs.
Local media reports suggest he may have endured sleep deprivation, violence, and even toxic substances in the days leading up to his death.
Just before he died, Graven sent a haunting message to his mother, saying he felt like he was “being held hostage” and admitting he was “fed up” with the very streams that had made him popular.
Friends, Fans, and Famous Names Respond
The shocking circumstances have caught the attention of major public figures.
Rapper Drake and online streamer Adin Ross announced they would cover the funeral expenses, calling the ordeal “horrible and disgusting.”
Ross added on social media, “This won’t bring his life back, but it’s the least we can do.”
Meanwhile, one of Graven’s co-streamers, known as Naruto, announced his death on Instagram and urged fans not to share disturbing clips of his final livestream.
He described Graven as his “brother, sidekick, partner.”
Police and Prosecutors Step In
French prosecutors have launched a full investigation into Graven’s death.
An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday, with authorities seizing videos and questioning those who were present in the room during his final hours.
Two men, known online as Naruto and Safine, had already been questioned earlier this year over similar accusations of exploiting vulnerable people in online “events” for money.
Graven himself was interviewed back then but denied being mistreated, insisting the stunts were staged to generate buzz and revenue.
Kick Responds to Growing Pressure
The platform at the center of the controversy, Kick, said it has banned all creators who were involved in the disturbing broadcast and is now carrying out a full review of its French content.
While Kick markets itself as more flexible than Twitch, this tragedy has fueled criticism that it allows harmful content to thrive.
A spokesperson for Kick expressed sadness over Graven’s death, saying the platform was “urgently reviewing the circumstances” and was committed to better enforcing its guidelines.
Officials Call It an “Absolute Horror”
French politicians have not held back their anger.
Clara Chappaz, France’s junior minister for digital affairs, called Graven’s death “an absolute horror,” urging platforms to take stronger steps to protect vulnerable creators.
Sarah El Haïry, the High Commissioner for Children, echoed that warning, stressing the dangers of young people being exposed to violent and abusive online content.
A Spotlight on “Humiliation Streams”
The case has shone a harsh light on a disturbing corner of online culture in France—humiliation streams, where creators are subjected to abuse, mockery, or dangerous dares to draw views and donations.
For many, Graven’s death is more than just a personal tragedy; it’s a wake-up call about the risks of unregulated online platforms and the lengths some streamers will go to for fame, money, and attention.
