On August 18 this year, spectators watching a livestream on the Kick platform noticed a disturbing situation involving one of the participants. Jean ‘JP’ Pormanove appeared unresponsive during the stream. Concerned viewers notified Jean’s streaming partners, Owen ‘Naruto’ Cenazandotti and Safine Hamad, and it was later revealed that Jean, 46, whose real name was Raphaël Graven, had passed away in his sleep on camera after alleged mistreatment by fellow streamers, who denied any wrongdoing.
During a 12-day livestream, Jean, a former soldier, was reportedly subjected to humiliation on camera as donations poured in for the Le Lokal TV channel in France, totaling 36,000 euros (£31,700). Allegedly, he was smothered with a plastic bag and a nappy, deprived of sleep, and repeatedly hit on the head. Witnesses described seeing Jean in agony, screaming as others piled on top of him.
Videos purportedly showed influencers vying to see how long they could choke Jean, along with instances of him being shot with paintballs and forced to ingest harmful substances. Additionally, he was verbally abused, made to clean up after another streamer, and had parts of his hair shaved off.
In a previously reported incident, Jean’s mother reprimanded him during the livestream, expressing her disapproval of his participation in the ordeal. Other influencers read aloud a message from Jean to his mother, where he complained about his treatment and feeling trapped in a distressing situation.
Before his death, Cenazandotti requested Jean to absolve them of any responsibility if he passed away, insinuating that it would be due to his health issues. Despite pressure from Cenazandotti, Jean stood his ground, emphasizing the importance of receiving assistance during the livestream.
Upon discovering Jean unresponsive on August 18, one of the influencers terminated the stream. It was later confirmed that Jean had been found deceased at his residence in Contes, a small town near Nice, France.
Following his death, Cenazandotti mourned Jean’s passing, describing him as his “brother” and expressing deep sorrow over the loss. Legal representatives for Cenazandotti and Hamadi denied any involvement in Pormanove’s demise, stating that the incidents targeting Jean were staged.
An autopsy revealed that Jean, who had underlying health issues and was undergoing medical treatment, did not die from physical injuries, suggesting the cause of death could be medical or toxicological.
Despite claims from several viewers about the violent nature of the livestream, Kick did not remove the content. Prior concerns had been raised about Jean, leading to brief detentions of Cenazandotti and Hamad earlier in the year, though no charges were filed.
In response to the tragedy, France’s minister delegate for artificial intelligence and digital affairs condemned the mistreatment Jean endured on the Kick platform, emphasizing the legal responsibility of online platforms to prevent the dissemination of illegal content.
The Paris prosecutor’s office initiated a preliminary inquiry into whether Kick knowingly facilitated illegal activities by broadcasting videos compromising individuals’ integrity.
Kick expressed deep sadness over Jean’s passing and pledged to investigate the matter in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The platform assured cooperation with authorities regarding any ongoing investigations.
The Mirror contacted Kick for further comments on the incident.