On August 18th, viewers of a live broadcast on the Kick platform witnessed a distressing incident involving one of the participants. Jean ‘JP’ Pormanove, a prominent online personality, appeared unresponsive during the stream. Concerned viewers notified Jean’s co-streamers, Owen ‘Naruto’ Cenazandotti and Safine Hamad, leading to the discovery that Jean, whose real name was Raphaël Graven and was 46 years old, had passed away in his sleep on camera after enduring alleged mistreatment from fellow streamers over a two-week period.
During a 12-day live stream, Jean, a former soldier, reportedly faced humiliation on camera as donations poured in from viewers of the Le Lokal TV channel in France. It is alleged that the group accumulated 36,000 euros (£31,700) during this time. The former soldier was purportedly subjected to various forms of abuse, including suffocation with a plastic bag and a nappy, sleep deprivation, and multiple head strikes, all for the sake of online engagement.
Witnesses recounted seeing Jean in agony, screaming as he was subjected to physical harm, including being throttled, shot at with paintballs, and exposed to toxic substances. The stream also displayed instances of verbal abuse, forced cleaning of excrement, and forced hair shaving. Concerns about Jean’s well-being were further highlighted when his mother scolded him during the live stream, expressing her distress over his participation in the ordeal.
Before his untimely death, Cenazandotti reportedly attempted to absolve himself of any responsibility for Jean’s potential demise, emphasizing the importance of attributing any negative outcomes to Jean’s health rather than their actions. Despite Jean’s refusal to comply, Cenazandotti persisted, insinuating that blame might fall on them if a tragic event were to occur.
Tragically, Jean could not be revived on August 18, prompting one of the influencers to end the stream. Subsequent investigations confirmed Jean’s passing at his residence in Contes, a small town near Nice, France. Cenazandotti mourned Jean’s death, referring to him as his “brother” and expressing deep sorrow at the loss.
Legal representatives for the streamers denied any involvement in Jean’s death, asserting that the controversial events during the live stream had been staged. Autopsy results revealed that Jean, who had preexisting medical conditions, did not succumb to physical injuries, suggesting that the cause of death was likely medical or toxicological in nature.
Following Jean’s demise, government officials and law enforcement in France initiated inquiries into potential legal violations by the Kick platform for allegedly disseminating harmful content. Kick pledged to cooperate with the authorities and investigate the matter thoroughly, expressing condolences to Jean’s loved ones.
The Mirror has contacted Kick for further comments on the situation. If you have encountered similar violent live streams, please reach out to julia.banim@reachplc.com.