Kick Accuses French Authorities of Politicising Streamer’s Death Amid Ongoing Investigation

Jean Pormanove and Kick streaming.

The streaming platform Kick has accused French authorities of politicising the death of French content creator Raphaël Graven, widely known online as Jean Pormanove, who passed away during a livestream last week near the city of Nice.

Prosecutors in Paris have launched a formal investigation into Kick’s role in the incident. French government minister Clara Chappaz has gone further, stating that the state plans to take legal action against the Australian-based platform to “stop the damage caused by the content involved in this tragedy.”

Kick, however, has pushed back strongly, arguing that the case has been turned into a political narrative rather than focusing on creator safety or industry well-being. Speaking to BBC News, the company said it was “disappointed” that the media was informed of the minister’s comments before the platform itself.

Mr. Graven was best known for content in which he appeared to endure acts of humiliation and staged violence. Reports from French outlets noted that some of his streams involved sleep deprivation and physical challenges. Following his death on August 18, local authorities seized recordings and began interviewing those present during the livestream. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that his passing was not the result of direct trauma or actions from another person.

Kick has since clarified its stance, stating that Mr. Graven died during a “typical” broadcast and that, based on prior statements from him and other participants, much of the content had been “pre-planned and scripted.” The platform added that it immediately removed footage showing his death, suspended accounts linked to the incident, and has been cooperating fully with law enforcement, Arcom (France’s media regulator), and Chappaz’s office.

In its latest statement, Kick said it was “surprised” by the tone of some political responses and called for the chance to “work serenely with French authorities and correct the false narratives that are circulated.” The company also stressed it has no intention of evading its regulatory responsibilities.