Kick Bans Streamers Accused of Abusing Jean Pormanove

Kick has banned the streamers accused of abusing French content creator Raphaël Graven, better known as Jean Pormanove, in the days leading up to his death. The decision comes amid mounting backlash and an official judicial investigation into what prosecutors have described as “ten days and nights of torture.”

Abuse Allegations Leading to Death

Pormanove, a 46-year-old former soldier turned streamer, died in his sleep on August 18, 2025, while broadcasting live from a residence in Contes, near Nice.

According to Le Monde and other French outlets, he was allegedly subjected to continuous abuse by fellow streamers “Naruto” (Owen Cenazandotti) and Safine. Reports detail extreme violence, sleep deprivation, and forced ingestion of toxic products during the marathon livestream.

Viral clips circulating on social media have shown Pormanove being struck, strangled, and shot with paintball guns while still on camera. The disturbing footage sparked outrage across France and beyond, with many questioning how such broadcasts were allowed to continue without platform intervention.

Clara Chappaz, Minister for Digital Affairs and AI, stated that Pormanove had been “humiliated and mistreated for months live on Kick” and stressed that platforms have a legal duty to remove harmful content.

Sarah El Haïry, France’s High Commissioner for Children, also condemned Kick, warning that “platforms have an immense responsibility in regulating online content so that our children are not exposed to violent content.”

High-profile Kick streamers have also weighed in. Adin Ross called for “severe consequences” for those responsible, adding that he and rapper Drake would cover Pormanove’s funeral expenses.

Kick Responds With Bans and Internal Probe

On Wednesday, Kick’s French account confirmed that it had permanently banned all streamers involved in the broadcasts. The platform also announced it is conducting its own internal investigation while pledging full cooperation with French authorities.

“We are committed to fully cooperating with the authorities in this process,” Kick said in its statement. “Our priority is to protect creators and ensure a safer environment on Kick.”

The company further revealed it had ended its collaboration with its former French social media agency, which came under fire for using images of Pormanove in promotional posts. Kick says it has launched a full review of its French operations to ensure such lapses never happen again.

French authorities also confirmed on August 20 that the Nice judicial police are investigating the alleged actions of the streamers under multiple charges, following reports by Le Monde.

This isn’t the first time Naruto and Safine have faced scrutiny. In January 2025, the pair were briefly taken into custody on suspicion of producing exploitative livestreams involving vulnerable individuals but were released the same day.

The tragedy has reignited debate over Kick’s moderation policies. Despite efforts to move away from its reputation for unregulated content, the platform is now facing intense pressure from French officials to impose stricter safeguards, particularly around the protection of vulnerable individuals and minors.