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Journalism of Courage
French streamer and TikTok star JeanPormanove, whose real name was Raphael Graven, died, officials confirmed on Tuesday. Graven was found dead in a house in Contes, a village just north of Nice. The 46-year-old was popular for his extreme challenges, according to BFMTV. His past livestream videos showed men hitting, strangling, and even shooting him with a paintball gun.
Reports in local media and accounts from fellow streamers suggest that just days before his sudden passing, JeanPormanove had taken part in a controversial “ten days and nights of torture” challenge. His final live stream on the streaming platform Kick reportedly ended abruptly, prompting concerned viewers to alert authorities.
A Kick spokesperson told the BBC that it is “reviewing” the circumstances of Graven’s death. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jeanpormanove and extend our condolences to his family, friends and community,” the spokesperson said.
Sarah El Hairy, France’s high commissioner for children, called for stronger protections against harmful content online. “Platforms have an immense responsibility in regulating online content so that our children are not exposed to violent content. I call on parents to be extremely vigilant,” she said.
Clara Chappaz, France’s minister of digital affairs, described the incident as an “absolute horror.” “The death of Jean Pormanove and the violence he endured are an absolute horror. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Jean Pormanove was humiliated and mistreated for months live on the Kick platform. A judicial investigation is underway. I have referred the matter to Arcom and made a report on Pharos. I have also contacted the platform’s management to obtain explanations,” she wrote on X.
Chappaz stressed that online platforms cannot ignore their legal responsibilities: “The responsibility of online platforms regarding the dissemination of illicit content is not optional: it is the law. This type of failure can lead to the worst and has no place in France, Europe, or anywhere else.”
JeanPormanove had created a niche for himself with a significant fan following of more than a million across his social media platforms. His close friend Naruto confirmed his passing on Instagram, paying tribute to his “brother, sidekick, partner.”
