An investigation has been launched into the death of an internet streamer who was known for taking part in extreme online challenges.
Raphael Graven, who went by Jean Pormanove, was found dead in Contes, near Nice, on Sunday night.
Viewers of the Frenchman’s last live stream on the Twitch-like platform Kick had reportedly become concerned about him lying lifeless on a mattress, unresponsive to their comments.
According to France24, prosecutors said he had been in accommodation rented for the purpose of broadcasting internet live streams. The broadcast had reportedly been running for 10 days.
French newspaper Le Monde said Graven was known for participating in videos in which he suffered violence and humiliation, alongside two colleagues. One man was seen throwing a water bottle at him as he laid on the mattress.
France’s digital technology minister, Clara Chappaz, said he had been “humiliated and abused for months”.
“A judicial investigation is underway,” she said.
“Holding online platforms responsible for the dissemination of illegal content is not an option: it is the law.
“This type of failure can lead to the worst and has no place in France, Europe, or anywhere else.”
Sarah El Hairy, France’s high commissioner for children, described his death as “horrifying”.
“Platforms have an immense responsibility to regulate online content so that our children are not exposed to violent content,” she said. “I urge parents to be extremely vigilant.”
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Graven had more than one million followers across social media.
He was particularly popular on Kick, which was founded in 2022 as a competitor to Amazon-owned Twitch. It’s known for having looser moderation, and offers creators a higher share of revenue.
A spokesperson for Kick told the AFP news agency the firm was “urgently reviewing” Graven’s death.
They said the platform’s community guidelines were “designed to protect” users, and it was committed to upholding them.
Sky News has contacted the Nice prosecutor’s office and Kick for comment.
