The Tragic Death of Jean Pormanove: When Trash Streaming Turns Fatal

Jean Pormanove, whose real name was Raphaël Graven, was once celebrated as one of France’s most popular streamers. Born in 1979, he began his online career in 2020, first on TikTok and Twitch before moving to Kick in 2023. There, he quickly became the most-watched French creator, with hundreds of thousands of followers who tuned in to his “Just Chatting” sessions, gaming streams, and marathon broadcasts. To many, he embodied the new era of online celebrity—interactive, raw, and unfiltered.

But behind the success, Jean’s story took a dark turn. In mid-August 2025, during what became a 10- to 12-day livestream marathon on Kick, the 46-year-old streamer collapsed and died live on camera. Viewers watched in shock as he struggled to breathe and eventually went still. The stream was abruptly cut, but the damage was done: one of France’s most influential digital personalities had lost his life in real time.

The circumstances surrounding his death were harrowing. Reports revealed that Jean had been subjected to repeated humiliation and physical abuse during the broadcast. Other participants—known online as “Naruto” and “Safine”—forced him into dangerous acts, including ingesting toxic substances, being covered in paint, deprived of sleep, and even choked on camera. What some viewers initially dismissed as “content” quickly became clear evidence of mistreatment. His final hours were less a performance than a tragedy unfolding in plain sight.

Authorities in France immediately launched an investigation, with prosecutors in Nice ordering an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Clara Chappaz, the French minister of digital affairs, condemned the “unbelievable violence” of the event and called for stricter oversight of platforms like Kick. Meanwhile, the streaming site moved quickly to ban all accounts involved, cut ties with the agency responsible for organizing the event, and promised stronger moderation in French-language content. Still, many critics argue that these measures came far too late.

Jean Pormanove’s death also shines a spotlight on a growing and disturbing phenomenon: trash streaming. This style of content thrives on humiliation, shock, and risk-taking. The more extreme the act, the more donations and views it generates. For some creators, it becomes a vicious cycle—an audience hungry for spectacle and a streamer desperate to hold attention. In Jean’s case, the spectacle escalated beyond control, and the price was his life.

Trash streaming isn’t unique to France. Around the world, creators push their bodies and minds to the limit in search of virality. But Jean’s death is one of the starkest reminders yet of the consequences. What may begin as “entertainment” can quickly slide into abuse, exploitation, and tragedy. And because livestreams unfold in real time, there is no safety net—no editing, no delay, no way to undo the damage once it happens.

Reactions from the global streaming community have been mixed. Some fans mourned Jean as a pioneer whose generosity and authenticity touched thousands. Others see his story as a cautionary tale, proof that chasing views at any cost can end in disaster. Even celebrities like rapper Drake and streamer Adin Ross—both linked financially to Kick—publicly offered to cover Jean’s funeral expenses, underscoring the shockwaves his death sent through the industry.

At its core, this tragedy raises difficult questions: How far should platforms go to protect creators from themselves? To what extent are audiences complicit when they reward dangerous stunts with clicks and donations? And is the pursuit of entertainment worth the destruction it can cause?

Jean Pormanove’s death is more than the end of a streamer’s career—it is a mirror reflecting the darkest impulses of digital culture. Unless lessons are learned, his story may not be the last of its kind.