Rapper Drake and popular streamer Adin Ross will pay for the funeral of French creator Jean Pormanove, who was found unresponsive during a live broadcast on August 18, 2025. The 46-year-old streamer’s real name was Raphaël Graven. He was discovered during a 10-day streaming marathon on Kick.
French police opened an investigation into his death after reports of abuse and humiliation during the broadcast drew attention online.
From Gaming Videos to Dangerous Stunts
Raphaël Graven was one of the most-watched French streamers on Kick, a platform that allows more content types than competitors like Twitch or YouTube. He had over 669,000 Twitch followers and more on TikTok.
He started streaming in 2020 with traditional gaming videos before shifting toward extreme challenges that brought higher viewer engagement on Kick. Previous streams show a pattern of extreme content, with Pormanove often targeted by pranks and challenges pushing entertainment boundaries.
The business model works through live donations from audiences paying to watch and interact with streamers. Pormanove worked with other streamers during these challenges, splitting donation money. The final livestream drew about $42,000 in donations as audiences paid to watch the 300-hour broadcast.
A 300-Hour Marathon Turns Fatal.
The 10-day streaming marathon took place in a rented room near Nice, a city in France, where Pormanove and other content creators lived together while broadcasting nonstop. They slept, ate, and talked on camera while viewers paid to watch and send messages.
According to media reports, viewers watching the live stream noticed Pormanove looked motionless under a bed cover. After he stopped moving, viewers donated money to send messages alerting the sleeping streamers to his condition. Owen Cenazandotti, who was there, threw a plastic water bottle at Pormanove to try to wake him. He had previously been roused when water was thrown over him. When Pormanove didn’t respond, the streamers realized something was wrong and stopped the broadcast.
Cenazandotti confirmed Pormanove’s death on social media, writing that his “brother” and streaming partner had died during the night.
In messages reportedly sent to his mother just days before his death, Pormanove expressed distress about his situation. ‘It’s going too far,’ he wrote. ‘I feel like I’m kidnapped with their shitty concept. I’m fed up, I want to get out of here, the other guy won’t let me, he’s keeping me locked in.’
Drake and Ross Promise to Honor Fallen Creator
As news of Pormanove’s death spread, disturbing videos from his recent streams emerged. The footage shows Pormanove being choked, beaten, shot with paintballs, and subjected to sleep deprivation during his broadcasts. Popular streamer Adin Ross responded on August 19, posting on X that the situation was “horrible and disgusting” and calling for severe punishment for anyone involved.
This is horrible and disgusting. Whoever was apart of this deserves to face severe consequences. I just spoke with drake. Drake and I will be covering the funeral costs , this won’t bring his life back, it’s the least we can do. Prayers go out to Jean’s family ❤️ 🙏 https://t.co/xyAAmRlU6S
— AR15THEDEMON (@AR15thed3mon) August 19, 2025
The streaming community praised the move, with content creators and audiences welcoming the gesture.
Autopsy Finds No Trauma as Officials Launch Probe
Nice prosecutors said their autopsy found no signs of trauma or foul play in Pormanove’s death. There were more toxicology tests done, and the results are still pending.
French Digital Affairs Minister Clara Chappaz called Pormanove’s death and the violence he faced an “absolute horror.” She referred the matter to Arcom, France’s media regulator, and filed reports with Pharos, the country’s portal for reporting illegal internet content.
This wasn’t the first time authorities had looked into these streams. In January 2025, police detained two of Pormanove’s frequent streaming partners, Owen Cenazandotti and Safine Hamadi, investigating alleged violence against vulnerable people during livestreams. Both were released without charges, with their lawyers claiming the violence was staged and scripted.
Kick Faces Government Scrutiny Over Content Policies
Kick has banned all co-streamers who participated in the final broadcast while the investigation continues. The platform released a statement expressing sympathy to Raphaël Graven family and emphasizing its commitment to creator safety.
This incident has put Kick’s strategy under intense scrutiny from French regulators. The platform’s business model relies on sharing revenue with creators who attract viewers through content that other services don’t allow, but this case has intensified discussions about whether loose policies enable dangerous content creation.
The minister has escalated her response by demanding explanations from Kick about its content moderation policies, insisting that platform responsibility for illegal content is legally required, not optional.
French officials have said major platforms must take responsibility for fighting systemic risks, including protecting minors, public health, and individual safety. The Pormanove case may influence future regulatory approaches for content moderation across Europe.
Making money from extreme content through viewer donations creates financial incentives for dangerous stunts, raising ethical questions about platforms profiting from harmful material and the need for stronger creator protection measures.
A Wake-Up Call for the Streaming Industry
The streaming industry now faces pressure to examine practices around extreme content and streamer safety. The financial success of dangerous content creates harmful incentives that platforms and creators must address. The support from Drake and Ross shows how influential figures can use their platforms to help community members during crises.
Raphaël Graven case serves as a reminder of the human costs behind digital entertainment and the need for stronger streamer protections. His death has started important conversations about responsibility, safety, and the ethics of extreme content in the streaming world.
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