An autopsy has provided new insights into the tragic death of French streamer Raphaël Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove.
Graven, 46, was found dead on Monday (August 18) at a residence in Contes, a village north of Nice, following a harrowing live broadcast on the streaming platform Kick.
The popular figure on Kick, which is similar to Twitch, was reportedly subjected to extreme physical and psychological abuse during the 10-day broadcast.
Previous streams had shown him enduring violent humiliation, such as being slapped, strangled, force-fed, and targeted with paintball guns, sparking concern from his audience.
His alleged final moments were captured on stream, where viewers grew alarmed upon noticing that he had become unresponsive, lying motionless on a mattress.
According to French media, Pormanove had suffered intense sleep deprivation and was allegedly forced to ingest toxic substances.
His death has ignited outrage, particularly after a heartbreaking message he sent to his mother, where he described feeling “held hostage” and “fed up” with the degrading streams.
However, prosecutor Damien Martinelli revealed that the autopsy found no evidence of trauma or burns on the broadcaster's body. Medical examiners confirmed there were no "internal or external injuries", and the cause of death appears to be "medical or toxicological" in nature, per Daily Mail.
Further tests are being conducted to determine whether he had underlying health issues, such as a potential heart problem, or complications from his thyroid treatment.
The shocking death follows a history of disturbing content the streamer had been part of on Kick, where he amassed a significant following.
Pormanove had previously participated in online events with fellow streamers Naruto and Safine, who have been accused of mistreating participants for financial gain. Though he had previously denied any mistreatment, police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the events leading up to his death.
In the aftermath, Canadian rapper Drake and internet personality Adin Ross have vowed to cover the costs of his funeral.
“This is horrible and disgusting. Whoever was a part of this deserves to face severe consequences,” Ross wrote. “I just spoke with Drake. Drake and I will be covering the funeral costs. This won’t bring his life back, but it’s the least we can do. Prayers go out to Jean’s family.”
Kick, the streaming platform where Graven built his following, has also issued a statement expressing sadness over his passing. The platform has confirmed that it is conducting a full review of the incident, with all co-streamers involved in the event being banned until the investigation is concluded.
“Kick’s community guidelines are designed to protect creators, and we remain committed to upholding these standards,” a spokesperson added, per Sky News.
As authorities continue their investigation, the tragic death of Pormanove has raised serious questions about the limits of online content and the treatment of vulnerable individuals in the digital world.
His family has expressed their heartbreak over the loss, with his mother remembering him as a man "with a big heart" who had found a second family in Nice.
"'He had brothers in Metz, but he found brothers in Nice, he was a family, he was invited everywhere," she added.
His sister, devastated by his passing, believes he died from exhaustion, calling the circumstances surrounding his death "intolerable" and "unacceptable."