Image via: Instagram/jeanpormanove Following the sudden death of a heartbreaking abuse and exploitation show, the French government has launched a judicial investigation into Kick streaming site. Jean Pormanove was found dead on August 18, 2025, at his home in Contes. He was 46 years old. Reports say that during his death in a live broadcast, he underwent ten consecutive days of extreme physical violence, sleep deprivation, and consumption of toxic substances.
A Tragic End for Extreme Challenges
Clips of the broadcast went viral on X, showing the co-streamers, who went by the names of Naruto and Safine, putting him through the inhumane “challenges” that comprised throwing water in his face, keeping him awake for long stretches of time, and in one very disturbing instance, attempting to strangle him.
Minister Calls Death “Absolute Horror”
People across France erupted in outrage over the incident. Clara Chappaz, Deputy Minister of France in Charge of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, spoke of the matter as “an absolute horror” and confirmed that a judicial inquiry has been initiated.“Jean Pormanove was humiliated and mistreated for months live on the Kick platform. I have referred the matter to Arcom, made a report on Pharos, and contacted the platform’s management to obtain explanations” she wrote on X.
Issues of Kick’s Responsibility
In the rise against Twitch, Kick has held its own with a degree of notoriety for loose moderation policies and a growing reputation as a site for controversial, if not outright harmful, content. The critics say that the platform chose growth and engagement over user safety, thus letting exploitative challenges exist. The inquiry might have a world of difference in regulation of streaming platforms within French borders. Chappaz’s referral to Arcom, the media regulator of France, hints at authorities viewing if Kick did stand in breach of its duty to prevent harmful broadcasts.
Public Outcry and Next Steps
A widespread uproar has been witnessed over this death, with users now demanding tighter frameworks of oversight concerning live content platforms. Many have cited Pormanove’s instance to say that monetization of extreme content may breed exploitation.With the investigatory process in the sphere of the judicial bodies, Kick is currently faced with growing pressure to either clarify its functions or step up on its safety measures. For now, the demise tied to Jean Pormanove remains a slippery testament that haunts the unregulated trials online and calls for an immediate reckoning in the streaming industry.