Following last year's tragic stream, the verdicts have now been announced: Both channel owners receive lenient sentences.
The death of French Kick streamer Raphaël Graven, known professionally as Jean Pormanove, has sparked a debate over the boundaries of social media platforms. Last year, the 46-year-old died in front of a live audience. Two men involved in the broadcasts have now been convicted.
The Backstory
Graven participated in live streams where so-called "challenges" were staged as entertainment. Under this guise, however, repeated humiliation and physical violence took place. The channel operators claimed the actions were consensual and that the streamer had participated of his own free will. Through these extreme broadcasts, they generated high revenues and massive reach.
What was disguised as a challenge, however, was in truth a torture marathon - estimated to have lasted a staggering twelve to fourteen days of continuous streaming. Due to the relentless pressure of constant surveillance, Graven had a meltdown shortly before his death in August 2025. He then sent a desperate cry for help to his mother: the content creator reportedly wrote that he had had enough of the "death game," was being held captive, and simply wanted to escape. Naruto then acted with particular malice, snatching Graven's phone and ridiculing the message for additional content.
During the night, he suffered a sudden choking fit that led to the 46-year-old's death. Although an autopsy revealed that the abuse was not the immediate cause of death, the case nonetheless put the responsibility of those involved and the platforms hosting such content squarely in the spotlight.
A Slap on the Wrist
Almost exactly one year later, those involved were held accountable by a criminal court in Nice. During the trial, significant mitigating circumstances came to light: Graven had pre-existing medical conditions, which were the likely trigger for the fatal choking fit. Furthermore, while still alive, he had stated on the police record that he had chosen to participate in the stream voluntarily.
The court established that this voluntariness was not a mere pretext and that no manslaughter had occurred. As a result, Naruto (real name: Owen Cenazandotti) was sentenced to a €15,000 fine and a two-year suspended prison sentence. Due to his credible remorse, the sentence for Safine Hamadi was significantly lighter: a €5,000 fine and 18 months on probation. Both were also handed a strict six-month digital broadcasting ban.
Given the documented violence, the sentences still appear comparatively moderate. This leaves us with one burning question: Did the stream truly spiral out of control unintentionally, or was sensationalism clearly prioritized over human welfare? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
