Kick faces potential nationwide ban in France after Jean Pormanove’s on-stream death

French authorities are weighing a nationwide block of streaming platform Kick following the death of creator Raphaël Graven, widely known online as Jean Pormanove. The 46-year-old streamer died on August 18 while broadcasting on Kick, after what French media described as nearly ten days of extreme, on-camera challenges involving fellow creators. The incident triggered widespread outrage across France, raising urgent questions about violent livestream content and the responsibilities of digital platforms. As pressure mounted, the French government moved quickly, placing Kick at the center of one of the most serious streaming-related legal battles the country has seen.


The controversy has since evolved into a broader debate about online regulation and freedom of expression. France’s Ministry for Digital Affairs condemned the streams as humiliating and abusive, prompting judicial authorities to step in. Although an autopsy concluded that Pormanove’s death was not directly caused by another individual, the severity and duration of the livestreamed acts led officials to consider unprecedented measures. A court ruling now looms that could make Kick the first major global streaming platform to be blocked across France.

France pushes to restrict Kick as investigation into Jean Pormanove’s death continues

Following the incident, prosecutors in Nice opened investigations into aggravated intentional violence, failure to assist a person in danger, and endangerment of life. Streamers Owen “Naruto” Cenazendotti and Safine Hamadi, who appeared alongside Pormanove, were swiftly banned by Kick and have denied wrongdoing, insisting the streams were consensual and staged. Pormanove’s mother has also publicly defended them, stating they did not mistreat her son apart from a single isolated incident.





As the investigation progressed, French authorities sought to use Article 6-3 of the Law for Confidence in the Digital Economy to justify preventative action against Kick. Prosecutors requested the shutdown of roughly fifteen channels linked to Pormanove’s former account that continue to rebroadcast his content, while stopping short of endorsing a full six-month ban, which they deemed excessive. Still, the government’s push has kept the possibility of a nationwide block firmly on the table.


Kick has responded by removing all content tied to Pormanove, cutting ties with a French marketing agency, and mounting a legal challenge against the proposed restrictions. The platform argues that a blanket ban would violate freedom of expression and unfairly penalize millions of users.


The Paris court is expected to deliver its ruling on December 19, 2025. Whatever the outcome, the case is likely to set a significant precedent for how France, and potentially Europe, regulates livestreaming platforms after high-profile tragedies.


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