A French court has handed down suspended prison sentences to two content creators following the tragic death of a popular live-streamer known for participating in extreme online challenges. Safine Hamadi and Owen Cenazandotti were convicted of aggravated violence in connection with the treatment of 46-year-old Raphaël Graven, also known online as Jean Pormanove. Graven, who had amassed over one million followers across various social media platforms, died in August 2025 in the village of Contes, near Nice. His final moments were broadcast live on the streaming platform Kick.

During the trial, the court heard how Graven was routinely subjected to physical violence and verbal humiliation by other broadcasters to entertain online audiences. While the prosecution did not pursue manslaughter charges—citing medical findings that Graven’s death was likely caused by pre-existing poor health and a fragile heart—the defendants faced charges related to the abuse. The court also acquitted the duo of exploiting Graven’s psychological vulnerability, noting that the victim had previously informed police that he consented to the extreme stunts.

Hamadi received an 18-month suspended sentence and a €5,000 fine, while Cenazandotti was handed a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to pay €15,000. Additionally, both men have been banned from posting on the Kick platform for six months. The streaming platform itself remains under active investigation by French authorities regarding its safety protocols and content moderation. Representatives for Kick stated that the court’s ruling applies strictly to the individual creators involved and declined to comment further on the judicial outcome.

Key Takeaways

• Two content creators received suspended prison sentences and fines in France for aggravated violence against streamer Raphaël Graven.
• Manslaughter charges were not filed as medical evidence linked Graven's death to pre-existing heart conditions, and the victim had previously consented to the stunts.
• The streaming platform Kick remains under investigation by French authorities following the live-broadcasted tragedy.

Editor’s Analysis & Impact

This tragic case highlights a dark and escalating trend within the live-streaming ecosystem, where creators push extreme boundaries for views, engagement, and monetization. The rise of alternative streaming platforms like Kick, which often market themselves on looser moderation policies compared to mainstream giants, has created regulatory blind spots. This ruling sets a significant legal precedent in Europe, signaling that ‘consent’ in extreme online stunts does not absolve creators of criminal liability for violence. Moving forward, we expect European regulators to tighten compliance laws for live-streaming platforms, potentially holding companies directly accountable for hosting harmful or life-threatening broadcasts. The ongoing investigation into Kick could serve as a catalyst for sweeping legislative reforms targeting digital safety and platform liability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why were the defendants not charged with manslaughter?
A: Prosecutors did not pursue manslaughter charges because medical evaluations indicated that Raphaël Graven's death was primarily caused by his poor health and a fragile heart condition, rather than direct physical trauma from the stunts.

Q: What penalties did the convicted individuals receive?
A: Safine Hamadi received an 18-month suspended prison sentence and a €5,000 fine, while Owen Cenazandotti received a two-year suspended sentence and a €15,000 fine. Both are also banned from streaming on Kick for six months.

Q: Is the streaming platform Kick facing legal consequences?
A: While Kick was not a party to this specific criminal trial, the platform remains under active investigation by French authorities concerning the broadcast of the incident and its overall content moderation policies.