Kick has hit back at the French government following their launch of a second investigation into the death of Jean Pormanove, claiming there are “false narratives” at play.
On August 16, French streamer Jean Pormanove, real name Raphaël Graven, died in his sleep after an apparent “10 days of torture” from fellow streamers Naruto and Safine.
Pormanove’s death has made headlines across the world, with Kick coming under heavy criticism as the streams were hosted on their platform. The Stake-backed platform has found itself in the crosshairs of both the French and Australian governments.
France has been extremely tough on them over the 46-year-old’s death, with the minister for digital affairs, Clara Chappaz, saying: “Kick did not do everything possible to stop the broadcast of dangerous content.”
Kick responds to French government over Jean Pormanove
The French government has launched two investigations into Kick over the death too, with one being opened “on the grounds of providing an illegal online platform as part of an organized gang.”
Kick has hit back at the investigations, suggesting that the French government is politicizing the streamer’s death. “This is not about creator safety, customer safety, or the well-being of the industry, but rather a politicised narrative that takes advantage of a tragic personal loss,” a spokesperson told BBC News.
“We are surprised by the messages conveyed by politicians. We never tried and will not try to escape or deny our regulatory obligations.
“We hope that it will be possible to work serenely with French authorities and correct the false narratives that are circulated.”
As noted, the Australian government is also investigating Kick, alongside France. They could face a possible fine of up to $49 million from the country’s eSafety Commissioner.
“This is a tragic case where someone has lost their life, and underscores how the creation of more extreme content, in this case involving actual violence, can have devastating, real-world consequences,” a spokesperson for the commissioner told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Naruto and Safine, the two hosts of the stream, have been banned from Kick. Pormanove’s mother defended them during her son’s funeral too, telling the Daily Mail: “People are talking nonsense, and you shouldn’t listen to what they say. These are great people here. We have to do our best to help them as much as possible.”
