French streamers on trial for alleged violence during live marathon that ended in death

A trial opens in Nice this Monday for two French streamers, Owen Cenazandotti (Naruto) and Safine Hamadi (Safine), nearly a year after the death of Raphael Graven, known as Jean Pormanove. They face charges related to alleged violence and humiliation during a marathon live stream on the platform Kick.

The proceedings are expected to delve into hundreds of hours of video footage and messages seized by investigators. The court aims to reconstruct the events of the nearly 300-hour live broadcast to ascertain if the limits of entertainment were transgressed to the point of criminal offenses.

Approximately a year ago, a new marathon began in a venue near Nice, with the simple goal of staying live for as long as possible. Graven was joined by several streamers, including Naruto and Safine. The cameras ran almost continuously, broadcasting the participants' daily lives, with viewers commenting and sending donations that punctuated the stream. Initially, the atmosphere seemed harmless, but it gradually shifted.

Raphael Graven became the central figure, subjected to constant insults and mockery on camera. Investigators are particularly focused on several violent incidents that will be central to the trial. Videos reportedly show punches, paintball attacks, and other acts of violence or humiliation, the criminal classification of which will be debated. This case follows a Mediapart investigation that previously highlighted a "business of humiliation," describing a model where vulnerable individuals were subjected to degrading treatment to attract audiences and donations.

After nearly twelve days and approaching 300 hours of broadcasting, the marathon reached its tragic conclusion. In the early hours of August 18, 2025, Graven was filmed sleeping. According to the investigation, a viewer alerted others in the chat that the streamer appeared to be having trouble breathing. The participants then noticed something was wrong, and emergency services were called. Raphael Graven was pronounced dead at the age of 46, marking the beginning of a judicial investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

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