Former Arsenal Player and PSG Star Linked to Streamer's Tragic Stunt
Former Arsenal footballer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and PSG player Bradley Barcola have been involved in a dispute following the death of a French streamer, Raphael Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove. Graven was found dead in Contes, a village north of Nice, on Monday. He was a well-known figure on Kick, a streaming platform similar to Twitch.
Graven, 46, was reportedly subjected to online challenges involving humiliation, violence, and dangerous stunts before his death. Influencers Owen Cenazandotti, 26, and Safine Hamadi, 23, were accused of mistreating Graven in previous streams. It was claimed in France that he died after enduring 'ten days of torture', sleep deprivation, and ingestion of toxic substances.
Content creators who allegedly mistreated Graven received over £31,000 from viewers. Graven, with over a million followers on social media, was found dead in his home in Contes. Aubameyang and Barcola were seen in a video used during a live stream that reportedly encouraged Graven's mistreatment before his death.
French newspaper Liberation revealed that Aubameyang and Barcola appeared in the stream. Aubameyang was seen two days before Graven's death, encouraging the challenge, while Barcola expressed support moments later. Barcola's representatives stated that he was not present during the live stream and offered condolences. Aubameyang has not publicly commented on the matter.
French World Cup winner Adil Rami was filmed giving advice for fights with Graven in March 2024. Rami's lawyer clarified that he was not involved in the content and expressed condolences to Graven's family. Prosecutor Damien Martinelli stated that Graven's death was not traumatic and may have been due to medical or toxicological reasons, with further tests pending.
Internet personality Adin Ross and rapper Drake offered to cover Graven's funeral costs. Drake reportedly deleted his Kick account after the incident. Kick banned all co-streamers involved in the event and is reassessing its French content. Police are investigating the case, and the cause of Graven's death remains under scrutiny.
The death of Graven has sparked outrage, with officials condemning the violence he endured. Graven's family described his experience as 'unacceptable'. Naruto, one of the individuals present during the live stream, mourned Graven's death and urged fans not to share clips of the stream. Government officials emphasized the need to protect vulnerable creators online.
The case has shed light on the disturbing trend of 'humiliation streams' in France, where creators endure abuse for views and donations. Kick expressed sadness over Graven's death and pledged to review the circumstances. The incident has raised concerns about online content and the protection of creators.