fine

Kick could be hit with a penalty of up to $49 million after the death of French streamer Jean Pormanove, following what has been described as a brutal “ten days and nights of torture” broadcast.

On August 18, 46-year-old Raphaël Graven, better known as Jean Pormanove, died in his sleep while live on Kick. In the days and even months prior, he had reportedly endured extreme violence, sleep deprivation, and forced ingestion of toxic products at the hands of two fellow streamers known as Naruto and Safine.

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French politicians called the incident a national disgrace, with Clara Chappaz, France’s minister for digital affairs and AI, vowing to “promptly end this digital Wild West.”

Instagram/Jean Pormanove

She previously commented that Pormanove had been “humiliated and mistreated for months live on Kick” and criticized the platform’s lack of intervention.

Australian regulators warn Kick could face $49M penalty

Kick could be subject to a penalty of up to $49 million under Australian online safety laws following the death of French streamer Jean Pormanove.

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Because Kick is based in Australia, French regulators had limited reach. But Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has now confirmed it is investigating, and warned of steep fines.

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“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 said.

As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, the watchdog emphasized that platforms are legally required to safeguard users from harmful or criminal material and to enforce their own terms of service. Violations can carry penalties of up to $49.5 million.

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Kick’s community guidelines prohibit “content that depicts or incites abhorrent violence including significant harm, suffering or death.”

“eSafety will use the full range of our enforcement powers as appropriate where there is non-compliance, which can include seeking penalties of up to AUD $49.5m.”

Instagram/jeanpormanove

“Platforms like Kick need to be doing more to enforce their own terms of use and minimise harmful content and conduct in streams to protect all users of the service,” the spokesperson added in their statement reported by The Guardian.

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Kick could also face future restrictions under Australia’s new child-safety laws coming into effect in December, which may block users under 16 from accessing the platform.

Kick has banned the streamers involved in the broadcasts and cut ties with its French social media agency after backlash over promotional posts that used Pormanove’s image to sell merchandise.

Meanwhile, French police are still investigating. An autopsy concluded there were no signs of external or internal trauma, suggesting Pormanove’s death may have been linked to medical or toxicological causes.

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Viral compilation threads have shown Pormanove being hit, strangled, and fired at with paintball guns while streaming with Naruto and Safine, whose lawyers claim they hold “no responsibility.”

🚨🇫🇷🕊️

“IL ME SÉQUESTRE”

Voici ce qu’a envoyé Jean Pormanove à sa maman quelques jours avant son décès :

« Salut maman. Comment tu vas ? Coincé à la mort avec son jeu. Ça va trop loin. J’ai l’impression d’être séquestré avec leur concept de merde. J’en ai marre je veux me… https://t.co/WtPWZcvw0T pic.twitter.com/QJdkeiBdaC

— Impact (@ImpactMediaFR) August 18, 2025

In one message to his mom, sent a few days before his death, Pormanove said he felt like he was “being held hostage” and was “fed up” with the streams.

The streamer’s sister called what he went through “unacceptable.”

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Another Kick controversy erupts days later

This tragedy isn’t the only violent incident the platform has faced in recent weeks. On August 23, streamer Raja Jackson, son of UFC legend Rampage Jackson, went viral after storming a wrestling ring at an event put on by KnokX Pro Wrestling, a promotion that, at the time, was part of WWE’s ID (Independent Development) program. Raja was streaming the California-based event live on Kick.

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Kick/Raja Jackson

Raja was filmed punching wrestler Syko Stu, real name Stuart Smith, multiple times while he appeared unconscious, triggering an LAPD investigation. Kick banned Raja shortly after the footage spread online.

YouTube icon MrBeast responded to the violence, offering to pay for the veteran-turned-wrestler’s hospital bills.

The WWE subsequently quietly cut ties with KnokX Pro Wrestling the day following the incident by removing all references to the promotion from its official website and unfollowing the company, as well as its owner, WWE legend Rikishi, on its WWE ID X account.

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Stellar Blade modders have made a lot of sexual stuff so far. As it turns out, the game’s director is cool with that, though he is hoping that despite the game not having any official tools, modders’ll have a go at creating fresh wrinkles that add to what the Stellar Blade experience offers.

Hyung-tae Kim gave his opinion on where the game’s modding scene is currently at in a recent interview with South Korean site This Is Game, translated by Automaton and Genki.

First of all, the director’s general view on Stellar Blade modding’s pretty positive. He doesn’t see the need to interfere with them except by encouraging folks from being careful with or avoiding stuff that could mess up their base game. Exactly the kind of view you’d hope a developer would have, rather than panicking and calling the lawyers the moment someone figures out how to replace a texture.

He’s also cool with the idea of folks making reams of NSFW stuff like nice suits for the game, since Stellar Blade has a strong rating and is therefore aimed at adults. I’d caveat that as adults you might find a bit weird, but I digress. To be clear you can do the dirty to whatever floats your boat, as long as it’s not doing any harm. The trouble with Stellar Blade has been misogynistic players and online dicks treating Eve, jiggle physics et al, as an example of how all women should look in games – see some of the Steam reviews.

Anyway, the director’s less of a fan of paid mods that charge high prices, but generally seems to trust players not to engage with anything that crosses a line or involve material that could be classed as harmful or sensitive.

All of that said, Kim is keen to see Stellar Blade modders spread their wings a bit. While acknowledging that the game’s lack of official tools will likely make this more difficult, the director’s interested in seeing folks make mods that switch up what it’s like to play the game, but without straying too far from its original vision.

According to Genki’s translation, that wish was accompanied by Kim using the killer phrase “modders’ firepower is still weak”, as part of suggesting that he thinks the current crop of new cosmetics and minor tweaks don’t go much beyond the stuff the base game offers. Which, to be fair, is the norm for games that haven’t been out on PC long.

So, we’ll have to see if the SteamyBladers accept this challenge, put aside their jiggle physics manipulation for a second, open up new tabs that cover their pretty out there desktop backgrounds, and set about pushing the limits of modding potential rather than the limits of taste. You can do it, high-five Stellar Blade modde…actually, you know what, maybe not. I don’t know where that mitt’s been.

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Kick faces possible $49M fine after French streamer Jean Pormanove dies on air

Australian regulators warn Kick could face $49M penalty

Another Kick controversy erupts days later

Stellar Blade director kicks the horny nest, says steamy stuff’s fine, but modders adding fresh twists would be cooler