Fez — Authorities in Nice, France, are investigating the death of 46-year-old French streamer Raphaël Graven, who died during a 300-hour livestream hosted on the platform Kick. 

Graven, a former soldier with health issues, had reportedly requested medical help multiple times during the stream, expressing distress during a livestreamed challenge. 

Described as a “10 days and nights of torture,” it was a marathon livestream on the Kick platform lasting nearly 300 hours (approximately 12 days.) 

Graven appeared regularly with three other streamers – Owen Cenazandotti, Safine Hamadi, and a disabled man identified as “Coudoux.” 

Videos from the stream show Graven being humiliated and physically abused by his co-creators, who allegedly suffocated him with objects, deprived him of sleep, and forced him to perform degrading tasks as part of the challenge.  

French media outlet Mediapart had previously reported on alleged mistreatment of both Graven and Coudoux in December, triggering an earlier investigation.

During the final livestream, Graven was seen immobile and unresponsive before one of the co-hosts slapped him repeatedly, then ended the broadcast. 

Authorities were later called to the residence, and an autopsy has been ordered. All participants have denied abuse, claiming the content was meant to be comedic.

Kick, a newer competitor to Twitch, has faced criticism for its lenient moderation policies. While the platform says it removes content that breaches terms, critics argue that reactive moderation is insufficient. 

Legal experts note that while platforms may avoid criminal liability, civil claims could arise if inaction leads to foreseeable harm.

French officials, including digital minister Clara Chappaz, described the incident as “absolute horror.” Experts point to the broader phenomenon of the “attention economy,” in which online visibility incentivizes increasingly extreme behavior.

Criminal psychologist John Eastham and digital economy scholar Dr. Jamie Woodcock both highlight how the pressure to retain viewers can escalate content into dangerous territory. 

Viewers also play a role, with some encouraging or donating money during abusive segments. Algorithms and online culture may further normalize such behavior.

The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for stricter platform oversight and a public reckoning with the ethics of livestream content. Investigations into both the streamers and Kick’s responsibilities are ongoing.