At Jean Pormanove’s funeral in France his mother publicly thanked and defended two Kick streamers who are currently under investigation in connection with her son’s death.
Photos from the service show the mother posing with streamers known as Cenazendotti and Hamadi, key figures in the Le Lokal content house. According to attendees, she addressed those present and called the streamers “great people” who “never abused” her son. She reported to the Daily Mail that she was proud of them and wanted to thank them.
The remarks come as French authorities investigate Jean’s death following his repeated appearances in Le Lokal streams. The content house became notorious for its extreme challenges and aggressive stunts performed on Kick, the streaming platform backed by crypto-gambling site Stake.
Jean was a middle-aged man who became a regular target in Le Lokal broadcasts. Clips that circulated before his death showed him being struck, shot with paintball guns, choked, and kept awake for extended periods. One widely-shared video allegedly showed Jean being sleep deprived for 10 days straight.
The streams drew heavy criticism for their treatment of Jean. Viewers expressed concern about the escalating nature of the challenges and the visible distress he appeared to experience. Earlier clips even showed Jean’s mother calling the streamers and begging them to stop.
French prosecutors opened an investigation into Jean’s death, reportedly examining potential charges related to acts of violence and abuse. Under French law, authorities can pursue criminal cases regardless of family wishes when serious crimes are suspected.
The two streamers attended the funeral in casual clothing, which led to additional controversy online. They have maintained that all content was consensual and part of planned challenges. No formal charges have been filed at this time.
The case has raised questions about content moderation on Kick and the platform’s responsibility for dangerous IRL streaming. French regulators and politicians have begun discussing stricter oversight of live streaming platforms following Jean’s death.
