The founders of Kick, a controversial streaming platform, are under intense scrutiny following the live-streamed death of a French content creator. Ed Craven, 29, and Bijan Tehrani, 31, both Australian crypto-billionaires, established Kick in 2022. They are also the masterminds behind Stake.com, the world’s largest crypto-backed online casino. The platform is now embroiled in a scandal after broadcasting the alleged torture and death of Raphael Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove, in Contes, Nice.
Graven, a prominent figure on Kick, was infamous for his ‘humiliation streams’ that often involved extreme violence. His final broadcast, which showed him reportedly being tortured for ten days, raised over £31,000. The incident has sparked outrage and raised questions about the platform’s content moderation policies.
The Rise of Kick and Its Founders
Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, both avid gamers, launched Kick as a Twitch-style platform where users could livestream to paying audiences. The duo’s journey began in the online fantasy game RuneScape, where they developed an interest in cryptocurrency. This led to the creation of Primedice, a crypto dice game, and later the successful online casino company Easygo, before launching Stake.com.
Craven, Australia’s youngest billionaire, made headlines for purchasing two mansions in Melbourne for a combined total of $120 million. Meanwhile, Tehrani was in a relationship with Australian model Mila Mary, with whom he was seen at the Australian Grand Prix.
Controversy Surrounding Graven’s Death
The tragic death of Raphael Graven has put Kick under the microscope. The platform, known for its lighter approach to content moderation compared to Twitch, has community guidelines that prohibit content depicting extreme violence or self-harm. However, the broadcast of Graven’s alleged torture has raised questions about the effectiveness of these guidelines.
French authorities, including the country’s junior minister for AI and digital technology, Clara Chappaz, have condemned the incident as “absolutely horrific”. A judicial investigation is underway, and the matter has been referred to France’s digital regulator, Arcom.
“The probable causes of death appear to be medical and/or toxicological,” said prosecutor Damien Martinelli, noting that medical examiners found no traumatic injuries.
Impact on Kick and Its Affiliations
Kick’s association with high-profile figures like Canadian rapper Drake and internet personality Adin Ross has also been affected. Drake, who reportedly deleted his Kick account amid tensions with the platform’s co-founders, is believed to be covering Graven’s funeral costs alongside Ross.
Kick is a major sponsor of the Sauber F1 team, which rebranded from Alfa Romeo at the end of the 2023 campaign. Following Graven’s death, Sauber released a statement expressing their sadness and trusting Kick to uphold its safeguards.
Future of Kick and Stake.com
As the investigation continues, Kick faces mounting pressure to tighten its content moderation policies. The platform’s reputation, along with that of its founders, is at stake. Stake.com, their other major venture, previously faced a ban from advertising on Twitch due to consumer protection issues, prompting Craven and Tehrani to create Kick.
The incident has sparked a broader debate about the responsibilities of streaming platforms in monitoring content and protecting creators. As digital landscapes evolve, the balance between creative freedom and ethical responsibility remains a critical challenge for platforms like Kick.
Moving forward, the outcomes of the ongoing investigations and the platform’s response to this crisis will be pivotal in shaping its future and that of its founders.
