The Sauber F1 team has released a brief but urgent statement following the death of French streamer Jean Pormanove, whose live broadcast on the streaming platform Kick has drawn widespread criticism. Pormanove passed away after enduring ten days of live-streamed physical abuse and sleep deprivation, shocking the F1 community and raising questions about the responsibilities of the team’s prominent sponsor, Kick.
The 46-year-old streamer died during a live broadcast, with those co-streaming alongside him reportedly showing little concern for his deteriorating condition. The incident has intensified scrutiny of Kick, which holds naming rights with Sauber through the 2025 season.
Background on the Incident and Streaming Platform Involvement
The event took place as part of a show managed by Le Lokal, a French streaming channel whose founders faced detention last year amid allegations of “live humiliation and violence” aimed at increasing audience numbers. Despite the controversy revealed by a French media investigation, the channel resumed operations on Kick.
Following the tragedy, Sauber stated to GPFans,
“We are saddened by this tragedy and trust Kick to take all necessary steps to uphold its safeguards and protect creators.”
The team’s public response highlights the serious concerns surrounding the role of sponsors in safeguarding content creators on their platforms.
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber: Current Sponsorship and Future Outlook
Sauber, based in Hinwil, Switzerland, competes under the official title Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber for the 2024 season, reflecting Kick’s role as a major sponsor. This partnership is contracted until the end of 2025, with plans for Audi to take over fully from 2026 onwards. Whether Kick will maintain sponsorship ties into Audi’s era remains uncertain.
Among Kick’s top content creators is Canadian superstar Drake, rumored to generate multimillion-dollar earnings per stream. In response to Pormanove’s death, Drake has pledged to cover funeral expenses, demonstrating support within the streaming community.
Kick’s Official Reaction and Actions Taken
Kick issued a statement expressing profound sorrow:
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jean Pormanove and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and community.”
The platform confirmed that all co-streamers involved in the live broadcast have been banned as investigations continue.
Kick also announced the termination of its collaboration with the implicated French social media agency and is conducting a comprehensive review of its French content to prevent similar incidents.
They emphasized,
“Our priority is to protect creators and ensure a safer environment on Kick.”
The Broader Impact and Ongoing Investigations
The tragic death of Jean Pormanove has ignited urgent discussions about the responsibilities of streaming platforms, sponsors, and content creators in regulating live broadcasts that can pose real harm. Fans, authorities, and fellow streamers are watching closely as investigations continue and safety protocols are evaluated.
For the Sauber F1 team and its sponsor Kick, this incident is a critical moment that could influence the future of their partnership and how digital content is managed in highly visible sponsorship arrangements. Moving forward, enhanced safeguards and accountability measures are likely to be key topics in the evolving landscape of streaming and sports sponsorship.