Braden Peters, known as Clavicular, pleads not guilty to rape charges

Clavicular, the 20‑year‑old TikTok and Instagram star whose real name is Braden Peters, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to felony rape, drugging an individual for sexual intercourse and supplying alcohol to a minor. The charges relate to an alleged assault on a 17‑year‑old girl at his family’s home in Chatham, Massachusetts, on 23 May 2025. A judge set his bail at $10,000, ordered him not to contact the accuser or post about the case, and required him to surrender his passport.

The case has drawn attention because Peters is a leading figure in the “looksmaxxing” community, a subculture that encourages young men to alter their bodies to achieve an ideal of attractiveness. He has more than a million followers and is known for extreme self‑experiments, including facial hammering, steroid use and other injections. Earlier this year he faced a Florida charge after filming himself shooting what appeared to be a dead alligator, pleading no contest to unlawful discharge of a firearm. In March he was briefly arrested on suspicion of battery after a fight between two women, though charges were later dropped. The rape allegation surfaced after a livestream from his Chatham house showed the teenager drinking alcohol and appearing highly intoxicated, prompting police to say she could not have consented.

According to the woman’s statement, Peters ordered her an Uber to the house, where they drank while broadcasting the event. She says he then drugged her and forced sexual intercourse. A police officer who took the report said the victim’s age and level of intoxication indicated she was unable to give consent. After the hearing, Peters posted a photo from court in a black suit, holding his dog, a move that drew criticism from observers who said he was using the platform to shape public perception.

The next court date is set for 24 November, when a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to move the case forward. Legal experts say the trial could set a precedent for how authorities handle alleged crimes involving high‑profile social‑media personalities. The outcome may also influence the broader looksmaxxing community, which has faced growing scrutiny over the health risks and ethical concerns of its extreme practices.