Criminal Charges Filed in Massachusetts
Braden Peters, the 20-year-old internet personality known as Clavicular, has been charged with three criminal counts in Massachusetts, according to court records reported by NBC News. The charges include one count of rape, one count of drugging a person for sexual intercourse, and one count of procuring liquor for a minor.
The charges were filed on September 8 in a Cape Cod courthouse and stem from an alleged incident on May 23, 2025, The Hollywood Reporter noted. An arraignment for Peters is currently scheduled for October 14.
Context of the Allegations
The criminal charges appear to align with a civil lawsuit previously filed in Florida by Aleksandra Vasilevna Mendoza, an influencer known as Alorah Ziva. Mendoza alleged that in May 2025, Peters—who she claimed she first met when she was 16—offered to help her career before allegedly serving her excessive alcohol and engaging in nonconsensual sexual acts, Complex reported. Mendoza also alleged in her civil suit that Peters injected her with an unapproved fat-dissolving substance during a 2025 livestream without her consent.
Peters has previously denied the allegations made in the civil suit. His legal team stated in earlier proceedings that he intended to vigorously defend himself against the claims. Following the news of the criminal charges, a representative for Peters told media outlets that he had not been physically served with an arrest warrant and characterized the reports as exaggerations intended to generate traffic.
Impact on ‘Looksmaxxing’ Community
Peters gained internet notoriety for popularizing “looksmaxxing,” a trend defined by Merriam-Webster as the practice of taking extreme or potentially dangerous measures to improve physical attractiveness. The subculture has drawn significant criticism from health professionals, particularly for practices like “bone smashing,” which involves intentionally breaking facial bones to alter their growth. The legal developments represent a significant escalation for a figure who has recently sought to move into mainstream media spaces, including appearances on various podcasts and commentary shows.
If convicted of the rape charge in Massachusetts, Peters faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The influencer has previously faced other legal issues, including a plea of no contest to charges related to the unlawful discharge of a firearm in Florida, for which he received probation and community service.