'Looksmaxxing' influencer Clavicular charged after allegedly shooting at alligator
Clavicular, a controversial figure in the online "looksmaxxing" fad, was charged by Florida authorities after allegedly firing a gun at an alligator during a livestream, court documents show.
The online influencer, whose real name is Braden Eric Peters, and two others were charged with discharge of a firearm in a public place in connection with the March 26 incident at the Francis S. Taylor Everglades Wildlife Management Area boat ramp dock, according to court records.
Peters, 20, Andrew Morales, 22, an influencer known as "Cuban Tarzan," and Yabdiel Anibal Cotto Torres, 27, "knowingly discharge a firearm in a public place or on or over the right-of-way of a public paved road, highway, or street, or over occupied premises," according to court documents filed on April 29.
A summons was issued in relation to those charges on Tuesday.
Peters and his group were streaming a boat ride through the Everglades and came upon an alligator, according to the video. Peters and Morales are seen in the video brandishing handguns and unloading firing multiple shots at the animal.
The viral video prompted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to announce it was launching an investigation.
The FWC would not confirm a specific video, but said in a statement that its "officers investigated the incident, verified the veracity of the videos and identified the individuals."
Wildlife officials have not confirmed if the animal was alive or dead when they allegedly began firing guns at it.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office said in a statement that it does not comment "on open, pending criminal cases."
Peters was arrested in Fort Lauderdale later that day on charges that stemmed from a separate investigation into an alleged battery incident, according to police. The battery case is open and pending.
He posted bond shortly after his arrest and was not immediately charged over the alligator incident, court records show.
Steven Kramer and Jeffrey Neiman, the attorneys representing Peters, said in a statement to ABC News that the misdemeanor charge in the alligator incident "stems from following the instructions of a licensed airboat guide."
"He relied on that guidance. No animals or people were harmed. We are confident that once the full picture is understood, people will see this for what it is," the attorneys added.
Richard L. Cooper, Morales' attorney, said in a statement to ABC News that he "cautioned against drawing conclusions before all of the facts are fully examined."
"Notably, there are no allegations that any animal was harmed, and the evidence does not support many of the exaggerated claims that have circulated publicly. My client acted based on information and direction provided at the scene and did not possess any criminal intent," he said.
Attorney information for Cotto Torres was not immediately available.
The three defendants are due in court on May 20 for an arraignment on their charges.
Peters has stirred up controversy and criticism from medical professionals over his streams where he talks about using medications such as dutasteride and minoxidil to enhance his looks as part of the "looksmaxxing" fad, ABC News has previously reported. He said he's even taken methamphetamine as a stimulant and to lose weight.
Some doctors told ABC News these methods are dangerous and the medications people are taking may have unintended consequences.
A spokesperson for the video-sharing site said in a statement that Clavicular's original channel was terminated in November 2025 "for facilitating access to websites that violate our Illegal or regulated goods or services policies."
Since YouTube's terms of service prohibit creators from creating or owning new channels after a termination, the company removed two additional channels associated with Clavicular, according to the spokesperson.
-ABC News' Kerem Inal contributed to this report.
