“Manosphere” streamer Clavicular has pleaded not guilty in his Massachusetts rape case.
The 20-year-old internet personality, born Braden Peters, appeared for his arraignment hearing at Orleans District Court Thursday, Oct. 22, where he pleaded not guilty to felony counts of rape and drugging a person for sex, as well as the providing alcohol to an underage person, a misdemeanor, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY.
The incident allegedly occurred at Peters’ family’s Cape Cod, Massachusetts, home in May 2025, when Aleksandra Vasilevna Mendoza, then 17, alleged the content creator pressured her to get drunk and then raped her while she was asleep, per the criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY.
See ‘Looksmaxxing’ influencer Clavicular in court over rape charges
1 of 11
Braden Peters arrives to Orleans District Court on October 22, 2026 in Orleans, Massachusetts. 20-year-old internet personality and livestreamer Braden Peters, better known online as “Clavicular“, appeared in court today to be formally arraigned on felony counts of rape and drugging a person for sexual intercourse, along with procuring liquor for a minor, allegations he has denied. Peters pleaded not guilty Thursday, according to NBC Boston.
Scroll to see his court appearance.
(CJ Gunther, Getty Images)
Peters posted a $10,000 cash bail and was released with conditions that he surrender his passport, have no contact with the alleged victim and does not post about her on social media. His legal team also filed a motion to dismiss the case due to insufficient evidence.
Attorney David Meier, who is representing Peters, said his client “categorically denies these allegations” in a statement to USA TODAY on Oct. 22.
“In May 2025, Mr. Peters was 19 years old, the complainant was 17 years old, and they were involved in a professional and personal relationship that continued for another year,” Meier continued. “At no time did the complainant report anything to the police – or to anyone – because there was nothing to report.
In April, Mendoza sued Peters for physical and sexual abuse, alleging he had sex with her while she was intoxicated and did not consent, and injected her with an “unapproved drug” on May 23, 2025. On June 4 of this year, she went to the Chatham Police Department to file a report.
Meier said, “The fact that these allegations first arose in June 2026 when the complainant and her Florida attorney appeared together at the Chatham Police Department just days before filing an amended civil lawsuit seeking thousands of dollars from Mr. Peters speaks for itself.”
Braden “Clavicular” Peters appears for his arraignment on rape charges in Orleans District Court on Oct. 22, 2026, in Orleans, Massachusetts.
What is Clavicular accused of doing?
Mendoza told investigators she met the influencer through Instagram and was being paid to do “looksmaxxing” videos, a social media trend that launched Peters to fame for the controversial use of dangerous and extreme tactics to achieve maximum physical attractiveness. His methods have included hitting himself in the face with a hammer to sharpen his bones and taking small amounts of methamphetamine for appetite suppression.
‘Looksmaxxing’ is poisoning young men. There’s a better way. | Opinion
One week after they began talking, Mendoza said Peters sent an Uber to bring her to his family’s residence. When she arrived, she alleged he gave her alcohol and “was aware of my age” but told her to lie and say she was 18 and drinking water when they went on a Twitch livestream.
After the livestream ended, Mendoza said she planned to Uber home but was “really drunk” and ended up having sex with Peters in his bed despite not consenting. She then fell asleep and allegedly woke up in the morning to Peters “having sex with me,” according to the complaint.
Mendoza said she did not say anything to Peters because she was “in shock,” adding she felt it was too “embarrassing” to tell anyone about what happened. She also claimed she did not see Peters for six months after the alleged incident.
Peters was officially charged on Sept. 8. Earlier this month, Mendoza refiled her civil lawsuit to drop the sexual assault allegations, which her lawyer told NBC News was to avoid interfering with the criminal case.
Celebrities taken to court, from Diddy to Weinstein and Russell Brand
1 of 53
Many stars have found themselves in courtrooms due to criminal charges — among them Sean “Diddy” Combs, Bill Cosby, Danny Masterson and Russell Brand. Others, like Gwyneth Paltrow and Johnny Depp, have publicly fought various civil lawsuits in court.
Here’s what happened in each case.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and Spanish via chat and at 800-656-4673.
(Rick Diamond and Spencer Platt/Getty Images, ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
In addition to the motion for dismissal, Peters’ lawyers filed a memorandum, obtained by USA TODAY, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, arguing Mendoza wanted Peters to be her “mentor and promoter” and willfully interacted with him “on a regular basis.”
The memo further alleged Mendoza addressed the night in question to her social media followers six months later, acknowledging they “did a little stream together where he injected Aqualyx [a fat-dissolving and body contouring solution].” She allegedly described the experience as “really fun” and Peters as “super nice,” noting he “sent me an Uber right after” to go home.
Days later, Mendoza allegedly began messaging Peters about meeting up and went on to engage in communications about being romantically involved. The memo also included a letter she allegedly wrote him saying, “Braden, you have my loyalty 100% … I admire the man you are,” and expressing her desire to keep working together.
It wasn’t until Mendoza’s “sponsorship income from her social media activities had started to decrease” and Peters was “no longer interested” in supporting her online that she decided to take him to court in her civil suit seeking money, Peters’ lawyers alleged.
Clavicular controversies, arrests
This is not the first time Peters has been in trouble with the law or drawn criticism, particularly for his frequent use of slurs and racist comments. In February, he was arrested at an Arizona bar for suspicion of possession of dangerous drugs, possession of a forged instrument and using a fake ID, although the case was ultimately dropped.
Peters was again arrested in March and charged with battery in Florida, and in April, he was hospitalized for a suspected overdose. In May, he was charged in another case after prosecutors alleged he and another streamer shot at an alligator in the Florida Everglades.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800-656-HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, James Powel and Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Looksmaxxing’ influencer Clavicular pleads not guilty to rape charge