Braden Peters, 20, the “looksmaxxing” influencer known online as “Clavicular,” arrived at a Massachusetts court Thursday accompanied by a barking dog before his arraignment.
Peters appeared in Orleans District Court and pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an alleged rape. A court clerk confirmed to News Outlet that he posted $10,000 bail in connection with the case.
The alleged incident involved a 17-year-old victim and reportedly took place in 2025 at Peters’ family home on Cape Cod.
Braden Peters, known as “Clavicular,” walks a dog before entering court. (Getty Images: CJ Gunther)
Ted Williams, a former criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor, said Peters’ decision to arrive with a dog was not necessarily unusual.
“I don’t think it’s really out of the ordinary for a defendant to show up at court and the dog is left outside on a leash at a specific location or left with a person,” Williams told News Outlet.
Williams suggested the dog may have provided Peters with emotional support before the court appearance.
“There are people who are more attached to their dog than they are attached to a human being, believe it or not, and that may be just his support mechanism — the dog,” Williams said.
Williams said it would be unusual for the animal to enter the courthouse because dogs and other animals generally are not allowed inside courts under normal circumstances.
Braden Peters, known as “Clavicular,” appears before a Massachusetts judge Thursday and formally pleads not guilty. (Getty Images: CJ Gunther)
Peters has built an Instagram following of more than one million people. He is known for rating people’s appearances during livestreams and offering “advice” that includes cosmetic surgery and personal training.
News Outlet previously reported that the teenage victim told investigators she contacted Peters online hoping to connect and create content. He allegedly arranged for an Uber to pick her up and take her to his home.
Braden Peters, known as “Clavicular,” makes a closely watched court appearance in Massachusetts Thursday to contest the allegations. (Getty Images: CJ Gunther)
According to police, Peters allegedly gave her alcohol, leaving her so intoxicated that she was unable to consent to sex.
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On Wednesday, Peters’ attorneys submitted a memorandum asking the court to release him on cash bail. They argued that he was neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community and offered to surrender his passport and avoid contact with the alleged victim.
Peters was not jailed before Thursday’s arraignment. He appeared in response to a summons and posted bail afterward.
READ IT: Braden Peters’ defense memorandum seeking his release.
Braden Peters, known as “Clavicular,” leaves a Massachusetts courthouse with his attorneys after pleading not guilty. (Getty Images: CJ Gunther)
In a statement provided to News Outlet, Peters’ attorney David Meier said in part:
“Braden Peters categorically denies these allegations.”
“Looksmaxxing” influencer Braden Peters, known online as “Clavicular,” poses shirtless in a photo shared on his Instagram account. (Clavicular Instagram)
He went on to say, “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.”
Following a not guilty plea in a Massachusetts courtroom, “Clavicular” and his defense team prepare for the legal battle ahead. (Getty Images: CJ Gunther)
This is not Peters’ first run-in with the law. He was previously arrested in Florida on battery charges in Kissimmee after a reported fight between two women at an Airbnb property.
“Clavicular” leaves court after he enters a not guilty plea during Thursday’s arraignment in a Massachusetts courtroom. (Getty Images: CJ Gunther)
The Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts did not provide a comment to News Outlet on Thursday’s court proceeding, citing the pending case.
