Controversial social media influencer Clavicular, whose real name is Braden Eric Peters, has been arrested in Florida on misdemeanor assault charges, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Department. The arrest coincides with an ongoing investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) into a viral video that appears to show the 20-year-old firing multiple shots at a dead alligator from an airboat.
Viral Video Sparks Wildlife Investigation
In a statement released on March 27, the FWC confirmed it has launched a formal investigation into the disturbing clip, which began circulating widely this week. The footage, originally obtained by TMZ, depicts Clavicular riding an airboat with three other individuals when a man sitting beside him first brandishes a pistol and opens fire on a floating alligator corpse. Laughter can be heard before Clavicular himself pulls a gun from his shorts, stands up abruptly, and discharges several rounds.
"Yeah, I think that gator's..." the companion begins, before being interrupted by Clavicular's actions. After shooting, Clavicular remarks, "Just had to make sure." The other man then rapidly fires additional shots at the reptile, with Clavicular joining in once more. "Yeah, I think it's dead," Clavicular states, to which his companion replies, "I can't hear s***."
Strict Legal Protections for Alligators
Under Florida Statute 379.409, it is explicitly illegal to kill, injure, possess, or capture an alligator without proper authorisation. The FWC guidelines further specify that rifles and handguns may only be used for commercial alligator trapping purposes. Attempting to kill or injure these protected reptiles is strictly prohibited, carrying potential legal consequences.
As the investigation continues, the FWC has stated it will provide updates when information becomes "available." The agency's scrutiny comes amid growing public outrage over the video's content.
Political Reaction and Influencer Background
Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins expressed strong disapproval on social media platform X, writing that he is "looking forward to seeing charges pressed against those who would brazenly disrespect our laws." This sentiment reflects broader concerns about wildlife protection and responsible behaviour.
Clavicular rose to prominence through livestreams and videos on platforms including Kick and TikTok, where he frequently discusses "looksmaxxing"—a trend involving extreme measures to alter physical appearance. In previous content, he has described engaging in "bonesmashing," which involves striking cheekbones with a hammer to reshape them.
Last December, Clavicular made headlines by telling The Daily Wire that Vice President JD Vance would lose a presidential election to California Governor Gavin Newsom based solely on appearance, using slang terms like "mogging" (outperforming) and criticising Vance's facial proportions and weight.
While the Broward County Sheriff's Department confirmed Clavicular's arrest on March 27, it remains unclear whether the assault charge is directly related to the alligator shooting video. The Independent has reached out to the FWC for additional comment as both legal and wildlife investigations proceed.
