Controversial social media personality, Clavicular, has been charged in the United States over an alleged alligator shooting incident that was reportedly broadcast during a livestream.
Clavicular, whose real name is Braden Eric Peters, faces charges for unlawfully discharging a firearm at a wildlife sanctuary on March 26 in Florida.
Authorities also charged two other men in connection with the alleged incident.
The 20-year-old influencer is widely recognised online for producing “looksmaxxing” content, where he documents extreme methods aimed at improving his appearance, including the use of steroids, testosterone and physically striking his face with a hammer.
The BBC reported that it had contacted Peters’ lawyer for comment.
According to statements cited by several US media outlets, lawyers representing Peters argued that he had been “following the instructions of a licensed airboat guide”, adding that “no animals or people were harmed” during the event.
Court records from Miami-Dade County stated that the charges stem from a livestream video appearing to show several gunshots fired from an airboat into swamp waters within the Everglades Wildlife Management Area, located west of Miami.
Shortly after the footage circulated online, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced that it was “aware of a video depicting individuals in the Everglades on an airboat who appear to be discharging at an alligator”.
However, the agency did not directly confirm whether it was referring to Clavicular’s livestream. Court documents also did not specify if any alligator was injured during the alleged shooting.
Authorities formally filed charges against Peters and the two other individuals on March 29.
Under Florida law, unlawfully firing a weapon in a public area carries penalties that may include a prison sentence of less than one year and a fine of up to $1,000 (£735).
In a separate incident earlier in March, Clavicular was arrested in south Florida on battery-related charges after allegedly encouraging a physical altercation between two women through social media before later sharing the footage online.
The influencer has built a massive online following across platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Kick, where his “looksmaxxing” videos regularly attract millions of views.
Health experts have criticised the extreme practices associated with what Clavicular refers to as “hardmaxxing,” warning that such methods may result in physical harm and are not backed by scientific evidence.
Following earlier battery charges, YouTube removed two of Clavicular’s video-sharing channels.
Last month, the influencer was also hospitalised after reportedly collapsing inside a Miami nightclub while livestreaming.
