Looksmaxxer leader Braden Peters—better known as Clavicular or “clav”— likes to smash his cheekbones with a hammer and do meth to stay lean. What does he not like? Being associated with the incel community or questioned about his manosphere friendships on television.
In a recent segment for 60 Minutes Australia, journalist Adam Hegarty sat down with Clavicular, but the interview was abruptly cut short when Clavicular walked out.
For those unfamiliar with Clavicular, the New Jersey-born Kick streamer has risen in popularity the last few months for sharing his looksmaxxing journey—what he calls a movement of self-improvement—where he resorts to rather extreme measures to achieve maximum attractiveness, or gigaChad status.
But it’s not just the tedious beauty routine that has garnered attention toward Clav. He is also regularly going viral for controversial stunts, like running over someone with a Tesla Cybertruck or partying with figures such as self-proclaimed misogynist influencer Andrew Tate while singing to Ye’s “Heil Hitler” in Miami.
Like a car wreck, the internet has been unable to look away, leading major outlets like The New York Times, GQ, and Playboy to profile Clav.
And now the latest mainstream coverage, 60 Minutes, is going viral.
“Literally the worst sequence of questions”
Hegarty began the interview by dissecting some of the vernacular used by Clav and the looksmaxxing community, like mogging (outshining someone). But the conflict came when Hegarty pointed out the looksmaxxing community’s ties with the incel community online.
“Do I identify as an Incel? I mean, how could you ask me that question as a follow-up after you asked me about my relationships to women. I mean, that’s quite literally the worst sequence of questions I think I’ve ever heard,” Clavicular replied.
The reporter then rephrased the question. “Looksmaxxing was obviously a term created by the incel community. How do you feel about being linked to that group,” he said.
Clavicular replied, “I’m not linked to that group in any way. Looksmaxxing is self-improvement, right? So it’s about potentially even ascending out of that category. So that would be kind of one of the goals is to disassociate from being an incel and overcome that. So that doesn’t make sense.”
The interviewer then switched to discuss Clavicular’s social circle, among them Tate. “Why do you spend time with people like that?” Hegarty asked.
Clavicular quickly turned defensive, saying that Hegarty was trying to turn the interview political. The influencer has in the past said he is not political, even saying he would vote for Gavin Newsom over JD Vance due to the vice president’s physique.
“Too bad I didn’t have time to look into, you know, anything about potentially, you know who your wife cheated with,” Clavicular told Hegarty, to which he replied he was not married.
Clavicular added, “So I could teach you about looksmaxxing, and then maybe you could switch that up. Thanks for the time, appreciate the interview.”
Internet divided over “platforming”
While many online commentators have fixated on the interview’s dramatic and abrupt end, others are questioning the continued platforming of the streamer, highlighting a growing tension between mainstream media and the influencers whose views they chase.
“For those questioning why this interview happened, its to show how ridiculous these people are because they are influencing the young male population at an alarming rate,” a user said on Threads. “This shows exactly how insecure this dude is, and how he carries himself when confronted. 60 minutes got exactly what they needed.”
“60 Minutes is interviewing Clavicular? Wtf are we even doing anymore,” one user said on X.
