Braden Eric Peters, a 20-year-old American influencer known as Clavicular, faced widespread rejection during his visit to Paris this past weekend, drawing notable attention across French media and social platforms. Peters, a contentious figure within the U.S. manosphere who advocates for “looksmaxxing”—a practice involving physical enhancement methods ranging from fitness routines to more extreme measures like testosterone injections and jawbone impacts—attempted to engage with women in Parisian public spaces but was met predominantly with disinterest or dismissal.

Peters livestreamed his interactions on Kick, a platform from which he claims to earn approximately $100,000 monthly by broadcasting exchanges with strangers, including efforts to belittle men and initiate conversations with women. His notoriety in the United States arises not only from his provocative content but also from controversial incidents, such as a video alleging self-defense against a supposed stalker and another featuring him singing along to an antisemitic song alongside Andrew Tate.

During his visit to Paris, many local women appeared unfamiliar with Peters, responding to his advances with polite refusals or disengagement. At a café, one woman curtailed a conversation by wishing him an enjoyable stay, while others seemed bemused when he suggested they alter their evening plans to include nightclub attendance. Peters’s limited command of French and awkward approach contributed to the generally chilly reception, which French media interpreted as a display of national pride among Parisian women.

French newspapers spanning the political spectrum—from the right-leaning Le Figaro, which headlined its coverage with “That’s my France,” to the Communist daily L’Humanité—united in applauding the women’s refusal to engage with Peters. Social media in France also saw a surge of commentary, with many mocking Peters and celebrating the local rebuff.

In response to the rejection, Peters posted disparaging remarks about the French, labeling them “impolite” and their capital a “ghetto,” while also accusing the women of being “lesbians.” His tweets drew criticism from figures such as Manuel Bompart, national coordinator of the radical left party France Unbowed, who condemned Peters’s subsequent sexist and racist rhetoric as intolerable hate discourse left unchecked by online platforms.

Despite the negative reception, Peters acknowledged areas for personal improvement, admitting on social media that he needed to develop better conversational skills and contended that he had been “extremely respectful” toward the women he approached. While his visit did not result in the social validation he sought, it nonetheless increased his profile in France, affording him greater media exposure and the potential to expand his follower base and online revenue streams.