Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet has described the viral "looksmaxxing" trend as a "giant red warning sign," suggesting it highlights a growing deficit in mentorship for young men.
"Young men are going to be looking for mentors... they are looking for voices that will make sense of the chaos, that will help them navigate a very tumultuous social scene. They need help... and this is what Clavicular is offering them," Kolvet stated on "The Will Cain Show."
Looksmaxxing is an online self-improvement movement focused on enhancing physical appearance through fitness, grooming, and facial aesthetics. Kolvet's remarks followed a discussion about Clavicular, a prominent influencer in the trend. Clavicular has publicly described practices such as "bone smashing" – intentionally creating microfractures in the jaw to promote regrowth – though he advises consulting a doctor before attempting such methods.
While acknowledging Clavicular's charisma, Kolvet advocated for prioritizing different values. "Instead of 'looksmaxxing,' we need to be encouraging young people to be 'charactermaxxing,'" he said. "They need to be working on their faith life, on their social life and the things that actually have eternal purpose and value, so that's my big critique here."
Clavicular, in a separate appearance on the "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast, described looksmaxxing as the "most well-rounded form of self-improvement" and argued that an improved physical appearance positively impacts daily interactions.
Kolvet emphasized the importance of positive mentorship, directly addressing older viewers and urging them to actively mentor young men. "I can't stress it enough, please, please, please find young men that you can mentor. And that is the big breakthrough for so many young men's lives," he said.