Andrew and Tristan Tate (unsurprisingly) charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania
Controversial influencer Andrew Tate, known for his insidious online presence and self-proclaimed 'king of toxic masculinity' image, has been charged in Romania alongside his brother Tristan with disturbing crimes that include rape, human trafficking, and forming an organised crime group to exploit women sexually.
- Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, both former kickboxers holding US and British nationalities, were arrested at their Bucharest, Romania, residence in December. They have since been charged with human trafficking and forming an organized criminal group in 2021.
The charges against the Tate brothers
The indictment alleges that the Tate brothers exploited seven victims, recruiting them through false promises of love and marriage, in Romania as well as other countries including the United States and the United Kingdom. Andrew Tate himself faces a separate charge of rape, while his brother Tristan has been charged with instigating violence against the victims.
Andrew Tate has been charged with rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women.
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) June 20, 2023
His brother Tristan is also charged - along with two other associates. pic.twitter.com/H5miQjIf1x
Although the charges have been filed and the Tate brothers have been placed under house arrest, the trial is not expected to commence immediately.
- A Romanian judge now has 60 days to review the case files before the trial can proceed.
- Given the complexity of the charges and the international nature of the alleged crimes, it is anticipated that the legal process will be protracted, potentially spanning several years.
Zeroing in on Romania to live in
Tate made no secret of his reasons for choosing Romania as his home and business base. Citing a desire to live in a society where his wealth, power, and influence would exempt him from the constraints of the law, Tate openly expressed his preference for a place where corruption was readily accessible.
While their online influence is no stranger to continuous controversy, the recent charges brought against the infamous influencer has plunged him into an entirely different realm.
The Greta Thunberg fight
In December, Romanian authorities managed to track down Andrew Tate's location from the video he posted in response to climate change activist Greta Thunberg's savage response.
Thank you for confirming via your email address that you have a small penis @GretaThunberg
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) December 28, 2022
The world was curious.
And I do agree you should get a life ❤️ https://t.co/mHmiKHjDGH pic.twitter.com/SMisajQRcf
After Greta Thunberg asked Tate to "get a life", Tate replied with a video that showed his "life" in a Versace robe, smoking a cigar, except, the video also showed a pizza box belonging to a local Romanian pizza chain. Authorities were able to confirm that Tate was indeed at his Bucharest home by looking at the pizza box.
Tate's online persona, built on toxic masculinity and catering to impressionable young men, earned him a significant following. However, the recent events have shattered the carefully constructed facade, revealing a disturbing reality lurking behind his digital allure.
The charges against the Tate brothers should serve as a wake-up call to their followers (but in all likelihood would spur them on even further). Their alleged crimes highlight the dangers of unchecked influence.