Controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been detained by Romanian police following the issuance of arrest warrants by British authorities over alleged sexual offenses in the UK. The internet personalities, who are dual UK-US nationals, are due to appear in Bucharest's Court of Appeal on Tuesday, where a decision will be made on whether to execute the warrants.
According to Romanian police, the arrest warrants were issued for exploiting people in the UK, with the allegations covering the period from 2012 to 2015. The Tate brothers' representative stated that they "categorically reject all charges" and expressed "profound disappointment that such serious allegations are being resurrected without substantial new evidence."
"They are fully committed to challenging these accusations with unwavering determination and resolve," the statement added, describing the arrest warrants as a "bewildering revival of decade-old accusations" that have left the brothers "dismayed and deeply troubled."
This latest development comes as the Tate brothers are already under investigation by Romanian authorities in a separate case involving allegations of rape, human trafficking, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. The brothers, along with two female Romanian associates, were indicted in June, with seven alleged victims identified. Andrew Tate has repeatedly claimed that Romanian prosecutors have no evidence against him and that there is a conspiracy to silence him.
In December, the Tate brothers were ordered by a Romanian court not to leave the country after they requested permission to visit their mother in the UK, who was hospitalized. The legal case in Romania is still in the preliminary stages, with no trial date set.
Andrew Tate, 37, has amassed a significant following on social media platforms, with 8.9 million followers on X (formerly Twitter). He is known for expressing misogynistic views and has been previously banned from various social media platforms for hate speech. Following the news of his detention, a post appeared on his X account stating, "The Matrix is afraid, but I only fear God," using the term "Matrix" to refer to what he sees as a wide-ranging conspiracy targeting men.
In January, Tate won an appeal challenging the seizure of his assets by Romanian authorities, which had confiscated 15 luxury cars, 14 designer watches, and cash in several currencies worth an estimated 3.6 million euros ($3.9 million) in the weeks following his arrest.
The arrest warrants issued by the UK authorities stem from allegations made by four women who reported Tate to the police for alleged sexual violence and physical abuse. Although the Crown Prosecution Service initially decided not to prosecute him, the alleged victims turned to crowdfunding to cover their legal costs as they pursue a civil case against him.
"We handed over our evidence about the horrific acts of violence we endured and waited for action. But four years later we were told the U.K. authorities would not prosecute him," they stated on their campaign page. "It's our one remaining route to hold him accountable."
As the Tate brothers await the Bucharest Court of Appeal's decision on the execution of the UK arrest warrants, the case has garnered significant attention due to Andrew Tate's controversial online presence and the severity of the allegations against him. The outcome of both the UK and Romanian legal proceedings will likely have far-reaching consequences for the influencer and his brother, as well as for the ongoing debate surrounding the role of social media in promoting harmful ideologies and behavior.
