Avowed Misogynist Andrew Tate in US Despite Rape Charges in Romania

MIAMI, 28 February 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Right-wing influencer Andrew Tate, who is facing charges of rape and human trafficking in Romania, arrived in the United States on Thursday. This marks his first time leaving the Eastern European nation since his arrest in 2022.

Romanian prosecutors accuse Tate, 38, his brother Tristan, 36, and two women of establishing a criminal network in Romania and the United Kingdom in early 2021, allegedly exploiting multiple victims.

The brothers arrived in Florida via private jet, according to their lawyer Ioan Gilga. However, before landing, they faced strong opposition from state authorities, who made it clear they were not welcome. The Tates have not disclosed the reason for their visit.

“We live in a democratic society where it is innocent until proven guilty, and I believe my brother and I are largely misunderstood,” Andrew Tate stated upon arrival in Fort Lauderdale.

“There are many opinions about us, and much speculation online. However, we have never been convicted of any crime,” he added.

The Bucharest government has stressed that the Tates, who hold both British and American citizenship and remain under judicial supervision in Romania, must return for their court hearing on 24 March. Failure to appear could result in “preventive arrest.”

Concerns have been raised by four British women who have accused Tate of rape and coercive control in a separate case. They fear that pressure from the US government could lead Romania to ease travel restrictions, potentially allowing the Tates to evade justice.

Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu revealed that Richard Grenell, a special envoy for former US President Donald Trump, had previously raised the case at the Munich Security Conference earlier in February.

However, Trump denied any involvement in advocating for the Tates or facilitating their travel to Florida.

“I know nothing about that. I don’t know—are you saying he’s on a plane right now? Yeah, I just know nothing about it. We’ll check it out and let you know,” Trump stated when questioned by reporters.

Romanian Justice Minister Radu Marinescu dismissed any claims of external influence, asserting he was “not aware of any pressure from anyone” and had “not received any kind of request from US authorities.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was in Washington meeting with Trump, declined to comment on the situation or whether the UK was seeking Tate’s extradition.

“There is a British aspect to this case, and justice must be served. Human trafficking is, in my view, a security risk,” Starmer briefly responded at the White House.

A Romanian court has already approved a British request to extradite the Tates, though only once legal proceedings in Romania have concluded.

Controversy and Opposition

On Thursday, four British women issued a joint statement expressing their distress over what they perceived as Romanian authorities yielding to pressure from the Trump administration, allowing Andrew Tate to travel.

These women are pursuing a civil case in the UK against Tate, accusing him of rape and coercive control between 2013 and 2016.

Their lawyer, Matthew Jury, urged Starmer to take action, stating that he should advocate “on behalf of the many British women whom Tate is alleged to have raped and sexually assaulted, who may now be denied justice.”

Meanwhile, a Romanian court ruled in favour of the Tates’ appeal to lift the seizure of their assets, which included properties, vehicles, bank accounts, and company shares, according to their PR team.

Andrew Tate, who originally launched a webcam business in the UK, relocated to Romania several years ago.

His rise to notoriety came in 2016 when he appeared on the UK reality television programme Big Brother. However, he was swiftly removed from the show after a video surfaced in which he was seen attacking a woman.

Following this, Tate built an extensive online following by promoting controversial and often misogynistic views on success and masculinity.

Although banned from Instagram and TikTok due to his inflammatory content, he maintains a large presence on X, where he has over 10 million followers. His posts frequently include homophobic and racist remarks.

Last year, the Tate brothers were convicted in a tax fraud case in the UK.

Ahead of their arrival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis firmly stated that the state had played no role in arranging their trip. He also signalled that legal options were being explored to prevent their visit.

“Florida is not a place where individuals engaging in such behaviour are welcome,” DeSantis asserted at a press conference.