Influencer Andrew Tate arrested in Romania, to be extradited to U.K. after trial : NPR

LONDON — Grainy footage from Romanian police reveals a person dubbed the “king of poisonous masculinity” being detained at midnight, alongside together with his brother, then hauled right into a Bucharest courtroom in handcuffs.

Inside hours, a choose there Tuesday authorised the extradition of Andrew and Tristan Tate to the UK, the place they face fees of sexual aggression in a case that dates again greater than a decade. However the choose stated the Tate brothers will not really be despatched to the U.Okay. till after they face trial in Romania on separate fees of human trafficking, rape and forming a legal group to sexually exploit girls.

Andrew Tate, 37, describes himself as a misogynist. He is a British American social media influencer, businessman and former skilled kickboxer who has amassed practically 9 million followers on X, previously Twitter. A lot of them are schoolboys — one thing that has sparked concern amongst educators worldwide.

A number of girls in numerous nations have accused Tate of rape, sexual assault, human trafficking — and of bragging about these crimes on social media. Other than legal circumstances within the U.Okay. and Romania, he additionally faces a separate civil case within the U.Okay.

Tate says he is the sufferer of a conspiracy in opposition to males who embrace their masculinity. It is unclear what fees his brother Tristan faces. Each deny any wrongdoing.

How did Andrew Tate get his on-line following?

Andrew Tate rose to fame after he was faraway from the British model of the truth TV present Huge Brother in 2016, following the discharge of a video that appeared to indicate him attacking a lady. He claims the video was edited and quantities to “a complete deceive make me look unhealthy.”

Tate has been banned from different social media platforms, together with Instagram, TikTok, Fb and YouTube, for posts deemed derogatory to girls. The previous Twitter briefly banned him after he wrote in 2017 that ladies ought to bear “some accountability” for being sexually assaulted. His account has since been reinstated.

He has additionally written descriptions on-line of how he may assault girls, and has criticized individuals who search psychological well being remedy.

Whereas he doesn’t have a TikTok account himself, movies with the #AndrewTate hashtag have been watched billions of occasions on the video platform, making him one among its most considered figures. The hashtag additionally consists of some movies by individuals criticizing him.

What is the Romanian case in opposition to him?

Romanian authorities arrested the Tate brothers in December 2022 and later positioned them underneath home arrest within the city of Voluntari, on the outskirts of Bucharest. The brothers are accused of exploiting girls through an grownup content material enterprise, which prosecutors allege operated as a legal group. Authorities stated seized 15 luxurious automobiles, 14 designer watches and money in a number of currencies value a complete of practically $4 million.

Romania’s anti-organized crime company says the Tates and two different defendants subjected their recruits to “acts of bodily violence and psychological coercion,” sexually exploited them and compelled them to carry out in pornography supposed to reap “necessary monetary advantages.”

In that case, the Tate brothers face fees of being a part of an organized crime group, human trafficking and rape. They deny every part. In January, Tate received an attraction difficult the seizure of a few of his property.

On Tuesday, the Romanian appeals courtroom choose dominated that solely after Romanian proceedings are full, will the Tate brothers be extradited to the U.Okay. It’s unclear how lengthy that would take.

What are the U.Okay. circumstances in opposition to him?

In an announcement emailed Tuesday to journalists, a neighborhood police pressure north of London, the place Tate used to stay, stated it had obtained a European arrest warrant.

“As a part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of rape and human trafficking, Bedfordshire Police has obtained a European Arrest Warrant for 2 males of their 30s,” it learn. “We’re working with authorities in Romania as a part of this investigation.” That case dates again to 2012-2015.

Individually, 4 of Tate’s alleged victims within the U.Okay. have arrange a crowdfunding web site to cowl their authorized prices in a civil case they’re pursuing in opposition to him. That they had reported Tate to British authorities for alleged sexual violence, however their claims didn’t advance to prosecution.

“We filed complaints with the authorities for rape and bodily abuse in 2014 and 2015 alongside witness testimony and damning documentary proof. The CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] then determined to not take the matter any additional,” their web site says. “It is our one remaining routes to carry him accountable.”

A legislation agency representing alleged victims within the U.Okay. civil case, McCue Jury & Companions, says it contacted authorities after recognizing a commentary on-line that steered Tate could also be making ready to flee Romania and any prosecution there.

That is what might have led to the Tates’ detention late Monday.

“We’re grateful” that authorities took motion,” the agency stated Tuesday in an announcement.

In response, a spokesperson for Andrew Tate stated in an announcement quoted by Britain’s Press Affiliation: “We unequivocally deny any accusations that Andrew or Tristan Tate intends to abscond from Romania to evade the judicial proceedings.”

“Our purchasers are totally dedicated to actively collaborating within the authorized course of and defending their popularity,” it stated.

The brothers had been launched instantly after Tuesday’s courtroom look. They’re required to stay in Romania. Their trial date there has not been launched.

After his launch, Andrew Tate posted an replace on X: “The Matrix is afraid, however I solely concern God.”

“The Matrix” is a time period he has used up to now to explain what he sees as a conspiracy in opposition to him.