According to BBC reports, controversial influencer Andrew Tate has been charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania. He was arrested in December along with his brother Tristan and has been under house arrest since then. The charges include forming an organized crime group for sexually exploiting women. The indictment alleges that the Tates, along with three others, operated a human trafficking ring across Romania, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The victims were allegedly lured with false promises of marriage and subjected to intimidation, surveillance, forced debt, and more. The defendants are also accused of posting the victims’ explicit content on social media. The trial is expected to last several years, and the Tate brothers maintain their innocence. Further charges related to trafficking of minors and money laundering are still under investigation.
“While this news is undoubtedly predictable, we embrace the opportunity it presents to demonstrate their innocence and vindicate their reputation,” a representative for the Tate brothers said in a statement while adding that the indictment “allows us to present a comprehensive body of evidence, diligently collected and prepared over time, which will undoubtedly substantiate the brothers’ claims of innocence.”
Andrew Tate gained notoriety in 2016 as a contestant on the U.K. version of Big Brother. However, he was subsequently removed from the show due to controversial comments and videos posted on Twitter. After his time on the show, Tate garnered some attention by promoting a brand that was criticized for promoting misogyny and toxic masculinity. While he may have found a level of success among certain audiences, his views and approach have been widely criticized by others.