Kickboxer-turned-influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate are facing a mix of criminal and civil charges across the globe.
Andrew Tate has been notorious since he was removed from Big Brother in 2016 over a video that appeared to show him attacking a woman with a belt – a clip he claims was edited.
But controversy has reached new levels since 2022, when he was arrested in Romania along with his younger brother Tristan on suspicion of human trafficking and rape.
Soon after that, the pair – who are dual UK and US nationals – became the subject of a separate investigation by police in the UK, where there is also a civil case against the older brother.
Andrew and Tristan are also facing a criminal investigation in the US.
They are currently in Dubai, but must return to Romania regularly to fulfil legal obligations related to the criminal investigation.
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‘We are innocent’ say Tate brothers
Here is everything you need to know about the allegations levelled at the brothers.
The charges in Romania
The allegations levelled against the Tate brothers – along with two women arrested at the same time – centre around claims of rape, people trafficking and organised crime.
Having been arrested in December 2022, the brothers were charged the following June, accused of tricking seven women into sexual exploitation on fake promises of a relationship or marriage – a technique authorities labelled the “loverboy method”.
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Andrew Tate in Romania: ‘I’ve done nothing wrong’
It was alleged all four formed the group in 2021 to commit human trafficking in Romania and other countries – including the US and UK.
Alongside charges of human trafficking, Andrew Tate has also been charged with raping one of the victims, while his brother Tristan has been charged with instigating others to violence.
All four suspects deny the charges, with the brothers continually making the case for their innocence online and in interviews.
After the arrest in December 2022, the brothers were held in custody until March 2023 – when they were released under house arrest. The house arrest was later scrapped but they were told not to leave the country.
The authorities said at the time they also seized 15 buildings and areas of land, 15 luxury cars and 14 luxury watches belonging to the brothers.
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Luxury cars seized from Tate’s home
But Andrew Tate was placed under house arrest again in August last year following a fresh investigation, after having his home raided by authorities, with Tristan placed under lighter restrictions.
In this second case, Romania’s anti-organised crime agency DIICOT said it was investigating allegations of human trafficking, including the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, forming an organised criminal group, money laundering, and influencing statements.
It alleged the crimes took place between 2014 and 2024.
The house arrest was again lifted in January 2025.
The brothers were initially told they needed to remain in the country, but Romanian prosecutors have since let them leave, allowing them to spend time in Florida and Dubai.
In January 2024, a court also overturned the decision to seize the assets, which saw them regain access to supercars, properties and designer watches.
The brothers have been warned they must appear before judicial authorities in Romania if summoned, and have been warned that failure to do so could result in stricter restrictions being imposed.
That is why the pair travelled back to Romania on 22 March. After arriving at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport by private jet, Andrew Tate vowed to clear their names in court, adding: “Innocent men don’t run from anything.”
The brothers left again for Dubai on 1 April with their lawyers saying they would return within two months to comply with all legal requirements.
Brothers wanted in the UK for separate criminal allegations
There is a separate criminal investigation against the Tates open in the UK.
Bedfordshire Police said in March 2024 that the investigation was into allegations of rape and human trafficking dating back to 2012 and 2015.
The constabulary obtained a European arrest warrant for the brothers last year, with the court of appeal in Bucharest ruling they would be extradited to the UK following the conclusion of legal proceedings in Romania.
In a statement in March last year, the police force said it was working with authorities in Romania as part of the investigation.
The brothers’ representatives said they were “fully committed to challenging these accusations with unwavering determination and resolve”.
Tate facing UK civil trial in 2027
As well as the criminal case, the brothers were last year served with civil proceedings papers on behalf of four British women who accused them of rape and assault.
Two of the women were in an intimate relationship with the controversial influencer, while the other two worked for his online webcam business at the time of the allegations between 2013 and 2015.
According to court documents seen by Sky News in April, Tate pointed a gun at one woman’s face and told her to do as he said.
He allegedly told her: “I’m a boss, you’re going to do as I say or there’ll be hell to pay.”
The woman, who worked for Tate on his online webcam business, alleges he threatened her daily.
At a High Court preliminary hearing in central London on 15 April, Judge Richard Armstrong said the claimants were “seeking damages likely to reach six figures”.
The court heard that a trial of the claims could be held in early 2027 and could last three weeks.
A representative for the Tate brothers said they “unequivocally deny all allegations”, both criminal and civil, and are “fully committed to challenging these accusations with unwavering determination and resolve”.
His lawyer has said he intends to give evidence in his defence at trial and will call around 11 witnesses.
Three of the British accusers were the subject of an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary, which was closed in 2019.
Criminal investigation in Florida
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Anger as Tate is allowed to enter US
Florida has launched the latest criminal investigation into the Tates, with James Uthmeier, the state’s attorney general, saying on 5 March its work was “active” into holding a preliminary inquiry.
It came after the brother’s arrival in Florida prompted its governor Ron DeSantis to say the brothers were not welcome and that he would be directing the attorney general to examine their alleged crimes.
Announcing the investigation, Mr Uthmeier said: “Based on a thorough review of the evidence, I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to execute search warrants and issue subpoenas in the now-active criminal investigation into the Tate brothers.”
Andrew Tate hit back, claiming US authorities are “trying to find crimes on an innocent man”.
A recent lawsuit filed in Florida accuses both Tate brothers of conspiring to coerce a woman into sex work, luring her to Romania and defaming her after her testimony to Romanian authorities. The Tate brothers sued the woman for defamation in 2023.
Trump believed to have helped brothers leave Romania
Days before the Tates were allowed to leave Romania for Florida, reports surfaced that the Trump administration had been heavily pushing for their travel restrictions to be lifted.
Mr Trump denies any involvement in having the travel ban lifted, but Sky News’ analysis of links on social media shows deepening ties between Andrew Tate and several people close to the US president.
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Tate and Trump ties explored
The brothers have long been champions of the US president.
Speaking to the media outside a courthouse in Romania in January, Andrew Tate said: “Donald Trump is the future of the Western world, everybody knows it, and everybody needs to get in line and obey him. He runs the world. He’s a good friend of mine and I’m going to help him.”
He has been equally vocal in his support for Mr Trump on social media, and key members of the Trump administration have been returning the favour by voicing their support for the Tates.
It’s an alliance that experts say could benefit both sides.
Social media consultant Matt Navarra told Sky News: “In the political climate, Tate should serve as a valuable influencer for political movements. And he’s got a huge ability to mobilise large online followings, and that’s a big potential political asset.
“Social media is the new battleground and influencers are the new generals and Tate is perfectly aligned to Trump’s mission.”
Social media bans fail to limit Tate’s influence
Tate has been the subject of several social media bans over the years, but they have done little to silence his controversial messages.
He was banned on X, then Twitter, in 2017 for his misogynistic views and hate speech, but his account was reinstated in November 2022 following Elon Musk’s takeover, and the platform is now where he’s most active, tweeting daily to his 10.7 million followers.
He was banned from Facebook and Instagram in August 2022 for violating parent company Meta’s policies on “dangerous individuals”. He had 4.7 million Instagram followers before his official account was deleted.
He was then removed days later from YouTube for breaching hate speech rules – but fan channels have filled in the gaps, posting videos that reach millions of views.
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Crackdown on extreme misogyny
TikTok has barred him from having an account but content posted under the hashtag Andrew Tate has been viewed billions of times.
In November 2022, analysis by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) identified more than 100 TikTok accounts that frequently promoted Tate’s content, with a total of 250 million video views and 5.7 million followers.
His most controversial takes
Tate has suggested rape victims “bear some responsibility” for being attacked, said women “belong in the home” and referred to women as “property” of men.
Describing how he would react if a woman accused him of cheating, he said: “It’s bang out the machete, boom in her face and grip her by the neck.”
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Trump reacts to Tate’s arrival in US
How Tate’s business made millions – despite charges
In a video explaining why he moved to Romania, he said “probably 40% of the reason” he moved was because it would be easier to evade rape charges.
He added: “I’m not a rapist, but I like the idea of just being able to do what I want. I like being free.”
Tate has also said he would rather date 18-year-olds than 25-year-olds because he can “make an imprint” on teenagers who have had fewer sexual partners.
In a 2017 tweet, he said: “Depression isn’t real. You feel sad, you move on. You will always be depressed if your life is depressing. Change it.”
Tate has denied holding misogynistic views and accused his critics of “twisting facts”, although he has also described himself as the “king of toxic masculinity”.
