Andrew Tate Charged with Human Trafficking and Rape in Romania: Trial Set to Begin

Former professional kickboxer and controversial influencer, Andrew Tate, faces trial in Romania over charges of rape, human trafficking, and forming a criminal gang, according to reports from the U.K.

Tate’s Arrest and Charges

In December of last year, Andrew Tate was arrested by Romanian anti-terrorism authorities, and now he faces charges related to rape, human trafficking, and “forming organised crime group to sexually exploit women,” as reported by the BBC.

The indictment indicates that Tate, along with three others, has been involved in human trafficking activities in Romania, the U.S., and the U.K.

His brother Tristan has also been reportedly charged along with two additional suspects. Since March, the brothers have reportedly been under house arrest in Bucharest, Romania.

Prosecutors Charge Tate Brothers

On Tuesday morning, Romanian prosecutors charged the Tate brothers, who are now expected to stand trial. According to The Guardian, the charges revolve around alleged offenses against seven women, which both brothers deny.

As reported by Variety, prosecutors believe that the Tate brothers were involved in the recruitment and exploitation of women to create pornographic clips for distribution on platforms like OnlyFans.

Tate’s History of Controversy

Andrew Tate first entered the public eye as a participant on the U.K.’s “Big Brother” reality show in 2016, where he faced criticism for racist and homophobic comments made on Twitter.

He was eventually expelled from the show after a video surfaced showing him apparently hitting a woman with a belt. Both Tate and the woman claimed their actions were consensual.

Since then, Tate has built an online following by giving advice on masculinity and money. Twitter banned him in May 2017, but he was reinstated by Elon Musk after Musk purchased the social media platform last year.

The trial’s commencement date is yet to be announced, and it remains to be seen how these serious charges will affect Tate’s online influence and future career prospects.