by Josie Sharp
Trigger Warning: Discussing topics of a sexual, hateful and abusive nature
Andrew Tate, 36, was previously a successful kickboxer who won many championships - but now is a massive media personality who shares highly misogynistic and controversial views across various social media platforms.
He has gained a large following made up of mainly young and impressionable boys, gaining a staggering 11.6 billion views on his videos posted to TikTok.
There is no shortage of unacceptable statements that Tate has said on his war to make women subservient to men once again; but many include abuse, both consensual and not.
Frustratingly, these opinions have been loudened through social media - especially during 2020 where the lockdown saw more people than ever turn to digital outlets.
Addressing the responsibility of social media platforms like TikTok in regulating and removing content that promotes hate speech and misogyny is a critical aspect of the larger discourse.
As an online magazine, we firmly believe it is our duty to call out individuals like Andrew Tate and provide insight into toxic cultures they may create.
Social media platforms, being the virtual town squares of our time, bear a profound responsibility to curate and monitor content that can potentially harm society.
While challenges in content moderation persist, there is a growing recognition of the need for stricter policies and efficient algorithms to detect and remove harmful content swiftly. By holding these platforms accountable and demanding greater transparency, we collectively aim to create a safer and more inclusive online environment for all.
Whilst on Big Brother in 2016, he was removed from the house following the release of a video where, after having sex with a woman, he makes her count the bruises he had left on her body.
Despite both parties saying it was consensual, the video was incredibly disturbing nonetheless and not an acceptable result of consensual sex with a partner.
His controversies also include his descriptions of the women that he likes to date.
Although he is almost double their age, he prefers to date 18 – 19-year-old girls in order to ‘make an imprint.’
By imprint, he refers to psychological abuse that women will then expect for the rest of their lives, as well as describing the enjoyment he gets from taking young women’s virginities.
This imprint includes misogynistic ideology like how women shouldn’t be able to drive, should stay at home and should not go out at night. The worst comment made by far was the victim blaming towards female rape victims, believing that they need to “bear responsibility” for their attacks.
These outrageous and untruthful comments made on his videos were all available to TikTok account holders, despite misogynistic and hateful speech being banned on the application, none of his videos were taken down until his arrest in April 2023.
In an age where information flows rapidly through digital channels, it has become paramount to promote critical thinking and media literacy.
Encouraging individuals to question and fact-check the information they encounter online is an essential defense against the spread of harmful ideologies.
It empowers individuals to discern between credible sources and misinformation, fostering a more informed and responsible online community. By encouraging critical thinking, we aim to equip our readers with the tools to evaluate the content they consume critically, helping them make informed decisions and resist the influence of divisive figures like Andrew Tate.
After an apparent ‘tip off’ from the US embassy, Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested on Human Trafficking and Rape charges by the Romanian Authorities.
On the 6th of August, Andrew Tate and his brother were released from their house arrest, following an appeal win by their lawyers.
The accused ran to X (formerly Twitter) to reiterate his innocence against these accusations stating that “there are hundreds of high-profile cases of men suffering from false accusations. There are thousands of untold stories of normal men having their lives destroyed. I am launching a charity to protect men from this predatory evil.”
Although his videos were removed from social platforms, recordings, and edits of them were still being circulated which are receiving millions of views by his so-called ‘fans’ who describe themselves as being members of ‘Hustler’s University.’
This fanbase consists of young boys who now share the same views and values as Tate. How did people allow someone to become so successful and famous from being so spiteful and derogatory towards women? And how are people still agreeing with his statements?
It is beyond disappointing to see young men take on his views as their own and choose to believe the lies that they have been fed through his videos.
It is times like these where we need to demand that social platforms such as TikTok be vigilant in taking down videos of this nature to both protect women from attack, and men from ruining their views of them.
In the realm of legal and ethical consequences, it is essential to recognize that promoting hate speech and abusive behavior online carries severe repercussions.
Society has seen an increasing number of individuals, including Andrew Tate, facing legal actions for their actions and statements.
These actions not only tarnish their reputation but also hold them accountable for their harmful rhetoric. Governments and legal authorities worldwide are taking a more assertive stance against online hate speech and misogyny, signaling a collective commitment to protecting individuals from harm in the digital space.
These actions are a reminder that freedom of speech does not extend to the promotion of hatred and violence, both online and offline.
Edited by Emily Duff