Even as Andrew Tate awaits a trial for alleged sex crimes, the controversial social media influencer continues to fire up his toxic fanbase. It should surprise no one who has skimmed even one headline about the former Big Brother contestant in the last year that Tate’s history with controversial statements is a long one.
For now, Tate and his brother Tristan have been temporarily released from house arrest in Romania. However, that doesn’t mean their legal troubles are over. The two siblings will still face a trial on charges of “human trafficking and rape,” according to CNN.
Tate, a former kickboxer and current content creator, is at the center of calls for TikTok to improve its content filtering and removal policies after several videos featuring Tate and his past public comments have gone viral.
And it’s easy to see why people are demanding this, since Tate is on record saying several things that seem to infringe most websites’ terms of service. In fact, several charities have demanded TikTok remove the content, with Amelia Handy, policy lead at Rape Crisis England and Wales, revealing her thoughts to The Daily Mail last summer:
“These videos are a clear example of rape culture, where rape and sexual violence are minimized and survivors are blamed for crimes committed against them. Sexual violence does not exist in a vacuum, it is very much rooted in the sexist belief that women and girls are less valuable than men and boys. It is therefore deeply concerning that young people have access to content that teaches just this and makes sexual abuse seem normal. TikTok has a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of its users: by allowing these videos on their platform they are failing to protect the millions of young people who use their app.”
However, these are not the only offensive and controversial things Tate has said previously. Here are eight of the worst things the ex-Big Brother contestant has come out with.
Content Warning: The following comments contain misogyny and mentions of sexual violence.
10. “Please provide your email address so I can send a complete list of my car collection and their respective enormous emissions.”
We admit, we are including this on the list because it is as big of a self-own as it is an idiotic statement about climate change denial. The quote, taken from a Twitter post directed at climate activist Greta Thunberg, set her up for crafting one of the greatest takedowns in the site’s history.
9. “I do know how to administer CPR. However, I will not administer CPR unless you’re a hot female… If you’re some fat dude and you just had a heart attack and I don’t really know you, you’re gonna die… No, not even if you’re a friend.”
If there’s one thing that encapsulates the banality of evil, it is knowing how to do CPR, yet letting your own friend die because you “ain’t gay.” That is exactly the explanation Tate gave for his plan to withhold any emergency medical services to those around him unless they are “a hot female,” as our partner site Dot Esports pointed out.
8. “If you put yourself in a position to be r***d, you must bare [sic] some responsibility.”
Part of a Twitter rant about the Harvey Weinstein case, this entire rant was controversial due to its misogynistic and victim-blaming elements.
7. “This belief does discredit as a whole. Stick to the serious definitions and stop pretending normal male behavior is r***.”
Said during the previous Twitter rant, this statement also generated controversy, with several people condemning Tate’s words.
6. “Why would you be with a woman whos not a virgin anyway [sic]? She is used goods. Second hand.”
Said during a 2014 interview, Tate told the press that this was him “jokingly mocking” a Russian kickboxer he was going to fight, arguing that the fighter “did the comments seriously in the Russian press [sic].” However, due to Tate’s other comments, many didn’t buy this excuse.
5. “So people defend depression. They get angry when I say this. Because they need this bulls*** to justify their own failures. By admitting I’m right, they need to work hard to make themselves happy. To avoid the work – argue with me and pretend depression is a thing.”
During a Twitter rant in 2017, Tate argued that depression and other mental health issues were “not real” while proving he didn’t fully understand the concepts he was talking about.
4. “By extension, if I have responsibility over her, then I must have a degree of authority.”
Tate’s opinions of women have always caused controversy, especially with him making many misogynistic comments during interviews. This comment was said during a Barstool Sports interview. Tate started by talking about how he treats women on a first date, before dropping this pointless statement.
3. “One of the best things about being a man is being territorial and being able to say ‘that is mine.'”
During a live video debate with xQc, this statement further proved that Tate’s views on women and gender roles do not reflect modern conceptions of the two.
2. “I’m not a r****, but I like the idea of just being able to do what I want. I like being free.”
Tate said this while he was being investigated concerning abuse allegations. The former kickboxer used this quote to explain why he moved to Romania, suggesting that he chose the country as he believed he could more easily get away with sexual crimes there.
1. “Read the Bible, every single man had multiple wives, not a single woman had multiple husbands. It’s against the will of God — it’s disgusting.”
Tate’s comments on women having multiple partners have also attracted controversy, further building on his other misogynistic comments.