Romanian court places ‘king of toxic masculinity’ Andrew Tate under house arrest amid investigation into sexual exploitation of minors

BUCHAREST, Aug 23 — A Romanian court yesterday placed controversial influencer Andrew Tate, who is already awaiting trial on human trafficking and rape charges, under house arrest, a day after his home was searched in a new investigation involving minors.

Tate, 37, one of the world’s most famous influencers known for his misogynistic and sometimes violent statements, has already been accused of setting up an organised criminal network in Romania and Britain in early 2021, together with his brother Tristan, 36. They have denied the allegations.

Prosecutors allege she and two women set up a criminal organization and sexually exploited multiple victims. No trial date has been set.

In a new case, US-born Briton Andrew Tate was placed under house arrest for 30 days, while his brother Tristan was placed under judicial supervision for 60 days. Under this order, he must appear regularly before authorities, the Bucharest court said in a statement.

Andrew Tate dismissed the case as a “false conspiracy”.

“I am clearly not a human trafficker… This is being done deliberately and is intended to invent the most heinous crimes to smear our name,” he told reporters outside the court, flanked by his brother.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office had requested the arrest of the two men after police took them to the Organized Crime Bureau (DIICOT) for questioning on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, their home was searched as “part of a search in connection with a new investigation,” their spokeswoman said.

DIICOT reported that four search warrants have been executed in and around Bucharest in connection with “the crimes of forming an organized criminal group, trafficking in minors,” “sexual relations with a minor” and “money laundering.”

The Tate brothers were arrested in Bucharest in 2022 and spent three months in pre-trial detention before being released under judicial supervision pending trial.

The brothers are also accused of rape and sexual assault in separate cases in Britain, as well as tax evasion.

In 2016, Tate appeared on the UK reality TV show ‘Big Brother’ but was removed after a video surfaced of him attacking a woman.

He then turned to social media platforms to spread his divisive views.

By giving tips on how to be successful and sharing controversial views, his videos have made him one of the world’s best-known influencers. — AFP