Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are escorted by police officers outside the headquarters of the Bucharest Court of Appeal, in Bucharest, Romania on Jan 10, 2023.BUCHAREST — The woman from Moldova thought it was love. Internet celebrity Andrew Tate had offered her a new life. They'd even discussed marriage. He asked for only one thing: absolute loyalty.
The allegations and messages are included in a previously unpublished court document, dated Dec 30 and reviewed by Reuters, which paints the most detailed picture yet of the illicit business allegedly run by Tate, a former kickboxing world champion, and his brother Tristan. The brothers used deception and intimidation to bring six women under their control and "transform them into slaves", prosecutors said in the document. The 61-page file, produced by Bucharest court officials, comprises minutes of a hearing when a judge extended the Tates' detention plus evidence submitted by the prosecution.
Two of the women told Romanian TV station Antena3 on Jan 11 that they're not victims and the Tates are innocent. The station identified them only by first names, Beatrice and Iasmina. The company, whose 1.5 million creators can earn anything from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands a month, says on its website it's "the safest digital media platform". It was founded in 2016 and grew rapidly during Covid-19 lockdowns.
Up until last month, his website offered a course costing more than US$400 that promised to teach "every step to building a girl who is submissive, loyal and in love with you". Tate's Twitter account, reinstated in November, one month after billionaire Elon Musk bought the platform, protests his innocence to his 4.8 million followers. "They have arrested me to 'look' for evidence ... which they will not find because it doesn't exist," said a Jan 15 post.
He told her she wasn't a prisoner but said the guards wouldn't let her outside without his permission, it added. He said it was dangerous for her to leave "because he had enemies".