British prosecutors have greenlit a sweeping set of criminal charges against controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, marking the first official confirmation of the extent of allegations against the duo in their home country.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) revealed Tuesday that it has authorized 21 charges against the brothers, including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking, according to BBC News. The charging decision preceded an extradition warrant issued in 2024 aimed at bringing the pair back from Romania, where they currently face separate legal proceedings.
Andrew Tate, the former kickboxer turned social media personality, faces 10 charges connected to three alleged victims. The charges span rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain, prosecutors said.
His younger brother Tristan faces 11 charges tied to one alleged victim, including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking.
The brothers, who hold dual U.K.-U.S. nationality, have denied the Romanian charges and are currently under investigation there. The CPS indicated that “the domestic criminal matters in Romania must be settled first” before any U.K. proceedings can move forward.
The prosecution’s charging decision follows a review of evidence compiled by Bedfordshire Police regarding allegations made within the U.K. The development adds another layer of legal jeopardy for the Tate brothers, who have become lightning rods for controversy over their online content and lifestyle brand.
Andrew Tate first rose to public consciousness as a guest on the U.K.’s “Big Brother” reality show in 2016, where he was criticized for homophobic and racist comments made on Twitter. He was eventually removed from the show after a video surfaced in which he appeared to be hitting a woman with a belt. Tate and the woman claimed their actions were consensual.
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He has since built a following online peddling advice on masculinity and money. He was banned from Twitter (now X) in May 2017 before being reinstated by Elon Musk after he purchased the social media platform.
From Variety US