Warning: This story contains graphic content and discusses sexual assault and rape.
Notorious influencer Andrew Tate was arrested in 2015 over allegations of rape but was never charged despite allegedly texting one complainant, "I love raping you", a VICE World News investigation claims.
The text was part of an avalanche of information released by VICE after Tate, his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects were detained by Romanian anti-organised crime prosecutors on December 29, 2022 on charges of forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit six women.
They have denied wrongdoing through an attorney and have challenged the arrest warrant.
After his latest arrest VICE revealed Tate was also arrested in the United Kingdom on suspicion of sexual assault and physical abuse in 2015 after two separate allegations. But in 2019 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) declined to pursue charges against Tate over the allegations.
One of the complainants, identified only as Amelia, told VICE she approached police six months after Tate allegedly raped her in 2013.
She said she supplied police with a video statement and gave them her phone which contained voice notes and messages from Tate.
The text messages supplied to Vice include an exchange that took place after the alleged sexual assault. In the message, Tate allegedly wrote, "I love raping you".
In another message, Tate allegedly said: "Monsters are monsters. When ur under my control, I do whatever I please."
In a voice note published by VICE, a man it identified as Tate asked: "Am I a bad person? Because the more you didn’t like it, the more I enjoyed it. I f***ing loved how much you hated it. It turned me on. Why am I like that?”
Warning: The following voice note contains content that may disturb some listeners.
Tate's controversial past
Earlier this year Tate, or as some have labelled him, "the king of toxic masculinity", rose to fame with his radical views on women, relationships, and masculinity, influencing young boys all over the world.
"In the modern world, they are going to call you sexist and misogynistic, but I am none of those things," Tate said in one video.
"If you don't believe in depression, you can't become depressed, and I refuse to believe in something that's going to weaken me," he said in another.
Tate himself said one reason why he moved to Romania was that he believes their police are less likely to pursue sexual assault allegations.
He's also said rape victims should bear some responsibility and that younger women are better to have sexual relationships with.
"A 19-year-old just out of high school might have had one guy from high school. She's fresh and I can make an imprint on her," he said.
More recently Tate and climate activist Greta Thunberg went at each other on social media after he attempted to get under the Swedish activist's skin by boasting about how many cars he had.
"Hello @GretaThunberg I have 33 cars," he wrote. "My Bugatti has a w16 8.0L quad-turbo. My TWO Ferrari 812 competizione have 6.5L v12s. This is just the start.
"Please provide your email address so I can send a complete list of my car collection and their respective enormous emissions."
But Thunberg was quick to take Tate down a notch.
"Yes please do enlighten me. Email me at smalld**kenergy@getalife.com," she said in response.
The 36-year-old responded to Thunberg's tweet by using one of her most well-known catchphrases, "How dare you[?]," which she said at the UN's Climate Action Summit in 2019.
Where to find help and support:
- Shine (domestic violence) - 0508 744 633
- Women's Refuge - 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
- Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
- What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
- Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans - 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Shakti Community Council - 0800 742 584
