Andrew Tate is a reminder that “Yes, All Men”

Andrew Tate, a former professional kickboxer and self-proclaimed “trillionaire success coach” garnered attention after video clips of his misogynistic commentary circulated. For a while, it was almost impossible to be on the internet without coming across Tate’s name.

The clips included him saying women are property, and describing in graphic detail how he has sex with women, which includes slapping, grabbing and choking, as well as what he would do if a woman cheated on him: beat her with a machete. Tate, 35, has said that he only dates 18–19-year-old women because they’re less sexually experienced and he can “make an imprint” on them. Additionally, in 2017, he tweeted that women must “bare (sic) some responsibility” for being sexually assaulted.

Men who pontificate sexist rhetoric are, unfortunately, common on the internet – a space where they can hide behind a screen. It’s usually easy for me to acknowledge this content as ludicrous and move on. I can even laugh at videos of YouTubers or TikTokers mocking these men. But something about Andrew Tate is different. It’s hard to laugh at a man who so emphatically encourages extreme violence against women.

While Tate’s accounts on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have been banned because of hate speech, his lack of social media has scarcely tarnished his image. Prior to being de-platformed, he had millions of followers across social media and developed a cult-like following with numerous fan accounts still reposting his content.

Millions of people subscribed to his ideology and pressed the follow button; they wanted to view his content regularly in their feeds. His millions of followers are individuals who see human trafficking and sexual violence as acceptable. There is no way to defend someone who buys into this rhetoric.

I cannot associate with people who embrace someone who agrees with the ideas espoused by Andrew Tate, a man who said “40% of the reason” he moved to Romania was because law enforcement is less likely to investigate rape or human trafficking allegations. Though Tate reiterated “I’m not a rapist, but I like the idea of just being able to do what I want. I like being free.” If you say, “I’m not a rapist…” and immediately follow it with, “but…” you might want to rethink your ideals.

Andrew Tate is the epitome of why we say, “Yes, all men.” Men benefit from and contribute to systemic rape culture. Tate embodies this. Because when a man rapes, he becomes a millionaire. When a woman protests, she is, according to Andrew Tate, a dumb hoe.