I first learned about Andrew Tate when he appeared on the Fresh and Fit podcast in 2020. I watched the Tate Confidential video series - all 150+ episodes. I have also watched many of his interviews. This is what I think about his situation alongside Tristan (his brother).
The guys were nobodies before the webcam business. They fought for unknown kickboxing leagues and developed ties with the mafia in Eastern Europe (probably gambling-related). In fact, Andrew admits that he got into the webcam business because he had a $100k mafia debt and he didn’t have enough cash to repay it. He also admits that he sold drugs when he was younger. So, these guys are definitely extremely aggressive risk-takers and their activities (legal or otherwise) paid off.
Before they started Hustlers University, they were already worth $6 million. I genuinely think that these guys are guilty of rape and other crimes if you dig deeper. You don’t get out of the ghetto clean - NEVER. Two boys raised by the streets by an absentee father and a single mother in a council estate.
Early 20s:- Sold drugs and appeared on a few TV documentaries.
Mid-Late 20s:- Fought for low level promotions in Europe. Formed mafia ties and gambling connections in Eastern Europe. Accumulated some debt from Mafia bosses.
Late 20s and Early 30s:- Made a ton of $$ after discovering webcamming at its nascent stage. They capitalized and made their first millions. Most of the crimes they are being accused of happened during this time. I think they are guilty because you can’t be a successful e-pimp without doing some of those crimes to hoes. Got enough capital to start their own chain of casinos using the mafia ties they had from the past i.e. they bought mafia casino franchises. Here, the business was simple, use hoes to make money from lonely desperate men and keep most of it while paying the hoes peanuts.
Early to Mid 30s (Now):- Ran two online education platforms targeting insecure and dumb men with some money, mostly rich kids who aren’t street-smart to see through the BS. Initially he had a forex course, then he evolved to multiple courses through Hustler’s University and the current one The Real World. Here, they figured that they would just cut off the middleman (hoes) and get the money directly from the dumb men. How? Use their accumulated wealth to sell the dream and prey on men’s insecurities. In other words “If you don’t buy my course, that’s why you are broke, don’t have a six-pack, your girlfriend dumped you, can’t fight etc”. They know that if they show a soft life full of private jets, supercars, bitchez, and yachts men will be super interested in learning how they pulled it off.
Unfortunately for them, Andrew ran his mouth about the businesses that they did in their 20s to anyone who cared to listen. When the vice reporter visited them in Bucharest, Tristan was pissed and he saw that it was a trap but Andrew overruled him. Now Vice released a documentary confirming Tristan’s fears and it just vilifies them.
Verdict: These guys are guilty AF. Andrew ran his mouth for the world to hear about their crimes in their early 20s. I don’t think such crimes have a statute of limitations. They should have continued making money from fools silently and stayed quiet about their past “businesses”.
That being said, every cloud has a silver lining. I agree with many things that they said because that’s exactly how the world works. That does not absolve them from the crimes they did in the past. So, Onyi wa Romania awafanyie ile kitu.