13 February 2023 , 02:09
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An organisation that seeks to prevent young people from developing extremist views has seen a "rapid rise" in cases related to controversial influencer Andrew Tate, according to reports.
Practitioners for the anti-extremism organisation 'Prevent' said that Tate is a clear factor in the rise of cases, which have included incidents including harassment of female teachers or other pupils and the espousing of Tate’s misogynistic views.
Tate's video clips are spread widely on social media apps TikTok and Instagram, despite him being banned from both platforms.
One practitioner involved in the Prevent progamme said that Tate has "accelerated from nowhere to become a primary issue for schools".
Andrew Tate was arrested in December 2022 on suspicion of human trafficking (AFP via Getty Images)They told the Guardian: "He obviously doesn’t fit within the Prevent sphere but incels do," they added. "He is parallel to them and has a crossover. When I’m in schools I find myself describing him, effectively, as toxic misogyny on steroids."
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Incels are members of an online subculture who define themselves as unable to get a sexual partner, despite desiring one. Much of their online discussions are marked by misogyny, resentment and hatred towards women.
Tate has described women as "intrinsically lazy" and says he is "absolutely a misogynist".
"I'm a realist and when you're a realist, you're sexist," he said in one interview on YouTube. "There's no way you can be rooted in reality and not be sexist."
Dr Tim Squirrell, of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), told the Guardian: "Tate clearly represents a risk of radicalising young men into misogynist extremism.
"This kind of extremism is not currently considered for support under Prevent unless it is accompanied with a recognised ideology, eg incel/extreme rightwing/Islamist. That’s a problem."
The former kickboxing world champion has amassed a huge online following (cobratate/Instagram)Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested by Romanian authorities in December last year on suspicion of human trafficking and forming an organised crime group with the aim of exploiting women. He denies any wrongdoing.
He lost his appeal to be released at the start of the month and will remain in detention until at least February 27.
The judge reportedly took into account the “particular dangerousness of the defendants” when making the decision, along with their capacity to identify victims “with an increased vulnerability, in search of better life opportunities”.
On a now-deleted page on his website, Tate described how he recruits girls into his webcam streaming business.
He said: "My job was to meet a girl, go on a few dates, sleep with her, test if she's quality, get her to fall in love with me to where she'd do anything I say and then get her on webcam so we could become rich together."
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Tristan Tate previously told the Mirror that the pair's business was "all a big scam" which involved getting men to talk to women online.
"I've seen men sell cars, TVs... This guy's gran passed away and they were waiting for the sale of the house. When the house was sold he'd get £20,000 and promised it to [a model], to pay for her fake financial problem," he said.