Controversial influencer Andrew Tate has been accused of rape and human trafficking by at least one woman, and in response, he and his brother Tristan have threatened to sue her for $300 million (£249m) if she does not retract her statements. The BBC has seen a redacted copy of the cease-and-desist letter sent in December 2020 by a US law firm on behalf of the Tates, claiming that the woman had made false and defamatory statements about them.
The Tates are currently being held in preventative custody in Romania while police investigate the allegations, which both men deny. Benjamin Bull, who works for the National Centre on Sexual Exploitation, believes the letter was designed to intimidate the witness and stop her from bringing testimony forward in any proceedings. However, lawyers for the Tates have confirmed that the cease-and-desist letter was sent in December as a civil matter for defamation and slander in the US, and deny any intimidation.
Tina Glandian, one of their legal advisors, said there was nothing abnormal in them pursuing valid legal claims for defamation. The Tates also filed criminal complaints in Romania last April against two women, including the witness who received the cease-and-desist letter in December. Ms Glandian said the criminal complaints were filed in response to allegations that two women were being held against their will by the Tate brothers.
Benjamin Bull says the impact of legal action on his clients has been upsetting and intimidating. Dani Pinter, part of the same legal team, says it is not just the threat of legal action that is intimidating, but also the online harassment many of her clients receive for speaking out. She says some have had their full names published on social media and have received death threats.
The investigation into rape and trafficking allegations is believed to rest, at least partly, on the testimony of six women. It is not clear exactly who runs some of the most active accounts defending the Tates, or how much cooperation exists between them. However, it is clear that the risks for women making public allegations against Andrew Tate can be high, and they can come from many directions.