Topline
Meta announced on Friday it had removed controversial influencer Andrew Tate from its Facebook and Instagram platforms—and TikTok told Forbes it is conducting an investigation into sexist posts—as the former kickboxer and reality TV star’s popularity soars amid widespread condemnation by critics for being homophobic and a “violent misogynist.”
Andrew Tate was kicked off Facebook and Instagram Friday, following posts and videos that have since … [+]
Key Facts
Meta confirmed the ban in a statement to Forbes, saying Tate violated the company’s policies on hate speech, as well as their policy on “dangerous organizations and individuals.
The former kickboxer’s popularity has soared over the past few months, reaching 4.7 million Instagram followers by the time his account was removed, the BBC reported.
Criticisms grew following dozens of videos and posts that have been condemned by advocacy groups and activists, including YouTube videos in which he refers to women as “property,” explains how to attack women and force them into sex, and describes teenage girls as more attractive than women in their 20s because they can be controlled.
Tate, whose Twitter account was suspended in 2017 after he said victims of rape and sexual harassment should “bear responsibility” for assault, remains on TikTok, where his posts have been viewed more than 12 billion times, as well as YouTube, where he has 756,000 subscribers.
A spokesperson for TikTok told Forbes the platform is conducting an investigation into misogynist content, removing “violative accounts and videos” and enhancing the way it detects such content.
The ban has been applauded by advocacy groups, including Hope Not Hate, which argued Tate’s social media presence creates a “dangerous slip road into the far-right,” and the Rape Crisis England and Wales, which told the Daily Mail it is “unacceptable that such a blatant display of misogyny is being given a platform.”
Key Background
Tate came into the spotlight in 2016 when he appeared on the reality TV show Big Brother – and was kicked off after a video emerged showing him attacking a woman with a belt. He has been accused of running a marketing scheme to promote his online program, “Hustler’s University 2.0,” in which he tells students the key to success is attracting “comments and controversy,” The Guardian reported. In April, police in Romania reportedly raided his home, where he was allegedly holding two women against their will. He has denied all accusations against him, and his popularity has since skyrocketed. Between July 10-23, he generated more Google searches than former President Donald Trump, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and “Covid-19,” according to Google Trends.
What We Don’t Know
Whether Tate will be removed from TikTok. Hope Not Hate launched a petition calling on the social media site to join Facebook and Instagram in removing Tate’s account, calling him a “violent misogynist.”
Further Reading
Andrew Tate banned from Facebook and Instagram (BBC)
Andrew Tate Is Getting Yassified Online. Slay. (BuzzFeed)
The internet can’t stop talking about Andrew Tate (NBC News)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/08/19/now-tiktok-investigating-ex-kickboxerinfluencer-andrew-tate-after-instagram-and-facebook-banned-him/