I hit you because I love you

Summary

Podcast Summary: Incels – "I Hit You Because I Love You"

Host: iHeartPodcasts (KT Studios, Courtney Armstrong & team)
Episode Release Date: November 12, 2025

---

Overview

This episode delves into the complex and controversial world of the Tate brothers—Andrew and Tristan—unpacking their rise in the “manosphere,” their polarizing reputation within incel communities, and the mounting legal allegations against them, including accusations of abuse, human trafficking, and manipulation. Through expert commentary, first-hand accounts (including from alleged victims), and investigation, the episode illustrates how the Tate brothers’ philosophy and actions intersect with incel culture and wider patterns of misogyny and coercive control.

---

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. Background: The Tate Brothers and the Manosphere

[03:46]–[11:34]

• Origins and family life:

  • Raised between the UK and the US, with a father, Emory Tate, who was an accomplished but nomadic chess player, and a hardworking single mother.
  • Struggles with poverty shaped their “hustler” mentality.
    • “They literally grew up in poverty in the United Kingdom… the family received welfare and the mother worked tirelessly to provide for them.” (Producer/Interviewer, [08:34])

• Father’s influence:

  • Andrew Tate reflects on trying to live up to his father’s legacy, equating masculinity with earning respect and time.
    • Quote:
      • “I never felt unloved by my father, ever. In fact, I would argue I had the best father on earth... I can earn his time. Or that I can't have as much of it as I want.” (Andrew Tate, [07:26])

• Professional rise:

  • Andrew built his online persona and coaching empire by leveraging early YouTube and forums, promoting discipline, dominance, and “hustler” values.
  • Kickboxing served as a launching pad to personal branding.

• The Tate Brothers in the Manosphere/Incelscape:

  • Divided perception among incels: admired for supposed “alpha” traits, but resented for profiting off the community’s loneliness.
    • Quote:
      • “The Tate brothers basically are red pill manosphere influencers. And incels typically subscribe to the black pill ideology. They sell hope. Incels can view the Tate brothers as two men who busted their way out of this loneliness epidemic. But that was never true. The Tate brothers were never incels.” (Narrator/Host, [10:15])

2. Cultural Context: The Pickup Artist to Incel Pipeline

[11:34]–[13:02]

• User ‘Luis’ on forum migration:
  • Describes how failed attempts at pickup artistry can transition men into incel ideology.
    • Quote:
      • “So you can imagine, like a young man who's like, struggling with women, goes to pickup artistry... doesn't work. And then boom, they become an incel.” (Luis, [11:53])

---

3. Legal Troubles and Public Persona

[16:58]–[25:40]

• First major allegations (UK era):

  • Andrew’s rise to mainstream attention marred by assault and rape investigations following his appearance on Big Brother UK.
  • Viral videos allegedly showing abuse surface, but Andrew claims these were consensual, private games taken out of context.

• Move to Romania and escalation:

  • Police raid (Dec 2022): brothers arrested for human trafficking, rape, organized crime.

  • Allegations of using the “lover boy” method—luring women with promises, then coercing them into producing explicit material.

    • Quote:
      • “Andrew Tate lured women into his world with the promise of a relationship or modeling work, and then coercing them into producing explicit content and dressing online, doing sex acts online... It's all built on the back of these women that they're exploiting.” (Connor Powell, [21:34])

• Tate’s public defense:

  • He positions himself as a victim of political persecution, asserts innocence, and claims media and prosecutors are out to destroy him because of his views on masculinity.

  • The rhetoric of “The Matrix” – claims of a global conspiracy against “free men.”

    • Quote:
      • “[They] claimed essentially that the Matrix was attacking them, a reference to the movie the Matrix, that there's this sort of hidden global network that was attacking the Tate brothers because of their support for male masculinity and free speech.” (Reporter/Interviewer, [24:46])

---

4. International Legal Saga

[25:25]–[29:53]

• New charges in Romania:

  • Expanded to include allegations of trafficking minors, rape of a minor, tampering, and money laundering.

• Return to the USA / New Battle Lines:

  • The Tate brothers are celebrated by their followers as icons of "free speech" on American soil; display themselves as victims.
    • Notable Moment:
      • "Freedom isn’t granted by governments. It’s taken back by strong men. Welcome to a new era." (Andrew Tate social media, [27:40])
  • However, Florida opens its own criminal investigation; Governor DeSantis and others publicly denounce them, and resistance to their presence in the US increases.

---

5. Civil Lawsuit: Brianna Stern’s Allegations

[33:48]–[41:00]

• Brianna Stern’s story:

  • Model and influencer alleges rapid escalation from love-bombing (poems, affection) to controlling, abusive behavior.
    • Quote:
      • “He was love bombing her. Andrew Tate was love bombing her... and he insisted they use these encrypted messages like signal. He told her he was very powerful and these messages need to be secret.” (Narrator/Host & Producer/Interviewer, [34:55])
  • Gradual enforcement of strict control: requiring passwords, surveillance, and manipulation.
  • Victim’s sense of overreach but feeling unable to leave due to power dynamics and intimidation.

• Directly abusive messages and physical assault:

  • Texts provided as evidence show explicit statements tying violence to love and possession.
    • Notable Quote:
      • “You need to be hit to his girlfriend. She says, why? I didn’t like that. What did I do? He says, you deserve it if you're mine, why wouldn't I be able to hit you?” ([39:01])
      • “I really love hitting you. It's very good for me and you. It's relaxing too, I think. And she says, pookie, no, I cry.” ([39:57])
    • Descriptions of choked to near-unconsciousness while told, 'I beat you because I love you.’

---

6. Final Reflections: Influence, Danger, and Cultural Impact

[41:00]–[41:40]

• The episode closes with a commentary on the real and lasting damage of equating control and coercion with love or masculinity.

  • Only a minority will act on articulated violence, but many more will internalize the message, perpetuating cycles of abuse and misogyny.

    • Quote:
      • “Millions of young men hearing that control is love and violence is strength. Only a small number will act on it, but many will internalize it.” (Narrator/Producer, [41:20])

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The Tate brothers basically are red pill manosphere influencers. And incels typically subscribe to the black pill ideology. They sell hope.” (Narrator/Host, [10:15])
• “A son should have to earn his father’s time.” (Andrew Tate, [08:12])
• “If you try to leave or if you step out of line, I'm going to rape and or kill you.” (Producer/Interviewer, recounting Brianna Stern's allegation, [38:05])
• “You need to be hit... if you're mine why wouldn't I be able to hit you?” (Andrew Tate text, [39:01])
• “I really love hitting you... It's relaxing too, I think.” (Andrew Tate text, [39:57])
• “Millions of young men hearing that control is love and violence is strength…” (Narrator/Producer, [41:20])
• “Freedom isn’t granted by governments. It’s taken back by strong men.” (Andrew Tate social media, [27:40])

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:46] – Introduction to focus on the Tate brothers, their background, and connection to incel community
• [06:58] – Andrew Tate on his relationship with his father
• [11:34] – Luis on the “pickup artist to incel pipeline”
• [16:58] – Beginning of the Tate brothers’ legal saga (UK and Romania)
• [21:34] – “Lover boy method” explained by Connor Powell
• [24:46] – The “Matrix” persecution narrative
• [27:40] – Tate brothers’ arrival and messaging upon returning to the US
• [33:48] – Brianna Stern’s civil suit and experiences
• [39:01 & 39:57] – Direct quotes from alleged abusive texts
• [41:20] – Reflection on societal impact and episode close

---

Tone & Language

The hosts and reporters maintain a journalistic, investigative tone—empathetic to victims, critically skeptical of the Tate brothers’ narratives, but careful to note legal presumption of innocence where applicable. The language is direct and at times graphic, especially when quoting allegations and correspondence from case documents.

---

Next Episode Tease

The show will next investigate the “looksmaxing” economy—a world of insecurity, cosmetic fixes, and the pressures it places on young men.

---

For more information and resources, listeners are directed to KT Studios’ Instagram and are reminded all allegations discussed are ongoing, with no convictions at time of broadcast.

Transcript

[Narrator/Host]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

This Halloween season, there's only one place where thrills meet chills. And it's not your neighbor's haunted house. It's Solitaire Clash. That's Solitaire C L A S H where spooky fun and big wins collide, crack the Halloween case files, uncover eerie surprises and compete for real prizes. Whether you're in costume or just craving a scare, Solitaire Clash brings all the fun and the fright. Download Solitaire Clash Solitaire C L A S H in the App Store and Samsung Galaxy Store today. Don't ghost this chance to win.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Attention parents and grandparents. If you're looking for a gift that's more than just a toy, give them something that inspires confidence and adventure all year long. Give them a Guardian bike, the easiest bike to learn on, safest to ride, and the number one kids bike on the market. With USA made kid Specific frames and patented safety technology, kids are learning to ride in just one day. No training wheels needed. It's why Guardian is America's favorite kids bike and the New York Times and Wirecutter's top pick three years in a row. This holiday season, Guardian is offering their biggest deal of the year, over 40% in savings on all bikes plus $100 in free accessories. Each bike arrives 99% assembled, so setup takes minutes, not hours. Whether it's their very first ride or their next big upgrade, Guardian makes every pedal feel safe, smooth and fun. Join over 500 happy families who've discovered the magic of Guardian. Visit guardianbikes.com to shop now. That's guardianbikes.com did you know that parents.

[Narrator/Host]

Rank teaching financial literacy as the toughest life skill? That's where Greenlight comes in. The debit card and money app made.

[Producer/Interviewer]

For families With Greenlight, you can send.

[Narrator/Host]

Money to kids quickly, set up chores, automate allowance, and track spending with real time notifications. Kids learn how to earn, save, and spend responsibly, while parents have peace of mind knowing smart money habits are being built with guardrails in place.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Try Greenlight Risk free [e-mail] trynow that's.

[Narrator/Host]

Greenlight.Com trynow worried about heart health?

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Listen to this.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

A study of over 30,000 people found.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

That nattokinase, an ancient Japanese superfood, can.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Reduce heart attack risk by 25% and stroke risk by 33%. Luma Nutrition has perfected a powerful nattokinase.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Formula made in the USA and third.

[Narrator/Host]

Party, tested for purity and quality.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Ready to start your journey to a healthy heart?

[Narrator/Host]

Try Nattokinase today for up to 40%.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Off when you visit lum lumanutrition.com that's L U M A nutrition.com lumanutrition.com veteran owned, proudly made in the USA owning.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

A home is full of surprises.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Some wonderful, some not so much.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

And when something breaks, it can feel.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Like the whole day unravels.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

That's why HomeServe exists for as little as 4.99amonth. You'll always have someone to call a trusted professional ready to help, bringing peace of mind to four and a half million homeowners nationwide.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

For plans starting at just $4.99 a.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Month, go to HomeServe.com that's HomeServe.com not available everywhere.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Your first year terms apply on covered repairs from the dark corners of the Web an emerging mindset I am a loser.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

If I was a woman, I wouldn't date me either.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

A hidden world of resentment, cynicism, anger against women at a deadly tipping point.

[Narrator/Host]

Incels will be added to the terrorism Guide.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

I see literally zero hope.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

This is Incels, a production of KT Studios and iHeart podcasts. Season 1, Episode 8 I hit you because I love you.

[Producer/Interviewer]

T controls her, he owns her, and anything that causes a reaction in him is frankly her fault.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Listen, I haven't been convicted of anything. There's lots of allegations against me that they're just out to get me, that they don't really have anything on me.

[Narrator/Host]

Tate continued to choke plaintiff harder and harder, making plaintiff nearly lose consciousness.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

I'm Courtney Armstrong, a producer at KT Studios, with Stephanie Lydecker, Gabriel Castillo, Connor Powell, Carolyn Miller. In episode six, we explored the Manosphere, a sprawling digital network that claims to help men navigate dating, fitness and fatherhood. However, it often spreads to hostility and misogyny. Andrew Tate is widely known as the king of the manosphere, and we touched on his empire from Hustler University to his webcam businesses. We decided to take a deeper dive into who Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are, how their upbringing shaped them, as well as legal allegations piling up against them. Please note, despite legal action pending in three countries, neither Andrew Tate nor Tristan Tate have been convicted of any of the crimes discussed in this episode.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Here's Stephanie I always find it interesting that the Tate brothers are considered misogynists because, frankly, their background wouldn't suggest that that's how this would really turn out. The Tate brothers were, by their own admission, Raised in poverty.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Andrew Tate was born in Washington, D.C. at the Walter Reed Army Medical center on December 14, 1986. His father was a black man named Emory Tate, who was an international master of chess and a highly competitive figure known for his aggressive playing style. His mother, Eileen, is a white English woman who worked as a catering assistant. Andrew's brother Tristan was born in Chicago on July 15, 1988. And they have a younger sister who is an attorney and lives a private life. Here again, Stephanie. Followed by crime analyst body moving.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Mom and dad divorced in 1997, and they basically split time between the United Kingdom and the United States.

[Narrator/Host]

His dad lived like a pretty nomadic lifestyle, surviving on like tournament winnings from chess tournaments. He didn't really have a stable life.

[Producer/Interviewer]

He was a little anti regime and they referred to him as being very ambitious, but clearly not that ambitious because they were growing up in poverty in a different country and not seeing their co parent hard. So it's just interesting to me that dad is getting that large of a voice in their heads, given the fact that they were being raised by a single mom who's working her way to put them through school and frankly doing a nice job of it. And they say very loving things of her, yet their worldview on women is really low.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Andrew saw his father, Emory Tate, about once a year, but he's been a hugely influential presence in his life. Here's a podcast excerpt of Tate speaking about his father with therapist David Sutcliffe.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Was your father present with you?

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

No, that didn't bother me at all.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

It didn't bother you?

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

No, he had things to do.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

I didn't understand, you know, your history, that you were raised by a single mother.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Your father wasn't around.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Yeah. So you see him once a year about that. Yeah.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

But I always understood he's very busy and has a lot to do.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

You understand?

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Like a little boy. I think a little boy might think, why isn't.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Where's Daddy? I want Daddy. I'm here alone with Mom.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

And he might be right because some fathers may not care, but my father did care.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Right.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

He was just very busy.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

But it must have been confusing for you. No, not for the little boy. No.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

I never for a second felt like he didn't care about me ever.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

And that on some level, some of what you're doing in the world is motivated by that, like wanting to, to win the love of your father.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

I think that's semi true because I believe I have a duty to my ancestors. I have the last name Tate. It was bestowed upon me. And I have responsibilities to live up to. The last name Tate. I do believe I have a duty to my ancestors. So is that trying to win the love of my father? Perhaps. I never felt unloved by my father, ever. In fact, I would argue I had the best father on earth. I never felt like I was owed all of his time. I can earn his time. Or that I can't have as much of it as I want.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

You have to earn his time. That was the. Yeah. A son should have to earn his father's time.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Yeah, why not?

[Narrator/Host]

Andrew Tate often says that his dad taught him, if you can control your mind, you can control the world. And drilled into them that intelligence is dominance and that the only currency that matters is cunning. Being cunning and smart and how to.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Beat the system, essentially. Right. So.

[Narrator/Host]

Right. How to bend the system.

[Producer/Interviewer]

How to be a hustler. How to be a hustler and hustle other young men out of cash that you think you deserve more of. And by the way, it's working because they've obviously accumulated a ton of wealth. Now, the other side to that is, look, these are guys that pulled themselves out of poverty. According to Andrew Tate himself, they literally grew up in poverty in the United Kingdom, in England. The family lived on the Marsh Farm estate in Luton, an area Andrew described as, quote, the worst area of the worst town. End quote. And listen, the family received welfare and the mother worked tirelessly to provide for them. Andrew has discussed their humble beginnings on social media many, many times, claiming that his family were the lowest est echelon of life.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Andrew Tate began his career as a professional kickboxer in 2008 and was ranked seventh best light heavyweight kickboxer in the UK by the International Sports Karate Association.

[Narrator/Host]

He won several world titles and reportedly earned modest purses. Not enough to make him wealthy, but enough to build a reputation. And during this time, he began teaching kickboxing and self defense lessons, both personal and online, which basically grew his coaching business. And I think this is where he got the model for his lifestyle coaching, because it was pretty successful. He leveraged early YouTube and forums to promote a Persona of discipline and dominance, which laid the foundation for his later online empire.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Bodi continues explaining how incels in particular tend to view the Tate brothers. It's nuanced.

[Narrator/Host]

It's kind of a divided look on the Tate brothers specifically. Some incels really admire Andrew Tate, you know, the alpha male. I think a lot of them can see that the Tate brothers are kind of like proof that this hyper, masculine confidence and physical Dominance can overcome what they perceive as an unfair dating hierarchy. But I think most incels have resentment towards the Tate brothers. They often accuse them of being fake alpha males who monetize on the lonely man's epidemic. Right. The Tate brothers basically are red pill manosphere influencers. And incels typically subscribe to the black pill ideology. And I think that they sell, like this hopeism. They sell hope. And I think incels can view the Tate brothers as two men who busted their way out of this loneliness epidemic. But that was never true. The Tate brothers were never incels. But they sell it. They speak to incels and they speak to the reason that the incels are such failures at life. And I think that incels who do listen to the Tate brothers rhetoric have hope that if they purchase these courses, they're going to escape it as well.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Here's Luis, who identifies as a black pilled incel. He's 22 years old, lives in Southern California, and has been in the incel community since he was about 19. Luis talks about the dichotomy between the Tate brothers and incels.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

So, yeah, incels were former pickup artists, which is very interesting. There's actually research on that. There's a paper by some guy called Evolving the Manosphere, like some academic guy. And so what? He found that on pickup artist forums, when Internet traffic and user bases were going down, on incel forums, they were going up. So there's a pickup artist to incel pipeline. So you can imagine, like a young man who's like, struggling with women, goes to pickup artistry, learns cold approach and nagging and kino and all that bullshit they do, all those, like, stupid manipulative tactics that they use, doesn't work. And then boom, they become an incel. And I think it's very important because people, for example, like red pill people, call those guys incels. They'd be like, people call Andrew Tate and insel, like insults. Hate all those. I hate those people. Those people suck insults. It's very specific. It's a very, very specific community. It's not red pill. It's not none of those guys. It's not a guy who hates women. Look, I hate to say this. There's plenty of guys out there who hate women and they do just fine. You know, that's just the unfortunate reality, okay? We don't live in some just world, and there are plenty of guys who don't hate women and they're virgins.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Let's stop here for a break. We'll be back in a moment.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

This Halloween season, there's only one place where thrills meet chills. And it's not your neighbor's haunted house. It's Solitaire Clash. That's Solitaire C L A S H where spooky fun and big wins collide, Crack the Halloween cake files, uncover eerie surprises and compete for real prizes. Whether you're in costume or just craving a scare, Solitaire Clash brings all the fun and the fright. Download Solitaire Clash Solitaire C L A S H in the App Store and Samsung Galaxy Store today.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Don't ghost this chance to win Attention parents and grandparents. If you're looking for a gift that's more than just a toy, give them something that inspires confidence and adventure all year long. Give them a Guardian bike, the easiest bike to learn on, safest to ride, and the number one kids bike on the market. With USA made Kid Specific frames and patented safety technology, kids are learning to ride in just one day. No training wheels needed. It's why Guardian is America's favorite kids bike and the New York Times and Wirecutter's top pick three years in a row. This holiday season, Guardian is offering their biggest deal with of the year. Over 40% in savings on all bikes plus $100 in free accessory. Each bike arrives 99% assembled, so setup takes minutes, not hours. Whether it's their very first ride or their next big upgrade, Guardian makes every pedal feel safe, smooth and fun. Join over 500 happy families who've discovered the magic of Guardian. Visit guardianbikes.com to shop now that's guardianbikes.com.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Want Black Friday prices without the crowds? Lowe's gets it.

[Narrator/Host]

Shop their early Black Friday deals and beat the rush. $99 is all you need to grab a select 7 foot pre lit artificial Christmas tree for the holidays. And don't sweat what gifts to get dad. They have up to 40% off select.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Tools and accessories going on now. That's how Lowe's celebrates Black Friday.

[Narrator/Host]

Early selection varies by location while supplies last.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford and I'm the founder of Meaningful Beauty. Well, I don't know about you, but like, I never liked being told, oh wow, you look so good for your age. Like, why even bother saying that? Why don't you just say you look.

[Narrator/Host]

Great at any age, Every age.

[Producer/Interviewer]

That's what Meaningful Beauty is all about. We create products that make you feel confident in your skin at the age you are now. Meaningful Beauty, beautiful skin at every age. Learn [e-mail].

[Narrator/Host]

This show is brought to you by Corruption Uncovered, a new podcast from Roc Nation and its Philanthropic Injustice Division, Team Rock.

[Producer/Interviewer]

For more than 30 years, there was an open secret in Kansas City, Kansas, about a man who allegedly raped dozens of black women and terrorized them into silence.

[Narrator/Host]

A detective named Roger Golubski.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

He told me to keep my mouth closed. If I did say anything, I would come up missing like so many others.

[Narrator/Host]

But then, right before trial, he was found dead, leaving countless questions behind.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

He couldn't have done this alone. I'm not gonna say everyone in the department knew, but he's just one of many.

[Narrator/Host]

We'll tell you the stories of the.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Women who survived and what happens next.

[Narrator/Host]

In their fight for answers on corruption.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Uncovered from ROC Nation and its Philanthropic Injustice Division, Team Roc, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

We spoke about Andrew Tate's Hustler University and other man camps in a previous episode, but wanted to look into how his webcam business came to be, as well as legal allegations surrounding them. It's important to note that Andrew Tate denies all the following allegations. Here's investigative journalist Connor Powell.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Andrew Tate in 2016 was an unknown social media influencer until he landed on a pretty big show in the UK called Big Brother uk. During that time, the producers of Big Brother all found out that the Bedfordshire police and the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK had investigated Andrew Tate after two women in Loudoun, England, accused him of rape and physical assault. And that sort of ended his appearance on this show. It did two things. On one hand, he's now dealing with these accusations of rape and sexual assault. But now he's famous across England, the United Kingdom and really the world at this time. So as soon as these accusations appear, one of the other things that comes out is a video of Andrew Tate physically abusing a woman, beating her, talking, just saying really vile things to her.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Here's an excerpt from that video. The voice you hear is Andrew Tate. In the video, we see the back of a woman pointing out bruises on her lower half.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Show the camera your tattoo. Tell the camera I beat you when you don't do as I say. Why are you getting hit?

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Why are you getting beaten?

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Listen, you do as I say.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Now, Andrew Tate has claimed since that time that he did nothing wrong and that the video was a private game taken out of context. And, you know, he said back in 2016 that he would never hurt anyone against their will. But that doesn't quite square with what the alleged victim actually told Vice News a couple years later. She claimed that they had told the police everything at first and that her Feeling was that the police believed her. But then nothing happened. The police in the United Kingdom don't charge him with anything. But then a few Years later, in 2023, Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are now living in Romania. And for several years, their online personality is growing. They're selling sex, they're selling fast cars, money, guns. It's all backed up with sort of misogynistic type language about how women are just there to serve men. And Andrew Tate has sort of cracked the code of what it is to be a real man.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

In December of 2022, the Romanian Police raid Andrew and Tristan Tate's compound in Bucharest. It's a late night operation, and they storm the villa. The brothers are arrested on human trafficking, rape, and forming an organized criminal unit.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

They find money, they find guns, they find weapons all over the house. They also find these surveillance video cameras where Andrew and Tristan are accused of basically running a sex ring, where these women are forced to perform sexual acts on camera. The accusation is that these acts were against their will, that they weren't willing participants because they weren't able to leave this compound, that Andrew and Tristan were essentially holding them there. And that's the accusation. And this is when Andrew Tate really begins to deal with some serious legal problems. And this 2015 case is brought back up as sort of, look, there's precedent. There is accusations of assault and rape that stem from years before. So that 2015 case, which is wrapped up in 2016 with no charges, then becomes part of a 2023 case in Romania.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Here's a clip from an appearance Andrew Tate did on a podcast called Fit and Fresh. He's talking about one of the arrests.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

I was like, who are you? Like, you're under arrest for a suspicion of assault of this dumb hoe.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

And I'm like, wait, this a dumb ho? They didn't.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

But I'm gonna protect her anonymity because I'm a nice guy.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Dumb ho.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested and detained, their passports taken. They're now facing allegations of human trafficking, one count of rape, and being part of an organized criminal group. Connor continues.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

What the Romanian prosecutors in the country start accusing him of doing is essentially using this lover boy method. And the idea behind this lover boy method is that Andrew Tate lured women into his compound, into his world with a promise of a relationship or modeling work, and then coercing them into producing explicit content and dressing online, doing sex acts online. But the money that they make while living in Romania, while running this sex trafficking organization, essentially is when the Money really explodes for them. And six women actually come forward and say that this was happening to them and they're using these women to perform these sex acts on camera. They're videoing it, they're putting it out there on the Internet to subscribers, and the amount of money at their disposal just explodes. They go from being wealthy and rich to living extravagant lifestyles where they can just do anything. And it's all built on the back of these women that they're exploiting.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

All the while, Andrew Tate continues online appearances, spreading his message that women should submit to men.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

In the past, he famously said, I am absolutely sexist and I'm absolutely a misogynist. The woman must learn that her man is an iron mountain and the easiest path is to obey. Any other kind of resistance simply doesn't work.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

The investigation into the Tate brothers expands further still as authorities arrest two women who are part of Tate's inner circle.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Again, Connor Powell, you often see there is one or two women who are helping to recruit other women into this sex trafficking ring. And that's essentially what we see with these two other women. After a year of negative headlines and being arrested and essentially being detained in Romania, the Tate brothers, they go on the offensive. They launched this sort of global media offensive around the world, claiming to be politically persecuted and that the Romanian prosecutors are essentially attacking them for their political views.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Andrew and Tristan Tate take to social media X Rumble podcasts, all with the message of standing up for men around the world and fighting what they call the war on men and the war on free speech.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

And so you've got this entire debate going on about what it is to be a young man, what it is to be able to have free speech. They deny all the charges. They repeat the claim that these women were all consenting partners and that they were fabricating their stories. But more importantly, they don't just make these claims. The people who follow Andrew and Tristan Tate, they repeat these claims. And so the way that the innocent claims are echoed across all of social media, it just erupts.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

I think it's extremely important that we stop allowing media spin, wrap up smears, lies, or carefully constructed narratives from George Soros funded operations trying to destroy the reputation of good people who have no intention to do anything other than follow the law. Andrew, what about.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

They had claimed essentially that the Matrix was attacking them, a reference to the movie the Matrix, that there's this sort of hidden global network that was attacking the Tate brothers because of their, their support for male masculinity and their support for free speech. And they see a real surge in popularity around this time. And this campaign forms their response to these charges. And it becomes a very effective response, public relations wise. The Romanian authorities hit back and In August of 2024, they opened new criminal charges and an investigation into Tristan and Andrew Tate.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

The new accusations allege that not only were they trafficking adults, but now they're human trafficking minors. There's also account of having intercourse with a minor, tampering with witnesses and money laundering.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Andrew Tate's response at this time is that these accusations are recycled smear campaign against them and that they're sort of. That the Romanian authorities were just desperate to keep the circus going. So Andrew Tate is telling his followers, you can't believe the authorities. They failed with the previous attempts. And so now they've have to level up the attacks on me. And this is a really effective response for a lot of his supporters around the world. And so he's using this delay, these types of investigations, to build the case publicly for him in terms of his defense, that, listen, I haven't been convicted of anything. There's lots of allegations against me that they're just out to get me, that they don't really have anything on me. And that becomes a really effective response for a lot of his supporters, which is, you know, if he was actually guilty of something, he'd be convicted. But he's on home arrest and detention in Romania. He's not allowed to go anywhere. And so for a lot of people, a lot of his supporters, it really does look like he's just being persecuted in Romania and that this is all sort of a fake accusation against him. And, you know, he's really used that well in terms of his defense, because it's almost 10 years of accusations, but no convictions.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

After several years of being on home arrest in Romania, the Tate brothers are allowed to travel to the United States, where they are also citizens. In February of 2025, the brothers touched down in of Front Florida to much fanfare. Here's a clip from WPLG Local 10.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Now we're going to go out to Fort Lauderdale International Airport, where the Tate.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Brothers are just leaving the airport.

[Producer/Interviewer]

We understand.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Maybe we'll listen in and see if.

[Producer/Interviewer]

We can hear what they're saying about.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Us, all the things that go around about us on the Internet. We've yet to be convicted of any crime in our lives, ever. We have no criminal record anywhere on the planet, ever. Our case was dismissed on the 19th century of December in Romania under the Biden administration. And our prosecutor recently decided, because we have no active indictment in court, to let us go and return. This is a democratic society. It's supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, as my brother and I are.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Social media really lights up hailing the brothers as symbols of resilience, of masculinity, and of free speech. Andrew Tate is posting photos of him with an American flag with the caption that says, freedom isn't granted by governments. It's taken back by strong men. Welcome to a new era. And then Tristan Tate, you know, follows up as essentially saying, you know, they tried to destroy us, they tried to destroy Trump. But the truth always wins. It isn't too long after they arrive in Florida that the state of Florida opens up a criminal investigation into the Tate brothers. And a couple days later, Andrew and Tristan Tate become the subjects of a new criminal investigation launched by the Florida Attorney General's office. And you immediately get pushback on the Tate brothers in Florida by Governor DeSantis and a bunch of other Republican leaders at Attorney General's office.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

This morning, Florida's Attorney General opening a criminal investigation into American brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are charged with human trafficking in Europe. The Florida AG saying, based on a thorough review of the evidence, I've directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to execute search warrants and issue subpoenas in the now active criminal investigation into the Tate brothers.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

This kind of puts the Tate brothers on notice that, you know, America may not be the safest place for them right now. And they release a statement saying that it's a politically motivated fishing expedition, but they're now facing another investigation in the United States. It's in Florida. It's a place where they thought they would be fine. They returned to the US Thinking that they were, you know, essentially going to be granted the freedom to move around the United States that they weren't having and didn't have in Romania. Governor Ron DeSantis even goes so far as saying that the Tate brothers are not welcome in Florida, calling them self promoting degenerates, hiding behind masculinity branding. At the same time, President Trump is condemning Romania for their treatment of of the Tate brothers on social media. But it's not too long after that that the Tate brothers decide that they need to get out of Florida.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Let's stop here for another break. We'll be back in a moment.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

This Halloween season, there's only one place where thrills meet chills. And it's not your neighbor's haunted house. It's Solitaire Clash. That's Solitaire C L A S H where spooky fun and big wins collide. Crack the Halloween case files, uncover eerie surprises and compete for real prizes. Whether you're in costume or just craving a scare, Solitaire Clash brings all the fun and the fright. Download Solitaire Clash Solitaire C L A S H in the App Store and Samsung Galaxy Store today. Don't ghost this chance to win.

[Advertiser/Commercial Voice]

Attention parents and grandparents. If you're looking for a gift that's more than just a toy, give them something that inspires confidence and adventure all year long. Give them a Guardian bike, the easiest bike to learn on, safest to ride, and the number one kids bike on the market. With USA Made Kid Specific frames and patented safety technology, kids are learning to ride in just one day. No training wheels needed. It's why Guardian is America's favorite kids bike and the New York Times and Wirecutter's top pick three years in a row. This holiday season, Guardian is offering their biggest deal of the year. Over 40% in savings on all bikes plus $100 in free accessories. Each bike arrives 99% assembled, so setup takes minutes, not hours. Whether it's their very first ride or their next big upgrade, Guardian makes every pedal feel safe, smooth, smooth and fun. Join over 500 happy families who've discovered the magic of Guardian. Visit guardianbikes.com to shop now that's guardianbikes.com.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Want Black Friday prices without the crowds? Lowe's gets it.

[Narrator/Host]

Shop their early Black Friday deals and beat the rush. 99 is all you need to grab a select 7 foot pre lit artificial Christmas tree for the holidays. And don't sweat what gives to get dad. They have up to 40% off select.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Tools and accessories going on now. That's how Lowe's celebrates Black Friday.

[Narrator/Host]

Early selection varies by location while supplies last.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford and I'm the founder of meaningful beauty. When Dr. Sabah and I decided to do a skincare line together, he said to me, we are going to give women meaningful beauty. And I said, that's exactly right. We want to give women meaningful beauty. Which means each and every product is meaningful. It has a reason to exist. It's efficacious. You're going to get results and then you just go out and live your life. Meaningful Beauty Confidence is beautiful. Learn more@meaning beauty.com.

[Narrator/Host]

This show is brought to you by Corruption Uncovered, a new.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Podcast from Roc Nation and its philanthropic.

[Narrator/Host]

Injustice division, Team Rock.

[Producer/Interviewer]

For more than 30 years, there was an open secret in Kansas City, Kansas about a man who allegedly raped dozens of black women and terrorized them into silence.

[Narrator/Host]

A detective named Roger Golubski.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

He told me to keep my mouth closed. If I did say anything, I would come up missing like so many others.

[Narrator/Host]

But then, right before trial, he was found dead, leaving countless questions behind.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

He couldn't have done this alone. I'm not going to say everyone in the department knew, but he's just one of many.

[Narrator/Host]

We'll tell you the stories of the.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Women who survived and what happens next.

[Narrator/Host]

In their fight for answers on corruption.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Uncovered from ROC Nation and its Philanthropic Injustice Division. Team roc, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

In addition to criminal accusations, Andrew Tate is also facing multiple civil suits. In March of 2025, Brianna Stern filed suit in Los Angeles. Brianna is a model and social media influencer who allegedly dated Andrew Tate for 10 months. Here's body Moving, followed by Stephanie.

[Narrator/Host]

So she's the model. She gets on a flight from Los Angeles. She goes to Romania to do this cryptocurrency promotion.

[Producer/Interviewer]

He hand selects her and things move along really naturally. He constantly is texting her. He's actually sending her poems. One that says specifically this is a quote of one of the poems. Across the seas, across the skies. Two pookies live with loving ties. One in la, where palm trees sway. The other in Bucharest, far away though miles apart. They laugh and play with calls and texts to fill each day. Again, this guy's coming off like everything is perfectly normal. They were affectionate. He seemed generous and generally invested in her.

[Narrator/Host]

He was love bombing her. Andrew Tate was love bombing her. And he insisted they use these encrypted messages like signal. He told her he was very powerful and these messages need to be secret.

[Producer/Interviewer]

So do you think the reason that he was actually doing things so secretly was that he didn't want his kindness or his sweetness to be shared with the general public? That's wild.

[Narrator/Host]

She tells us he was never openly affectionate around others, never wanting any other man to see him being loving to a woman, because that ruins his whole manosphere alpha male narrative.

[Producer/Interviewer]

The fact that maybe under the surface he's showing kindness and sweetness and softness, but doesn't want anybody else to know it is. Is incredibly manipulative. Very quickly it goes from being white picket fence possibilities to, to your point, body love bombing excessively, lots of secrets. And then one day he decides, frankly, without even her permission, according to her, that they are an item, she will be faithful, she will report in, she will be at his beck and call. But he is not held to the exact same standard. In fact, Quite the opposite.

[Narrator/Host]

He promised her financial security. And listen, that's pretty attractive to a lot of people, right? Being taken care of. So a few months into the relationship, she finds out about the Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate backgrounds and becomes aware of all the allegations against them. And she tells Tristan's girlfriend at the time, we would. She says, we would ask each other, are you sure they didn't do this? We would always come to the conclusion that, no, there's no way they could have done this. They're not monsters. They're not capable of that. But over time, obviously, I started to see that side, which is interesting, because slowly but surely, Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate's masks are slipping. And little by little, you start giving things up, right? He starts asking her for her social media passwords. He's demanded she handed them over and download a tracking app so he can see where she is at all times. This is who he is. This is who he preaches, who he is. Now the real Andrew Tate is showing himself, and it's becoming a red flag for her.

[Producer/Interviewer]

And he's showing signs of aggression, even if that didn't seem at all possible when she first met him. Yeah, that's the shtick. Allegedly. That's the grooming process. Allegedly. Your best foot forward, best shiny self, the masking. But eventually that wears off.

[Narrator/Host]

He's starting to get kind of demanding and say really, really awful things to her, and he's blaming it on her. In fact, the lawyers wrote that in their complaint. This is a quote. Like many abusers, Tate would often tell the plaintiff that his outbursts were her.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Own fault because he controls her, he owns her, and anything that causes a reaction in him is frankly, her fault.

[Narrator/Host]

At this point, she's starting to become like, okay, what have I done? Have I gotten too in over my head? Was I swept away? But she was too scared to say anything or leave because Andrew Tate, she's realizing that he truly is a powerful man. In fact, he told her, trump is going to help me out of, you know, his legal problems in Romania. Trump is going to help me. And guess what?

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

He did.

[Producer/Interviewer]

And according to her, he basically said, if you try to leave or if you step out of line, I'm going to rape and or kill you. Where do you go from there?

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Brianna Stern lays out what she alleges happened on the day of her attack. The details are important as they show what an intimidating figure Tate appeared to be.

[Producer/Interviewer]

This guy is a big deal. Imagine this. He flies to Los Angeles from Romania, and then he, like, basically Tweets, alright, I'm in Los Angeles. Let the criminal charges begin. I mean, think of the question. The cajones, right? Like he's putting it out there. Then he has a meeting with Kanye west right before. So from an outsider looking in, this guy's running the world and is confident and is here to play.

[Narrator/Host]

She says, he's screaming at her. She says, I beat you because I love you and you're mine. Why wouldn't I be able to hit you? And by the way, this correlates with text message screenshots that she's providing.

[Producer/Interviewer]

I have the text in front of me right now. This is the Tate saying, you need to be hit to his girlfriend. She says, why? I didn't like that. What did I do? He says, you deserve it if you're mine, why wouldn't I be able to hit you? You talk too much. So I beat you. I will hit you today, but I love you. Why the name calling? Do you understand? Because I want to beat the out of you and you will give me a child this year. I mean, even just saying this out loud sounds absurd. I mean, even as I'm reading this, I have a cold chill. But imagine getting those texts.

[Narrator/Host]

So the suit continues. And it says this. The plaintiff began crying and begging for him to stop, and he would not. Tate continued to choke plaintiff harder and harder, making plaintiff nearly lose consciousness. I mean, imagine your boyfriend choking you and all the while saying, it's because I love you.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Here's another text exchange. I really love hitting you. It's very good for me and you. It's relaxing too, I think. And she says, pookie, no, I cry.

[Narrator/Host]

She claims that he would not be able to climax sexually unless he verbally degraded her to the point of feeling worthless and crying. Plaintiff protested and never stopped crying and begging Tate to stop. However, her cries and fleas only led to Tate hitting her harder. The plaintiff protested and never stopped crying and begging Tate to stop. However, her cries and pleas only led to Tate hitting her harder. Her cries appeared to be what he wanted, what he needed to climax. The sick fetish of a disturbed man. And this is in the lawsuit.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

The civil suit is ongoing, as are all of the allegations against Andrew and Tristan Tate. From the UK to Romania to Florida. Again, neither Tate brother has been convicted of any of the crimes discussed in this episode. The tape brothers say they're persecuted, not predators. Their supporters say there's a war on masculinity. Prosecutors say the evidence tells another story. What is clear is their influence. Millions of young men hearing that control is love and violence is strength. Only a small number will act on it, but many will internalize it. Next time, we dig into the world of looksmaxing. It's an economy of insecurity, from jawline math to paid fixes, and the boys and men who buy in. For more information on the case and relevant photos, follow us on Instagram at ktstudios. Incels is produced by Stephanie Lydecker, Gabriel Castillo and me, Courtney Armstrong. Additional producing by Connor Powell and Caroline Miller editing by Jeff to music by Vanicore Studios. Incels is a production of KT Studios and iHeart podcasts. For more podcasts like this, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Narrator/Host]

In the heat of battle, your squad relies on you. Don't let them down. Unlock elite gaming [e-mail] Dominate every match with next level speed, seamless streaming and performance that won't flip.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Push your gameplay beyond performance with Intel.

[Narrator/Host]

Core Ultra processors for the next era of gaming. Upgrade to smooth, high quality streaming with Intel Wi Fi 6e and maximize game performance with enhanced overclocking. Win the tech search power [e-mail] lenovo.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Lenovo.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

This Halloween season, there's only one place where thrills meet chills. And it's not your neighbor's haunted house. It's Solitaire Clash. That's Solitaire Clash, where spooky fun and big wins collide. Crack the Halloween case files, uncover eerie surprises and compete for real prizes. Whether you're in costume or just craving a scare, Solitaire Clash brings all the fun and the fright. Download Solitaire Clash Solitaire C L A S H in the App Store and Samsung Galaxy Store today. Don't ghost this chance to win.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Want Black Friday prices without the crowds? Lowe's gets it.

[Narrator/Host]

Shop their early Black Friday deals and beat the rush. $99 is all you need to grab a select 7 foot pre lit artificial Christmas tree for the holidays. And don't sweat what gives to get dad. They have up to 40% off select.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

Tools and accessories going on now. That's how Lowe's celebrates Black Friday.

[Narrator/Host]

Early selection varies by location while supplies last. This show is brought to you by Corruption Uncovered, a new podcast from Roc.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Nation and its Philanthropic Injustice Division, Team Roc for more than 30 years, there was an open secret in Kansas City, Kansas about a man who allegedly raped dozens of black women and terrorized them into silence.

[Narrator/Host]

A detective named Roger Galupski.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

He told me to keep my mouth closed if I did say anything, I would come up missing like so many others.

[Narrator/Host]

But then, right before trial, he was found dead, leaving countless questions behind.

[Narrator/Producer (Courtney Armstrong)]

He couldn't have done this alone. I'm not gonna. I don't say everyone in the department knew, but he's just one of many.

[Producer/Interviewer]

We'll tell you the stories of the women who survived and what happens next.

[Narrator/Host]

In their fight for answers on corruption.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Uncovered from Roc Nation and its Philanthropic Injustice Division.

[Narrator/Host]

Team Roc.

[Producer/Interviewer]

Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator/Host]

It'S the season to come together over your holiday favorites at Starbucks. Warm up with a creamy caramel brulee latte, get festive with an iced gingerbread chai, or share a velvety peppermint mocha together is the best place to be at Starbucks. This is an iHeart podcast.