TW: mention of rape and sexual assault

Annabel Jeffery

From flashy cars to supermodel girlfriends, Andrew Tate continues to recruit a loyal fanbase through his social media presence. Whilst it is no surprise that Tate’s confidence earns the approval of so many young men, what draws women to support this infamous figure? 

Who is Andrew Tate?

Tate’s recent controversies have been impossible to ignore. A lively debate has grown following the charges of human trafficking, rape and other offences against him in Romania in June of this year.

Following Tate’s first arrest on 28 December 2022, his Twitter account gained 600,000 new followers within 72 hours. A similar surge occurred in March of this year when he was released from prison and put under house arrest. During this time, his Twitter following rapidly increased by half a million in only 24 hours. It appears that efforts to limit his influence have inadvertently boosted his online presence and popularity.

But this surge in media popularity was no stroke of luck. In a now-deleted YouTube video, Tate explained that “40 per cent” of his motivation to relocate to Romania was related to avoiding potential rape charges. He stated: “I’m not a rapist, but I like the idea of just being able to do what I want. I like being free.”

It’s controversial statements, such as this, that bring Tate and his supporters to the centre of online discourse and onto our social media feeds.

Why do women support Andrew Tate?

“Many admire Tate for his motivation, principles, and the success he has to show for it.”

During her recent podcast episode, which discussed the women who still support Andrew Tate, iNews writer Kasia Delgado said: “He’s a kind of a hero to them […] the more times they see him coming out of a courtroom, the more of a hero he is to them.”

She explains that for many women Tate represents a “simpler life”. Following hate comments (and an arrest), he has defended himself publically, furthering his reputation as a protector of traditional values. It is these conservative aspects of his persona which tend to garner support from women.

Delgado contacted 50 women who had written positive comments under Tate’s tweets. The overwhelming response was that his outlook represents a return to tradition. His disdain for progressive ideologies harks back to a time when “men are men, women are women, and everyone knows where they stand.”

Many admire Tate for his motivation, principles, and the success he has to show for it. They appreciate the role he portrays: the masculine man who provides for women.

As for his misogynistic remarks, Tate’s fans believe his polarising comments are simply being taken out of context. They believe the “powers that be” are intentionally misinterpreting what he says to create a smear campaign.

At the centre of the ‘manosphere’

A 25-year-old nurse from Germany expressed admiration for Tate, in his fearless attitude and willingness to say what others are afraid to. She emphasises that Tate’s views aren’t foreign to a lot of people.

“The manosphere provides a space for traditional masculine values”

The rise of alt-right and incel ideology online suggests Tate’s views are more commonplace than we think. Along with other populist figures, Tate has motivated people to openly express their harmful views, occasionally resorting to violence as a means of doing so. The normalisation of misogynistic attitudes has therefore contributed to the growth of the online “manosphere”.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines manosphere as “websites and internet discussion groups that are concerned with men’s interests and rights as opposed to women’s, often connected with opposition to feminism or dislike of women.”

The manosphere provides a space for traditional masculine values, often at the expense of women’s rights and freedoms. This marks a societal regression from previously upheld values of gender equality.

However, most female supporters of Tate and other alt-right populist figures don’t see it that way.

Women inside the manosphere

Pearl Davis, a 26-year-old anti-feminist influencer, has been dubbed “the female Andrew Tate”.

Before his arrest in December 2022, Tate appeared on Davis’ podcast The Pregame, after which her following proliferated. They discussed what they perceive as the issues with men and women today, as well as other controversial takes, such as why men “have the right to cheat.”

Davis has expressed how right-wing personalities, such as Ben Shapiro, influenced her in college. Now, she shares her views with her millions of followers on her podcast, since being banned from TikTok. She has stated that she does not hate women, but is instead trying to defend men because there is “not a lot of empathy for them online.”

Tweets such as those shared by Davis, broaden the scope of the manosphere and worsen the existing situation. Reasonable critiques of the feminist movement have been inhibited by Davis’s narrow-minded view of women. For example, she has previously claimed that women shouldn’t vote and regularly critiques women for being in “useless jobs that no one cares about, instead of having children.”

Female supporters of the manosphere are lured in by its promotion of traditional gender roles: empowered men and obedient women. What they don’t see, or choose not to engage with, is the violent misogynistic rhetoric that the manosphere propagates.

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Featured image courtesy of  James English via Wikimedia Commons, uploaded by James Tamim. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.

Second year BA Modern Languages Student at University of Exeter | Features, Opinion and Lifestyle writer for Empoword Journalism, Exeposé and Razz. Strong interest in women's rights, culture and international current affairs.

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