Release of Tates sends “alarming message to women worldwide”, says Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has raised alarm bells that the release of Andrew and Tristan Tate to the United States before the conclusion of a criminal investigation sends a negative message to women across the world of “impunity around misogyny and sexual violence.” 

Romanian prosecutors allege that Andrew Tate, his brother Tristan, and two women set up a criminal organisation in Romania and Britain in 2021 and sexually exploited several victims.

The brothers both insist they are innocent.

CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Rachel Morrogh said:

“It is absolutely horrifying that one of the most influential countries in the world has successfully lobbied to ease travel restrictions on these men, who have promoted and normalised a hatred of women.

“The Tates have been investigated and charged with serious crimes against women and this is something that must not be glossed over or normalised.  
  
“As well as this, their poisonous narrative online may be indirectly responsible for the trauma and misery of women and girls who have experienced sexual, psychological and physical violence at the hands of men who idolise the Tates and subscribe to their messaging. 
  
“At Dublin Rape Crisis Centre we see the downstream effects of the kind of misogynist-industry that the Tates have built. 

“Their rhetoric has real-world consequences for women and girls and although every perpetrator of sexual violence is 100% responsible for their own actions, the amplification of the Tates’ messaging online is harmful. 
  
“In our annual report for 2023, we highlighted the observation of our therapists that our new clients are reporting higher levels of other types of violence in addition to sexual violence. 
  
“Welcoming the Tates to the United States sends an incredibly negative message to women about their value in today’s society.

“It shows how easily progress on sexual violence can be rowed back.

“Normalising and validating the Tates’ poisonous messages will have impacts that will be observed amongst our client community in the years to come, but we also believe it is damaging to the boys and men who consume this content. 
  
“We hope that this is something that the Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, would consider raising with President Donald Trump if he visits the United States for St. Patrick’s Day.” 

Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Duncan Smith TD also slammed the decision of the Trump administration to lobby Romania for the lifting of the travel ban on the Tate brothers.

“It was disgusting to read that the Trump administration lobbied Romania to ease the constraints on the Tate brothers,” he said.

“The fact that these men are now en route to the United States is clear evidence of Trump’s support of Tate, their actions and their rhetoric.

“These men are facing criminal charges of human trafficking, sexual misconduct, money laundering and starting an organised crime group.

“It is dismaying that Trump is now trying to support and protect them.

“The actions of the Trump administration are an implicit endorsement of the Tate brothers, their message and their actions.

“It is sending a message that the United States is the destination of choice for those seeking to evade criminal charges of the most contemptible crimes.

“That high-ranking officials from the United States have spent even a moment intervening on behalf of these people is galling, particularly given the right-wing rhetoric used by President Trump when it comes to linking migration with criminality.

“This is high-level corruption and a flouting not only of the rules of justice, but of the rules of international order.”