Andrew Tate has been charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania, BBC reports.
The controversial influencer was arrested in December alongside his brother Tristan by anti-terrorism authorities at their home in Bucharest, Romania, and has been on house arrest since.
Tate was also charged with "forming an organized crime group to sexually exploit women."
The indictment stated that Tate, along with three others including his brother, were engaged in a human trafficking ring that spanned across Romania, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Tate and his brother recruited seven alleged victims through empty promises of marriage. They were then allegedly subjected to intimidation, constant surveillance, forced debt, and more.
The defendants also forced the women to perform pornography, which was then posted on social media. The statement claimed one defendant raped a woman twice in March 2022. There are also separate charges that are still under investigation. Those charges can lead to another indictment, including trafficking of minors and money laundering.
The Tate brothers have since claimed their innocence and denied any wrongdoing., and their trial is expected to last several years, per BBC.
"While this news is undoubtedly predictable, we embrace the opportunity it presents to demonstrate their innocence and vindicate their reputation," a representative for the Tate brothers said in a statement while adding that the indictment "allows us to present a comprehensive body of evidence, diligently collected and prepared over time, which will undoubtedly substantiate the brothers' claims of innocence."
Andrew Tate blew up in 2016 after he was a guest on the U.K. version of Big Brother. He was later removed from the show for controversial comments and videos posted on Twitter, but soon found moderate success by building a brand rooted in misogyny and toxic masculinity.
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