Controversial influencer Andrew Tate portrays himself as “uberwealthy” but did not own cars and a yacht featured on his social media and exaggerated his lifestyle for online attention, his legal representatives have said. Tate and his brother Tristan are currently being held in a Florida jail but are seeking release on bail while they await the outcome of extradition proceedings.
They were arrested last month after British prosecutors unveiled new charges including alleged sexual offences against them, which both men deny.
Prosecutors have argued the Tates are a “flight risk”, citing the brothers’ past statements about their wealth and influence and having multiple identities to evade the law.
In a legal submission to the court, the brothers’ legal representatives said the Tates’ business model “depends on online attention”.
“The outrageousness of the posts by them and about them is the point. The more hyperbolic and outlandish the post, the more likely it will generate views and likes, which in turn generates income. In short, they are playing a role,” it says.
At times Andrew Tate has also exaggerated and used hyperbole for “comedic effect” with no intention to be taken seriously, the submission argues.
“The government alleges that the Tates are a risk of flight based on their social media claims that they are ‘self-proclaimed billionaires’ who own ‘high-end vehicles, private jets, and a custom $50-million-dollar superyacht and have unrestricted access to traditional funds, cryptocurrency, and bitcoin,'” it says.
“But the government has not established these grandiose claims are true,” it adds.
Prosecutors argued that both brothers “have significant resources available to them, both in terms of money and in social media networks,” adding they also have shown a “propensity to intimidate vulnerable complainants”.
Prosecutors also cited social media posts made by Andrew Tate, in which he allegedly mocked prosecutors and suggested he could hide his identity to avoid arrest.
The superyacht referenced is not owned by the Tates and they were paid to promote it, the submission says.
Cars, including an Aston Martin and Bugattis which featured in social media content, were rented, it says.
“The Tates are engaged in several businesses ‘teaching’ men how to earn money. It is in their interest to portray themselves on social media as uberwealthy,” it adds.
US Marshals arrested the brothers in Miami last month after the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK brought 38 new charges, including rape and offences related to sex trafficking, against them.
They are now facing a total of 59 charges relating to alleged offences between July 2010 and August 2017.
Andrew, 39, and Tristan, 38, are both dual British-US citizens have previously denied any wrongdoing.
Self-proclaimed “misogynist” Tate first rose to fame after an appearance on the British version of reality TV show Big Brother in 2016.
A former kickboxer, he has millions of social media followers and has appeared in countless videos flaunting what appears to be an ultra-luxurious lifestyle.
By BBC News
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