Andrew Tate is back—and he’s getting a hero’s welcome from right-wing podcasters

You can’t talk about the manosphere without mentioning Andrew Tate. The British-American influencer and former professional kickboxer built his platform by promoting misogynistic ideas—claiming women should be subservient to men, suggesting rape victims should “bear responsibility” for their assaults, and openly describing acts of domestic violence. The manosphere, which birthed Tate and others like him, is a network of right-wing influencers and grifters who peddle misogyny, toxic masculinity, and regressive gender roles—often aimed at radicalizing disaffected young men. And if the Tate brothers’ warm welcome from American right-wing podcasters is any indication, this ideology is no longer confined to the darkest corners of the internet. It’s creeping into the mainstream. Recently, Tate and his brother Tristan were allowed to leave Romania after prosecutors lifted their travel restrictions in late February. The two remain under investigation there for allegedly forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, and money laundering. Shortly after, they landed in the United States. Around the same time, an ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing Andrew of beating and choking her during their relationship. Now, a new report from Media Matters reveals how several pro-Trump and manosphere-aligned podcasters eagerly welcomed Tate during his U.S. visit. Between February and March, he appeared on the Hodgetwins’ Twins Pod, the Nelk Boys’ Full Send, Sean Kelly’s Digital Social Hour, Patrick Bet-David’s PBD Podcast, and Candace with Candace Owens. These interviews were shared widely—full episodes uploaded to YouTube, Rumble, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify drew more than 9 million views. Shorter clips posted to social media racked up an additional 30.8 million. The Nelk Boys—Canadian-American YouTubers who began with prank content but now lean into right-wing politics—even walked into a UFC Power Slap event alongside the Tate brothers. There, UFC President and Trump ally Dana White greeted them with a hug and said, “Welcome to the States, boys.” “The current online media ecosystem incentivizes outrage and extremism — and that is exactly what we saw when MAGA and manosphere podcasts platformed Andrew Tate when he returned to the U.S.,” Kayla Gogarty, research director at Media Matters, tells Fast Company. “These podcasters allowing Tate to push extreme misogyny and hate to their large followings, and then amplifying clips to millions more, is concerning, as young men that follow these shows can be radicalized down a path that could lead to abuse and violence against women.” Not everyone on the right embraced Tate’s return. Socially conservative figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have voiced disgust over the support he’s received. Still, prominent MAGA personalities—including White House counselor Alina Habba, Candace Owens, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump Jr.—remain in his corner.

Apr 2, 2025 - 22:00

Andrew Tate is back—and he’s getting a hero’s welcome from right-wing podcasters

You can’t talk about the manosphere without mentioning Andrew Tate. The British-American influencer and former professional kickboxer built his platform by promoting misogynistic ideas—claiming women should be subservient to men, suggesting rape victims should “bear responsibility” for their assaults, and openly describing acts of domestic violence.

The manosphere, which birthed Tate and others like him, is a network of right-wing influencers and grifters who peddle misogyny, toxic masculinity, and regressive gender roles—often aimed at radicalizing disaffected young men. And if the Tate brothers’ warm welcome from American right-wing podcasters is any indication, this ideology is no longer confined to the darkest corners of the internet. It’s creeping into the mainstream.

Recently, Tate and his brother Tristan were allowed to leave Romania after prosecutors lifted their travel restrictions in late February. The two remain under investigation there for allegedly forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, and money laundering. Shortly after, they landed in the United States. Around the same time, an ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing Andrew of beating and choking her during their relationship.

Now, a new report from Media Matters reveals how several pro-Trump and manosphere-aligned podcasters eagerly welcomed Tate during his U.S. visit. Between February and March, he appeared on the Hodgetwins’ Twins Pod, the Nelk Boys’ Full Send, Sean Kelly’s Digital Social Hour, Patrick Bet-David’s PBD Podcast, and Candace with Candace Owens.

These interviews were shared widely—full episodes uploaded to YouTube, Rumble, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify drew more than 9 million views. Shorter clips posted to social media racked up an additional 30.8 million.

The Nelk Boys—Canadian-American YouTubers who began with prank content but now lean into right-wing politics—even walked into a UFC Power Slap event alongside the Tate brothers. There, UFC President and Trump ally Dana White greeted them with a hug and said, “Welcome to the States, boys.”

“The current online media ecosystem incentivizes outrage and extremism — and that is exactly what we saw when MAGA and manosphere podcasts platformed Andrew Tate when he returned to the U.S.,” Kayla Gogarty, research director at Media Matters, tells Fast Company. “These podcasters allowing Tate to push extreme misogyny and hate to their large followings, and then amplifying clips to millions more, is concerning, as young men that follow these shows can be radicalized down a path that could lead to abuse and violence against women.”

Not everyone on the right embraced Tate’s return. Socially conservative figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have voiced disgust over the support he’s received. Still, prominent MAGA personalities—including White House counselor Alina Habba, Candace Owens, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump Jr.—remain in his corner.