Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly stated that controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate, are not welcome in the state.
The statement follows the brothers’ arrival in Florida after boarding a private plane from Bucharest, Romania. Despite their presence in the state, DeSantis admitted he had no prior knowledge of their arrival and only became aware through media reports.
During a press conference, DeSantis remarked, “No, Florida is not a place where you’re welcome with that type of conduct.”
He further revealed that Attorney General James Uthmeier is currently investigating legal avenues available to the state.
In response, Andrew Tate reacted defiantly after landing, asserting that he remains “innocent until proven guilty.” The Tate brothers were arrested in 2022 over serious allegations of human trafficking and rape, accusations they have denied.
Both brothers hold dual U.S. and U.K. nationality but had been placed under house arrest on additional charges of money laundering, trafficking minors, and rape since their initial detention three years ago.
In December 2023, their human trafficking trial in Romania was halted due to multiple procedural errors made by prosecutors.
The defence team had requested a review, arguing that the case lacked credible evidence and was inconsistent.
Their spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, emphasised that the court’s decision “confirms the lack of credible evidence or consistency in the accusations.”
She further highlighted significant procedural flaws that have undermined the credibility of the prosecution’s case. The court has returned the case to the prosecutors, allowing them to present new evidence or amend the existing charges.
In November 2023, the same court had given prosecutors five days to either amend or withdraw the case file.
Andrew Tate has faced multiple controversies over the years. In 2016, he was removed from the 17th season of Big Brother just six days after joining, following the emergence of a video in which he was seen hitting a woman with a belt.
In 2017, he sparked outrage when commenting on the Harvey Weinstein allegations, suggesting that women should “bear some responsibility” for being raped. That same year, he was also criticized for tweeting that depression “isn’t real.”
In August 2022, following a campaign by Hope Not Hate, Tate was permanently banned from Facebook and Instagram, resulting in the loss of 4.7 million followers.
The 36-year-old was arrested in December 2022 after authorities raided his property in Romania.
The arrest came shortly after he mocked climate activist Greta Thunberg in a video on Twitter. The raid’s timing has led to speculation that the viral clip may have influenced the police operation.
Authorities continue to monitor developments as the legal battles involving the Tate brothers unfold.
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