Andrew Tate, an influencer known for his misogynistic and offensive content, has remained a figure of controversy throughout the past year. His relevancy skyrocketed with the line, “What color is your Bugatti?” in response to any criticism given. Tate’s inflammatory statements and heightened ego are modeled by many of his fans, most of whom are younger boys. Concerns about Tate’s influence on teens has escalated; as a large video creator, his content can be found almost everywhere. Tate is back under fire after his arrest by Romanian police in December 2022 on accounts of rape and human trafficking. 

Tate often spreads his opinions on Twitter and through interviews. In 2017 Tate tweeted, “Next point, if you put yourself in a position to be raped, you must bare some responsibility. I’m not saying it’s OK you got raped.” Not only does he put victims of domestic abuse on blast, but he also promotes the push for “manly men,’’ stating in an interview with Tucker Carlson that “they banned me simply because I had large swaths of the population agreeing to very traditional masculine values.” 

Discussion of Tate has spread around Woodgrove. Junior Mia Smith describes Tate as “ignorant and an insult to men everywhere.” Madyson Blizzard, a Sophomore, said, “I think the only aspect he is successful in is his push to keep masculinity present in society. Otherwise, I think he is a bad role model.” 

When it comes to teachers, many are uninformed of Tate’s social media presence and true character. One teacher at Woodgrove claimed to have discovered Tate through their children. When asked what they’ve heard about Tate, they said, “I know he is big into encouraging young men into taking responsibility for themselves, but he goes about it in a controversial way.” 

There will always be controversial figures who seek fame through instigation. Tate’s danger lies in the unexamined consumer, whether that be young boys who choose to look no further than the latest trending video or adults who only know snippets of pop culture. It is essential for viewers to analyze public figures and content thoroughly before drawing conclusions.