Buckle up because we’re diving into a story that’s been making waves across the globe. You might know Andrew Tate as a controversial influencer, or maybe you remember him from his short-lived stint on British TV show Big Brother. Either way, he’s back in the headlines, and this time, it’s for all the wrong reasons.

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Tate and his brother Tristan have been charged in Romania with some pretty serious stuff: rape, human trafficking, and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women. Two of their associates are also facing charges. All four of them have denied the allegations.

The Tate brothers were first arrested at their Bucharest home in December, and in March, they were moved from custody to house arrest following a ruling by a Romanian judge. The indictment says that the four defendants formed an organised criminal group in 2021 to commit human trafficking in Romania, and even in other countries including the US and the UK.

According to the indictment, the Tate brothers lured in seven alleged victims with false promises of love and marriage. These women were then taken to buildings in Ilfov county in Romania where they were intimidated, placed under constant surveillance and control, and forced into debt. The defendants allegedly then forced the women to take part in pornography which was later shared on social media. One defendant is even accused of raping a woman twice in March 2022.

Now, this trial isn’t going to start immediately and is expected to take several years. A Romanian judge now has 60 days to inspect the case files before it can be sent to trial.

The media team for the Tate brothers said: “While this news is undoubtedly predictable, we embrace the opportunity it presents to demonstrate their innocence and vindicate their reputation.” They added 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”.

There are also separate charges still under investigation which could lead to a separate indictment, including money laundering and trafficking of minors.

In 2016, Andrew Tate, a British-American former kickboxer, was removed from British TV show Big Brother over a video which appeared to show him attacking a woman. He went on to gain notoriety online, with Twitter banning him for saying women should “bear some responsibility” for being sexually assaulted. He has since been reinstated.

Despite social media bans, he gained popularity, particularly among young men, by promoting what he presented as a hyper-masculine, ultra-luxurious lifestyle.

A story that serves as a stark reminder that not all that glitters on social media is gold.