Evidence has been uncovered that dozens of women were groomed into online sex work by members of misogynist influencer Andrew Tate’s “War Room” group.
An investigation by the BBC found internal chat logs that identify 45 possible victims between March 2019 and April 2020, with the report noting the numbers are likely higher outside of that timeframe.
The texts seem to show the techniques War Room members used to exploit victims, such as isolating women from their social lives and manipulating them through sex.
While media attention has been focused on Tate and his brother– both of whom were arrested in Romania on rape and human trafficking charges in June– the “War Room” group leader appears to be a person under the alia ‘‘Iggy Semmelweiss”.
The group’s leader and self-proclaimed “wizard” listed methods for men to gain “sole authority” over women and “remove her entire support structure”.
He allegedly told the 434 global members to do things such as tattoo their names on her body, get her to leave her hometown and recruit other girls.
The BBC says these leaked texts suggest violence against women was encouraged in the “War Room” and that Tate’s fame is being used to sell a method of abuse to men around the world.
Some leaked texts reveal members believed they were performing “Pavlovian conditioning” on women, with one specific message reading: “this is how you train dogs”.
A spokesperson for Tate has said he maintains his innocence and called the accusations “another brazen attempt to present one-sided, unverified” allegations.
Tate advertises the “War Room” as a “global network in which exemplars of individualism work to free the modern man from socially induced incarceration” as well as teaching the men “physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and financial development”. The controversial social media personality charges members $8,000 for this.
Reports show Tate and his brother both make around $5 million per month from the “War Room” price tag and another program called “Hustler’s University, which encourages members to escape their nine-to-five jobs with side hustles.
The Tate group has been described as a “cult” by an ex-member who spoke to the BBC.
“The War Room is all about you getting women that serve you in your life,” said the whistleblower.
The investigation heard from two women as well who said they were exploited by War Room members. Both of them said they initially believed they were in romantic relationships but were gradually manipulated into sex work, isolated from friends and subjected to violence.