LONDON (Reuters) – Andrew Tate, an internet personality known for controversial views, is set to stand trial in Britain next year facing civil lawsuits from four women alleging physical and sexual abuse. The case was expedited on Wednesday, with the four claimants, who have been granted anonymity, accusing Tate of subjecting them to violence between 2013 and 2015. Two claim to have been involved in intimate relationships with Tate, while the other two worked for his online webcam business.
According to court filings from the women’s lawyers, one woman claims Tate threatened her with a gun, saying, “you’re going to do as I say or there’ll be hell to pay,” while another alleges Tate strangled her during a sexual encounter, causing her to lose consciousness. Tate, 38, denies the allegations, with his lawyers asserting that all sexual activities were consensual.
At a preliminary hearing in London’s High Court, the trial date was moved up to June 2026 from its original schedule in early 2027. Judge Christina Lambert emphasized the importance of expediting the case, stating, “It’s not in anyone’s interest that this case drags on until 2027.” The claimants’ lawyer, Anne Studd, revealed that there would be an additional six to eight witnesses besides the four women involved.
The four British claimants expressed relief at the decision to fast-track the trial, stating, “We’ve been waiting for years for justice, and it’s comforting to know that Andrew Tate will face these allegations in court sooner than expected.” Tate was not present at the hearing, and his attendance was not mandated. His lawyers have indicated that he plans to provide testimony in his defense during the trial.
Tate and his brother Tristan are also the subjects of a criminal investigation in Romania and are facing charges in Britain. Their legal team stated last month that they will return to the UK to address these charges once the proceedings in Romania have concluded.
