If Tate “predicted” his demise, I imagine that might stem from him being aware that his own actions would eventually catch up to him. Romanian prosecutors say Tate is suspected of being part of a criminal group that lures women via false promises, then sexually exploits them, subjecting them to “physical violence and mental coercion through intimidation, constant surveillance, control and invoking alleged debts,” and forcing them to make pornographic videos.

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In his varying TikToks and social media posts, as well as his documented record of violence against women, Tate has pretty proudly admitted to mistreating women as part of his highly profitable brand. Unsurprisingly, his supporters who are delusional enough to buy into Tate’s brand are also delusional enough to believe in his innocence—despite all the evidence against him, mostly provided by himself.

And beyond the disinformation, we’ve been collectively dropped into an insufferable conversation on the importance of hearing Tate out and reproducing his message to appeal to young men and boys in progressive spaces. These arguments have come from online pundits and popular leftist streamers who claim they don’t support Tate, while simultaneously validating his aggressively misogynistic strategy for effectively speaking to young, male insecurity.

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Some claim that “the left gives brain-dead advice to young men,” and Tate’s appeal shows that “our advice has to be more than ‘don’t be a misogynist’ and ‘don’t be right wing.’” (I would argue, actually, that “don’t be a misogynist” and “don’t be right-wing” is fabulous advice, really.) Another unfortunate take: “How many vulnerable young men who are screaming out for help stumble upon people like Andrew Tate because he’s there for them whilst the left does nothing and offers no healthy alternative?” one Twitter user asked. “Of course some of the ideologies they pick up here are deplorable but that’s exactly why?”

One father cited former The Daily Show host Jon Stewart as someone who “used to do a good job of catching young men in their late teens,” but opined that today that “there is no one from the Left talking to 12-year-old boys. My sons all know who Andrew Tate is. But there is simply no equivalent on the Left.”

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Others have similarly called for a “leftist” Andrew Tate, which, sorry, wtf does that even mean? Why should we strive for a leftist equivalent to a figure that deals with violent sexism?

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Instead of recruiting and platforming a leftist Tate to “speak” to boys and young men by centering their feelings, the better solution seems to be taking a page from teachers, educators, and community leaders who are actively having conversations with young men—about Tate, about patriarchy, privilege, and violence. Teenage boys inevitably face mental health struggles and other challenges—but so do teenage girls, who experience all kinds of gendered trauma, and incidentally don’t become violent manosphere bloggers and possible human traffickers.