Andrew Tate, the misogynist influencer facing human trafficking and rape charges in Romania, on Sunday repeated a claim that somebody — or "The Matrix" — is going to try to kill him.
Tate, his brother, and two others were arrested on suspicion of human trafficking on December 29 of last year.
Prosecutors have argued that they "appear to have created an organized crime group with the purpose of recruiting, housing, and exploiting women by forcing them to create pornographic content," according to Reuters.
Tate and the others deny the allegations, a stance he maintains on Twitter — which he has continued to use since he's been imprisoned.
"I updated my will from prison," Tate tweeted Sunday. "I will be donating 100 million to start a charity to protect men from false accusations."
It's likely a member of Tate's team is sending out his tweets, but it's still possible that Tate has access to a phone to tweet from his cell, Insider previously reported.
Romanian authorities believe that Tate and the others forced six women to create pornographic content online. He is accused of raping at least one of the six women.
Tate's net worth is heavily disputed: He and his fans say he has a net worth upward of $300 million. Celebrity Net Worth says his net worth is $50 million. Either way, there are multiple ways individuals can set up charitable donations in their wills, according to Thrivent, a financial services company.
In a separate tweet on Sunday, Tate followed up with: "I would never kill myself."
Some Twitter users suggested Tate believes he might end up like Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein was accused of orchestrating a sex trafficking scheme and was found dead in his jail cell before his trial. A medical examiner ruled his death a suicide, but some conspiracy theorists don't believe that he killed himself.
Regardless, the former kickboxer began making statements before his arrest that suggested that someone is out to get him. On December 14, he tweeted, "If they kill me I love you all." In another tweet on the same day, he wrote, "Soon they will try and kill me."
On November 21, he tweeted, "The matrix will attempt to kill me soon. I would never, ever, kill myself."
And since being inside the jail, he's also posted about him or his brother being "attacked" in the jail by "The Matrix" though the evidence is open to question, Insider reported.
"The Matrix" conspiracy, according to Tate, is "the systems which are being created by society that are deliberately designed to enslave."
But even Tate's attorney, Eugen Vidineac, did not entertain the conspiracy theory in a January 18 interview, Insider reported.
"I have serious profession and I didn't ask my client about this 'Matrix' story because I think it is about something on media platforms or internet platforms," Vidineac said.
Nevertheless, Tate has talked about the rough conditions inside of the prison and has said jail guards have treated him poorly.
In a January 24 email to subscribers, Tate said, "Cockroaches, lice, and bed bugs are my only friends at night."
"They are trying to break me," he added, apparently referencing the jail staff.
Tate, his brother, and the two others are jailed in Romania until at least February 27. A judge can extend their imprisonment in 30-day increments at the request of authorities — but no longer than 180 days, per the Government of Romania.
Tate moved to Romania in 2017 as a kickboxer, before retiring in 2020, The Los Angeles Times reported. He's said in a now-deleted video that his decision to live in Romania was partially based on his belief that Romania's laws against sexual assault were relaxed.
Tate has built a significant following brandishing his misogynistic takes — including saying that women "belong to the man" and that they are "failing" at their roles of being housekeepers and child bearers, the Times also reported.
"You can't slander me because I will state right now that I am absolutely sexist and I'm absolutely a misogynist, and I have 'fuck you money' and you can't take that away," the manosphere influencer said on a podcast called "Anything Goes With James English" in 2021.
In another instance, Tate described what he'd do if a woman accused him of cheating: "It's bang out the machete, boom in her face, and grip her up by the neck."
Tate's attorney was not immediately reachable for comment.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) or visit its website to receive confidential support.
