Andrew Tate, the controversial influencer and self-described misogynist, was sued in Los Angeles by his ex-girlfriend Brianna Stern, who alleged Tate choked her as she begged for him to stop and hit her so hard she suffered a concussion, allegations Tate has denied through his lawyers.
Andrew Tate was sued by his ex-girlfriend for sexual assault in Los Angeles. (Photo by DANIEL ... More
Stern said in her lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, that Tate choked her with one hand and beat her with the other during a sexual encounter that was initially consensual, but turned “violent” as she pleaded with him to stop.
Stern said the incident took place on March 11 at the Beverly Hills Hotel—less than two weeks after Tate arrived in the United States from Romania, where he faces sex trafficking and rape charges, after his travel ban was lifted by authorities.
Tate’s lawyer, Joseph McBride, slammed the lawsuit as a “blatant cash grab” and a “desperate attempt by a sad individual to exploit Andrew’s success and reputation for personal gain” in a statement shared with multiple media outlets (Forbes has reached out to McBride for comment).
Stern shared a statement to her Instagram account, stating she met Tate in the summer of 2024 and that they wanted to “start a new life together” after Tate’s arrival in the United States, but she realized after the violent encounter this was “not the future I wanted for myself or my future children.”
Stern alleged Tate’s last words to her on the night of the alleged abuse were, “You are my property,” and she said he threatened to rape or kill her if she ever “crossed” him.
Stern said she chose to sue rather than stay silent in support of other women in abusive relationships, stating she does not care whether he and his social media followers may attack her because “I speak the truth.”
Tony Buzbee, the Houston-based lawyer who filed dozens of lawsuits on behalf of alleged sexual assault victims against disgraced hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, also filed the lawsuit on behalf of Stern. “I am proud to represent Bri Stern in her case for assault and battery against her former boyfriend Andrew Tate,” Buzbee said in a statement on his Instagram Thursday night. “It took a great deal of courage for Bri to take this step. I greatly admire her resolve and will stand firm by her through this fight.” Forbes has reached out to Buzbee for comment.
Tate faces charges of sex trafficking, rape and engaging in organized criminal activity in Romania, where he was first detained by authorities in 2022. Tate was charged alongside his brother, Tristan Tate, and two Romanian associates. Prosecutors accused them of recruiting women and forcing them to make pornographic content. Prosecutors began investigating new allegations in August that the Tates had sex trafficked minors. The Tates have denied all allegations against them. The Tates also face charges of “sexual aggression” in the United Kingdom, where they were raised, relating to incidents dating back more than a decade. A judge ruled the Tates could be extradited to the United Kingdom following their trial in Romania. After the Tates arrived in Florida last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tate was not welcome in the state, and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced he would open a criminal investigation into the brothers, stating they have “publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women around the world.”
Tate first rose to fame on the United Kingdom version of “Big Brother” and as a kickboxer before pivoting to becoming an influencer, amassing huge online followings. Tate frequently promotes his self-described misogynistic worldview and uses various slurs to his 10 million followers on X, and he runs online programs that he bills as educational. “War Room,” one of these programs, was the subject of a BBC investigation that claimed the program teaches men to groom women into sex work.
Tate Brothers Back In Romania To Report To Police Monday (Forbes)
Florida Attorney General Launches Investigation Into Andrew Tate And Tristan Tate (Forbes)