Hatespeech or Tatespeech? Andrew Tate and the rise of the radical misogynist

This study examines influencer Andrew Tate’s social media content as embodying virtual manhood acts (VMA)—technologically facilitated misogyny in online spaces. Through content analysis of 13 Tate videos from 2022, we demonstrate how his performances of masculinity extend beyond reinforcing gender binaries to potentially facilitating gender radicalization leading to misogynistic, homophobic, and transphobic attitudes and behaviors. Applying McCauley and Moskalenko’s radicalization framework, we map Tate’s content to pathways at macro (jujitsu politics, hatred, martyrdom), group (polarization, isolation, competition), and individual levels (personal and group grievance, slippery slope, love, risk and status, unfreezing). Our findings suggest that the combination of VMA and digital platforms creates fertile conditions for gender-based radicalization, particularly for members of the social media manosphere. Tate’s extensive influence, amplified by algorithms, represents a concerning escalation in the potential for widespread gender radicalization with real-world implications.