On Monday, September 29, 2025, the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced it would not bring criminal charges against Andrew Tate, the divisive social media influencer and former kickboxing champion, over sexual assault allegations that have shadowed him for years. The decision, coming after a protracted investigation and intense public scrutiny, has reignited debate about accountability, due process, and the limits of the criminal justice system when it comes to high-profile figures.
The allegations, brought by three women in their late twenties and early thirties, painted a harrowing picture. According to The Guardian and The Independent, the women accused Tate of rape, sexual and physical assaults—including grabbing one by the throat on several occasions, whipping with a belt, and pointing a gun at a woman’s head. The alleged incidents reportedly took place between 2013 and 2015, and the women’s claims were first investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary before being forwarded to the CPS for consideration.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, the CPS ultimately concluded that the evidence did not meet the legal threshold required to pursue a criminal conviction. “We undertook a further review of a case file in relation to allegations of assault and rape between 2013 and 2015,” a CPS spokesperson stated, as reported by Metro and The Nightly. “Following careful consideration of the evidence provided by Hertfordshire Constabulary, we concluded that our legal test for prosecution was not met, and that no further action should be taken. We have informed all parties of our decision and offered to meet with the complainants to explain our reasoning in more detail.”
The CPS’s decision was not made lightly, and it followed years of legal wrangling. The criminal case had already been closed once before in 2019, prompting the women to launch a civil lawsuit in the UK High Court. That civil case remains active, with proceedings scheduled to begin in June 2026. Unlike criminal cases, which require proof “beyond reasonable doubt,” civil cases operate on a “balance of probabilities” standard—meaning the women’s claims could still be upheld even in the absence of a criminal conviction.
Andrew Tate, for his part, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) immediately following the CPS announcement, Tate wrote: “Romania? No case UK? No case USA? No case 4 months in jail, 3 years locked in my house. Endless media slander. 25 million dollars stolen from me. Lawfare? – I’m one of the most mistreated men in history beside president Trump himself.” The post, cited by Just the News, Metro, and The Nightly, reflects Tate’s longstanding narrative that he is the target of politically motivated attacks and media bias. He has maintained that the allegations are a “pack of lies” and that his reputation has been unfairly destroyed.
Tate’s UK solicitor, Andrew Ford, welcomed the CPS’s decision, emphasizing that the evidence simply did not support a realistic prospect of conviction. “Despite much external pressure the evidence speaks for itself in this case and the Crown Prosecution Service have rightly confirmed the evidence is inadequate to provide any realistic prospect of conviction,” Ford said, as quoted by The Nightly and The Express. “The reason the CPS made this decision will become obvious when the evidence is played out during the civil proceedings. We are glad that this is yet another example of a potential criminal case against Andrew Tate falling by the wayside.”
For the women involved, the CPS’s decision is likely a bitter pill. Their accusations—detailing threats, violence, and psychological manipulation—were never tested in a criminal court. The ongoing civil case, however, offers a different legal avenue. As Metro and Just the News note, the four women (the civil suit includes an additional complainant) are seeking redress for what they describe as years of trauma and abuse. Their claims will be examined in detail during the High Court proceedings, where the evidentiary standard is lower but the stakes remain high.
The saga of Andrew Tate’s legal battles extends far beyond the UK. In Romania, he and his brother Tristan have faced a lengthy prosecution for alleged human trafficking and rape—a process that saw them confined to house arrest for years. Tate was only permitted to leave Romania earlier in 2025, after which he traveled to the United States. There, Florida Attorney General James Ulthmeier announced a criminal investigation into the Tates upon their arrival, but as of the CPS’s decision, no charges have been brought in the US either.
Tate’s case has become a flashpoint in wider cultural debates about online influence, masculinity, and the responsibilities of social media platforms. He has amassed millions of followers by promoting what he calls an “ultra-masculine” lifestyle—a brand that, according to the Anti-Defamation League and cited by The Nightly, includes content that encourages violence against women and denigrates critics. In one widely circulated video, Tate is heard saying: “It’s bang out the machete, boom in her face, you grip her up by the neck.” Such rhetoric has sparked condemnation from advocacy groups and prompted calls for greater accountability from tech companies.
Yet, Tate’s supporters see him as a victim of “lawfare” and cancel culture, echoing his own claims of mistreatment. They point to the lack of criminal convictions in the UK, Romania, and the US as evidence that the allegations are unfounded or politically motivated. Tate himself has compared his situation to that of former US President Donald Trump, asserting, “I’m one of the most mistreated men in history beside president Trump himself.”
Meanwhile, critics argue that the inability to secure a criminal conviction does not necessarily mean the allegations are false, but may reflect the challenges of prosecuting sexual violence—especially when high-profile defendants are involved. They point to the ongoing civil case as a crucial test of the women’s claims, and as a reminder that the legal system offers multiple avenues for seeking justice.
As the legal drama moves from the criminal courts to the civil arena, the spotlight on Andrew Tate is unlikely to dim. The High Court proceedings, set for June 2026, promise to shed more light on the complex, often murky world of online celebrity, power, and accountability. For now, Tate remains a free man in the eyes of the law—but the final verdict on his legacy, both legal and cultural, is far from settled.
