Influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate filed lawsuits against Meta and TikTok seeking more than $100 million in damages for what they claim was an “unlawful and politically motivated decision” to remove them from the platforms in 2022. The identical suits were filed on August 13 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, each seeking at least $50 million in compensatory damages.
The Tate brothers, dual U.S.-British citizens and former kickboxers, allege the social media companies violated contractual agreements and caused “substantial financial, reputational, and emotional harm” when they banned their accounts.
The lawsuits describe the platform removals as “the culmination of a coordinated campaign to suppress, silence, and destroy the reputations and livelihoods of two controversial but law-abiding men.” According to court documents, the brothers claim they weren’t given proper notice or explanation for the bans.
The filings state that their “brand and business model relied heavily on their social media engagement” and that their removal from the platforms led to “substantial and irreplaceable financial loss and damage.” At the time of their bans, the Tates “collectively commanded an audience of tens of millions” and “generated significant revenue through lawful online enterprises,” the lawsuits assert.
According to Deadline, the Tates are represented by attorneys Raymond E. Brenneman and Thomas Maniotis. Their legal action seeks jury trials in both cases. Neither Meta nor TikTok has responded to requests for comment on the lawsuits.
Andrew Tate wrote on X that he has set aside “$400,000,000 of personal funds” to battle the platforms and others who he claims tried to “cancel” him. “It’s good vs evil and I will lose my entire fortune in this fight,” he posted to his nearly 11 million followers.
Background of Platform Bans
The brothers were banned in 2022 from Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook for violating the platforms’ community guidelines. They were reinstated on Twitter after Elon Musk acquired the platform. The current lawsuits focus specifically on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, and do not mention YouTube or its parent company, Google.
Ongoing Legal Challenges
The social media lawsuits come amid multiple legal challenges for the Tate brothers. Romanian authorities have charged them with human trafficking, with Andrew Tate also facing rape charges. In May, the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service charged both brothers with rape, human trafficking, and other crimes.
The lawsuits acknowledge their legal troubles but emphasize that “neither was, nor has been, convicted of human trafficking or sexual exploitation.” They claim the platforms enabled defamation by “refusing to clarify or support” their reasons for the bans, thus “allowing widespread media narratives to suggest criminality.”
In 2023, the brothers filed a separate defamation suit in Florida against individuals they claim provided false evidence to Romanian authorities. A woman countersued in February 2025, claiming the Tates tried to lure her into a webcam sex trafficking ring.
The brothers currently reside in Romania and Dubai, according to court documents.
Dragomir is a Serbian freelance blog writer and translator. He is passionate about covering insightful stories and exploring topics such as influencer marketing, the creator economy, technology, business, and cyber fraud.
