In December 2022, Mateea Petrescu, a Romanian publicist, took on one of the most high-profile legal cases in her country when she agreed to manage the public relations efforts for Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer and social media personality. Tate, along with his brother Tristan, is facing multiple criminal allegations in Romania, including human trafficking, rape, and forming an organized crime group.
Petrescu, who hails from Bacau and has prior experience representing Romanian politicians and companies in the pharmaceutical sector, accepted the role at the request of her cousin, a lawyer involved in the case. At the time, the Tate brothers were already detained in Bucharest, accused of a series of serious crimes dating back several years. They deny all charges.
Andrew and Tristan Tate, originally from the United States but raised in Luton, England, relocated to Romania in 2017 amid an investigation in Bedfordshire, England, concerning allegations of sexual assault. The case in the United Kingdom was recently revisited, leading to 38 additional charges being filed by the Crown Prosecution Service last month. These charges relate to offenses that allegedly occurred between 2010 and 2017, prompting the brothers’ arrest in Florida in July. They are currently contesting extradition to Europe and maintain their innocence.
Petrescu, who started working with the brothers while they were under house arrest, was tasked with reshaping their public image and mitigating the impact of negative media coverage. She negotiated a monthly fee for her services, focusing on strategies to balance the narrative ahead of any formal trials. Despite efforts to steer the brothers towards more measured public communications, Petrescu said her attempts were repeatedly undermined by Andrew Tate’s impulsive and provocative social media activity. She cited an example in which Tate posted a controversial tweet while visiting Hong Kong that she felt damaged their reputation further.
The Tates have built a controversial online empire, including subscription-based businesses such as Hustler’s University (later rebranded as The Real World), which at its peak had around 160,000 members paying monthly fees for courses on cryptocurrency trading and other topics. They also operate The War Room, a private network offering guidance on managing webcam operations. Their online presence has been marked by outspoken and often misogynistic commentary, drawing millions of followers but also widespread criticism.
Petrescu resigned from her role earlier this year, citing the brothers’ unwillingness to heed professional advice as a primary factor. She highlighted the challenge posed by their unpredictable behavior and reliance on immediate reactions influenced by their close-knit group, which includes a personal trainer and videographer living with them.
While Petrescu is legally restricted from discussing details of the ongoing investigations, she has authored a forthcoming book, Unmanageable, chronicling her experiences working with the Tate brothers.
The case against Andrew and Tristan Tate continues to unfold across multiple jurisdictions, drawing significant attention due to the brothers’ celebrity status and the serious nature of the allegations. Both continue to deny wrongdoing as legal proceedings advance in Romania, the United Kingdom, and the United States.