Sir Gareth Southgate has said “manipulative and toxic influencers” are tricking young men into thinking women are against them, days after a court heard a killer “approached” Andrew Tate the day before killing three people.
The former England manager said many young people end up “looking for direction” and filling the void with “new role models who don't have their best interests at heart”.
Crossbow and knife-wielding killer Kyle Clifford murdered his ex-partner Louise Hunt, her sister Hannah Hunt and their mother Carol Hunt, and was said to have been inspired by “violent misogynistic propaganda” promoted by controversial influencer Tate.
Southgate followed in the footsteps of famous authors, actors, entrepreneurs and members of the royal family by delivering the 46th Richard Dimbleby Lecture at the University of London, where he said some powerful people are “deliberately deceiving young people into believing that success is measured in money or dominance”.
He said: “As real communities and mentoring decline, young people end up withdrawing into themselves, unwilling to talk or express their emotions.
“They spend more time online searching for direction and are drawn to unhealthy alternatives such as gaming, gambling and pornography.
“And this void is being filled by a new type of role models who don’t take their own interests to heart.
“These are heartless, manipulative and toxic influencers whose only goal is their own gain.
“They willingly deceive young people into believing that success is measured in money or dominance, never showing emotion, and that the world… including women… is against them.
“They are so far from the role models our young people need in their lives.”
Earlier, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the Home Secretary was “committed to challenging people who promote harmful and hateful views, including extreme misogyny”.
In Romania, the Tate brothers are charged with trafficking in minors, sexual intercourse with minors and money laundering.
A separate case against them, in which they are accused of human trafficking and forming a criminal group for the purpose of sexual exploitation of women, was returned to the prosecutor's office.
In the UK, Bedfordshire police have obtained a European Arrest Warrant on separate charges of rape and human trafficking.
The allegations, which both brothers “unequivocally deny,” date back to 2012-2015.
Earlier in March, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeyer announced on social media that he had ordered a criminal investigation into the Tate brothers after they flew into the US state from Romania after their travel ban was lifted.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
