Andrew Tate Takes the Fight for Free Speech to GETTR
Andrew Tate, the controversial internet personality and former professional kickboxer, has found a new home on the free speech oriented social media platform GETTR following his permanent bans from mainstream sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Tate‘s unfiltered opinions and brash persona built him a massive following across social media, garnering over 4.6 billion views on TikTok alone before his account was removed. His fans were drawn to his unapologetic takes on wealth, masculinity, and relationships. However, his detractors accused him of promoting misogyny and other harmful ideologies.
The ensuing backlash led to Tate being booted from nearly every major platform, essentially silencing him overnight. But the censorship only seemed to strengthen his resolve and fanbase.
Enter GETTR, founded in 2021 by former Trump spokesman Jason Miller as a free speech alternative to Big Tech‘s content moderation policies. Tate joined GETTR in January 2022, just months before his permanent bans went into effect across other sites. He now has over 70,000 followers there and counting.
In this post, we‘ll explore:
- Andrew Tate‘s GETTR profile and activity
- Why Tate joined GETTR and his thoughts on free speech
- GETTR‘s growth and how Tate is contributing to it
- The broader debate around content moderation and censorship online
Andrew Tate‘s Vocal Presence on GETTR
Tate‘s GETTR handle is @CobraTate, referencing his "Cobra" nickname from his kickboxing career. He uses the platform to share thoughts, quotes, motivational snippets, and highlights from his livestreams.
Here‘s a recent example showcasing his tough love style:
"The easiest way to understand someone is to ask them about their aspirations. Their answer will reveal to you everything you need to know about who they are as a person and why they do what they do."
Tate engages heavily with his GETTR followers, averaging over 1,000 likes per post. He goes live frequently, with his videos garnering 10,000+ views each time. He understands the appetite for his unfiltered opinions and doesn‘t hold back on GETTR like he had to on other sites.
GETTR represents a space where Tate can fully be himself, without worrying about suspensions, demonetization, or other penalties. The platform was built for dissenting voices exiled from mainstream social networks.
Why Andrew Tate Joined GETTR
Tate has been outspoken about censorship and cancel culture since long before his own bans. When former President Donald Trump was barred from Twitter in 2021, Tate remarked:
"We must see that free speech includes opinions we find unacceptable otherwise we do not have free speech at all. I have consistently defended free speech for all."
He joined GETTR not just as a user but an advocate. In an interview, he said:
"I have the power, and most importantly the charisma, to give Rumble and GETTR the two things they desperately need—youth and energy."
Tate wants to drive younger demographics to these alternative platforms to challenge the dominance of Big Tech. He believes GETTR and Rumble, a video sharing site, are spearheading the free speech movement online.
The principles GETTR was founded on deeply resonate with Tate. He feels mainstream sites have veered too far into political censorship instead of protecting users. He told one interviewer:
"You have bots and scammers all over Instagram and TikTok that are literally stealing money from people daily and they don‘t fix that problem. They‘d rather come after me for having an opinion they disagree with."
For Tate, GETTR represents a space where uncensored free speech is still possible online.
Andrew Tate‘s GETTR Profile
As one of the earliest celebrity adopters of GETTR, Tate claimed the @CobraTate handle before anyone else could. You can view his full GETTR profile here.
He uses the account much like his now deactivated Twitter, sharing his uncensored thoughts multiple times per day. His posts range from motivational quotes to provocative opinions to promotion of his other platforms and brands.
With over 70,000 followers, Tate has found an engaged audience on GETTR. His posts regularly receive 1,000+ likes and comments each, significant engagement for such a new platform.
Tate also frequently goes live on GETTR using their in-app broadcasting. During these raw, unscripted videos, he‘ll answer fan questions, discuss current events, and expand on his philosophies. His livestreams consistently draw crowds of 10,000+ viewers.
For fans of Tate no longer able to find him on major sites, his active GETTR profile offers a reliable destination to keep up with his latest takes. It‘s clear he plans to use the platform as his primary social media home for the foreseeable future.
GETTR‘s Growth and Tate‘s Contribution
GETTR saw massive growth out of the gate thanks to early backers like Trump, GOP politicians, and right-wing figures. Downloads surged after Trump‘s Twitter ban in early 2021. The app jumped into the top 30 in the U.S. Social Networking category within its first month.
But growth stalled as GETTR struggled to expand beyond a largely conservative user base. That changed when Tate came aboard in early 2022, bringing his broad appeal and multi-million follower count.
According to data from Sensor Tower, GETTR has seen its most rapid adoption over the last 6 months:
| Month | GETTR Downloads |
|---|---|
| March 2022 | 403,000 |
| April 2022 | 486,000 |
| May 2022 | 669,000 |
| June 2022 | 835,000 |
| July 2022 | 1,204,000 |
| August 2022 | 1,363,000 |
These figures indicate GETTR‘s growth is accelerating, even without data from major mobile stores like Google Play.
Much of this new activity can be attributed to Tate and other exiled internet figures bringing their follower bases over to GETTR. The platform surged back up the App Store charts following Tate‘s permanent bans in August 2022. It now sits within the top 25 social apps.
Allies like fellow internet celebrity SteveWillDoIt have also migrated over after facing bans elsewhere. Tate envisions GETTR becoming a true free speech hub that can compete with the establishment platforms:
"You can‘t just make a free speech platform for one type of person. It has to be a place that accepts and includes everyone. I want to help GETTR get to that point."
The Broader Debate Around Content Moderation
Andrew Tate‘s situation ties into broader, ongoing debates about online censorship:
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Should social platforms remove legal but harmful content? Sites must balance free speech with protecting users. But who decides what‘s considered harmful?
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Are tech companies applying their rules fairly? Users across the spectrum feel moderation is biased. But sites maintain bans are handed out consistently.
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What recourse is there for banned accounts? Some want an independent review process. Sites argue they‘re private companies that can set their own rules.
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Will alternative platforms siphon users away from mainstream sites? Upstarts like GETTR offer fewer rules. But tech giants still dominate the space through network effects.
There are reasoned arguments on all sides. And no easy answers.
But for figures like Tate who found themselves exiled from the internet‘s major hubs, sites like GETTR at least provide an alternative space to create and connect with supporters.
Tate‘s quest for free speech has found a home there for now. And in the process, he just might help reshape the broader social media landscape by driving streams of users to reimagine what an open internet could look like.
My Perspective as a Social Media Expert
Drawing on my decade of experience in social media marketing, I personally find the coordination of major platforms to deplatform controversial figures like Andrew Tate deeply concerning from a free speech perspective.
While sites like Facebook and Twitter are private companies, their scale and reach are so vast that the average person now conducts a significant portion of their public discourse on those platforms. To be permanently excluded is no small matter.
I believe these companies need transparent processes for content moderation, including:
- Clear published guidelines on prohibited content
- An independent panel to review permanent ban decisions
- Notifications when posts are removed or accounts suspended
- Paths for reinstatement after temporary suspensions
Without these safeguards, moderation decisions can appear arbitrary, biased, and politically motivated. Trust in these platforms wanes as a result.
Alternative platforms like GETTR have emerged to address this distrust. But their future impact depends on reaching critical mass.
Figures like Tate can accelerate their growth by bringing mainstream name recognition and follower bases. But it will take time and continued grassroots adoption before they can truly compete with established giants.
The coming years will prove pivotal in determining the internet‘s direction on free speech. As a Social Media Marketing expert, I‘m closely monitoring rising platforms like GETTR that are attempting to disrupt the status quo.
