French Montana invites Andrew Tate on stage during Romania festival performance

By Abby Amoakuh

Published Jul 16, 2024 at 12:26 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

59693

It’s incredibly difficult to shock a crowd these days. Fans are usually prepared for everything, from impromptu fireworks to celebrity crowd-surfing, and random objects thrown at their favourite celebrity mid-performance. However, ‘Unforgettable’ rapper French Montana still managed to render his audience speechless when he brought out controversial manosphere influencer Andrew Tate during his set at the Beach, Please! Festival in Romania.

On Sunday 14 July 2024, the rapper, who also goes by the name of Karim Kharbouch, greeted Tate on stage with a big bear hug. “Make some f*cking noise for my brother Andrew Tate,” Montana said to introduce him. 

The two also posed for pictures after the highly controversial former influencer greeted the crowd, with some attendees screaming “Escape the Matrix”—one of Tate’s manosphere catchphrases.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by French Montana (@frenchmontana)

Following their little public meet-up, Montana also posted a carousel on Instagram with Tate, standing on stage, hanging out on a terrace while soaking up the sunshine.

According to Indy100, the rapper’s live crowd greeted Tate with a fairly average welcome. However, online the reactions to his new pal were less than enthusiastic, to say the least.

“French, why would you bring the Tate brothers on stage? Why would you affiliate? They are seriously shady guys. I am disappointed,” one Instagram user wrote under the post.

Someone else commented: “Embarrassing. Unfollowing.” “No one in Romania loves Tate,” another user responded.

In case you don’t know, Tate is a former professional kickboxer, Big Brother contestant and British influencer. The 37-year-old, alongside his brother Tristan Tate, has built an online empire based on promoting misogynistic and repressive views. Moreover, Tate is currently being processed for criminal offences against seven women, including sex trafficking and rape.

Tate has been living in Romania for over a year now. In a video, the influencer explained that he decided to move there because it would be easier to evade rape charges, adding: “I’m not a rapist, but I like the idea of just being able to do what I want. I like being free.”

https://twitter.com/updatetates/status/1812978313960562867

French Montana is also no stranger to rape allegations. In March 2020, Montana was sued by a woman using the pseudonym Jane Doe, who alleged that the rapper had assaulted her and committed acts of battery, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring, supervision and retention and negligence, in connection to an incident reported to police on 28 March 2018. Doe reportedly recounted that Montana drugged her and raped her while she was incapacitated on his bathroom floor. The suit was dismissed under a settlement on 13 April 2022.

This uncanny connection aside, the rapper’s friendship with the disgraced influencer still came as a surprise to many.

https://twitter.com/_cheamor_/status/1812610512498155686
https://twitter.com/iienny0/status/1812630868629803272
https://twitter.com/Mylr1s/status/1812583025735004496

Many saw this stunt as an indication that the two were ideologically aligned, positioning Montana within a very fringe form of extreme misogyny.

With no other previous indication for this viewpoint, this incident from Sunday will continue to be seen as a shocking surprise and point of speculation about the rapper’s personal values.

Keep On Reading

By Charlie Sawyer

Nigel Farage says Andrew Tate is an important voice for emasculated young boys

By Charlie Sawyer

Incelism and the ‘manosphere’: research proves Andrew Tate’s misogyny is just the beginning

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

What is Rumble, the YouTube copycat home to problematic men like Russell Brand and Andrew Tate?

By Charlie Sawyer

President Trump and JD Vance angry over the DNC setting up a taco truck outside RNC headquarters

By Eliza Frost

Jennifer Lawrence weighs in on The Summer I Turned Pretty love triangle, revealing she is Team Jeremiah

By Charlie Sawyer

Trump grants white South Africans refuge after ending legal protections for Afghans facing deportation

By Charlie Sawyer

Sabrina Carpenter accused of centering men on controversial album cover

By Eliza Frost

The Life of a Showgirl or The Life of a Tradwife? Unpicking Taylor Swift’s new album

By Charlie Sawyer

Gen Zers are taking out travel insurance policies for their Labubus ahead of summer

By Charlie Sawyer

Harry Potter star defends Tom Felton over his controversial comments on JK Rowling’s transphobia

By Eliza Frost

Bad Bunny is not touring the US due to fear of ICE raids at concerts

By Eliza Frost

Cruz Beckham’s girlfriend Jackie Apostel defends the couple’s age gap relationship 

By Charlie Sawyer

Donald trump to accept $400M luxury plane from Qatar royal family

By Charlie Sawyer

What is Mar-a-Lago face? Unpacking the beauty trend prompted by Donald Trump’s second term

By Eliza Frost

The Summer I Turned Pretty stars Lola Tung and Gavin Casalegno caught in political drama

By Charlie Sawyer

Madison Beer opens up about reconnecting with the person who leaked her explicit photos as a teen

By Eliza Frost

Why isn’t Sylvanian Drama posting on TikTok? Here’s the legal tea

By Charlie Sawyer

Michael Cera reveals why he turned down a role in the Harry Potter franchise

By Eliza Frost

Bad timing? Gavin Casalegno’s Dunkin’ ad sparks backlash over actor’s alleged conservative views

By Eliza Frost

Jennifer Aniston to star in Apple TV+ adaptation of Jennette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died