Ben Shapiro Slams Pro-Trump Republicans for Defending Andrew Tate: ‘He Is Not Brave and Wonderful’

Right-wing talk show host Ben Shapiro took aim at pro-Trump Republicans who continue to defend Andrew Tate, the British “manosphere” figure facing charges of rape and human trafficking in Romania. Shapiro, who has long feuded with Tate, criticized Trump attorney Alina Habba for her recent remarks comparing Tate’s legal troubles to those of former President Donald Trump.

“Okay, what Alina Habba is saying is not actually true about Andrew Tate,” Shapiro said. “He is not of the same ilk as President Trump, ‘find me the person and I’ll find you the crime.’ That is true of President Trump; that is not particularly true of Andrew Tate.”

Shapiro expressed frustration at how some conservatives have conflated defending Tate with broader free speech principles. “I think the way some people are defending Andrew Tate today is the conflation of a couple of different ideas,” Shapiro noted.

“There is a big difference between having people on — have whoever you want on, that’s totally fine, free speech and all the rest — and cheering on bad people who don’t actually care about your principles. And Andrew Tate is the latter.”

While Shapiro clarified that he does not object to interviewing Tate, he criticized those who fail to challenge him meaningfully. “Let me say, right at the outset, I am not upset at all with anyone just interviewing Andrew Tate. Go for it, have at it.

There are tons of excellent questions to ask Andrew Tate. But none of these people are asking Andrew Tate any of those questions. Instead, a lot of people are sort of glomming onto his very online popularity in order to get clicks.”

Shapiro also condemned those who praised Tate without scrutinizing his behavior. “Some people are dishonestly conflating interviewing Andrew Tate with cheering for Andrew Tate, or applauding him, or talking about how brave and wonderful he is,” Shapiro continued.

“And Andrew Tate is not brave and wonderful. He rips off thousands of people with his scam Hustlers University, he preaches the virtue of treating women in a way you would never, ever allow anyone to treat your wife or your daughter.”

Shapiro concluded by drawing a line between engaging in conversations and endorsing harmful figures. “If you say you’re a conservative and you have someone who truly is disgusting on, and you proceed to tout them, praise them, nod along to everything they say, cheer them, you’re doing more than platforming. There’s a difference between having a conversation with a person and becoming a propagandist for that person.”