Piers Morgan defends his upcoming interview with Andrew Tate and says ‘the more light you shine on these characters, the better’ amid criticism for ‘platforming’ influencer accused of rape and human trafficking

Piers Morgan has defended his upcoming interview with Andrew Tate by insisting that ‘the more light you shine on these characters, the better’.

Controversial social media influencer Tate, 36, is currently awaiting trial in Romania after being charged last year with rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to exploit women.

Tonight, the self-confessed misogynist and his younger brother Tristian – who is also facing the same charges – will appear in the first of two ‘explosive’ interviews on Piers Morgan Uncensored.

But news of the interview sparked outrage online, with women condemning British journalist Morgan for giving ‘toxic’ former kickboxing champion Tate a ‘platform’, while some are now demanding people boycott the programme.

Today, Morgan struck back, he said Tate has been pressed ‘hard’ about his ‘problematic’ views and ‘misogyny’. Grilled about whether the Tates should be given a platform, Morgan told TalkToday: “With these types of characters, the more light you shine on them, the better, really. The more you actually hold them up to the fire a little bit.’

Tate, the divisive social media influencer, has millions of followers across his various online platforms.

He was arrested in December 2022 on charges of rape, human trafficking and organized crime. He spent several months in prison before being placed under house arrest. He was released from this in August.

The 36-year-old has insisted he has ‘done nothing wrong’ and has dismissed the allegations against him, saying Romanian authorities have ‘no substantial evidence’ against him.

Tate told reporters outside his home in Bucharest, Romania, in August that he would be “absolutely acquitted” of the charges against him and his younger 35-year-old brother.

In a promotional video ahead of the interview with Tate, Morgan explains that the controversial star now has more freedom to ‘travel’ around Romania, after spending three months behind bars in a Romanian prison – much of it in ‘solitary’ was incarcerated.

‘Restrictions have continued to be relaxed and they are now allowed to travel. And there is talk that they may get back all their assets that were seized – their cars, their homes and so on,” Morgan told TalkTV.

‘So no one knows exactly what is going on with this. They have a trial ahead of them and as I have said repeatedly to both of them, “I am not here to be the judge and jury on the very serious crimes you have been accused of – that will be in a court of law. right, as it should be.” But look, ‘will it actually go to court’ is an interesting question.’

In a post on . It is an extraordinary encounter. Prison, tears, anger, misogyny, covid, the war between Israel and Hamas. Nothing is forbidden.’

But the broadcaster’s decision sparked anger among people online, with one furious: ‘Why should they get airtime? That is literally half the problem of spreading their misogyny.”

“Such a shame, I don’t understand why you give people like this a platform,” another added.

While a third said: ‘No idea why you would give these two airtime – they are dangerous because they spread misogyny and hatred.’

In response to the criticism, Morgan said it was right to hold Tate’s “feet to the fire.” He added that the social media star had a huge following on social media and deserved to be challenged on his views.

“He has an extraordinary global influence – good, bad and ugly,” Morgan added during his interview with TalkToday this morning.

“I think 65 to 70 percent of the things he comes out with are actually a good positive message for young men. It’s the 25 to 30 percent that I categorize as misogyny, which I don’t think he even really understands is misogyny, and I really take him up on those things, like I’ve done before, that’s really, with him, problematic and perhaps part of the situation he finds himself in.’

When asked by TalkTV host Jeremy Kyle if he thought Tate was “smart,” Morgan said, “I don’t think he’s as smart as he thinks he is.

“He’s smart, he’s obviously very charismatic, as many good and bad people have been throughout history, he’s just an extraordinary influence.”

He added: “I don’t know if he’s as bad as these allegations suggest, or if there’s a lot going on.

‘I’ve pushed him quite a bit on things where he tries to say ‘well I was just being sarcastic at the time’ and I say ‘well, are you serious or not?’

Last month, Tate’s alleged abuse victims alleged they were subjected to harassment and intimidation by the suspect and his followers in an attempt to silence them, attorneys said.

At a press conference in central Bucharest, Romania, the lawyers – representing legal teams from the US and Britain – said they wanted to take a “united position” against Tate and his followers and address “ongoing attempts to to silence those who do so’. to pronounce’.

One of the legal teams, McCue Jury & Partners, represents women suing Tate in Britain over allegations of rape and physical assault, while the Law Center of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and Laffey Bucci & Kent are the ‘key witnesses’ to the represent the plaintiff. Romania case that sues Tate in the US for defamation.

“These threats will not work, they will not deter people from coming forward, and they will not prevent courts around the world from hearing their cases,” the lawyers said in a joint statement.

Tate’s spokesperson denied the lawyers’ claims.

No date has yet been set for a possible court appearance for Tate and his brother.

Tate’s interview airs on Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV at 8 p.m