Internet hot topic Andrew Tate slams "unjust" depiction in Netflix's Adolescence

Andrew Tate, an American and British social media personality, slams his reference in the new Netflix crime drama miniseries Adolescence, calling it "neither fair nor accurate." The series received next to no promotion or big names starring in roles, but that did not deter its quick rise to the #1 debut, with an almost perfect critic evaluation.

Andrew Tate's Depiction in Adolescence

The show examines several deep themes of online influence, cancel culture, the radicalization of young men, involuntary celibacy (incel), and social problems such as misogyny, among others. Andrew Tate is a common name in the "manosphere," an online community of male supremacy groups with a lack of s*xual relationships who come together anonymously to blame women for their situation. A tight overlap exists between the ideas in this community and the statements made by Andrew Tate on online social media platforms.

The second episode of the show references Andrew Tate when a police officer who is investigating the probable motives behind the crime questions a female colleague who says, "It's the involuntary celibate stuff. It's the Andrew Tate shit." Show writer Jack Thorne, in an interview with Radio 4's Front Row, explains that he wanted to "look in the eye of male rage" through the central character Jamie, who had been "indoctrinated by voices like Tate's and some that were far more dangerous than his.

Andrew Tate, who is under investigation by the Romanian prosecution for charges of human trafficking among others, rejects his depiction in the show as expressed in a statement by a spokesperson. The statement implies that this depiction in Netflix's Adolescence "is an attempt to pin broader societal issues on one individual, which is neither fair nor accurate" and that it is unjust that he's made a "scapegoat for complex problems like radicalization and violence, which stem from far wider cultural and systemic factors."

What is Adolescence About

Netflix's 4-episode long miniseries Adolescence, in its one-take filming of each episode, is a powerful and grappling examination of why a young boy, only 13 years old, would one day leave his home and commit an unforgivable crime against a young girl. The subject matter of this show makes it hard to watch, especially for parents and teachers. The one-take filming concept, previously employed by director Philip Barantini in his movie Boiling Point, forces the audience to step into the emotional bubble created by this drama and witness up close the tension surrounding the crime.

Netflix's Adolescence, referred to as a technical masterpiece owing to its cinematography, explores the vast implications of Jamie's behaviors and the roles played by parents and teachers in the lives of teenagers to bridge the communication gap between them. Stephen Graham, a co-producer of the show who also plays the role of Jamie's dad, explains in an interview his motive behind the show to question and paint a realistic picture of the society where such a "thing is becoming a regular occurrence." The show brilliantly portrays how little adults understand or communicate effectively with troubled teens, who have access to an uncensored online forum in this day and age.