Latest news with #Bucharest
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Lauren Southern, Former Right-Wing Commentator, Says Andrew Tate Assaulted Her
In February 2018, Lauren Southern, a right-wing Canadian political influencer, met Andrew Tate on a trip to Bucharest, the Romanian capital. Ms. Southern, then 22, was gaining prominence with provocative videos that expressed anti-feminist and anti-immigrant views. Mr. Tate, a British American kickboxer living in Romania, was building his own online brand of flashy hyper-masculinity — and was years away from public scrutiny over accusations of rape and human trafficking. On that 2018 trip, Mr. Tate strangled and assaulted Ms. Southern in a hotel room while she was intoxicated, according to a self-published memoir that she released on Tuesday. Chapters of the book, 'This Is Not Real Life,' that involve Mr. Tate were published on her Substack. Ms. Southern declined to comment further on the allegations, but she provided The New York Times a copy of a 2018 report from a Toronto hospital where she said she had sought treatment. A nurse who examined Ms. Southern notes in the form, dated Feb. 28, 2018, that Ms. Southern had reported being strangled and assaulted by a 30-year-old man in Romania on Feb. 22. The hospital said this week that it was unable to authenticate the report because of patient privacy. The man was not named in the report, but was described by Ms. Southern at the time as a person she had met who she believed was a 'potential investor.' Two people who were on the trip with Ms. Southern confirmed in interviews that she had told them the morning after she was with Mr. Tate in his hotel room that she had been assaulted. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zakeke CEO Angelo Coletta Wins 'Innovator of the Year' at 2025 Tekpon Awards
Zakeke CEO Angelo Coletta was named 'Innovator of the Year' at the 2025 Tekpon Awards in Bucharest. The award recognizes his leadership in AI-driven visual commerce and highlights Zakeke's growing influence in SaaS, 3D customization, and immersive shopping experiences across global markets. Photo Courtesy of Zakeke BUCHAREST, Romania, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Angelo Coletta, CEO of the visual commerce platform Zakeke, has been named 'Innovator of the Year' at the 2025 Tekpon Awards in Bucharest. The recognition, presented at one of the leading software-as-a-service events in Europe, highlights Angelo's visionary leadership and the role he's played in driving Zakeke's growth through AI-powered customization and 3D technology. Held at Libao Luxury Events, the Tekpon Awards brought together over 1,000 leaders from the SaaS and artificial intelligence industries. The jury—featuring prominent figures from companies such as HubSpot and Product-Led Sales—selected Angelo for his impact on the visual commerce space and his contributions to digital transformation across Europe and beyond. Industry Validation and Leadership Chief executive officer Angelo Coletta accepted the award, crediting the entire team for its adaptability and drive. 'This recognition is not just a personal achievement, but a testament to the passion and dedication of everyone at Zakeke. Our team's focus on experimenting, learning, and improving every day sets us apart,' Coletta said. Zakeke's technology allows brands and merchants to offer personalized, interactive product experiences in two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and augmented reality formats. Its platform supports both business-to-business and business-to-consumer models, serving industries from fashion and footwear to print and manufacturing. Recognition Fuels Growth and Investor Interest The award has contributed to greater visibility for Zakeke among international partners and industry observers, especially given the Tekpon Awards' track record of spotlighting key players in software—previous honorees include Microsoft and Semrush. 'This award is a milestone for Zakeke, but it's also a reminder that our journey is just beginning. We will continue to build solutions that empower businesses and delight customers around the world,' Coletta added. Visit Zakeke website to learn more about Zakeke's achievements and the Tekpon Awards Zakeke About Zakeke Zakeke is an advanced B2B AI Visual Commerce platform, created to empower merchants to enhance and innovate the Shopping Experience through innovative visual technologies. With Zakeke's comprehensive suite of tools, merchants can improve their product experiences by offering real-time product personalization, advanced 3D visualization, immersive AR experiences, and innovative Virtual Try-On tools. Zakeke serves a wide range of industries, including fashion, footwear, print, and manufacturing, and is recognized for its role in driving digital transformation in commerce. Contact Information: Contact Person's Name: Alessia DozzoOrganization / Company: ZakekeCompany website: Email Address: @ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
Alt-Right YouTuber Lauren Southern claims Andrew Tate strangled and raped her after being introduced by Tommy Robinson
ANDREW Tate has been accused of strangling and raping Alt-Right YouTuber Lauren Southern. The Canadian, 30, claims she first met the shamed Brit during a trip to Bucharest alongside EDL founder Tommy Robinson. 6 6 6 Ms Southern alleges the self-proclaimed misogynist, who lives in the Romanian capital with his brother Tristan, refused to stop making sexual advances towards her after a night out. The allegations stem back to 2018 and were outlined in Ms Southern's recent memoir, This is Not Real Life. Tate, 38, responded by suggesting the accusations were because Ms Southern "needs book sales". The controversial YouTuber, who has over 700,000 subscribers, claims Tate drove her to a steakhouse in his "polished sports car" and was "flirtatious" for most of the short journey. But Ms Southern says his charm soon dwindled with their conversation starting to "feel off". She went on to say that the pair didn't speak one-on-one for some time as she joined up with Robinson's team to speak about funding a media startup. After the meeting, Tate offered the team to come back to his notorious Romanian compound. Ms Southern says she returned to her hotel room a few hours afterwards before Tate messaged her asking to meet up again. Later that night, the Canadian woman went back to the compound before going to a nightclub with the Tate's team. Ms Southern claims she was assured Robinson and the rest of his media team would be arriving to the club but they never showed. Moment commando cops storm Andrew Tate's compound through ROOF after blocked by 'bulletproof door' amid 'minor sex' probe She then recalls feeling "incredibly intoxicated" by the end of the evening and even vomited at one point. Tate then allegedly drove her back to her hotel where he carried her up to her room. Ms Southern then accuses Tate of suddenly kissing her. She alleged in the memoir: "I kissed him back briefly and then told him I wanted to sleep. "I said no, very clearly, multiple times, and tried to pull his hands off me. "He put his arm around my neck and began strangling me unconscious." She claims she tried to fight back but was repeatedly attacked. "I'd prefer not to share the rest. It's pretty obvious," she concluded. 6 6 Tate is yet to formally deny the allegations but he did post on X referring to them. He said: "Chooses the chapter about me to release 'for free' to get attention so she can sell her memoirs of promiscuity. "Coincidence I'm sure." In a reply to another X user, Tate wrote: "Was 10 years ago. Needs book sales I guess." He then claimed that he has texts messages which appear to show Ms Southern "begging for money, for her 'company' and begging to see me again". Tate's attorney Joseph McBride added that his client "unequivocally repudiates" the claims. He added: "We shall pursue Southern relentlessly for defamation." The allegation is the latest in a slew of cases against Andrew as well as Tristan. Both face a number of criminal charges in both the UK and Romania. Andrew is accused of ten charges in total. This includes rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain against three women. His brother, 36, is charged with 11 offences against one alleged victim - including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking. The pair deny all of the charges. Like the Tates, Ms Southern also has a chequered past. In 2018 - the same year as the alleged rape - she was refused entry to the UK on racism grounds. She handed out flyers in Luton that read "Allah is a gay god" outside a restaurant in the town centre. 6
Telegraph
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Andrew Tate accused of sexually assaulting far-Right influencer
Andrew Tate has been accused of sexually assaulting a far-Right influencer once banned from entering the UK. Lauren Southern, a Canadian YouTuber, alleges that she was strangled by the self-proclaimed misogynist and pleaded for him to stop his sexual advances after a night out in Romania. Ms Southern, 30, said she was introduced to Tate during a trip to Bucharest with activist Tommy Robinson, where the pair were exploring funding for a media startup. In 2018, the year of the alleged incident, she was refused entry to the UK on the grounds of her involvement 'in the distribution of racist material in Luton,' after handing out flyers that read 'Allah is a gay god' outside a restaurant in the town centre. Ms Southern, who has 700,000 subscribers on YouTube, claimed it was part of a 'social experiment' video. The new claim about the alleged incident is the latest against Andrew Tate, who alongside his brother Tristan, has been charged with rape, among other offences. In her memoir, This is Not Real Life, Ms Southern recounts how Andrew, 38, drove her to a steakhouse in his 'polished sports car', where he complimented her work and came across as 'flirtatious' and 'charming.' Although she admitted to enjoying these conversations, she said things eventually started to 'feel off.' Ms Southern claims that she and Robinson's video team were later taken to the Tates' compound but the meeting to discuss a potential new-right wing media company went nowhere. Ms Southern, alongside her team, returned to their hotel, only to then be messaged by the Tates, who wished to meet with her again. When she returned to the compound, Andrew Tate demanded to take a photo with her, where he posed with a hand around her waist. The brothers then took her to a nightclub, assuring Ms Southern that cars would be sent to bring Robinson and the video team- but her travelling partners never arrived. She claims that she began to feel nauseatingly drunk after drinking a cocktail and a shot of liquor, and was carried to the bathroom where she vomited. Andrew Tate then allegedly drove her back to her hotel where he carried her to her room. Ms Southern, who was 'incredibly intoxicated,' was asked by Tate to sleep beside him on the bed, at which point he suddenly kissed her. 'I kissed him back briefly and then told him I wanted to sleep. I said no, very clearly, multiple times, and tried to pull his hands off me. He put his arm around my neck and began strangling me unconscious. I tried to fight back. He repeatedly strangled me every time I regained enough consciousness to pull at his arms,' she claims. I'd prefer not to share the rest. It's pretty obvious.' In response to the allegations, Tate wrote on X: 'Chooses the chapter about me to release 'for free' to get attention so she can sell her memoirs of promiscuity. Coincidence I'm sure. 'I'm glad you admit you're a drug addict in this post, that might explain why you forgot about all the txts you sent begging to see me again.' In a reply to another X user, Tate wrote: 'Was 10 years ago. Needs book sales I guess.' He also said he would 'release the txts of her begging for money for her 'company' and begging to see me again.' The Tate brothers are set to return to the UK to face more than 20 charges of rape and human trafficking. Andrew Tate, 38, faces 10 charges, including rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain, relating to three women. His brother Tristan Tate, 36, faces 11 charges relating to one woman – including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Right-wing influencer Lauren Southern alleges she was raped by Andrew Tate in 2018
Right-wing influencer Lauren Southern claims she was strangled and raped by Andrew Tate in Romania in 2018. Southern, 30, a Canadian podcaster and formerly prominent figure in the alt-right, has shared details of the alleged assault while she was heavily intoxicated in an explosive new memoir, This Is Not Real Life, which she describes as a look at the 'total, unfiltered chaos behind the scenes of my time in media'. In the book, parts of which Southern has published for free on her Substack blog, she recounts taking a trip to Romania in February 2018 with British far-right personality Tommy Robinson and their video producers to meet some 'wealthy crypto investors'. There they met Tate, 38, a former kickboxer and controversial men's rights influencer currently fighting rape and human trafficking charges in Romania and the UK. According to Southern, after an apparently unfruitful business meeting at Tate's Bucharest compound, she was invited back alone that evening. He took her out to a club and bought her drinks, writes Southern, who says she quickly became so intoxicated she remembers lying on a couch and vomiting in a bathroom before being carried out semiconscious by Tate. 'It was kind of my fault,' Southern writes. 'I can trace every moment I had the opportunity to turn things around, right up until the point when everything went wrong. 'The truth is, I could have said no to that strange business meeting overseas, at least until I had more information. I could have refused to go to the club until my friends were with me. I could have turned down the drinks. 'With whatever little sense I had left, I could have said no to what I foolishly thought was a harmless cuddle when I had no intention of going any further. But honestly, I'm not sure it would have mattered at that point. 'This wasn't a case of mixed signals or intoxicated blurred lines. I fought back. I was pleading. I just didn't realise there was a point of no return, a moment where my voice would no longer have any power. 'I'd rather not give a detailed account, so I'll keep it simple. 'He carried me back to the hotel room and asked me to sleep beside him. I said yes. I was incredibly intoxicated, and some part of me convinced myself that because he was Tommy's friend he wasn't particularly dangerous. 'It was a poor decision, but it happened. He kissed me. I wasn't expecting it, and I wasn't looking for it, but I kissed him back briefly and then told him I wanted to sleep. I was extraordinarily tired. 'He wanted to go further. I said no, very clearly, multiple times, and tried to pull his hands off me. He put his arm around my neck and began strangling me unconscious. I tried to fight back. He repeatedly strangled me every time I regained enough consciousness to pull at his arms. 'I'd prefer not to share the rest. It's pretty obvious.' Southern alleges that 'the last conversation we had in person consisted of Andrew telling me I'd better not tell the press about what he'd done as I packed my bags to rush out of my hotel room'. 'I told him not to worry; I was the girl against feminism, after all,' she writes. 'I couldn't be doing that. I'd spent so long fighting the idea of victimhood on ideological grounds that of course I would ignore my own on those same grounds. 'It wouldn't be very helpful to 'the cause' (or my career, for that matter) for me to become exactly what I criticised. A victim. Worse, a woman, victim of a man. One who literally did everything wrong. Why was I out drinking in this strange country with strange men? What did I expect?' According to Southern, the alleged assault 'broke me psychologically' and she 'cycled through different forms of denial'. 'It's taken me years to even begin to process it clearly, and to take full responsibility for my own behaviour,' she writes. She adds that her 'frustration grew over time' at conservative media 'turning Andrew Tate into a hero' even as 'more and more evidence came to light about this man's operations'. 'As I write this, he's still under house arrest for alleged sex trafficking and exploitation, including 'repeated sexual relations and acts' with a fifteen-year-old,' she writes. 'Frankly, you didn't need my story to see the direction it all pointed; you could just listen to what the man himself was saying.' Southern claims Tate 'eventually apologised, for 'making me think badly of him', as he put it', and that when she pressed him on his actions 'he told me to go to police'. 'I laughed and reminded him of his own words: that the police were already paid off,' she writes. She adds that she had in fact 'reluctantly' reported the matter to UK police the next day, 'only to be met with indifference'. 'They told me an investigation could only be pursued in Romania, a country where I had been explicitly warned about police corruption,' she writes. 'Attempts to involve Canadian authorities later led to similar dead ends.' Southern says she also visited a women's hospital and made a report around a week after the event. 'The report documented my account of asphyxiation, five years before Vice News would report in 2023 that Tate used the same method on other victims in the UK in 2015,' she writes. Tate has been contacted for comment. He is yet to publicly respond to the allegations. Southern, who drew violent protests during a 2018 tour of Australia with fellow right-wing Canadian podcaster Stefan Molyneux, largely stepped away from public life in 2019. In 2023 she published a lengthy YouTube video in which she revealed she had married and had a son with an unnamed Australian who 'worked in a capacity for the feds' and led a 'James Bond lifestyle'. 'I've been afraid to talk about it for various reasons, not least of all people wondering if I'm a full blown schizo,' she wrote in a lengthy X post accompanying the video. Southern went on to detail how her 'life fell apart' when her husband filed for divorce and abandoned their son, as she moved back to live with her parents and later in a trailer park. She claimed her ex had grown frustrated after his security clearance was downgraded due to his association with her, limiting his access to certain jobs and promotions. 'If I'm being honest I nearly lost my mind,' she said. 'I think almost anyone would. I was beyond heartbroken.'
