Lauren Southern, a Canadian YouTuber and former right-wing commentator, has triggered intense debate with her new self-published memoir, This Is Not Real Life. In several chapters shared on her Substack on July 15, 2025, Southern claims that social media personality Andrew Tate sexually assaulted her during a 2018 visit to Romania.
The revelations have set off strong reactions. Tate and his supporters deny the story, while some have questioned Southern’s reasons for coming forward and the accuracy of her account.
Accusations Against Andrew Tate
Lauren Southern, now 30, describes an encounter in February 2018 when she was 22. She says she travelled to Bucharest with British activist Tommy Robinson to pitch a media idea to Tate and his brother, Tristan, who were said to be successful in cryptocurrency. According to Southern, after a night out at a club, she quickly became much more intoxicated than expected from just a cocktail and a shot, vomited, and was brought back to her hotel by Tate.
In the memoir, Southern writes that Tate asked her to lie beside him. She agreed, thinking he was safe since he was a friend of Tommy Robinson. She says Tate kissed her without warning, and while she briefly went along, she soon told him she wanted to stop and go to sleep.
She describes that Tate pressed for more, and she told him “no” several times, trying to move his hands away. Lauren Southern says Tate then “put his arm around my neck and began strangling me unconscious,” repeating this each time she woke up. She says, “I’d prefer not to share the rest. It’s pretty obvious.”
Lauren Southern suspects her state might have been caused by more than just alcohol, but stops short of directly saying she was drugged. She visited a women’s hospital in Romania a week later, but says she found little help. Her attempts to file police reports in Romania, the UK, and Canada faced problems due to jurisdiction, leaving her frustrated.
Tate’s Response and Pushback from the Right
Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer with a large online following, denied the accusations. On X, Tate dismissed the allegations as an attempt to sell Southern’s book, writing, “Chooses the chapter about me to release ‘for free’ to get attention so she can sell her memoirs of promiscuity. Coincidence I’m sure.”
He also claimed to have text messages from Southern asking to see him again and asking for investment in her media project, though he hasn’t shown these messages publicly. Tate’s lawyer, Joseph McBride, described Southern’s account as “pathetic filth” and said Tate “unequivocally repudiates” the charges.
Others in conservative media have joined Tate in doubting Southern’s story. Tommy Robinson, who Southern claims was “heavily impaired by cocaine” during their trip, said he was in a nearby hotel room and insisted the assault “couldn’t have happened.” Critics have noted that Southern did not provide proof of Robinson’s drug use, and some say this damages her credibility.
Sorry it’s bollox https://t.co/gMygPxdXXS pic.twitter.com/Y1tub0h8sp
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) July 16, 2025
YouTuber Tim Pool said in a recent video that Southern might be using the allegations to drive memoir sales. “My sources and many others online say DOUBT,” Pool said, pointing out that releasing the Tate chapters for free on Substack looked like a way to get attention.
Lauren Southern’s Break from Conservative Media
Southern’s accusations come as she steps back from public commentary. In 2019, she announced she was leaving far-right activism, saying she was burned out and disillusioned. In her memoir, she says the alleged incident with Tate played a major role in her decision to leave, along with what she saw as government pressure.
The book also references her 2018 ban from entering the UK, which happened after she handed out flyers labelled as “racist” during a video project, something she says was part of a broader effort to silence her views on immigration and feminism.
Southern says her outspoken anti-feminist stance made her hesitate to talk about the alleged assault, worried that it would damage the image she had built. “I’d spent so long fighting the idea of victimhood on ideological grounds that of course I would ignore my own,” she writes. She notes that the mental toll of the incident, along with marriage, divorce, and motherhood, pushed her to move away from right-wing commentary.
Reactions Split Along Ideological Lines
Southern’s book has divided audiences. Some say she is brave for sharing her experience, pointing out that Tate already faces serious criminal charges in Romania and the UK, including rape, human trafficking, and forming a crime group. Others in conservative circles have accused her of betraying their movement or inventing the story.
Her claim that she may have been drugged and her comments about Robinson’s drug use have raised doubts because she hasn’t offered clear evidence. Critics point to her history with far-right figures and her reputation for provocative statements as reasons to question her motives. Supporters, however, say her story is similar to other allegations against Tate, including a 2015 arrest for suspected rape in the UK and a 2024 civil lawsuit by four women.
Tate’s Ongoing Legal Problems
Andrew Tate, 38, and his brother Tristan, 36, are on house arrest in Romania, where they face charges of rape, human trafficking, and organizing a crime group. They deny all the charges. In the UK, they face over 20 charges, including rape and trafficking, once the Romanian investigation wraps up.
Tate’s image online, which promotes a harsh, misogynistic version of masculinity, has made him a controversial and polarizing figure, drawing criticism from organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and Rape Crisis England and Wales.
Lauren Southern’s story adds a personal angle to Tate’s ongoing legal battles. In her memoir, she criticizes what she sees as hypocrisy within the far-right, saying women are expected to behave perfectly while men are excused for their actions. She writes, “You get endless monologues from self-styled ‘truth-tellers’ insisting that men are supposed to sleep around while women must remain chaste,” and says she hopes Tate will change his views someday.
What Comes Next
As debate continues, the lack of solid evidence for Lauren Southern’s claims about Tate and Robinson remains a central issue. Southern says she released the allegations for free on Substack to avoid making money from her story, but critics like Pool and Tate say it’s a move to boost book sales. Tate’s legal team, beyond their initial denial, has mostly stayed quiet, and Robinson’s denial has not settled the dispute.
For Lauren Southern, the memoir marks a turning point and a step toward change. Whether her claims will be accepted or dismissed as a ploy for attention remains up in the air, but the controversy has put new focus on both Tate’s influence and far-right online culture.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit RAINN.org for support.
