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Andrew Tate’s Hustlers University Offered Prizes for Followers to ‘Cancel’ KSI
Photos: MIHAI BARBU/AFP via Getty Images and Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
LONDON – A close associate of Andrew Tate put a “bounty” on the head of influencer KSI, offering a prize to the Tate follower who made the most popular video about how the streamer and boxer “needs to be condemned and cancelled,” according to chat logs and other evidence obtained by VICE World News.
Experts have pointed to manipulation of tech platform’s algorithms as a central feature of Tate’s rise to fame over the past several years. Another aspect of the Tate empire’s online presence, though, is the way his followers swarm his perceived enemies – something that appears to have been in at least some cases centrally directed by Tate’s inner circle.
The mechanism, in this case, was Tate’s Hustlers University, “an online money-focused community providing education and coaching to over 100,000 students worldwide,” according to its website. In practice, the programme, aimed at boys and young men (“shock your friends and family by becoming the kid who’s leveling up in real life,” reads the website), resembled multi-level marketing, with members who paid $49 per month to receive instruction on how to “make money online” learning how to participate in an affiliate-link scheme that involved sharing viral clips of Tate.
A source who was once a member of Hustlers University says students were also offered “cancellation bounties,” which were placed on the heads of Tate’s perceived enemies. In a message this source shared with VICE World News, a moderator using the screen name “Luc” appears to be instructing members to make videos condemning KSI – a British YouTuber, boxer, rapper and entrepreneur with 24 million followers – and offering a reward for the most successful one.
This message was sent on the 23rd of August 2022, two days after KSI tweeted “thank God Andrew Tate was banned” when Tate was banned from social media platforms including Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok. Two days later, “Luc” posted the “cancellation bounty” to a Hustlers University Discord server.
VICE World News visited Tate’s compound in Romania in August 2022, and while there filmed both Andrew and his cousin, Luke, seemingly replying to messages on Hustlers University Discord servers.
Andrew Tate and Luke work at computers in Tate’s Romanian compound in August 2022.
Luke, aware that VICE World News was filming, moved between various Telegram groups and Discord servers, advising students on what Tate content to post and seemingly trying to quell fears that Youtube would ban their accounts. On Discord, he did so using the handle “Luc.”
Luke did not respond to repeated requests for comment at the phone number he provided us with when VICE World News filmed with him in August 2022. Emails sent to his listed email address bounced back.
Luke works at a computer in Tate’s Romanian compound in August 2022.
The bounty was just one prong of Tate’s campaign. In a video posted on the 27th of August to Rumble, a platform backed by tech oligarch Peter Thiel and US senator JD Vance that promotes itself as “immune to cancel culture,” Tate publicly ranted against KSI himself. Tate begins by showing a number of clips from old KSI videos in which, among other things, he makes what he called a “rape face.” “This is a personal message to you, KSI,” Tate goes on to say. “I had no problem with you, I don’t fucking know you, I don’t watch your bullshit YouTube channel but when I get banned, you want to go from a fan to just instantly cowering out to the matrix? That makes you a hypocrite,” he said. “There’s nothing more disgusting than a male hypocrite. At least Jake Paul was man enough to say, “Stand up for free speech.” If you ever fought Jake, he would smash your fucking face in. And if you want to get smoked twice, I’ll fucking smoke you myself!”
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KSI had previously beaten Jake Paul’s brother Logan in a boxing match; Tate himself is a former champion kickboxer.
“You’re full of shit, you’re a fucking hypocrite,” Tate continued. “The shit you’ve said in the past is worse than anything I’ve ever fucking said and you know it. I will take you 12 rounds and I will break every bone in your fucking face. Fucking dork. Fuck KSI.”
Hustlers University ostensibly taught members how to create wealth on the internet. Paying for the course would get you access to Discord servers chaired by Tate’s “professors,” who taught classes on crypto trading, copywriting, dropshipping, forex trading, and various other ways to make money online.
One of the supposed methods of “wealth creation” taught to students was an affiliate marketing programme for the course itself. An affiliate marketing program involves people sharing links to products or courses; if someone signs up through a link posted by a given person, they get a cut of the fee paid for the course.
There’s nothing nefarious about affiliate marketing in general. What was perhaps unique about Tate’s affiliate program, aside from the way it turned boys and young men seeking to learn how to get rich into foot soldiers in his digital army, is that the links being shared were for the same Hustlers University course, meaning that new sign-ups were taught how to create their own affiliate links for the course, and so on. It is this that has led some to liken the programme to a multi-level marketing scheme
To promote their affiliate links for the course, Hustlers University members were instructed to share clips of Tate, with their affiliate links posted in the video and page descriptions. This explains, in part, how Tate became so famous so quickly – he had financially incentivised tens of thousands of people to share clips of him on social media. In particular, it has been argued that the more controversial the clip, the more likely it is to go viral; all of this does a lot to explain why videos of Tate making his most controversial claims are shared so widely across the internet.
This has been described as a “blatant attempt to manipulate the algorithm.” It’s also what’s allowed Tate to tactically avoid social media bans, as the videos aren’t being posted from Tate’s account, but thousands of others, apparently coordinated via Telegram groups and Discord servers.
The KSI case isn’t the only instance of seemingly coordinated attempts to spread content and messaging about Tate and his apparent detractors. The Center for Countering Digital Hate announced on Wednesday the 14th of January that it had found 4,621 fake Twitter accounts that had been created to promote Tate. The bot accounts tweeted 15,202 times in support of the former kickboxer, mass tweeting using hashtags “#freetopG,” “#freetate,” “#freeandrewtate,” or “#freetates”. The accounts were deemed as fake if they had less than 10 followers, and were less than 3 months old.
“If Elon Musk is serious about dealing with fake accounts, bots, and inauthentic behaviour then Twitter must act on Andrew Tate’s network of fake accounts manipulating Twitter’s algorithm,” Imran Ahmed, the CEO of CCDH, said in a press release.
Musk previously claimed that one of his biggest priorities after acquiring Twitter was to “defeat the spam bots or die trying.”
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Cut Costs, Not Features with This Microsoft Bundle Deal
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3 Trends That Will Change the Future of Entrepreneurship
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
The most recent data from the new Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report reveals a powerful trend for the future of entrepreneurship.
Young adults, aged 18-24, had both the highest entrepreneurial activity and entrepreneurial intentions in the United States, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2023-2024 United States Report. With similar results in 2022, this is not just a minor shift — it’s a fundamental change that could have lasting impacts on the economy and society.
I serve as the chair of the board for the Global Entrepreneurship Research Association, the entity that oversees GEM, which was founded in 1999 as a joint venture of Babson College and the London Business School. As the GEM U.S. team co-leader and a professor of entrepreneurship at Babson, I see firsthand the impact of the research created by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor.
Here are three entrepreneurship trends from the new GEM report that are changing the landscape for the future.
Related: 21 Success Tips for Young and Aspiring Entrepreneurs
1. Young entrepreneurs on the rise
For years, entrepreneurship has been dominated by older, more experienced individuals, but this year’s report shows that the youngest adults are now at the forefront. According to GEM, 24% of 18- to 24-year-olds are engaged in some form of entrepreneurial activity, a higher rate than any other age group. What’s driving these young entrepreneurs is equally remarkable: They aren’t just starting businesses to make money; many are deeply committed to making a positive impact on society and the environment.
These young entrepreneurs make sustainability a key priority. They are more likely than entrepreneurs from older generations to build businesses with sustainability as a core focus — whether that means reducing their environmental footprint or focusing on social causes. This shift toward impact-driven entrepreneurship isn’t just anecdotal. GEM data shows a significant number of young entrepreneurs taking real, measurable steps to create businesses that align with their values. With sustainability as their north star, young entrepreneurs appear to be simultaneously pursuing societal impact as well as profits.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. While young people are leading the way in starting businesses, they are also discontinuing them at higher rates than their older counterparts. The discontinuation rate for 18- to 24-year-olds is 15%, the highest among all age groups. This is not surprising, given the challenges of inexperience and more limited access to capital. Starting a business is tough, and sustaining one is even more challenging. But despite these hurdles, the enthusiasm and energy that young people bring to entrepreneurship are undeniable, and with the right support, this generation has the potential to drive substantial change.
2. Tech gender gap narrows
One of the most promising findings in the GEM report is the narrowing gender gap in the technology sector. Historically, tech startups have been dominated by men, but 2023 saw a record-low difference in the number of men and women starting tech companies. The gap has narrowed to just 1%, with 8% of women compared with 9% of men launching businesses in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
This is a significant step forward and reflects broader efforts to support more women technology startups. Still, it’s important to recognize that while progress is being made, continued focus on providing equal opportunities is essential to ensuring this trend continues.
3. Optimistic outlook for Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs
Another highlight from the report is the optimistic outlook among Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. These groups showed stronger confidence in their entrepreneurial abilities and lower fear of failure compared to their white counterparts. Black respondents, in particular, demonstrated high levels of resilience and self-assurance, which is vital in overcoming barriers faced in starting and sustaining businesses. This optimism is encouraging, but there’s still much work to be done in assuring ecosystems offer equal opportunities for all aspiring entrepreneurs, regardless of their background.
Related: I Wish I Received This Advice as a Young Entrepreneur
A promising future
Reflecting on the key findings of this year’s GEM report, it’s clear that the entrepreneurial landscape is changing in meaningful ways. The rise of young, sustainability-driven entrepreneurs signals a future where business is not only about profit but also about making a difference. These young entrepreneurs are launching businesses at a time when the world is looking for solutions to some of its most pressing challenges — climate change, poverty and economic recovery.
Yet, to fully realize the potential of this next generation, there must be more focus on addressing the challenges they encounter. Young entrepreneurs need access to the right resources — whether it’s funding, education or mentorship — to turn their innovative ideas into sustainable businesses. The narrowing gender gap in tech is encouraging, but we must continue to foster environments that support women and other underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship.
The GEM report paints a picture of an entrepreneurial future driven by purpose, diversity and innovation. But it also reminds us of the work that lies ahead in making entrepreneurship more accessible and sustainable. If we can provide young entrepreneurs with the tools and support they need, we will not only see more businesses being created — we’ll see businesses that are making a lasting, positive impact on the world.
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These Are the Top Side Hustles to Work Less, Make More Money
In the best-case scenario, a side hustle could turn into a multimillion-dollar business that generates a passive income stream — but at the very least, starting a side gig could help pay some bills.
A new survey from personal finance software company Quicken shows that almost half (43%) of Americans with a side hustle, or an extra source of income added to a primary income, make more money and clock in fewer hours overall than those without a side hustle.
The three most popular side hustles pursued by those who work less and make more money were personal assistance (20%), cooking and baking (16%), and caregiving (16%). One in five people with side hustles said they were business owners, too, selling products online or offering services like photography.
The majority of people with side hustles (82%) said starting a side gig helped them financially, and kept them from living paycheck to paycheck. Most with side hustles (57%) had savings equal to at least four months of living expenses.
The survey also found that, for younger side hustlers, a way to an extra income doubles as a path to becoming more employable. 44% of Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) choose to start a side hustle in order to obtain skills for long-term careers, much higher than the overall 18% of Americans who started a side hustle with the same motivation.
Quicken conducted the survey online, gathering responses from more than 1,000 Americans.
Additional research on side hustles, released in August by NEXT Insurance, showed that three out of five people bring in less than $1,000 monthly in side income, while 22% make $1,000 to $10,000 a month, and 15% make more than $10,000.
Related: Starting a Side Hustle Should Come With a Warning Label — Here’s What You Need to Know
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