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Clips of controversial influencer Andrew Tate losing a boxing match to Chase DeMoor went viral on social media, as commentators pointed out the contrast between Tate's "alpha male" persona and reality.
What Happened With Andrew Tate And Chase DeMoor?
On Saturday in Dubai, Misfits Boxing (an influencer boxing brand) hosted a fight between kickboxer-turned-influencer Andrew Tate and Misfits Heavyweight champion Chase DeMoor, a former influencer known for his appearance on the reality TV show Too Hot to Handle.
The bout marked Tate's boxing debut, five years after he retired from kickboxing -- after six rounds in the ring with DeMoor, Tate showed signs of exhaustion, with DeMoor earning a decision victory.
Footage from the fight, which was live-streamed on Rumble Premium, immediately leaked through to the rest of the internet, Tate's loss attracting attention from social media users who reckoned that the "tough guy" image of the self-proclaimed misogynist had taken a beating.
A clip of Tate taking a punch was seen on X (Twitter) more than 650 thousand times, and attracted more than a million views on TikTok.
As soon as word of Tate's loss spread, online commentators immediately set to work posting memes and cracking jokes.
Many poked fun at Tate's self-imposed nickname, "Top G."
Why Were So Many Social Media Users Happy To See Andrew Tate Lose?
Tate has long courted controversy, using online backlash as a launching pad to promote his videos and podcasts, along with crypto coins and online courses (Hustler's University and The Real World).
Tate has described himself as "absolutely a misogynist," stating: "There's no way you can be rooted in reality and not be sexist."
Tate has been accused of raping and strangling multiple women, and has faced criminal charges of human trafficking -- he denies the claims, and the cases remain ongoing.
The influence of Tate and other manosphere figures in recent years has been attributed to a spike in "misogyny-related" incidents in UK schools, inspiring a government initiative to combat "toxic ideas."
Outside of X, Tate has been banned from several major social media platforms, but his content continues to spread, sparking concerns about his influence on young men.
"Tate's images, video clips and messages remain easily accessible and almost omnipresent in the feeds of teenage boys and young men," Canadian researchers wrote in a study published in the journal Gender and Education.
In the wake of the loss, Tate remained defiant on X (Twitter), writing: "Most men have never felt the sting of defeat because most men have never even tried."
In the comments, however, the memes continued to flow.
Despite the outcome, Tate fans posted in defense of the controversial influencer.
Others pointed out that DeMoor might be more experienced than Tate, but isn't considered a particularly skilled boxer.
Tate has built an online reputation as an unstoppable force, a man who drives fast cars, smokes thick cigars, and can't stop winning, mocking those who he perceives as weak.
Commentators pointed out the contrast between Tate's hyper-masculine persona and his performance in the ring -- one X user described the loss as Tate's "total aura collapse."
How Much Money Did Andrew Tate Make From The Fight?
After Tate's loss, an online rumor spread, alleging that Tate had bet against himself and walked away with $88 million, but the X screenshot appeared to be doctored.
Tate revealed the truth during a December 22 livestream on his Rumble account, clarifying that he had been paid $20 million to fight DeMoor.