Rumours that controversial influencer and current Romanian detainee Andrew Tate had been diagnosed with lung cancer, seemingly confirmed by one in his inner circle, have been disputed by the man himself.
On Saturday, a person who goes by The Sartorial Shooter said on Instagram: "A lot of people are asking me if Tate lung cancer story is true. Yes it's true, I was the one driving with him to and from the hospital in Dubai."
But Tate, despite being detained in a Romanian jail, has remained active on social media, and on Sunday tweeted:
"I do not have cancer ... There is nothing but a scar on my lung from an old battle."
He went on to claim that he has an eight-litre lung capacity, the "vital signs of an Olympic athlete" and that he would live for the next 5,000 years.
Tate accused of pursuing right-wing politicians
Tate and his brother Tristan have been detained in Romania, where the pair had been residing, since December 2022 on suspicion of human trafficking, rape and forming an organised crime group, according to local authorities.
Despite appealing for their freedom, a Romanian court upheld a February 21 decision to detain the Tates for a further 30 days on February 28.
The brothers have denied all charges.
While in police custody, Andrew Tate has been directing associates to recruit two right-wing lawmakers to his cause, according to wire-taps of his phone calls submitted to a court by Romanian prosecutors.
The internet celebrity instructed two associates to tell the Romanian politicians, George Simion and Diana Iovanovici-Sosoaca, that he was being framed and supporting him would be "very good for their careers", according to one of the exchanges.
"So, make it clear to them: You will get a lot of votes when Tate says you took their side," Tate said in the January 28 call to two of his associates, authorities said.
Both politicians have denied being contacted by Tate or his associates.
Mr Simion, a politician in Romania's lower house, told Reuters he had never been contacted by Tate or his associates, and wouldn't publicly support Tate if approached.
Asked if he thought Tate had been framed, he replied: "The justice system will decide, not politicians."
A spokesperson for Ms Iovanovici-Sosoaca, a senator, said the wire-tapped conversations were "lies" designed to attack her.
Despite not being formally charged, Tate his brother will remain in custody until at least March 29.
Reuters/ABC
