Former X Factor contestant Janet Devlin has suggested she had a lucky escape after she matched with disgraced social media personality Andrew Tate on a dating app.
Singer-songwriter Janet, 28, who found fame on The X Factor in 2011, shared her account of her past encounter with the controversial figure, following his arrest on suspicion of rape, sex trafficking and organised crime offences.
Andrew Tate, 36, has been accused of violently abusing two women while running a webcam business in the UK, and is currently being held along with his brother, Tristan Tate, in preventive custody in Romania as a police investigation takes place.
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Janet recalled matching with him on a dating app years before his arrest, and said she got an "icky" vibe from Tate - who was arrested last year in Romania - after speaking on the phone.
Janet revealed the shocking story on the Sly Guy podcast, saying: "I matched with [Andrew Tate] on a dating app.
"I can't remember if it was Raya or Tinder, but I used to be a dating app fiend."
After matching with Tate, Janet spoke to him on the phone and even organised a date with him, before ultimately deciding to bail on him.
She added: "I was not really fully sold on him, whenever he came out later on and I Googled him. That photo showed up and I was like, 'It's the same guy.’
"He had my number, I think we exchanged numbers, and he called me and I stayed on this phone call.
"I can't remember anything that was said I just remember being like, ugh, icky vibe. I just got the ick.
"Do you know what, I have a s**t gut, but I could have been locked up in Romania doing webcam."
On December 29 last, Tate and his brother were arrested following a raid on his villa in Romania.
The arrest came shortly after the shamed internet personality had an unexpected Twitter row with activist Greta Thunberg, in which he sent a video of himself which featured a pizza box. However, claims the video helped police locate Tate were later debunked.
Last month, a Romanian court extended the brothers' pre-trial detention until 27 February.
On 1 February, Andrew's appeal against the extension was rejected.
While arriving for questioning on 25 January at Romania's organised crime unit, Andrew insisted "they know we have done nothing wrong", claiming the case against them was "empty". No charges have been formally filed.
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