Andrew Tate, a self-professed ‘misogynist’ influencer, recently used a homophobic term to ridicule the haka, a traditional war dance that was employed as a form of protest against a contentious legislation in the New Zealand parliament.
Tate, who is currently under house arrest in Romania facing human trafficking charges, shared his thoughts on the protest last Friday.
‘The Haka is gay,’ Tate, 37, wrote.
‘Sorry New Zealand. All that screaming and dancing just to get owned by gunpowder.
Tate then attempted an approximation of what the haka sounded like to him.
‘WAKKKAAATAAA RAKKKAATTAAA REEEEYAAA REEEYAAA *Boom* Dead.’
After Tate’s derogatory remarks, numerous individuals voiced their dismay over his disrespect towards the haka and endeavored to enlighten him on the cultural and historical importance of the dance.
‘Mocking the haka, a sacred Māori tradition, shows a lack of respect for its deep cultural meaning,’ one person wrote.
‘It’s not about ‘screaming and dancing’—it’s a symbol of unity, pride, and strength. Let’s engage with cultures respectfully.’
‘That’s a pretty disrespectful take on a powerful cultural tradition,’ a second added
‘The haka is about strength, unity, and respect, not something to mock.
‘A Māori bloke would absolutely fold you like a lawn chair,’ a third said.
The haka demonstration was organized to object to a disputed bill that aims to reinterpret a longstanding treaty, spanning 184 years, between the British government and the Indigenous Māori community.
First signed in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Māori chiefs, the Treaty of Waitangi lays down how the two parties agreed to govern.
The interpretation of clauses in the document still guides legislation and policy today.
However, the ACT party, a junior partner in the ruling centre-right coalition government, claims it grants Māori greater legal and political rights and its bill will bring an end to what they describe as ‘division by race’.
As parliamentarians gathered for a preliminary vote on the bill on Thursday, Te Pati Māori MPs stood and began the haka.
Parliament was briefly suspended as people in the gallery joined in, and shouting drowned out others in the chamber.
The Treaty Principles Bill has now passed its first reading with the support of the National, NZ First and ACT parties.
It will return to Parliament next year to be voted on again.
Up to 8,000 demonstrators are currently marching across New Zealand’s North Island in opposition to the bill.
A haka is a ceremonial war dance performed in Māori culture involving chanting and vigorous body movements.
There are multiple different kinds of hakas that can be performed for different occasions.
For example, the New Zealand rugby team – the All Blacks – perform a haka before each test match.
Tate, who has 10million followers on social media, is awaiting trial on human trafficking charges along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women.
The disgraced brothers who are dual US-UK nationals, are also wanted in the UK, where they are facing allegations of sexual assault.
The pair have denied the allegations made against them in both the UK and Romania.
Tate has previously described himself as a misogynist.
