Controversial online personality Andrew Tate has made a comeback on social media site Twitter, posting in support of the site's new owner Elon Musk, but his return has raised some eyebrows online.
In what appeared to be a mocking video posted to the platform on Monday, former kickboxer Tate uploaded a compilation of climate activist Greta Thunberg's famous speech to the United Nations with the caption, "Go to school."
The video features fast cars, private planes and cigar smoking combined with Ms Thunberg's UN Climate Action summit speech from 2019.
When Ms Thunberg delivers her passionate plea for action, the video shows Tate laughing in response to her comments about dreams being stolen.
The Swedish campaigner rose to prominence in 2018 when she staged school strikes and became the face of the youth climate action movement.
And 35-year-old Tate has become a prominent figure online, but he was banned from Twitter in 2017 for violating its terms of service after tweeting that rape victims "bear some responsibility."
In August this year, he was banned from YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok after violating the platforms' hate speech policies.
Now he has returned to Twitter, with messages about being the “last super hero of masculinity,” proclaiming he will save everyone.
Allan Ball, national director of White Ribbon Australia, which works to prevent men's violence against women and children, told The Feed it's astonishing that Twitter has reversed the ban.
"I am worried about what message this is sending particularly to Australian men and young men," he said about concerns for the consequences of making similar comments.
Tate has shared recent travel posts that he is on his way to Twitter’s headquarters to tell new owner Elon Musk, that “he’s a legend.”
While some fans of his are welcoming his return to Twitter, others are questioning his comeback to the platform.
Tate has a history of controversial posts online and has faced criticism over his content.
"What we do know in White Ribbon Australia is that young men are particularly interested in what he is saying," Mr Ball told The Feed.
Verity Trott, a lecturer in Digital Media Research at Melbourne's Monash University, told The Feed there is an increasing number of men becoming susceptible to what she described as misogynistic beliefs online.
“He’s trying to sell and convince users to play a confidence game,” she said when commenting on Tate’s approach.
“What is concerning though is the large following and reception Tate has received,” she said.
Ms Trott said it can be easy for men to express frustration in what she describes as hate towards women and racial minorities "instead of recognising the complexity of challenges we are collectively facing in society and within a politically tumultuous time."
“Tate’s online content and business strategy is certainly not new,” she said.
“We’ve seen similar logics modelled... for over a decade,” Ms Trott said.
On his official website, Tate writes that he is sharing cold hard truths and terms it 'Tate speech', rather than hate speech.
Mr Ball has encouraged Tate to reflect on his social media ban and use his platform to promote kindness.
He commented that he had been banned "on every single app known to man."
Tate invites the audience to connect to “ambitious men” to learn from them in order to enhance their networks and net worth.
Tate proclaims he is a self-made millionaire with the secrets to “modern wealth creation”.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
