Tristan Tate is claiming Vanderpump Rules alum James Kennedy “begged” him and brother Andrew Tate for a photo over the weekend.
Tristan, 36, who returned to the United States from Romania along with his brother Andrew, 38, in February, was at the LIV nightclub in Las Vegas when Kennedy approached. The Tate brothers, who are self-described misogynists, have both been accused of human trafficking, among other crimes.
“Begged and kissed my ass for 30 minutes straight and called me a hero,” Tristan wrote via X on Sunday, March 9, of his interaction with Kennedy, 33. “He knew EXACTLY who I was and what content I made. He’s just a p— who can’t handle DMs from woke r—s. F— this guy.”
Kennedy, 33, apparently approached the Tate brothers at LIV and asked for a photo. He shared the photo via social media before he removed it from his profile and issued an apology instead.
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“I regret posting a photo with the Tate brothers at an event last night,” Kennedy wrote via Instagram Story on Saturday, March 8. “I was unfamiliar with their content and the allegations against them. I only knew them as podcasters [who] had posted a viral clip about Vanderpump.”
He added, “I have since educated myself and condemn their beliefs. I am sorry to all that I offended.”
Both Tate brothers have faced multiple accusations of human trafficking and sexual harassment in the United Kingdom and in Romania. They have each denied the allegations.
“We live in a democratic society where it’s innocent until proven guilty and I think my brother and I are largely misunderstood,” Andrew told reporters last month, per the BBC, after he and Tristan landed in the United States. “There’s a lot of opinions about us, a lot of things that got around about us on the internet.”
He stressed, “We’ve yet to be convicted of any crime in our lives ever.”
The brothers were arrested on charges of rape and trafficking while in Romania in December 2022. Both men have denied the allegations.
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Kennedy, for his part, was accused of domestic violence in December 2024. He was arrested at the time after a reported altercation with ex-girlfriend Ally Lewber. Kennedy denied the claims and was not officially charged.
“I am taking time to focus on my sobriety, personal growth and being present for my loved ones,” Kennedy wrote via Instagram after his arrest. “Navigating challenging moments is not easy but I am determined to learn, grow and move forward with the incredible support system around me.”
Lewber also denied Kennedy was physically abusive. “That’s crazy to me that that’s the most asked question [for me]. That makes me really sad, because no, I’m good. That never happened. There was no physical altercation,” she told “Scheananigans” podcast host Scheana Shay in February 2024.
“They had to separate the two individuals in the car,” she added. “And [they] further suggested that James was involved, and now there’s rumors flying around that Teddi might have hinted at an altercation between you and James.”
