Tristan and Andrew Tate offer $250k to buy Punch macaque after viral bullying videos
The controversial influencers, Andrew, 38, and Tristan, 36, flew to Florida by private jet from Romania on Thursday. PHOTO: FILE
Tristan Tate has drawn attention online after offering $250,000 to purchase Punch, a young macaque who recently went viral, following new clips showing the animal struggling to socialize at a zoo in Japan.
Which Zoo owns this monkey.@Cobratate and I will buy it.
250,000 dollars.
I am NOT joking. https://t.co/44UXASPwsOTate made the public offer on social media in response to footage of Punch—an infant Japanese macaque—appearing to be rejected or bullied by other monkeys at Ichikawa City Zoo. In his post, he wrote that he and his brother were willing to buy the animal, stating, “$250,000 dollars. I am NOT joking.”
Punch, approximately seven months old, had already gained global attention after videos showed him clinging to a plush toy for comfort, having been abandoned by his mother shortly after birth. Zoo caretakers have been raising him and gradually introducing him to other monkeys.
The renewed viral attention comes as new footage circulates online showing Punch attempting to interact with other macaques, but struggling to integrate socially.
The report also highlights details about Tristan Tate’s financial background. Citing Celebrity Net Worth, SoapCentral states that the former kickboxer and media personality has an estimated net worth of $20 million. His income has been attributed to his sports career, television appearances, and online ventures.
Tate previously appeared on the reality show Shipwrecked: The Island and later worked as a fight analyst for sports broadcasters. He has also been involved in digital businesses alongside his brother, Andrew Tate.
However, the brothers have faced legal scrutiny in the past. In 2022, they were arrested in Romania alongside two women over allegations related to human trafficking and organized crime. Reports cited in the article state that assets, including properties, vehicles, and funds, were seized as part of the investigation.
Tate’s recent offer regarding Punch has sparked mixed reactions online, with some users questioning the ethics of removing the animal from a controlled care environment, while others expressed concern over the monkey’s well-being based on the circulating videos.