Ulrika Johsson has warned parents about the perils of internet characters such as Andrew Tate, confessing that she disregarded him despite having a ‘impressionable’ teenage son.
Many people had probably never heard of the self-described “success coach” who was arrested in Romania last week as part of a human trafficking and rape probe.
Tate, a former professional kickboxer who denies any misconduct, has created a career out of becoming a controversial social media personality.
He was banned from Twitter for claiming women should “carry responsibility” for sexual assault, and he was also barred from YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Ulrika, 55, admitted she hadn’t taken Tate seriously enough when she appeared on Lorraine on Friday to address who he is and why parents should be concerned if their sons are seeing his content.
‘I was aware of him, he has been sort of on the periphery, a lot of the people I follow are feminists on my social media platforms, so there would be conversations coming up about him, but I completely dismissed him,’ she said.
‘It’s madness what he’s saying and it’s crazy stuff but because I know not right and true I completely ignored it and then forgot I had a 14 year old impressionable son.’

Lorraine noted that parents needed to ‘be on their guard’ because Tate primarily spoke to young guys.
Ulrika claimed that he was able to build such a large following by making young guys feel like they were part of a group.
‘I think we spend a lot of time looking after our daughters and protecting them telling them how to look after themselves but somehow we have side-lined our young men and almost forgotten them,’ she said.
‘We’ve presumed they will be ok.’

The mum-of-four added: ‘Young men and young women are being flooded by all sorts of videos and commentaries and “truths” via TikTok, Instagram and whatever else.’
‘I am amazed by some of the “facts” my son tells me on an almost daily basis.’
Ulrika also said she believed Tate offered young boys ‘a sense of belonging’.
‘What Andrew Tate spouts gives them a gang feeling or like they are part of a new movement,’ she said.
‘That worries me. They sense they are part of something new, but it isn’t anything new at all.’
Ulrika has four children—Cameron, 28, Bo, 22, Martha, 18, and Malcolm, 14.
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV.