Controversial social media personality Andrew Tate reacted to the riots across the United Kingdom. In a strongly worded video statement on Sunday, he condemned the violence, saying ‘everyone is falling into the Matrix’s trap’. The 37-year-old further criticized the pressure from various groups urging him to support their respective sides, including Muslims and British Patriots.

A mass stabbing in Southport, Merseyside last month triggered anti-immigrant protests across the country. Police officers have been clashing with rioters in several cities.

Tate said that he believes that only those who enter the country legally should be welcomed. “”It’s amazing to see everybody falling into the Matrix’s trap. I have Muslims messaging me about how I need to take their side. I have the British messaging me about the fact that I was raised in the UK and I should take the British Patriots’ side. I’ve made it clear that I think people should only enter the country legally,” the former kickboxer said.

The internet personality further argued that the real conflict lies not between different ethnic or cultural groups but between the rich and the poor.He warned that the media’s portrayal of violent elements from both sides would only spike tensions. According to Tate, this narrative serves the interests of the “elites in Westminster,” who, he claims, are using the chaos to justify increasing restrictions on civil liberties, such as the right to protest and freedom of speech.

“And the elites are sitting there in their ivory castle laughing because you have the poor browns fighting the poor whites, and they know by the end of it they’ll have all the excuses they need to just take away more freedoms from everybody. The poor browns and the poor whites, that’s how it’s gonna end. You can’t preach the idea of a multicultural society, then ignore the views and concerns of one particular culture within that multicultural society, especially if you’re pandering to those of another culture. And especially if the culture being ignored is the native culture. You can’t do that without expecting violence,” he said.