'Legal rape' blogger living in fear in mother's basement

Daryush Valizadeh has cancelled "tribal meetings" for his followers in 45 countries because of "death threats". Photo / Instagram

The man at the centre of a worldwide storm after advocating legalising rape on private property lives in the basement of his mother's house.

Daryush "Roosh" Valizadeh, 36, the self-proclaimed "King of Masculinity", has called the police after receiving death threats from around the world and cancelled a series of "tribal meetings" in 45 countries set for this weekend.

Valizadeh, who has been the subject of protests in the US and New Zealand, Australia and the UK, is on record as advocating women be banned from voting, describing a woman's value as dependent on her "fertility and beauty", and stating that women with eating disorders make the best girlfriends.

In a highly-criticised blog he said that if a woman was raped on private property, it should be legal. Today he told police that it was meant to be a satirical article and that he had written it in early 2015 and had since put a disclaimer on the piece saying it was satire.

But asked when he had added the disclaimer he admitted it had been placed only "yesterday".

Valizadeh, who has written a series of books teaching what he claims is the best way for men to use their testosterone to bed women, likes to portray himself as a global businessman.

But as the international storm grew around him today, Daily Mail Online found him in hiding at the cul-de-sac in Montgomery County, Maryland, where he ekes out his vile views on his laptop - and sells ads on his website, which cost US$150 a day.

Dressed in a stained T-shirt and shorts and living in the basement of his mother's home, he said he was concerned for his safety.

He said he had received death threats from around the world. He played officers voicemails left on his phone and showed them emails.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Meetup On February 6 Is Cancelled https://t.co/IKchLtW1iE

— Return Of Kings (@ReturnOfKings) February 4, 2016

Some were from Britain, Australia and the US and warned him he would be "shot, stabbed or have his home burned down".

One said: "We will kill you if you come to our city" and others were filled with vitriol, he told officers.

After dialing 911, two officers visited him and he greeted them in his work attire. One female officer only entered his doorway and he had to bring his laptop to the stoop and front hall to show her how his views on rape had backfired.

He said he had only been aiming to gain attention but had not budgeted for the worldwide anger against him and feared for his safety.

Valizadeh, who used the alias Roosh, said he was cancelling the worldwide city weekend meetings of his followers after the threats.

He said he could "no longer guarantee the safety or privacy of the men who want to attend".

In a statement he posted online, he apologised to his supporters and said they would be let down.

Meetings had been planned around the US including Washington, New York and Los Angeles and across the globe.

Valizadeh had said he would be attending a gathering in Australia, but backed down after a public outcry there which was echoed, particularly in Britain where 80,000 signed a petition calling on the Government to ban him and his meetings using hate crime laws.

He had advised followers that feminists may attack them or male opponents, but they were not to strike back but follow the "Gandhi principle of non violence" and record incidents on cell phones.

Daryush Valizadeh tweets about NZ reaction

- Daily Mail