Outcry as Arizona tattoo shop inks girl, 9, who wanted picture of Trump on her neck
An Arizona tattoo artist has faced backlash for inking a 9-year-old girl who asked for a portrait of Donald Trump on her neck. The artist, who goes by cutzsosa, shared a video of the process on his Instagram account, revealing that the girl had traveled to Arizona with her parents to get the tattoo.
According to the artist, he convinced the girl to get a different tattoo instead – a US flag on her arm – and said he would allow her to get the Trump tattoo only if she waited a year. The girl apparently returned a year later and asked to have the red color touched up.
The artist claimed that he priced the tattoo at $500, despite the actual cost being $80, in an attempt to scare off the girl’s parents. However, this move backfired as the parents agreed to the higher price.
The story has sparked a heated debate online over whether children should be allowed to get tattoos, and whether artists should decline their requests, even with parental consent. Some have expressed concern that the tattoo is inappropriate for a 9-year-old, with one YouTube commenter writing, “Trump tattoo on the neck to a 9 year old? These are the same people crying over giving puberty blockers to kids. I say no to both.”
Ben Shaw, with the Alliance of Professional Tattooists, criticized the lack of regulations in Arizona, stating that the state’s laws are “frustrating” and can give professionals a bad reputation. The American Academy of Pediatrics and several states, including New York and New Jersey, have a blanket ban on minors being inking, even with parental permission.
