Tattoos

I do like the one of Jimmy Saville with his arms around Epstein and Prince Andrew on your bicep.

I think this is part of the issue with promoting tattooing as purely art not a trade. You dont burn down the house because the carpenter who build the kitchen was a creep.

Not quite the same thing, but not entirely different. One of Nick Cave's Red Hand Diary posts.

https://www.theredhandfiles.com/views-on-morrissey/

Let’s agree to disagree on this one. At the end of the day they’re two small pieces, both of which could be dealt with one way or another. It’s not like I’m contemplating blacking out a full back piece based on hearsay.
Yes they’re my tattoos not his at the end of the day but it doesn’t change the fact it’s soured them a little for me.

That's your answer then, if it bothers you, get them covered up by something that doesn't!

Opinions are for everyone, i'm just speaking mine. But it is important to remember things only have power if you give them power. I say this as someone that is heavily tattooed, has tattooed and is married to a tattooer.

I have no problems with the artists getting their heads caved in. However you as the customer bears no responsibility for their actions. Thats the greater point.

Just want to add my 2 cents on this whole thing.

I'm not close friends with Simon but I have known him personally for quite a while now and know many of his friends both here and in the US. I'm not trying to excuse his behaviour, his poor taste or his poor judgement and I think he has a lot to apologise for but at the same time I have an incredibly hard time believing he's a white supremacist. I have a hard time believing that someone would associate with people who are devoutly anti-racist all the while purposely hiding their own white supremacist beliefs. I have a hard time believing that he's just been hiding in plain site all along in a scene that is sadly all too used to dealing with Nazis. I also have a hard time believing that nobody noticed his "Nazi" art until now, it's not like he ever tried to hide it.

Much of his artwork treads a fine line between edgy and inappropriate but most of the symbols that people seem to be using as proof that he is a Nazi are symbols that have multiple meanings and pre-date their cooption by the Nazi movement. Yes that's a weak excuse and he should know better than to play with fire but there is a difference between juvenile "edginess" and actual white supremacist beliefs. I'm not saying its not problematic but accusing someone of being a white supremacist based on a few tattoos/drawings/stupid comments is not the way to deal with it.

The treatment of the employee at Temple was despicable and appropriate action should have been taken long ago but going from calling out the business and rightfully demanding they do something to calling Simon a Nazi, vandalising the shop, posting his address online, threatening his wife and kid and attempting to destroy his business and anyone associated with him is just such a disproportionate reaction. I'm not the only one that feels that way either, I've seen multiple posts from POC calling for restraint and calling for discussion not blind retribution. This ridiculous pitchfork wielding internet mob justice does absolutely nothing to solve the problems it claims to be fighting against.

I’m certainly not suggesting that me being tattooed is condoning the actions, nor would I expect anyone to make that assumption.
In my mind not covering doesn’t make me complicit in the actions and if I wanted to keep them then fine, not problem. However, covering allows me to separate myself from those actions as far as reasonable. I fail to see how covering it up gives him any power.

As you say, they’re my tattoos so they’re also mine to blast over/blackout for any reason I see fit.

@young_gun, your input on this subject is greatly appreciated. Do you have a link to you and your partners work?

Nuts that this whole thing has come down on 2 people at the same studio in such short period of time.

I actually agree. The Simon Erl Nazi witch hunt aspect of the whole Temple thing has totally eclipsed the issue at hand, which is that racism within the establishment was totally swept under the rug until they were faced with huge public outcry. I made a more detailed post in the vegan thread but my 2 cents is that Simon Erl comes across as more of an overgrown teenage edge lord, looking to wind people up by using naughty big boy imagery than a full blown neo-Nazi. I still think appropriating images like that is patchetic and offensive and if you think he's referencing a 15th century peasant revolt rather than Nazism by using the Wolfsangel symbol, you're being naïve.
Either way, regardless of Simon's beliefs, the way they treated that member of staff and disregarded her right to work in a place where racism isn't tolerated is despicable.

The interesting thing I just realised is that if I had work by Erl I’d be less inclined to cover it. His work speaks for itself, whether it’s tongue in cheek/hiding in plain sight is beside the point. You get his work you know what you’re getting into right and you probably enjoy that imagery too(whatever your own interpretation of it may be) and are unlikely to give a shit what anyone else thinks.

Hewish on the other hand does pattern work/ general tattooing and used his position to take advantage of his clients. In my mind this is 1000x shittier than being a btec edgelord.

Thats one of the things that bugs me the most about the accusations surrounding Simon, I've seen numerous people joining in the witch hunt who are literally covered in his work. You can't honestly expect me to believe that you have been getting tattooed by him for years without noticing this imagery you are now suddenly shocked and appalled by? If you were ok with it for all those years why is it so problematic for you now? Just all feels a bit like performative outrage.

^ this in spades.
I don’t think I’m jumping on any witch-hunt with Hewish: I don’t know the guy beyond a 1hr session with him a few months ago. His alleged victims have spoken and it’s up to him to make a statement.
I’m not outraged but I do feel a little put out this afternoon now. I value everyone’s input on here and it’s most welcome but if I no longer want to look at work done by him on my body then it goes.

I’m tattooed enough not to be precious about something I’m no longer comfortable with.

That's disappointing. Totally understand why you'd want to black them out, Ed. Especially your wedding finger. I've also been tattooed by Chris. Almost a decade ago (Jesus...). But fortunately it has no sentiment whatsoever and even if it did, it's been on me for such a long time that it wouldn't make sense to do anything with it.

Mine were done very shortly before lockdown. I’m a very very slow healer and to be honestly they’ve only really just settled properly.
I’m aiming for reworking rather than blacking out. The elbow ditch needed a touch up anyway. I’m certainly less fussed about the elbow than the finger but if one goes they both go.

I find it bonkers that the Temple thing is being talked about so widely - I never realised they were on peoples’ radar beyond being a gimmicky donut shop in Leeds.

I’ve never been a fan, but the angry internet mob shit is pretty scary.

It's absolutely gone too far, agreed. I personally won't be buying any more Temple donuts or getting any shite horny goblin tattoos from Simon any time soon. Nor am I going to be posting their address or pictures of their kids online either.

Personally I think I would choose to cover up something like that, really difficult position which a lot now find themselves in. Luckily they’re small pieces I guess.

Heartfelt statement on Simons insta. Make of it what you will.

@TM I’m not going to rush into it but they’ll both be getting something done to them.
Elbow is easily dealt with and I’d be fine with a black square if that’s what it came down to but I’m not sure how to approach my finger without making it considerably bolder(I’m not ready to fully tattoo my hands) but will think on it and seek advice.

They had their chance to deal with the racism present within their business when it occured and they didn't. I don't think he genuinely thinks that appropriating nazi imagery was wrong, I think he's just upset that he's been called out on it in such a spectacular fashion.
I do think it's extremely offside to be bringing their kids into it and I don't think they are, deep down, genuinely racist. I just think that they're operating from a position of extreme privilege and sweeping racism under the rug and posting neo-Nazi imagery online, regardless of intent, is fucking disgusting and shameful.

Edit: that was in response to the statement Simon and his partner posted online.

Hewish has also now released a statement.
He’s only responded to one allegation despite there being complaints by more than one customer.
Fuck that guy.

White vegan supremacist tattooer, huh?

Did he also do that one?

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Is that really necessary right now?
If you want to twist the knife why don’t you go troll him and his family?

The guy is a cunt and has been outed as such, how do your shit attempts at lols add to the debate?

HatBeard is right

how very dare you!

How about you chill the fuck out?