A tattoo artist from Arizona has sparked controversy after tattooing a nine-year-old girl, with critics questioning the ethics behind the decision.
The young girl – whose name has not been disclosed – traveled with her parents from out of state to Black Onyx Empire, a tattoo parlor based in Arizona.
According to CBS 5, the child first received the tattoo last year and recently returned to the establishment for a touch-up.
During her second visit, the tattoo parlor shared a video of the child getting her tattoo on its social media channels, igniting a heated debate online.
Check out the original post below:
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When the girl arrived at the shop with her family, she initially requested a portrait of President-elect Donald Trump on her neck. However, the tattoo artist – known simply as Sosa – convinced her and her parents to opt for a different design. Ultimately, the nine-year-old left the shop with an American flag inked on her arm.
“Told her in a year if she still wanted the trump then to get it but to think on it,” the tattoo artist wrote in Instagram.
Although the decision to tattoo a child so young has raised eyebrows, Sosa was not breaking the law.
In Arizona, it is legal to tattoo someone under 18 as long as their parent or legal guardian is physically present during the process. State legislation prohibits tattooing minors without parental consent but allows it under these circumstances.
Despite acting within his legal rights, Sosa and Black Onyx Empire have faced significant backlash. Speaking to Arizona’s Family about the criticism, Sosa remained unshaken.
“Any publicity is good publicity,” he said. “I’d rather have good publicity, however, this is just a debate.”
That being said, comments are currently disabled on the original Instagram post.
Sosa elaborated on the family’s motivations, explaining that they are originally from Turkey and deeply value the opportunities they’ve found in the United States.
“They’re very grateful to be here in the United States,” Sosa said, adding that the family views Donald Trump as a “hero.”
Interestingly, Sosa claims he tried to dissuade the family from proceeding with the tattoo, going as far as to overcharge them for the service. While the tattoo would typically cost around $80, Sosa charged the family $500 in hopes of deterring them. Despite the inflated price, the parents chose to go through with the tattoo.
View this post on Instagram
In another Instagram post, shared by local radio station 610WIOD, many comments slammed the tattoo artist and the child’s parents.
“This is insane. Are you not capable of saying no? All money is not good money,” one person commented.
“I personally think it’s disgusting. She deserves better parents and the ‘tattoo artist’ should be ashamed of themselves,” another added.
A third added: “I have a lot of tattoos and no 10 year old should have a tattoo.”
Sosa has also clarified that while he stands by his decision to tattoo the girl, he does not advocate for children getting tattoos. He confirmed that he has not tattooed his own children.
Sosa has recently shared further Instagram Stories saying he is “unfazed” by the backlash and that the story is 100% legitimate. However other social media users are questioning if the “tattoo” is nothing more than a publicity stunt – with some going as far as to suggest the tattoo artist is attempting to make a point about gender reassignment treatments on children.
However, as previously mentioned, unlike states such as New York and New Jersey, it’s legal to tattoo a child with a parent’s permission in Arizona, per WECT.
Tattoos are becoming more and more popular across the nation. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, 32% of Americans have at least one tattoo.
While the debate over tattooing minors continues to rage, this incident has shed light on the fine line between legal and ethical decision-making in the tattoo industry.
