Think twice before you ink something for money. No matter how good the cause, in time, regrets may come up…
That’s what happened to ‘Billy the Human Billboard,‘ a dude from Alaska who had been taking money for advertisements as an aspiring boxer. Sounds like the story of a good Heart taking a poor turn here and there as Billy, who donated a kidney to a stranger, took money to get a website tattooed on his back.
Editor’s Note: You might not want to continue the video from the 2:00 minute mark unless you like hearing about grooming… You’ve been warned.
When faced with homelessness and not being able to provide for his children, Billy turned to one of the most visible places to serve as a Human Billboard… his face! Billy has over 20 advertisements on his face and head alone, and is now looking for another sponsor to pay for tattoo removal for the ink on his face. The cost is over $4,000 and Billy has his regrets. You can read the original story here.
Facial tattoos are common amongst Polynesian tattoo styles because of the cultural symbolism of them. Tattoos have long been misunderstood and the association in media and history to tattoos being only for criminals has perpetuated the unfair treatment that people with tattoos have received. Though with Billy, the art became advertising, for the vast majority, tattoos are a statement of identity, represent an interest in art, and for many, are a form of healing.
Why judge a book by its cover when you haven’t even read it? In Billy’s case, he was trying to do what he thought best at the time to do for his family. In the end, he has to be able to live with himself regardless of what the court of public opinion says and at the time he was dealing with a bout of bi-polar illness.
If you or someone else you know is considering an extreme tattoo or something similar to Billy, send them over to our Hawaii Custom Tattoos Shop, 434 Tattoo. While we love to tattoo, the service and best interest of our customer is always held in the highest regards. Our Hawaii Tattoo Artists are trained in the most up to date methods and are licensed by the Hawaii State Department of Health so we can help assist in what to do and if to do it. The last thing we want is for someone to leave with something they don’t want later on in their life.
We are 434 Tattoo and we care about you! Come on down!
The 411 about 434:
Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.
Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815
Contact:
mailto: adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287
434 Custom Tattooing 