If you’re like me, you’ve probably watched VH1’s Black Ink Crew and wondered to yourself if anyone truly gets a tattoo done there. Well, apparently they do and according to one patron, the end result was less than pleasant.
Asabi Barner went to the Harlem area tattoo parlor to get a 10+ year old chest tattoo covered up. According to Barner, the main reason she chose Black Ink was because they claim to be the best of the best when it comes to tattooing African American skin. When Barner first got the coverup, she said that it was “phenomenal” at first but the next morning the area surrounding her left breast started to ooze with pus.
Barner, who lives in South Carolina, consulted with an area tattoo shop who advised her that her skin was “overworked” in an attempt to bring out a white color for her tattoo. This was over a year ago and according to Barner, she still feels pain to this day.
Her skin has keloids, raised scarring, burns and itches to a point she has to apply an ice pack every day. She also says that she is suffering emotional distress. “In the intimate moments it creates a problem because you don’t have that confidence. I wasn’t overly confident before, but I felt good about myself. Felt good about my body, but it just changes you,” said Barner.
Asabi Barner is now suing Black Ink for negligence. There are no details as to the amount she’s suing for. Nor does she name who did the tattoo and if they’re part of the reality show. I wonder what a lawsuit will mean for their show, or if VH1 will foot the bill.