As the world changes, misogynists dig in their heels: Institutional change and individual misogyny in 'Ink Master'
By Elio Wilder (they/them)
Content warning: discussions of misogyny, sexual harassment and assault, mentions of racism and child sexual abuse
For the first time, women and queer people are proud, vocal, authentic, unapologetic, and visible in all areas of society- much to the discomfort of the change-adverse and bigoted.
Season 15 runner-up, Freddie. Image credit: Ink Master/Paramount+
I recently watched this play out in real time on the US competition reality show Ink Master, where tattoo artists compete to win a large cash prize. The season finale of the most recent season saw a queer tattoo artist shock some of the male judges with his artistic depiction of ‘female’. The artist intentionally created an image that avoided the dainty and beautiful female cliché, instead opting for a bold, thought-provoking piece, which resulted in mixed responses from the judges, which itself instigated online outrage.
A HISTORY OF CONTROVERSY
Ink Master has historically struggled with diversity; unsurprising given the traditionally hostile nature of the tattoo industry towards women, people of colour, and queer people.
These toxic attitudes reflect a deeper aggression which has the potential to spiral into violent offences, as the history of controversy within Ink Master demonstrates.
In 2014, a former production employee stated she had been sexually harassed by the show’s judges, Oliver Peck and Chris Nunez, and filed a lawsuit against the pair as well as the network, SpikeTV. The network was cleared of liability, which may be explained by the lack of employee protections in reality TV compared to scripted shows (Writer’s Guild of America). The outcome for Peck and Nunez was not publicly disclosed, potentially suggesting an out of court settlement and NDA. They both continued as judges following these events.
Oliver Peck finally ‘parted ways’ (that’s save-face speak for ‘forced to resign’) with Ink Master in 2020, after several photos of himself sporting ‘blackface’ surfaced online.
When the show re-launched in 2022 on Paramount+ after breaking due to COVID, Chris Nunez also did not return. No explanation for this has been given, with fan speculation ranging from he was dismissed due to his unpopular technique-over-artistry judging to he quit in protest of Peck’s dismissal.
The new panel of judges included Ryan Ashley, the first woman to win Ink Master (season 9) and the first woman to serve as a permanent judge.
According to survivor accounts, many past contestants and collaborators have perpetrated sexual harassment and assault. In 2021, Netflix removed an episode from season 4 from its platform. The episode included a tattoo-receiver who was charged with child pornography related offences after filming, which is believed to be the reason for the episode’s removal. A contestant was edited out of the most recent season after a survivor came forward prior to the show going to air. This demonstrates some integrity from new network Paramount+.
It appears institutional change is happening with the production of Ink Master, but the incident on the most recent finale shows some individuals are slower to adapt…
A NEW ERA
Octopus tattoo created by WOC Charlene on season 15. Image credit: Ink Master/Paramount+
Season 15 of Ink Master aired in 2023, featuring a cast of diverse ethnicities, genders, and sexualities. This contrasts early seasons where diversity stretched only as far as the occasional black man or white woman.
Unsurprisingly, this diversity of backgrounds brought a diversity of styles, with incredible avant garde art and fusion designs featured on the season.
From early on the standout was Freddie, whose innovative style involved magnificently clashing tattoo styles together, resulting in captivating works. He was perceived as visibly queer and spoke about his experiences as a queer person in the traditionally rigid tattoo industry on the show.
A front-runner the whole way, it was no surprise that he made it to the finale. For the final challenge, the remaining three contestants had to deliver three large leg pieces in styles and subjects chosen between them. Freddie’s pick for subject matter was ‘female’, with another artist selecting ‘black and grey’ for the style.
Both other finalists responded to the prompt with traditional pretty, feminine figures.
In contrast, Freddie described his work as, ‘all about the ownership of this lady’s body herself’. He explained to the judges, ‘I knew everyone would do something very soft and romanticised and I wanted to do the opposite, like I wanted to do like a woman’s owning herself, and it’s scary and confrontational and f*ck you towards the expectations of this lady figure.’
Black and grey female tattoo by Freddie in the grand finale of season 15
While most of the judges praised the boundary-pushing and thought-provoking art-piece, two of the judges did not.
Judge DJ stated, ‘I almost wanna vomit. That’s the feeling I get when I look at this.’
In a heartbreaking moment, Freddie began crying as he explained that he wanted to be ‘pushing the boundaries of what tattooing can be’.
Fellow judge and collaborator of DJ, Bubba Irwin, parroted his friend with his feedback, ‘The imagery choice to me is- it makes me wanna throw up dude.’
Despite Freddie’s initial upset response, his art causing insecure men discomfort is a testament to his artistry. In a way, their reactions demonstrate the piece has more than purely aesthetic value and has become performance art in which misogynists unwittingly participate. The two judges prove the very point of the piece in their reactions, and in that regard, Freddie achieved what he set out to do.
Misogynists preferred the time when women were exclusively ‘pretty faces’- to be seen and not heard. The female form when presented in a manner that is not for the explicit purpose of male consumption is disgusting to insecure men. But perhaps this ‘disgust’ is a cover for their true reaction: fear. To those who prefer to see us as inferior, one-dimensional, and seek to supress us, to be confronted with the complexities and depth of women and queer people, capable far beyond our patriarchally-assigned role, is nothing short of terrifying.
Comments on Bobby’s Instagram. @glendalebully
Comments on Freddie’s Instagram. @freddiealbrighton
Though Freddie was extensively praised for his other two pieces presented in the finale, it seems the two judges who were disturbed by the implications of his black and grey female piece ultimately led to him placing runner-up.
The comments section of every Ink Master YouTube video featuring Freddie, his Instagram, as well as the Instagram of the actual winner (Bobby), are filled with thousands of comments that Freddie should have won. Not hate comments unfairly bashing the winner, rather the constructive view that Bobby is an extremely talented artist however Freddie is far more innovative and therefore more deserving of the Ink Master title. The consensus is so overwhelming, with practically every single commentor in agreement, I have never seen such agreement on the internet before.
Though the judges may not have all understood Freddie’s art, the abundance of women, queer people, and allies who watch the show certainly did. Not only has this been made clear by fan reactions on social media, Freddie has also announced he is booked out indefinitely, while Bobby’s shop has no such disclaimer. Ink Master season 15 is evidence that institutional and societal change is advancing the representation of women and queer people in traditionally male spaces, making those individuals holding onto their bias stand out all the more. There’s still work to be done; let’s hope the producers have been watching, and ensure they prioritise art over prejudice next season.
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Sources:
https://www.grunge.com/1531958/most-controversial-ink-master-moments-ever/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQfiRhVe-lg