My son's barber's tattoo

[sunshineandskyscrapers]

I took DS (9) to the barber's this afternoon. It's a shop we've used a few times before, now that he's pretty much aged out of the designated kiddy hairdresser, which is also a bit of a drive away, whereas this one is local and you can usually book in the day before. The shop is part of a chain. We've booked in with the two female barbers there previously but they were already booked up for today so I booked in with a guy. First time a man's cut my son's hair but he seemed perfectly lovely and took his time to do a really nice job on my son's hair.

So the problem I have is that the barber was wearing shorts showing a large tattoo of Andrew Tate on his lower leg. This had no impact on my son's experience at all, but made me feel uneasy that my son was in the company of a man who chooses to act as a human billboard for a misogynistic arsehole in his place of work, and worrying that this man can sport this tattoo so overtly with nobody batting an eyelid. And by paying for his services I am supporting him. I might be more sensitive to this today, as this morning I had a conversation with a colleague whose family member is in a coercive relationships with an Andrew Tate supporter and the details of this were really unpleasant.

I am not sure what my AIBU is. I won't book in with this barber again, but not sure if I should also avoid the whole shop due to their seeming acceptance of the casual misogyny. Is this just what barber shops are like or is this likely to be a one-off arsehole?

Also I feel confused. Surely any woman is going to run a mile from any man who supports Andrew Tate to the extent that he has him tattooed on his leg. Or as an Andrew Tate supporter is he so confident in his abilities to control and abuse women that he doesn't feel the badge of honour will hamper his efforts? I feel slightly regretful that I didn't ask him.

Leave a shitty Google review and never return

These comments are very silly.
Of course people can have different opinions and political views. We can even have constructive and enlightening debates about them, fancy that?
But Andrew Tate is an abuser. A misogynist. An alleged rapist and sex trafficker. And definitely someone who hates women. It's bad enough that someone idolises him enough to get a tattoo of him, never mind showing it off in their job role.
Just be sensible about it - many people can't have offensive tattoos or even any tattoos on show in their jobs. His employers should enforce this unless they want to lose business.

Just never go back.

Problem solved.

Not very comfy is what that sounds like, to put it in point of view, it’s hard not to feel uneasy when walking into something like that especially in a place you visit often with your child. but if I ever found another barber I’d feel the same way about that

Why didn’t you ask?
Tattoos are a conversation started, he’s cutting your son’s hair and you are stood waiting. Perfect time to make conversation.

Wow. Missing the point. OP doesn't want to support someone with offensive misogynistic views. If it is an Andrew Tate tattoo this person is in a position to influence other young men. I'd want to know if it was definitely Andrew Tate, and if it was I'd not go back and I'd let management know why.

This is the first thing you should do when you get a new phone. Turning off the shutter sound should be one of the options in your camera settings.

Am I the only one who wouldn't recognize Andrew Tate if I walked right into him?

Good call. Check, and if it is AT, ask if they are also happy for staff members to display tattoos of, say, swastikas, or other Nazi symbols? Or maybe tattoos saying they hate black people? And gay people? I mean hey, if they welcome one kind of hateful prejudice, why not others?
Hopefullly it is just a really bad tattoo of a completely innocent person such as their beloved and now departed Uncle Jo 😂

Unfortunately some people will have tattoos of now unscrupulous people. It's up to him if he shows it or not. I would just choose another barber.

Update coming shortly. In the meantime, and yes, it is a spoiler, just curious if anyone would be able to name the man on the right. No reverse image searching, please. Oh, and to the if-you-don't-like-it-go-to-another-barber crowd, could you take your own advice and go to another thread, please?

Image hopefully on this one.

If it's not Tate I have no idea!

Is it someone from Goldie-Looking Chain? 🫣

The man in glasses and a hat? No idea. I'm not even sure he's the same as the man on the left (who I think might be Tate)

And people can comment on whatever thread they like. Go to a different barber is perfectly good advice

Is he in a band

Ok I cheated and looked him up

I'm hoping he turned out to have had the man on the right tattooed because it'll be hilarious

Either way OP can never return to that shop again

No one from Goldie Lookin’ Chain (I was born in Newport and only there yesterday, they still tour and record believe it or not!) It’s Mac Miller the rapper who died and used to be involved with Ariana Grande. I’m guessing it’s a tribute tattoo. Can see the resemblance though of course.

I have no idea who the man on the right is. Tbh I wouldn’t have recognised Andrew Tate either.

Waiting for the reveal. Who the hell gets someone’s face tattooed on them 🤣

Mac Miller?

That's a good shout

Yes, it's Mac Miller, and yes this is who is tattooed on the barber's leg. No, I am not barred. Yes, I will return. No, I didn't want him to lose his job, even if it had been AT, but as I stated pretty clearly upthread, I didn't want my money behind a blatant misogynist either. My email to the management opened with what a great job he'd done, consistent with every other visit I've had there, and just asked if he could clear up that niggle in my mind. The email I sent was not only prompted by some posters on here, but more so by the email that dropped into my inbox that evening explicitly asking for feedback. They clearly care about their reputation and repeat business. which was obvious in the reply.

I will admit to having succumbed to confirmation bias. The conversation I'd had with my colleague that I mentioned in my OP had wound me up. I don't think I would have gone straight to Andrew Tate if I hadn't googled him that morning. Nonetheless, I still think the tattoo bore more of a resemblance to AT than MM and it did make me feel uncomfortable. I don't regret checking it out with the manager one bit, especially since I have even more trust in their company, and what turned out to be a genuinely nice barber, based on their response.