A man widely known as ‘Britain’s most tattooed man’ has shared how his striking appearance often leads to people avoiding sitting next to him on public transport and regularly snapping secret photos of him.
King Of Ink Land King Body Art, also known as The Extreme Ink-Ite, has spent over 1,600 hours getting tattooed. Though he takes pride in his tattooed look, the 45-year-old admits that it often causes issues when he’s out in public, especially in his hometown of Birmingham or at airport security when traveling abroad.
“I see people spot an empty seat next to me, but when they notice my appearance, they sometimes choose to stand instead of sitting next to me,” the entrepreneur explained. “But with buses and trains often overcrowded, they don’t have much of a choice.”
He continued, “I often spot people discreetly aiming their phones at me to take photos. Just the other day, it happened while I was waiting at a bus stop.”
King of Ink Land doesn’t let these situations go unnoticed. “Most of the time, I confront people who do this,” he said. “It sometimes leads to heated arguments, and I often get attitude thrown back at me.”
He explained how obvious these attempts can be, saying, “They position themselves awkwardly, or leave their sound on so I hear the camera flash. It’s frustrating.” But he believes that how you handle these situations is important. “It’s all about how you deal with these people, especially when you look like I do. I just wish they would ask before taking a photo.”
Beyond public transport, King of Ink Land has also had his share of confrontations with security while traveling. He recalled an incident when he was stopped by immigration upon arriving in Australia. “They thought I was there to work because of my appearance. I had to explain I was visiting family, and they asked to see my social media and contacts before letting me through.”
On another occasion, he faced delays at airport security because his passport photo didn’t match his current look, as he had just had his eyes tattooed. “It took a long time for them to verify my identity, and they even called the military police. I almost missed my flight, but thankfully, they let me through.”
He also shared an experience in Sydney where he wasn’t allowed into an upscale building due to his tattoos. “They made me prove I wasn’t affiliated with any gangs before allowing me in.”
King of Ink Land says his experiences with security are hit or miss, depending on whether people recognize him and what he’s wearing. However, he’s learned to brush off negative reactions. “I now just ignore anyone who acts a certain way around me,” he said. “Photos or videos taken secretly are usually just sent to a group chat for people to comment on. But that’s not going to stop me from living my life. I respect others, and as long as they do the same for me, that’s all that matters.”
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