Crying Māori man denied entry to Gold Coast bar
Lesson for anyone dumb enough to tattoo their whole face
Another Māori man is in tears after being refused entry to a busy Gold Coast restaurant because of his tā moko. He claims it was discrimination, but to most people overseas it looks exactly like what it is: a face covered in tattoos that scream “gang member.”
Australians don’t care whether the ink is cultural, artistic, or spiritual. They see it as intimidating, aggressive, and off-putting. And who can blame them? Full-face tattoos are more confronting than a gang patch.
Instead of accepting reality, the man chose to cry about the situation. This should be a wake-up call for anyone tempted to wreck their entire face in the name of “progressive” identity. Don’t expect the rest of the world to understand, or to roll out the red carpet for you.
Face tattoos and tā moko ain't a free pass
If you think getting a facial tattoo gives you some sort of untouchable street cred, think again. Walking into a pub, club, or any establishment expecting special treatment because of a few lines of ink on your face is laughable. Many people around the world see facial tattoos as intimidating at best, and at worst, an automatic warning sign of gang affi…
The hard truth is that when most New Zealanders see tā moko across the face, their first thought is either Te Pāti Māori or gang affiliations. Neither reputation is a ticket to respectability.
If you want to be treated like everyone else overseas, maybe don’t cover your face with tattoos that frighten people. Crying about it after the fact only proves the point.
