Anti-Semitic Photo of Kat Von D Sparks Controversy
Looks like Mel Gibson may have some company.
Upon being fired from the TLC show Miami Ink last year, tattoo artist Kat Von D allegedly signed a photograph addressed to her former boss / co-star, Ami James, and drew a swastika and a flaming Star of David on it...
As much as a lot of people wanna see Kat Von D nude, if she wrote this, that's messed up. We thought she was edgy, but laid back and cool! WTF, Kat!?
No one witnessed Kat Von D write the message, but Chris Garver, another tattoo artist on Miami Ink, said Kat personally handed him the anti-Semitic photo - which TMZ obtained and posted on its website earlier this afternoon.
Ami James, a native of Israel who served in the Israeli Special Forces prior to starting his career as a tattoo artist, reportedly went to TLC management when he received the photo, but sources say he was rebuffed.
After Ami had a lawyer intervene, a handwriting analyst concluded "there is a 99 percent probability that Kat Von D" wrote the message."
In early July 2007, Ami's lawyer went to TLC with the analysis. They simply sent him a letter back that acknowledged receiving the results and said, "We trust that this information will be kept strictly confidential."
Kat Von D's spinoff show, LA Ink, premiered a month later.
When contacted about the photo, Ami James told the celebrity news site that he wasn't as offended by the photo as he was by the indifference toward it.
"What is more devastating to me, and much more shameful is when people ignore something like this for the sake of the money or self-interest," said James, 35. "To me that is the real 'punch in the gut.'"
TLC issued the following statement:
"A publicity photo was brought to the network's attention eight months ago that contained extraordinarily offensive language. A full investigation was immediately conducted to determine whether anyone associated with the network was involved. Kat vehemently denied authoring the text and after completing the investigation, it was determined that insufficient evidence existed to conclude that she had. Therefore, no disciplinary action was taken. The network always takes these matters seriously and follows what we believe to be an appropriate course of action as dictated by the circumstances and available information."
Kat Von D's publicist issued the following statement:
"The recent accusation of a publicity photo of me with offensive and anti-semitic comments and graphics allegedly written by me is completely false and unfounded, and clearly a forgery. This was already proven many months ago to be 100 percent untrue. I always have been, and will continue to be an advocate for tolerance of all races, religions and ways of life."
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January 16th, 2012 12:54 AM
omg wtf im bored and wtf kat is always PMSing and angry and won't shut the hell up GOSH
June 16th, 2010 4:32 PM
R u people kidding me have u seen LA INK she thinks Gods name is Kat Von D she Craps all over the people who work in her shop. Grow up Kat.
April 9th, 2010 12:19 PM
First of all, did you people not see Kat's last few episodes on Miami Ink? She was sitting there talking shit about the shop, IN THE SHOP, to a client. I think the client may have been a friend, but that is unprofessional, very disrespectful. Someone mentioned that Miami gave her her big break, that is 100% true. Without those guys there would be no LA Ink. I love the Miami Ink crew, they are fantastic. (Sidenote that has nothing to do with the Kat/Ami debate. I freaking LOVE when Garver draws Darren's head on random stuff, I laugh everytime.) Okay, back to what I was saying. Kat=Boo! Ami=Woo! The end. I realise nobody has been commented on this since 2009, but I felt the need to defend my beloved Ami.
August 20th, 2009 12:06 AM
If one takes the 15 seconds to Google a Kat Von D signature and compare the writing, there is no question that she did not write that. The anti-semitic photo has sloppy "boy" writing. Perhaps an ex-boyfriend's writing?
July 12th, 2009 3:26 AM
American people always hold on anything to attack those who they envy. To the ignorant that said that her dad was a SS officer. Her das was born and raised in Argentina and her mother too. A SS officer in the 70's, 80's?? LOL I never heard of a SS officer in the argentinean forces lol. The people that says she did are those who are her opponents. So they are totally uncredible. And a lawyer will do anything they can for their client, no matter what because they get paid for it. So not credible either. And please stop being stupids, you're feeding the american yellow press.
April 29th, 2009 8:26 AM
Now iam shure she's a nazi. Her grandpa was a SS officer Ulrich von Drachenberg. Its all in the gens.
December 23rd, 2008 2:18 PM
I'm on Team Ami and the disgusting photo breaks my heart. I'm convinced that Kat would stoop to these levels (a personal conversation between my husband, Ami, and myself convinced me of that). Go Ami, boo Kat!
December 15th, 2008 6:05 PM
I have an autographed photo from Kat, and that sig does not even come close to the real thing. The letter formation isn't even close.
June 8th, 2008 2:38 AM
You are all jealous of kat von d. you go girl
May 5th, 2008 1:46 PM
kat suks,
not surprise she left miami,they are such a nice guys.
she is not