A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Tattooing “666″ on a Baby

An incredibly disturbing video — probably the most offensive tattoo video to date — is currently doing the viral rounds. In it, the tattoo artist (whose face we never see), tattoos what appears to be a small “666″ on a toddler that screams in pain and terror while he’s doing it. A woman that I assume is the mother is holding the child down the whole time. Since there is parental consent in the process, it is 100% legal. Arguably this isn’t any worse than the doctors that have have cut off the ends of millions if not billions of baby boys’ penises to satisfy their parents religious or cultural leanings, and of course there are indigenous cultures (many of them idolized by the “modern primitive” movement) all around the world that do a wide variety of heavy mods on babies and children… But wow… I don’t think I could bring myself to be involved in something like this, either as the artist or the parent. But I wonder — how many of you who are willing to denounce this video are also willing to denounce the tribal cultures who do similar things in much larger quantities and to a more horrific extent, or even denounce circumcision which is still commonplace in America (although not many other Western nations at this point as the cruelty and needlessness is recognized)?

YouTube pulled the video — click here to download our backup or play it here:

baby666

Update: If I had to guess [edit #2: this is now confirmed, and if you listen in the video you can hear them say that the child is now “blessed by Jesus”], I would say these people are followers of Jose Luis de Jesus of Growing in Grace. Followers of this fringe religion often get 666 tattooed one them as a part of their faith. The question is, do you believe in freedom of religion? Where is that line drawn for you? This group even has billboards around Toronto where I live — this isn’t just some isolated event. Below are some other similar tattoos done by their followers:

666tat-1t 666tat-2t

Update #2: Trying to find examples of tattooed children in Western culture, I was hoping to dig up an old story in BME’s old newspaper archive of historical mod stories because I remembered one about a father taking his identical twin sons to a tattoo artist in order to get a beauty mark tattooed on one of them as a way of telling them apart more easily. Anyway, I couldn’t find the actual article I was searching for, but I did find another from the October 19, 1899 Twin City News which mentions how an increasing number of parents are tattooing their children with a hidden ID mark (I believe this was in the midst of abduction paranoia).

Also, I mentioned above that the parents were “100%” legally in the right (although not ethically in my opinion), but I should point out that there have been cases — for example, this North Carolina mother arrested after allowing her 11-year-old to get a tattoo of a small heart on her shoulder — that suggest the opposite. However, courts in America are very unlikely to call the actions of an established religion “child abuse”, so don’t expect to see Jews being jailed over circumcision any time soon.

Comments

156 responses to “Tattooing “666″ on a Baby”

  1. IamnotSam Avatar
    IamnotSam

    How is this any different from circumcision of male babies or piercing a little girls ears without her permission, which are both common practices in Western cultures. Per usual, most Westerners are hypocrites!

  2. IamnotSam Avatar
    IamnotSam

    How is this any different from circumcision of male babies or piercing a little girls ears without her permission, which are both common practices in Western cultures. Per usual, most Westerners are hypocrites!

  3. xfox Avatar
    xfox

    I didn’t watch the video, I found the story and the pictures disturbing enough. I don’t think any parent or other person has the right to decide over their child’s or someone else’s body; whether it’s about tattooing, circumcision, or piercing their earlobes. Everyone should have the choice to themselves.

    I am also disturbed by the comments about how the parent(s) and/or tattooist deserve to be shot, beaten, raped, etc. Nobody deserves any of those things, and committing, proposing or idolizing (more) violence doesn’t really help to promote the idea of everybody’s right to decide what they want or don’t want to do with their own bodies.

  4. xfox Avatar
    xfox

    I didn’t watch the video, I found the story and the pictures disturbing enough. I don’t think any parent or other person has the right to decide over their child’s or someone else’s body; whether it’s about tattooing, circumcision, or piercing their earlobes. Everyone should have the choice to themselves.

    I am also disturbed by the comments about how the parent(s) and/or tattooist deserve to be shot, beaten, raped, etc. Nobody deserves any of those things, and committing, proposing or idolizing (more) violence doesn’t really help to promote the idea of everybody’s right to decide what they want or don’t want to do with their own bodies.

  5. juan Avatar
    juan

    they should arrest all of them putting this baby thru some much pain. this mother is sick and God will punish all of them for their sin. following a religion that claim He is God. please he is just a THIEF with a Tie on it

  6. juan Avatar
    juan

    they should arrest all of them putting this baby thru some much pain. this mother is sick and God will punish all of them for their sin. following a religion that claim He is God. please he is just a THIEF with a Tie on it

  7. jen Avatar
    jen

    it is comparable, and equally disgusting as circumcision. less than 30% of genital cutting uses any analgesic, and usually it’s only sugar water and a pacifier. the body goes into shock with extreme pain. to say that babies sleep thru being mutilated, means they were in shock. they cannot properly numb an infant, even with a dorsal nerve block, because to give them an effective dose is deadly to a newborns system. religion and complacency allow for children to suffer in the name of tradition. this is wrong, wherever it happened.

  8. jen Avatar
    jen

    it is comparable, and equally disgusting as circumcision. less than 30% of genital cutting uses any analgesic, and usually it’s only sugar water and a pacifier. the body goes into shock with extreme pain. to say that babies sleep thru being mutilated, means they were in shock. they cannot properly numb an infant, even with a dorsal nerve block, because to give them an effective dose is deadly to a newborns system. religion and complacency allow for children to suffer in the name of tradition. this is wrong, wherever it happened.

  9. maria Avatar
    maria

    this made me sick. couldn’t even watch. In cultures around the world children are marked, pierced what have you for spiritual reasons, traditions, etc but the reasoning for this is just plain ridiculous and upsetting. that poor kid.

  10. maria Avatar
    maria

    this made me sick. couldn’t even watch. In cultures around the world children are marked, pierced what have you for spiritual reasons, traditions, etc but the reasoning for this is just plain ridiculous and upsetting. that poor kid.

  11. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Jay, interesting, I didn’t know that as I had been under the impression it was done in Puerto Rico. Thanks for the correction.

  12. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Jay, interesting, I didn’t know that as I had been under the impression it was done in Puerto Rico. Thanks for the correction.

  13. Tiffany Avatar

    I often get asked if i will pierce the ears of small children, I always answer with I will as soon as they are old enough to ask for it and understand it will hurt and can understand not to touch them while healing, and of course parental consent. I don’t care how old you are I need your informed consent to work on you. We have had religious people bring small children into out shop and ask for us to tattoo small crosses on their hands, we say no, not one of our artists is comfortable with that. We draw our line strictly at 16, and then only if it is a memorial piece or religious, easily hidden for future jobs, and with parental consent. In some cultures they have all sorts of tattoos or scarification done at a young age, but compare those cultures 11 year old’s responsibilities to that of our society’s 11 year old’s and you will see what the difference is. 11 year old’s are not the same world wide, and should not be treated the same.

  14. Tiffany Avatar

    I often get asked if i will pierce the ears of small children, I always answer with I will as soon as they are old enough to ask for it and understand it will hurt and can understand not to touch them while healing, and of course parental consent. I don’t care how old you are I need your informed consent to work on you. We have had religious people bring small children into out shop and ask for us to tattoo small crosses on their hands, we say no, not one of our artists is comfortable with that. We draw our line strictly at 16, and then only if it is a memorial piece or religious, easily hidden for future jobs, and with parental consent. In some cultures they have all sorts of tattoos or scarification done at a young age, but compare those cultures 11 year old’s responsibilities to that of our society’s 11 year old’s and you will see what the difference is. 11 year old’s are not the same world wide, and should not be treated the same.

  15. kristy Avatar
    kristy

    this is child abuse pure and simple. that mother should be thrown in jail. there is no reason good enough to pin your child down and force pain on him.. u can argue that circumsision is the same thing. but medically its healthier for boys. and there r no medical reason for tattooing a small child. its disturbing and disgusting

  16. kristy Avatar
    kristy

    this is child abuse pure and simple. that mother should be thrown in jail. there is no reason good enough to pin your child down and force pain on him.. u can argue that circumsision is the same thing. but medically its healthier for boys. and there r no medical reason for tattooing a small child. its disturbing and disgusting

  17. SimonZH Avatar
    SimonZH

    Such a discrace; its these sort of incidents that give us all bad names and bad news with regards to body modification ;(

  18. SimonZH Avatar
    SimonZH

    Such a discrace; its these sort of incidents that give us all bad names and bad news with regards to body modification ;(

  19. BARD Avatar
    BARD

    RE: Sassy,
    Actually, I was just throwing those question out there for discussion (playing devil’s advocate, if you will). I didn’t intend to actually argue from that perspective. I apologize if my questions upset you.

  20. BARD Avatar
    BARD

    RE: Sassy,
    Actually, I was just throwing those question out there for discussion (playing devil’s advocate, if you will). I didn’t intend to actually argue from that perspective. I apologize if my questions upset you.

  21. SoilentGringa Avatar
    SoilentGringa

    I feel that this was wrong, on multiple levels.
    It’s obviously not the child’s choice, no one should allow their religious beliefs to modify another person’s body. I don’t care if that is their child.
    I fought with my son’s father’s side of the family tooth and nail because I refused to have him circumcised. He’s now 6 and fully capable of cleaning himself with no issues. I wouldn’t pierce an infant or toddler’s ears, either. I’ve seen videos of children in tribes all over the world get cut, circumcised (male and female), and pierced at a very young age. I don’t think it’s okay to do this to anyone without their consent. Forcing a child isn’t consent.

  22. SoilentGringa Avatar
    SoilentGringa

    I feel that this was wrong, on multiple levels.
    It’s obviously not the child’s choice, no one should allow their religious beliefs to modify another person’s body. I don’t care if that is their child.
    I fought with my son’s father’s side of the family tooth and nail because I refused to have him circumcised. He’s now 6 and fully capable of cleaning himself with no issues. I wouldn’t pierce an infant or toddler’s ears, either. I’ve seen videos of children in tribes all over the world get cut, circumcised (male and female), and pierced at a very young age. I don’t think it’s okay to do this to anyone without their consent. Forcing a child isn’t consent.

  23. Gabriel Avatar
    Gabriel

    Forget religious reasons, If your for or against tattoos, or even the meaning of that tattoo for a second. An look at how three grown adults were holding a child with no voice in this world down an giving him a permanent freakin tattoo. That’s wrong. I’m a born again christian an this is 100% wrong an against my belief but honestly if somebody paid me I’ll take care all three of them for cheap

  24. Gabriel Avatar
    Gabriel

    Forget religious reasons, If your for or against tattoos, or even the meaning of that tattoo for a second. An look at how three grown adults were holding a child with no voice in this world down an giving him a permanent freakin tattoo. That’s wrong. I’m a born again christian an this is 100% wrong an against my belief but honestly if somebody paid me I’ll take care all three of them for cheap

  25. Desire R. Avatar
    Desire R.

    i dont give two flying craps if that mom and dad gave parental consent.. it should NOT be legal in any way! that child is barely old enough to speak for himself let alone the fact if he can say yeah i want to he probably has no idea what he is talking about or what they are talking about! so technically those parents should go to jail for child abuse cuz they are purposly conflicting pain against his will he is pulling away screaming in pain and she is holding him there! as a mother of four and also someone who is getting into teaching and have taken a childhood stress and trauma and can def say that that child will probably be scared emotionally not just physically from that… i cant even watch this its disgusting and so sad

  26. Desire R. Avatar
    Desire R.

    i dont give two flying craps if that mom and dad gave parental consent.. it should NOT be legal in any way! that child is barely old enough to speak for himself let alone the fact if he can say yeah i want to he probably has no idea what he is talking about or what they are talking about! so technically those parents should go to jail for child abuse cuz they are purposly conflicting pain against his will he is pulling away screaming in pain and she is holding him there! as a mother of four and also someone who is getting into teaching and have taken a childhood stress and trauma and can def say that that child will probably be scared emotionally not just physically from that… i cant even watch this its disgusting and so sad

  27. Desire R. Avatar
    Desire R.

    oh and that BARF person.. fyi circumsicions are medical prcedures done by DOCTORS who attend school for years to obtain a degree while tattoo artist do not.. also it is a sanitary thing to do, not cosmetic. thousands of americans get their children circumsized because of the high risks of infections. I have a friend whos father had to get circumsized at the age of 60 because he had a terrible infection.. parents just want to take the precaution of doing it when they are days old because it wont leave any permanent psycological damage there wont be a high risk of infection later on and it is before they discover those parts and wont be touching it and cause an infection that way. its a lot safer to get it done early as an infant than later on but having your child tattooed is outragous and THAT is cosmetic whether or not its part of their culture

  28. Desire R. Avatar
    Desire R.

    oh and that BARF person.. fyi circumsicions are medical prcedures done by DOCTORS who attend school for years to obtain a degree while tattoo artist do not.. also it is a sanitary thing to do, not cosmetic. thousands of americans get their children circumsized because of the high risks of infections. I have a friend whos father had to get circumsized at the age of 60 because he had a terrible infection.. parents just want to take the precaution of doing it when they are days old because it wont leave any permanent psycological damage there wont be a high risk of infection later on and it is before they discover those parts and wont be touching it and cause an infection that way. its a lot safer to get it done early as an infant than later on but having your child tattooed is outragous and THAT is cosmetic whether or not its part of their culture

  29. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    This is definitely comparable to circumcision, and honestly, I think circumcisions is worse, both are terrible of course, but think about it, both are done for cosmetic/religious/social reasons. (Don’t tell me it’s cleaner, prevents std’s, that’s all a load of crap. 90% of men in the world are intact and have no issue with cleanliness or anything else.)

    Both are painful. (usually anesthetic isn’t used with circumcision, and if it is, imagine getting urine and feces on an open wound. Ouch! I know it burned to pee after I gave birth for a while!)

    Both are being done without consent! I agree, circumcision is a personal choice, but look up the definition of personal.

    The difference? A tattoo, whilst permanent, will not change the way his body functions, it didn’t remove anything, it doesn’t take away any nerve endings (approx 20,000 nerve endings in the foreskin compared to 6000-800 in the clitoris, that’s a lot of sensitivity! No wonder circumcised men are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction.)

    Also, there is much much more risks of complications, including death! With circumcision then what there is with a tattoo. Sure, there might be a chance of infection, But babies have died as a direct result of their circumcision, they will always have a less sensitive penis due to the removal of nerve endings and the thickening of the skin on the glans as it adapts to being an external organ, which it is NOT meant to be! Not to mention meatal stenosis, skin bridges, blood loss, too much skin removed resulting in uncomfortable erections. etc the list goes on.

    If it came down to it, I would choose getting my child tattooed over getting him or her circumcised any day! I can’t believe with all the information out there, people still try to defend the barbaric procedure. But none of my children will ever have part of their body cut off or tattooed for no good reason.

  30. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    This is definitely comparable to circumcision, and honestly, I think circumcisions is worse, both are terrible of course, but think about it, both are done for cosmetic/religious/social reasons. (Don’t tell me it’s cleaner, prevents std’s, that’s all a load of crap. 90% of men in the world are intact and have no issue with cleanliness or anything else.)

    Both are painful. (usually anesthetic isn’t used with circumcision, and if it is, imagine getting urine and feces on an open wound. Ouch! I know it burned to pee after I gave birth for a while!)

    Both are being done without consent! I agree, circumcision is a personal choice, but look up the definition of personal.

    The difference? A tattoo, whilst permanent, will not change the way his body functions, it didn’t remove anything, it doesn’t take away any nerve endings (approx 20,000 nerve endings in the foreskin compared to 6000-800 in the clitoris, that’s a lot of sensitivity! No wonder circumcised men are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction.)

    Also, there is much much more risks of complications, including death! With circumcision then what there is with a tattoo. Sure, there might be a chance of infection, But babies have died as a direct result of their circumcision, they will always have a less sensitive penis due to the removal of nerve endings and the thickening of the skin on the glans as it adapts to being an external organ, which it is NOT meant to be! Not to mention meatal stenosis, skin bridges, blood loss, too much skin removed resulting in uncomfortable erections. etc the list goes on.

    If it came down to it, I would choose getting my child tattooed over getting him or her circumcised any day! I can’t believe with all the information out there, people still try to defend the barbaric procedure. But none of my children will ever have part of their body cut off or tattooed for no good reason.

  31. Delia Soto Avatar
    Delia Soto

    Esos q disen cer los padres de un bebito y asen salbajismos como estos y usan a Dios para escusar sus a trosidades seban a quemar en el infieno purs dios no los perdonara pecar asi y luego desir q dios los manda aser eso que pesadilla

  32. Delia Soto Avatar
    Delia Soto

    Esos q disen cer los padres de un bebito y asen salbajismos como estos y usan a Dios para escusar sus a trosidades seban a quemar en el infieno purs dios no los perdonara pecar asi y luego desir q dios los manda aser eso que pesadilla

  33. Astrid Avatar
    Astrid

    This is intense, and messed up. (obviously). I am so glad you made the point about circumcision though, I am 100% against it (unless you are an adult and choose to have it done on yourself).

  34. Astrid Avatar
    Astrid

    This is intense, and messed up. (obviously). I am so glad you made the point about circumcision though, I am 100% against it (unless you are an adult and choose to have it done on yourself).

  35. brianna Avatar

    as a mother, a REAL mother, you are supposed to do whatever you think is best for your child. a mother’s personal belief has nothing to do with doing what’s best for the child. to do what’s best for the child would be to let them have their own belief, not force them into your’s! THIS SO CALLED MOTHER SHOULD HAVE HER CUNT SEWED SHUT SO SHE CAN’T HAVE ANY MORE CHILDREN. THEN HER CUNT SHOULD BE CUT OFF AND SHOVED DOWN HER THROAT , SO SHE CAN CHOKE TO DEATH ON IT. JUST SAYING!!!

  36. brianna Avatar

    as a mother, a REAL mother, you are supposed to do whatever you think is best for your child. a mother’s personal belief has nothing to do with doing what’s best for the child. to do what’s best for the child would be to let them have their own belief, not force them into your’s! THIS SO CALLED MOTHER SHOULD HAVE HER CUNT SEWED SHUT SO SHE CAN’T HAVE ANY MORE CHILDREN. THEN HER CUNT SHOULD BE CUT OFF AND SHOVED DOWN HER THROAT , SO SHE CAN CHOKE TO DEATH ON IT. JUST SAYING!!!

  37. johnny Avatar
    johnny

    anton lavey says do not give advice or offer opinions unless asked. In fact that is one of the satanic commandments. therefore what you did was uncalled for as the doctrine states.

  38. johnny Avatar
    johnny

    anton lavey says do not give advice or offer opinions unless asked. In fact that is one of the satanic commandments. therefore what you did was uncalled for as the doctrine states.

  39. Modmax Avatar
    Modmax

    THIS IS SICK !!

  40. Modmax Avatar
    Modmax

    THIS IS SICK !!

  41. elke Avatar
    elke

    people are really stupid
    not think that is the pain in other bodies may be up traumatic
    that shit that make this
    we adults
    we stand
    but children? no protection
    shit
    every child has a right to expect to grow and decide what to do with her body
    the
    parents
    no
    fucking stupid parents
    really fuck

  42. elke Avatar
    elke

    people are really stupid
    not think that is the pain in other bodies may be up traumatic
    that shit that make this
    we adults
    we stand
    but children? no protection
    shit
    every child has a right to expect to grow and decide what to do with her body
    the
    parents
    no
    fucking stupid parents
    really fuck

  43. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Jose Luis de Jesus, is a FRAUD! and this just shows you the amount of ignorant people that have an emptiness in their life or illness in the minds which chose to follow this false prophet, I’ve seen this false prophet which has no power what so ever, cannot perform any miracle, cannot heal any sick person, cannot do nothing at all than use a lot of gel in his hair and talk very nicely about his cult. First he presented himself as jesus man and then as the anti-christ, I’m currently still waiting for the next title, could it be the real iron-man or thor or hulk, who knows?, I just hope that he doesn’t say to his flock of illness followers to kill themselves as part of the salvation, because they are so dumb enough to do it! Wake UP!!!!!!!!

  44. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Jose Luis de Jesus, is a FRAUD! and this just shows you the amount of ignorant people that have an emptiness in their life or illness in the minds which chose to follow this false prophet, I’ve seen this false prophet which has no power what so ever, cannot perform any miracle, cannot heal any sick person, cannot do nothing at all than use a lot of gel in his hair and talk very nicely about his cult. First he presented himself as jesus man and then as the anti-christ, I’m currently still waiting for the next title, could it be the real iron-man or thor or hulk, who knows?, I just hope that he doesn’t say to his flock of illness followers to kill themselves as part of the salvation, because they are so dumb enough to do it! Wake UP!!!!!!!!

  45. hols Avatar
    hols

    I could only watch a few second as I felt physically sick. I do not understand what this mother was thinking. I have a 2 year old and as a mother I could not put my child in such distress for any reason, religious or not!! This child is being restrained for god sake…consent or not – This is child abuse in my opinion!!
    I hope the mother and others in this video are eventually identified and prosecuted!!

  46. hols Avatar
    hols

    I could only watch a few second as I felt physically sick. I do not understand what this mother was thinking. I have a 2 year old and as a mother I could not put my child in such distress for any reason, religious or not!! This child is being restrained for god sake…consent or not – This is child abuse in my opinion!!
    I hope the mother and others in this video are eventually identified and prosecuted!!

  47. JE$$IKA Avatar
    JE$$IKA

    That so sad I couldn’t watch any more she was arested though THANK GOD I really thought she was going to come to my house and hold me down nd make me get a tattoo that says 666 F**K that I love GOD,LORD,JESUS wat ever it is. But she is probably sick in the head and how can the father just sit there he should be arested

  48. JE$$IKA Avatar
    JE$$IKA

    That so sad I couldn’t watch any more she was arested though THANK GOD I really thought she was going to come to my house and hold me down nd make me get a tattoo that says 666 F**K that I love GOD,LORD,JESUS wat ever it is. But she is probably sick in the head and how can the father just sit there he should be arested

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