9/6/2009

in

East Side Ink facing fines for allowing unlicensed tattoo artist on site.

Shanece Taylor

Back in July, Rihanna paid a visit to longtime tattoo artist Keith "Bang Bang" McCurdy at East Side Ink. Paparazzi photographed her tattooing an umbrella and "R's" on several employees. Now the East Village tattoo parlor is facing fines ranging from $200-$2,000 for using an unlicensed tattoo artist on site, according to the New York Post. However, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is stating that the unlicensed employee in question is not pop singer Rihanna.  
  
MTV reports a Health Department inspector was sent to investigate Rihanna at East Side Ink after receiving a tip from a celebrity media outlet. However, once arriving on site, the inspector did not find Rihanna. Instead, the inspector discovered another unlicensed tattoo artist. The tattoo parlor owner, Yadira, explains the whole Rihanna incident as innocent. Rihanna did not intentionally visit to administer tattoos or to learn how to do tattoo work.