9/6/2009

in

Rihanna came to say hello but ended up tattooing some workers in the parlor.

Domonique Hume

The East Side Ink tattoo parlor in New York was fined after Rihanna was spotted tattooing an umbrella and her initial "R" into some workers, back in July.  
  
When inspectors went to investigate the situation, Rihanna had already left, but they did find another unlicensed artist working.  
  
"Yes, a violation was issued to East Side Ink after an inspector found the parlor operating with an unlicensed tattoo artist on the site," the rep told MTV News. "All Health Code violations can range in fines between $200 and $2,000."  
  
The Citation stated that the fine has nothing to do with the Rihanna incident because the inspector got there after Rihanna left.  
  
"We got a call from a celebrity media outlet that Rihanna had been at the parlor and that she had been tattooing, but she was gone by the time the inspector got there," said department spokeswoman Celina De Leon. "But he did find a tattoo artist who was unlicensed operating there."  
  
The city's health code indicates that you have to be a properly qualified artist to tattoo.  
  
"\[Rihanna was\] not necessarily getting tattoo lessons. She came by originally to say 'hi,' and she ended up tatting BangBang," East Side Ink owner Yadira told MTV News in July, adding that the singer gave the tattoo artist an "R" on his leg.  
  
"I'd hire her. If her career doesn't work out, she's got a backup," artist Josh Lord told OK! Magazine at the time.  
  
Yadira added, "We had a blast. It was so funny and cute."  
  
Sources: [N.Y. Daily News](http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/09/06/2009-09-06_manhattan_tattoo_parlor_east_side_ink_fined_after_letting_rihanna_tattoo_several.html), [N.Y. Post](http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/manhattan/tat_too_bad_for_rihanna_iWeFcTibkFCZ0eegp9rESK), [MTV](http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1620802/20090904/rihanna.jhtml)