Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Joel Madden = Tattoo Criminal?

joelmadden.jpg
Well, it looks like Bobby Fisher's tattoo re-criminalization wish may be coming true after all. Earlier today, Good Charlotte's Joel Madden was forced to cover his tattoos before a British Airways crew would allow him to board a flight
Now, I spent a solid nine minutes (let's call it an even ten) reflecting on whether or not this deserves a post of its own, and even more time wrestling with having to link Twitter. But if it means I make a few enemies on this here interweb, then so be it. It's not my intention to give Mr. Madden and his merry band of tattooed popsters more press for being merry or tattooed. But the unbelievable discrimination imposed upon him by the staff at British Airways is inexcusable -- it's not simply in poor taste. Maybe they could have gotten away with it in previous decades, but no one (regardless of your opinion of them) should have to put up with that kind of prejudice.

The icing on this bigoted cake of intolerance, is that many of his tattoos are religious, featuring #1 good time party guy and embracer of outcasts Jesus "It's Okay If You're a Social Pariah" Christ. Let's hope British Airways was just experiencing a momentary lapse in judgement. I guess I won't be carrying on my Daniel O'Connell portrait any time soon.