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'I'm addicted': Mum made to watch child's nativity through a window because of face tattoos speaks to LBC
22 December 2022, 19:41 | Updated: 22 December 2022, 19:50
Tattooed mum tells Tom Swarbrick she was 'shocked' she was refused a seat at her child's nativity
"I won't stop for no one": Melissa Sloan was kicked out of her child's school play for her heavily tatted appearance, but tells LBC she "can't stop" getting more tattoos because it's "addictive".
"It's my face my body my life", heavily tatted mum Melissa Sloan told Tom Swarbrick.
The mother claims to have been refused a seat at her child's school nativity, due to her appearance.
Tom Swarbrick brought Melissa onto the show to get insight into her life as a person presenting an alternative image.
She said since the story hit the papers she said she has experienced "more discrimination online [and] on TikTok".
"It's getting worst" she declared but explained that she "expects" it. "I have it all the time [so] I just stay in the house," she told Tom.
Melissa said she finds herself in hostile environments constantly, as she detailed being turned away from a pub and treated rudely by staff whilst her daughter was in the hospital.
Her experience at her child's nativity "shocked" her she said explaining how she had to watch her child's nativity from a recording her partner took.
Melissa Sloan says she was shunned at a hospital because of her tattoos
Acknowlging the religious nature of a Nativity and the upside down crucifixes tattooed on the mother's face, Tom asked:
"On your forehead you have a collection of crucifixes and some of them are turned upside down - the suggestion is that they might be related to something satanic. What do they mean to you?"
"I was getting people staring and everything so I thought I'll put crosses on to keep 'em away. Keep the haters away." came Melissa's reply.
"I may as well go for the full monty," she said.
Tom Swarbrick: "I just wondered whether for a school nativity play having a mum in there whose got a satantic symbol on her forehead maybe that's why they deemed it appropriate [to kick her out]"
She assured Tom she doesn't worship the devil.
Listen to Tom Swarbrick's show every weekday from 4pm on Global Player.
Melissa Sloan is 'addicted' to getting tattoos saying upside-down crosses are to 'keep haters away'
The mother revealed that she had three layers of tattoos on her face:
"I keep going over and over again, it's addictive I can't stop... my body's all covered. People can't understand why I keep doing it to myself but it's like having a drink or a fag, it's an addiction.
"I won't stop for no one."
"I love it" she said "I feel complete... I love being me".
Melissa doesn't go to a tattoo studio to complete her look her partner does it, she confessed: "He doesn't really want to do it but I make him do it."
Watch the full interview on Global Player.
Melissa Sloan triggered varying opinions from our listeners:
'Her face is the stuff of nightmares!'
— LBC (@LBC) December 22, 2022
This caller says if someone with a tattooed face sat next to her she 'would move to another seat' calling a heavily tatted mother 'hideous'.@TomSwarbrick1 pic.twitter.com/0mtxCdPhfa
'What does she expect turning up to a Christian play with demonic symbols on her face?'
— LBC (@LBC) December 22, 2022
'I don't think it's fair to judge someone on their appearance, she's there to support her child.'
These callers clash after taking opposing views on heavily tattooed mum.@TomSwarbrick1 pic.twitter.com/Z5uvQFrtEg