AITAH for turning down this client for a tattoo?
I (32M) had an overweight client (F) come in and argue with me about how I discriminated against her, because I refused to tattoo her.
Our combined weight was over the chair limit. I know I need to get a better chair to be more inclusive. It’s finically not a good time for the upgrade.
I had explained this to her multiple times. She wasn’t understanding that I have to add a portion of my weight to hers.
I told her that another artist in the shop had a chair and that they would be able to tattoo her. She cried. She wanted my art on her body. I said that’s cool that she likes my art and she could still get my art tattooed on her. I don’t mind letting other artists use my art to please a client.
She asked why I couldn’t just use my coworkers space. I told her that the space isn’t mine and that although she is more inclusive for clients with her chair that her work station area was too small for me and my interpreter. I am deaf. It would be a safety issue for us to not be able to communicate.
She said I was disgusting for discriminating against her especially since I’m deaf and know how hard it is to have a disability.
Now maybe this makes me an AH but I didn’t view her as having a disability. Her weight didn’t interfere with her walking in this shop and her breathing is normal.
I said sorry but I gave her the only option I’m willing to work with and she turned it down.
I try to be inclusive. I don’t charge more like artists do for materials being used. It’s wrong to do and unnecessary to pinch those pennies. I was even going to talk to the other artists about me covering the “fat tax”.
Am I wrong for refusing to exceed a chair’s weight limit for safety reasons?”
