(OPINION) Celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D shocked many earlier this month when she revealed that she had been baptized. However, not everyone was supportive of her decision to announce her newfound Christian faith. One person defending the tattoo artist’s transformation is BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey.
Kat Von D – whose real name is Katherine von Drachenberg – announced on an Instagram video earlier this month that she had been baptized. She shared footage of her singing in the choir of the Switzerland Baptist Church in Vevay, Indiana.
However, despite most responses to her announcement being “overwhelmingly beautiful,” some people have been critical of Kat Von D converting to Christianity.
“Me and my husband and my son, we’d go out to go get lunch throughout the week and people would just come out of nowhere wanting to give me a hug and congratulate me and welcome me to the family, which I love, and it’s been pretty awesome,” Kat Von D began.
“But this is where I’m at and, to me, my baptism was a public demonstration of where I stand with my faith and basically letting people know that I’m not ashamed,” the “L.A. Ink” star stated.
“And so that’s why I really wanted to share it with people. And if there was anyone out there that felt like they were at a crossroads and don’t feel like you fit in — because I don’t feel like I fit in anywhere now, or that I ever have, to be honest — you’re not alone.”
Kat Von D said that it wasn’t her atheist followers who attacked her over the baptism, but rather people who identified themselves as Christians.
“It was really the Christians who were the worst,” she said. “It was really just sad to see this critical display of judgment from Christians, and I don’t understand what would inspire that, aside from something that’s more egoic [sic], because that isn’t Christlike, to judge people or judge people’s journey. You would think that most Christians would be happy for you when you come to this point in your life, especially when you get baptized.”
“Baptism is so beautiful and it’s such a big landmark in time — for me, at least, if was one of the most important days of my life, so it’s strange that these handful of negative, critical Christians would come at me in such a public way,” she declared.
“I think it’s really insane that we live in a time where people still judge a book by its cover,” Kat Von D proclaimed. “I wasn’t aware that there’s a uniform that you’re supposed to wear once you give your heart to Jesus.”
Some critics have accused Kat Von D of using the baptism as a PR stunt. “I didn’t get baptized to be saved. I was already saved. And I didn’t get baptized to make it about me; it was never about me,” Drachenberg noted.
Kat Von D noted, “I don’t feel equipped to be the poster child for Christianity. I think that I’m still learning and, as I do, I will become more equipped. But for the time being, I feel like I’ve never really been that and I don’t plan on doing that.”
The tattoo artist noted that she would likely give her first interview explaining her decision to get baptized with podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey – whom she considers a friend. Stuckey hosts the “Relatable” podcast.
