As we previously reported, skateboarding legend Ed Templeton has released his latest pro board from Toy Machine that got all the religious skaters mad and some political skaters calling it Trump Derangement Syndrome.
The graphic, which shows a burning klansman, has been labeled by some as offensive while others are praising it for taking a stand. KKK sympathizers have criticized it heavily.
Despite the backlash, the board has not been abandoned. A good number of skaters are standing behind Templeton and even celebrating the fact that he is willing to take aim at racism in such a direct way.
For them, the burning klansman graphic is not just another deck design but a symbol that calls out hate.
That support has now moved beyond the skate shop. Tattoo artist Mykhael Harland recently tattooed the board graphic onto his client Chris Bridge.
The piece shows the burning klansman just like Templeton’s pro model and has instantly become a point of conversation in the community.
Harland shared the finished tattoo and it quickly gained attention, with some praising Bridge for wearing the design permanently while others questioned why anyone would want something so confrontational on their body.
Skaters who are into the message are calling it a strong way of showing that racism has no place in skateboarding. It is about turning a piece of skateboard art into something that travels with you every day.
On the other side, critics feel it is unnecessary and overly provocative, arguing that tattoos like this only keep hate imagery alive even if the intent is to mock it.
Templeton himself has not directly addressed the tattoo yet but his brand Toy Machine has already posted the art.
Love it or hate it, the tattoo proves that Templeton’s work still gets people talking.