A New York tattoo parlor was fined last week, when the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene cited them after Rihanna was photographed tattooing some of the shop’s employees in July.
According to New York’s Daily News, East Side Ink in Manhattan was cited because they allowed the singer to tattoo within their business without a license.
“Only licensed tattoo artists can administer tattoos in the city, according to the City’s Health Code,” the Department said after learning of the incident.
The fine could range anywhere from $200-$2,000, an official told the paper.
“[Rihanna was] not necessarily getting tattoo lessons. She came by originally to say ‘hi,’ and she ended up tatting BangBang,” East Side Ink owner Yadira told MTV News in July, adding that the singer gave the tattoo artist an “R” on his leg. After one tattoo, Ri Ri started to tat the shop’s other artists.
“Josh Lord got an ‘R’ with ‘2’ on his leg, and Patrick Conlon got an ‘R3’ on his arm,” Yadira said. “She hadn’t done that before… We had a blast. It was so funny and cute.”
In March, Rihanna made headlines when she got some ink from BangBang–two tiny handguns, which some felt were a message to Chris Brown, following their highly-publicized fight.
“I think it’s very empowering, very protective,” BangBang told E! News of the tattoo. “I think the gun is very strong and very powerful.”