A Viral Tiktok Alleges That A Tattoo Artist Took Upskirt Photos Of An 18-Year-Old
The Newtown studio can now confirm the alleged tattoo artist no longer works for them.
A Newtown tattoo parlour has announced one of its staff members has left after a sexual harassment video surfaced on TikTok overnight.
The viral clip, which has subsequently been taken down by TikTok this afternoon on bullying and harassment grounds, captures a tattoo artist showing off an upskirt photo he took without consent of a then-18-year-old female client in October 2019.
The King Street Tattoo employee has been identified as Simon Strelein who at the time of the incident was 40-years-old.
El, the poster, told Junkee she shared the video nearly two years on because she recently found out Strelein was still working at King Street Tattoo despite going to court over his actions.
“I thought, men get away with a lot of stuff so why should he get away with this?” she said.
She described the night being her first ever time in the busy suburb of Newtown and deciding to get a spontaneous tattoo with a friend to commemorate turning 18.
While flicking through some options, a woman came up to her and told her Strelein had been bending down to take pictures up her skirt, El told Junkee.
In the Tiktok, Strelein was seen confirming the picture was taken on his phone, and being told by El to delete it.
Upon being asked why he would take a photo like that, he replied: “it was pretty funny”.
El films herself trying to smash his phone before police officers show up to question Strelein.
“At the end of the day, it’s still sexual harassment whether it was a joke or in a sexual manner,” El told Junkee.
“A grown man shouldn’t be taking pictures up a young girl’s skirt.”
A second TikTok posted without music captures the same conversation as the deleted video:
Before it was deleted, the original video had gotten over 120,000 views and nearly 21,000 likes.
NSW Police confirmed to Junkee that Inner West police officers charged Strelein at the time with intentionally recording intimate images without consent.
He appeared at Newtown Local Court two months later and his last court appearance was at Downing Centre District Court in June last year.
Over 60 people took to Google to hand the parlour a one star rating on their business listing in the last 24 hours.
“We acknowledge and respect the concerns that have been expressed regarding Simon Strelein’s behaviour,” King Street Tattoo wrote in a statement on Instagram.
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“We do not condone his actions in any way, and we apologise for the distress this has caused.”
They announced today that Strelein is no longer employed at the tattoo parlour. He had worked at King Street Tattoo since 2010 and it is unclear if he was let go, or decided to leave on his own terms.
King Street Tattoo were criticised online for blocking users and disabling comments in the wake of the TikTok video.
“In regards to the delayed response on our end, we were not fully aware of the actions made on the night in question. This has all come to light over the last 24 hours and we would like to apologise for not taking actions sooner,” they wrote.
“We sincerely appreciate the feedback we have been given and ask that respect be given to the other staff who were not aware or involved.”
“[Strelein] needs to face the consequences because so many men don’t get called out for their behaviour and that’s why it continues to happen,” El said to Junkee.
King Street Tattoo did not respond to Junkee’s request for comment.