I absolutely loved Twisted Anchor for months since I got my tattoo here in May, so I am genuinely…read moredisappointed that I am now writing this review.
Brandon LeBouef tattooed me earlier this year. The tattoo itself is beautiful and has significant meaning to me as a domestic violence survivor. It represents freedom, generational survival, and reclaiming my body, and Brandon knew the meaning behind it.
After my appointment, Brandon contacted me from his personal number after shop hours to send me my completed tattoo photos. A few days later, he added me on Snapchat through my contacts, and communication between us moved outside of the normal shop/client setting.
Brandon later proposed an extensive additional body-reclamation tattoo project involving multiple areas of my body and a scar connected to my domestic violence history. He told me he would not accept payment for the project. We discussed body/reference photos, privacy and clothing considerations, multiple sessions, and the possibility of doing the work privately on his own time, including at his home.
On Saturday, October 17, I went into Twisted Anchor and asked to speak with Brandon. I was told he was tattooing someone. I did not interrupt him or cause a scene. I deliberately left because I was told he was working.
I remained in the public downtown area while waiting for a coworker who was meeting me there. That coworker did arrive and was genuinely interested in having tattoo work done. When we later returned to the shop, I was told that Brandon had "dipped out."
At no point while I was inside Twisted Anchor did staff ask me to leave. Later that evening, I received a message from Brandon's number telling me not to contact him again and not to return to his place of employment. The message characterized our history as though his interest had only ever been professional, stated that he had a girlfriend, and threatened legal action if he could not feel comfortable in his workplace. That was the first clear no-contact/no-shop boundary I had received throughout this entire situation.
After the situation escalated, I submitted a client complaint to Twisted Anchor. Instead of contacting me directly, someone associated with the business contacted an immediate family member of mine who had not previously been involved in my complaint.
I then emailed Twisted Anchor directly and clearly stated that this family member did not wish to be involved and that all questions and communications regarding my complaint should be directed to me. I had already provided my own callback number. Despite that written request, additional messages were sent to the same family member.
Those communications included serious characterizations of me involving "stalking, for lack of a better word," concerns regarding my mental health and safety, and claims regarding my behavior around the shop. The way management has handled me is questionable, they treated me as if I am an 18-year-old girl going to her family member for my "well-being", when in fact, I am a 29-year-old woman who is very capable of handling herself.
I provided Twisted Anchor with documentation supporting my complaint.
At this point, my complaint is no longer only about Brandon's conduct. It is also about the way Twisted Anchor handled my complaint after I brought it to the attention of the business.
Because of everything that has happened, I can no longer recommend this shop. Also, I still have not received any direct response from the business regarding my complaint. At this point if nothing is done, I will contact Mississippi State Department of Health about this.
Furthermore, if anyone would like a fuller context of this, there is a Facebook recommendation review on their official Facebook page.
