In June, Gypsy Freeman was declared the winner of an Instagram contest sponsored by Kat Von D Beauty. However, hours after Freeman was announced as the winner of the contest, she received a message from the former "LA Ink" star herself, stating that Freeman had been disqualified because of social media posts showing support for Donald Trump.
The message received by Freeman, according to The Wichita Eagle, stated that the celebrity tattoo guru had decided to "draw a personal line" between herself and anyone who openly supports the president. Kat Von D added that her brand celebrates the very things that Trump is against.
A screenshot of the message provided by Freeman to The Wichita Eagle reads:
"I personally have a hard time with inviting anyone who would support such an anti-feminist, anti-homosexual/LGBT, anti-immigrant, and anti-climate change fascist such as Trump.”
Freeman responds with class
Even though Freeman had just been personally stripped of a prize package valued at over $2,000 by the contest's sponsor, she replied with class, stating that she understood the decision and wished Kat Von D the best.
But the former TLC reality show superstar wasn't quite finished with her anti-Trump rant, choosing to fire off another reply in which she said that she finds it "borderline impossible" to associate with anyone who supports Trump, Hitler, or any other "fascist."
The Wichita Eagle reported on Friday that Kendo Holdings, the parent company of Kat Von D's makeup brand, has not returned any of its messages or phone calls.
Freeman, an accomplished professional makeup artist who has used Kat Von D's products for years, said that she will no longer use those products in her makeup kit. She also plans to file a complaint with sephora, the beauty retailer who co-sponsored the contest.
From the tattoo parlor to the corporate boardroom
Kat Von D, whose struggles with alcohol addiction and tumultuous relationships with Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx and reality star Jesse James made her a tabloid and gossip column mainstay, has transitioned from pierced and tattooed "bad girl" to bona fide entrepreneur and businesswoman.
In 2008 she launched a vegan makeup line for Sephora, followed by the launch of a clothing line in 2011. In 2016, she earned the "Compassion in Action Award" from the animal rights organization Farm Sanctuary.
She is best known, however, for her stint on the long-running television series "LA Ink," which takes viewers behind the scenes of a Los Angeles tattoo parlor.
The show was a spin-off of "Miami Ink," which ran for six seasons on TLC -- four of which featured Kat Von D.
It remains to be seen whether Kat Von D's decision to strip a contest winner of a prize over political beliefs will go down as a brilliant marketing gimmick or a monumental business blunder reminiscent of Nordstrom.
In February, luxury retailer Nordstrom faced a wave of customer backlash over its decision to drop Ivanka Trump's fashion line, sending its stock prices tumbling by more than ten percent. Many believed that the company's decision to drop the line was based on an internal anti-Trump memo sent to Nordstrom employees, blasting the president for his executive order on immigration.