TikToker causes frenzy after revealing she paid $2,600 for fox tattoo sketch

A woman caused a frenzy after revealing on TikTok that she paid thousands of dollars for a tattoo sketch but was denied a refund from the artist when she decided not to go through with it.

Courtney Monteith, from Ontario, Canada, wanted a full sleeve tattoo on her arm of a fox surrounded by leaves and flowers. But all she got was a rough drawing that she said didn’t look like what she wanted and then lost $2,600.

In the video posted on May 10, Monteith explained that she consulted tattoo artist Lindsay Joseph of Lucid Tattoos, sent her samples and agreed to prepayments.

But when the sketch wasn’t how she wanted it to be, and the artist wanted more money to change it, which ultimately left her with no refund, Monteith said she felt ripped off.

She then turned to TikTok to share her nightmare experience, with her first video gaining over five million views and later dubbed #tattoogate.

She wanted a full sleeve tattoo on her arm of a fox surrounded by leaves and flowers (above), but what she got was a rough drawing that she said was nothing like what she wanted

Monteith told her followers she sent Joseph two photos of what she wanted her tattoo to look like: a full body image of an orange fox surrounded by various plants or butterflies.

Joseph agreed, and Monteith booked a consultation with her for a $180 non-refundable fee. During the consultation, Joseph explained her other fees — which social media users said were red flags.

The first option was to pay $1,500 for a concept sketch on which she could request one change, a second option $3,500 for a few changes, or $6,000 for multiple sketches, reviews, and changes, all plus tax.

Monteith chose the first option, paying more than $2,695, remaining “confident” that Joseph would design a beautiful piece for her.

But things started to go wrong for Monteith when she received the first sketch of the fox tattoo and it was nothing like what she asked for. She told her followers that she wanted the fox’s full body, as in the reference images she provided.

Monteith turned to TikTok to share her nightmare experience, with her first video gaining more than five million views and later dubbed #tattoogate

Lindsay Joseph of Lucid Tattoos has since made her accounts private after reportedly being inundated with bad reviews and death threats following the ordeal

When she emailed the artist for changes, Joseph refused to point out the pricing options and the fees she had agreed upon.

She explained that she would have to pay the difference between option one and option two – which was an additional $2,260.

“She said it was my fault it wasn’t clear I wanted a full fox,” said Monteith. “I don’t know how much clearer I could have been.”

The artist also reportedly emailed Monteith explaining that a tattoo of a full fox would have looked like the animal “flipped away when they get an itchy backside.”

A disappointed Monteith gave up her fox tattoo and asked for a refund. To her horror, Joseph refused.

‘No. I will not refund you anything, I have given you options to move forward, I have been kind and patient and have fulfilled my obligations to you thus far,” she wrote in a screenshot Monteith shared.

‘If you don’t want to move forward, that’s your choice, but I’m not giving you my time, expertise and creativity for nothing.’

When Monteith posted her story to TikTok, some social media users responded pointed out red flags that were evident from the start.

Monteith booked a consultation with Joseph for a $180 non-refundable fee and then Joseph explained her other fees — which social media users said were red flags

Tattoo artists, including award-winning tattoo artist Matt Vaught, have contacted Monteith to “make things right” by designing and tattooing Monteith.

“I am 70% covered in ink,” one person wrote. ‘I have never commissioned an artist for a concept or a consultation. RUUUUN!!’

There was also backlash against the tattoo artist when people flooded Google with bad reviews.

Joseph, who set her social media accounts to private, told Insider she had also received death threats over the ordeal, including messages “telling me my kids should die, my mom should get cancer, the list goes on” .

Several other people shared similar experiences across the country as part of the hashtag #tattoogate.

Tattoo artists, including award-winning tattoo artist Matt Vaught, have contacted Monteith to offer ‘make things right’ by designing and tattooing Monteith.

said Monteith Insider that she knew Vaught would do an “incredible job” on her tattoo.

“I’m overwhelmed with everything,” she said.

“But I will continue to post my journey on my TikTok page so that everyone who has been so supportive of me gets to see the amazing tattoo I’ve been hoping for.”