BRUSSELS - A Belgian teenager who had 56 stars tattooed on the side of her face admitted that she had lied about knowing what happened because she was afraid of her father's reaction, British media reported.
Kimberley Vlaeminck told a Dutch TV crew that she made up the whole story because her father became angry after he saw her star-covered face, The Telegraph reported on Monday.
The 18-year-old initially claimed she had fallen asleep during the procedure, and woke up in pain when her nose was being tattooed.
Vlaeminck had told police she emerged from a tattoo parlor with 56 stars over one side of her face, rather than the three she had asked for. She even threatened to sue tattoo artist, Rouslan Toumaniantz, for the thousands she needed for laser surgery to have them removed.
She blamed the Flemish-speaking tattooist for not understanding her French and English instructions.
But she told Dutch TV this week, "I asked for 56 stars and initially adored them. But when my father saw them, he was furious."
The tattoo artist also said Vlaeminck had agreed to 56 stars.
"She agreed, but when her father saw it, the trouble started," Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws quoted the man as saying.
Vlaeminck said she wanted to keep the tattoos on her forehead but would have the rest removed.
And for Toumaniantz?
Toumaniantz, who is covered from head to toe in tattoo artistry, said the only thing he was disappointed in was having an unhappy client.
"I don't regret it. To tell you the truth, this has given me some publicity," Toumanaintz told The Telegraph.
He will now require written consent from clients before any procedure, he said.
