Popular makeup and tattoo artist Kat Von D recently spoke out after sharing with the world that she’d been baptized at her small church in Vevay, Indiana. Von D, whose full name is Katherine von Drachenberg, publicly professed her faith in Jesus one year after turning away from the occult and witchcraft.
In July 2022, Von D wrote in an Instagram post that she was giving up her interest in the “macabre,” saying, “It’s never been more clear to me that there is a spiritual battle taking place, and I want to surround myself and my family with love and light.” In a video posted to her Instagram, the 41-year-old said that, for now, she doesn’t plan to speak too much about her burgeoning faith because it’s new, and she wants to grow her relationship with God without being weighed down by the burden of the public eye.
However, she said she would likely share her testimony on an upcoming podcast episode with Christian and conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey, whom she described as a friend. Von D said, “I don’t really feel equipped to be the poster child for Christianity. I think that I’m still learning and, as I do, I will become more equipped, but, for the time being, I feel like — I’ve never really been that, and I don’t plan on doing that.”
The former “LA Ink” star shifted her focus to talking about the reactions she received to her baptism, describing the response to her new faith as “overwhelmingly beautiful.” She said, “Me and my husband and my son, we’d go out to go get lunch throughout the week, and people would just come out of nowhere wanting to give me a hug and congratulate me and welcome me to the family, which I love, and it’s been pretty awesome.”
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Still, Von D said she anticipated more backlash, as most of her fanbase isn’t Christian. The tattoo artist said, “But this is where I’m at and, to me, my baptism was a public demonstration of where I stand with my faith and basically letting people know that I’m not ashamed. And so that’s why I really wanted to share it with people. And if there was anyone out there that felt like they were at a crossroads and don’t feel like you fit in — because I don’t feel like I fit in anywhere now, or that I ever have, to be honest — you’re not alone.”
To her surprise, Von D noted that most of the criticism she received online was from social media users who identified as Christians rather than her atheist followers. She said, “It was really the Christians who were the worst. It was really just sad to see this critical display of judgment from Christians, and I don’t understand what would inspire that, aside from something that’s more egoic [sic], because that isn’t Christlike, to judge people or judge people’s journey. You would think that most Christians would be happy for you when you come to this point in your life, especially when you get baptized.”
Much of the criticism, Von D explained, centered on how she dresses, predominately in black with dark makeup. “I think it’s really insane that we live in a time where people still judge a book by its cover,” she said, joking, “I wasn’t aware that there’s a uniform that you’re supposed to wear once you give your heart to Jesus.”
She also addressed those critical of how she was baptized, noting the criticisms of every detail of the service miss the point of the action. “I didn’t get baptized to be saved,” Von D said. “I was already saved. And I didn’t get baptized to make it about me; it was never about me.” Despite the critical comments she received from strangers on social media, the celebrity said she loves them “no matter what, even if you don’t like what you’re seeing or the things I’m saying.”