Indiana Teen Says She Was Left Alone to Perform Untrained Genital Piercing While Client’s Boyfriend Made Inappropriate Comments
INDIANA — An Indiana body piercer has gone viral after publicly stating she was a minor working in a family-owned tattoo shop when she was left alone to perform a genital piercing she had never been trained to do. The piercer also says a client’s significantly older boyfriend made inappropriate comments throughout the appointment, raising concerns about workplace safety and industry regulation.
The piercer, known online as Madam Mods (@madammodspiercing), described the incident in a TikTok video that has received more than 192,000 views. She says she was 16 or 17 years old and covering a shift when a customer arrived requesting a piercing typically performed only by experienced professionals.
Teen Says No Adult Was Present During Procedure
According to the piercer, her mentor and uncle — who normally supervised such procedures — was not on site. She said she had “no clue” how to perform the piercing and attempted to search online for guidance before bringing the client into the piercing room.
She stated that she had been instructed not to disclose her age to customers, leaving both the client and the client’s boyfriend unaware that she was a minor.
Boyfriend Allegedly Made Multiple Inappropriate Remarks
During the appointment, the piercer says the client’s boyfriend, who appeared to be decades older than the client, remained in the room. She reported that he made several inappropriate comments about the procedure and her involvement in it.
@madammodspiercing Another story time about that one shop 😅 #piercing #piercings #bodypiercer #piercingtok #bodymod
She alleges he suggested closing the piercing room door, described the situation as “the hottest thing” he had ever seen, and asked if she wanted to leave work early to have dinner with the couple.
The piercer said the client appeared uncomfortable and later apologized during a follow-up visit to change the jewelry.
Piercer Admits Procedure Should Not Have Taken Place
Madam Mods said she completed the piercing using incorrect tools and jewelry due to her lack of training. She has since stopped offering genital piercings and stated that her early experiences with them were unsafe for both clients and herself.
“No piercer should perform a first-time procedure on a paying client without disclosure,” she said, emphasizing that it is a health and safety issue.
She advised piercers to avoid charging clients during training situations and stressed the need for transparency.
Experts Warn About Health Risks
Medical experts note that genital piercings carry significant risks, including:
- Bacterial infections
- Bloodborne illnesses
- Abscesses
- Complications during childbirth
- Long healing times (up to one year)
These risks increase when piercings are performed by inexperienced practitioners or in unregulated environments. Many states, including Indiana, lack standardized training requirements for body piercing professionals.
Online Response Raises Concerns About Training and Oversight
Commenters on the video criticized the shop owners for leaving a minor unsupervised and questioned the lack of safeguards.
One viewer wrote, “The aunt and uncle are responsible for this. This was not okay.” Another stated, “I’m sorry multiple adults put you in this situation.”
Others praised the piercer for acknowledging the mistakes she made as a teen and for speaking publicly about the incident.
The tattoo shop involved has not responded publicly to the claims.
What’s your take — should states impose stricter training rules for tattoo and piercing shops to prevent minors from being put at risk? Share your thoughts and join the conversation at Chicagomusicguide.com.