Christians ‘Were the Worst’—Kat Von D Responds to Criticism About Her Baptism

The artist noted that the majority of her followers are not Christians and that Christianity is “a turn off to a lot of people,” some of whom might be triggered by bad experiences. “I know that everybody’s on their own journey and it’s not for everybody,” she 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.”

“I don’t feel like I fit in anywhere now or that I ever have, to be honest,” Von D said. She hopes that people who feel similarly will look at her experience and know that they “are not alone.” She implied that people have in fact already been encouraged and have privately messaged her, sharing their experiences.

However, said Von D, “there was this other side of the response that was just so awful.” She expected that people expressing hate toward her for her baptism would be those who are against religion or Christianity, and while she did receive some criticism from that quarter, “it was really the Christians who were the worst.”

Von D expected the majority of Christians to be happy for her because baptism is “so beautiful” and the day of her baptism was “one of the most important days of my life.” So it was “strange,” she said, that certain Christians would “come at me in such a public way.”

“It was just really sad to see this critical display of judgment from Christians,” said Von D. “And I don’t understand what would inspire that aside from something that’s more egoic because that isn’t Christlike.”

A number of people accused Von D of “faking it,” calling her baptism a “PR stunt to get clicks and follows.” This claim is “so weird,” said the artist, because her Instagram is not monetized. “I don’t get paid for how many views I get.” 

What’s more, most of her followers “are probably more turned off by my decision than actually rooting for me.” Many are supportive, but “it was a big decision to come out and share that with the world.”

Von D said she “was expecting a lot of negativity coming from my existing fans and followers and friends, and although I got a little bit, it was not anything compared to the criticisms that I got from Christians.”

The artist went on to address several specific critiques she received, one of which had to do with her appearance and that of her friends. “I think it’s really insane that we live in a time where people still judge a book by its cover,” Von D said. “I wasn’t aware that there’s a uniform that you’re supposed to wear once you give your heart to Jesus.”

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