A woman has faced backlash on Reddit after making fun of her brother’s tattoo tribute to his late best friend. In a post on the “Am I the A——” forum, she shared that her brother, aged 30, lost his childhood best friend this past year. They had often joked about getting matching tattoos when they were together, and now her brother wants to honor that bond with a memorial tattoo.
He sent her a picture of his initial design, which features two life rings connected by a rope. This design is meant to symbolize their close friendship, as both were passionate about sailing. However, the woman quickly spotted what she felt was a major issue—it somewhat resembled a phallic shape. She wrote, “I just saw a nautical themed penis.”
After her reaction, her brother became upset. She recounted, “When I laughed and asked him if he was serious he got really mad at me and now won’t respond to my texts.” Her husband also noted that while the design had its flaws, she should have kept her feelings to herself, especially considering how important this tattoo was for her brother.
In the comments of her post, many users believed she could have approached the situation with more sensitivity. Suggestions ranged from offering honest but tactful advice to working together with her brother to refine the design without mocking his grief. One commenter summarized the sentiment perfectly: “Honesty without tact is cruelty.”
Following the feedback, the woman acknowledged her mistake and shared that she had apologized to her brother. In a heartfelt update, she said, “I see I was definitely [the a——] and could have gone about it another way.” She hoped to be supportive, whatever decision her brother made regarding the tattoo design moving forward.
