IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO ALL YOUNG WOMEN/PARENTS/PREVIOUS AND PRESENT CLIENTS/ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ANY KIND OF JUSTICE AGAINST PREDATORS SUCH AS DAVID DERUE OWNER OF TATTOO NOUVEAU IN DOWNTOWN LAKE ORION
I have finally had a moment to sit down. Thoroughly take a minute to rationally think and respond to current news in the tattoo industry, after grasping and yet again calming my anger against a
specific person and situation. As one of the unsurprisingly many MANY female artist/employees/future gallery artist who worked for a number of years at the shop Tattoo Nouveau at 18 north Broadway in downtown Lake Orion, also my home town. As a female tattoo artist in Michigan since 2009, with multiple shop experiences of many male coworkers, both creepy, disrespectful, predator male artist and some truly genuine, trustworthy men in this industry. Men who would protected me like a sister and who also considered women’s state of comfort greatly, cautiously and gently in the tattoo shops. Not to mention many of these good guys having young daughters of their own, shout out my homies, the REAL men!!� I feel it is my unquestionable responsibility to support all women who have bravely come forward with stories, honestly nightmares of the owner and artist David Derue. I have known Dave for much longer, working with him at a previous shop early in my career and while I was still very young, I believe 19-21. Now remembering and cringing on how adamant he was on getting me into the shop. Which now has brought me back to the past, trying to remember every encounter and odd moment or red flag I may have not noticed at the time. Sometimes as young women, even men seeking acknowledgment we are blinded by a lifestyle, passion, wants or dreams, unfortunately predators take advantage of this. Hearts full with all types of emotions and purity or even past trauma with abusive/controlling relationships. These predators feed off that. They say things they think they wish you need/want to hear or put you in a vulnerable/helpless position. Every woman has been in an uncomfortable position with a pig of a man, I’ll put money on that and I don’t gamble. Sometimes you can’t even work up the words or strength of defense over the shock of what just happened, especially when you are alone. My own personal encounters of Dave could fill a book alone, the multiple predators I’ve dealt with over the years would be a series of books. The women coming forward at this point honestly could have a Netflix series. It’s a double edged sword, reminders dug up from past traumas and finally emotions of joy and relief of a long time coming. I have also been informed that he has spread rumors of having to fire me because I was stealing and a pill addict, which in all honesty I do take a bit of offense when I have personally experienced a battle of addiction and recovery in the past, along with others alike. I’m sure there are other lies. It’s a common occurrence in this situation, a typical attack on someone to make himself look like the victim. I was loyal to the name of the shop me and my colleagues worked under also to my clients as long as I could be, trusted with nightly drops, a key to open/close and run the shop when he was not around, deposits, withdrawals, and running shop errands with large amounts of cash. Every single penny of change returned, including a receipt. Trust when I say I am an “exact change” type of person. I will share my side with no hesitation and complete honesty, I will proudly testify against him and support all who face this guy who I cannot even call a man. I have 3 witnesses the night I quit and I’m sure Oakland county police would remember. And honestly I never wanted to get police involved, but he had to call because he felt threatened although he slammed a door closed on my sisters arm. They were very familiar with Dave of Tattoo Nouveau. I had many loyal clients refuse, respectively, to come into the shop because he had made them uncomfortable or just gave off a bad vibe. They would return once I left, including multiple clients of his own. I am pretty patient, I consider myself humble, I avoid drama and do not post on many past experiences, but this needed to be done. Dave, all of the negative energy you’ve put out over the years has finally turned back on you. You broke women and some men down mentally, we recovered. You’ve stolen art, you owe so much money, many people have just counted it as a loss and lesson. We all have moved on to greater things after our encounters with you. Nobody ever has a good comment or experience that includes the name Dave Derue, usually a story of unprofessional dramatic episodes, discomfort, stolen art, not being payed for art in your galleries or compensated for time, public humiliation, ptsd. I’m sure much more I’m forgetting and sadly and worst of all being a predator of young GIRLS and women! The one thing myself and I would imagine others got from our experience in my opinion, was to beware of the man behind the black velvet curtain, it may look appealing, but there is a toxic tar of draining energy behind the glitz and glam
of your many platform shoes you wore as if you were Napoleon on his high horse, in what you thought you had control of us women. Surprise! Time to step down and face what you created. You had it all, an amazing crew of artist, a beautiful gallery, location, support of an up and coming tight community and town. You had it all, you became greedy/shady/caught up and so full of yourself YOU DUG YOUR OWN F**KING GRAVE! I marked the day I left on a calendar years ago, I hope to find it so I can know the exact days it took for karma to come knocking on your door and blow your weak ass straw house you built down. May this follow you wherever you go. When you contacted my Ma trying to turn her against her own daughter with lies. A daughter she birthed and knows more than anyone out there, she told you, the truth will one day be clear and come to the surface And it sure has, momma was right. You have pissed off an army of women, including the men that support these women and it is time for the truth to be told. You get what you dish out, I hope you enjoy this new chapter of life bud…joking of course��
- Marna Binkowski
