The Real Reason You Don't Hear About Kat Von D Anymore

Kat Von D is one of the most famous tattoo artists in the world; even people without tattoos are familiar with her work. Von D, whose real name is Katherine von Drachenberg, first found fame on the reality show "Miami Ink" before starring in her own spinoff "L.A. Ink," which ran for four seasons from 2007 to 2011 (via IMDb). Elsewhere, Von D has dabbled in makeup by creating her own beauty line, released books (via Amazon), and even turned her attention to music. 

However, despite the fact that she's pretty well-known in Hollywood, Von D has taken a very noticeable step back from the spotlight in recent years. She's withstood several major controversies while getting married and becoming a mother. Understandably, these life changes have given the beloved tattoo artist reason to reconsider her rock 'n' roll lifestyle. Did Von D decide to live a more private life because of the near-constant backlash to which she was subjected, or was it simply the right time for her to step back? 

In January 2020, after 11 successful years in the makeup industry, Kat Von D shockingly revealed that she was selling the brand she founded, Kat Von D Beauty. During an appearance on the "Second Life" podcast, via Seventeen, the tattoo artist admitted that the move came about because she no longer felt welcome in the beauty industry. "It's been 11 years and I am proud of what we've done, but I think that the beauty industry is changing so much and for a moment there I felt like I did find my place in an industry and then I think the older I get, I realize that I don't know if I fit into it anymore," she explained.

Von D went on to rail against influencers for "continually telling you that you have to buy and if you don't, you're not cool or whatever it is — or hey, this is what beauty looks like." She also admitted, "It kind of throws me back to how I felt when I was a kid." However, several influencers pointed to Von D's many controversies over the years, including naming a lipstick "Selektion" after a Nazi practice and choosing to photograph an African-American model in front of a cotton field, as the real reason why she's no longer welcome.

It took a long time for Kat Von D to find true love following highly publicized relationships with the likes of Jesse James and Deadmau5, but when she started dating musician Rafael Reyes in 2017, everything changed. As Cheat Sheet notes, the two tied the knot rather quickly in 2018 and welcomed their son, Leafar, the same year. As a result, Von D is more focused on her home life than the celebrity side of things, taking to social media to confirm that she was taking a step back to be a more present mother and wife. Likewise, after selling her beauty company, she pivoted to music and even created a vegan shoe line.

In August 2021, Von D gushed to The Washington Post about her debut album, a collection of synthwave songs the former tattoo artist seems immensely proud of. Von D also made it clear that she's the master of her own destiny, stating firmly, "I didn't get canceled. I didn't lose my makeup line because of a comment I said on Instagram. I sold it and cashed out while I could, but I think it makes for a juicier story. The media tends to really, like, sink their teeth into that kind of stuff ... It can be damaging." 

Meanwhile, according to Reyes, despite his wife taking a step back from the public eye, they're still approached by fans everywhere they go.