RFK Jr. Sparks Backlash After Posting Image With Mike Tyson’s Controversial Māori-Inspired Tattoo
WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, ignited a wave of criticism after posting an image of himself featuring the distinctive Māori-inspired facial tattoo famously worn by former boxing champion Mike Tyson. The image, widely believed to be AI-generated, has drawn sharp rebukes for its apparent cultural insensitivity and for reigniting debates over appropriation of Indigenous symbols.
Tyson’s tattoo, inked in 2003, is based on traditional Māori tā moko, a sacred practice deeply embedded in the cultural identity and genealogy of the Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand). Tyson has publicly acknowledged the tattoo’s Māori inspiration, describing it as a tribute to ancient Indigenous warriors. However, experts and Māori advocates have long criticized the appropriation and misrepresentation of these tattoos, emphasizing that tā moko is a complex and closed cultural practice, not merely a symbol of aggression or battle readiness.
Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku, a Māori professor and author, previously condemned the tattooist who designed Tyson’s tattoo for lacking consultation with Māori communities and for claiming intellectual ownership over an Indigenous design. This controversy was reignited in 2011 when Warner Bros. faced a lawsuit for copyright infringement after featuring a similar tattoo on a character in “The Hangover Part II.” The case underscored the tensions around cultural appropriation and intellectual property rights concerning Indigenous art.
Kennedy’s decision to superimpose the tattoo on his own image has been widely viewed as tone-deaf, especially given his contentious history in the Pacific region. In 2019, Kennedy’s trip to Samoa drew international scrutiny after health officials linked his visit to a rise in anti-vaccine sentiment amid a deadly measles outbreak that claimed 83 lives, mostly children under five. Despite his repeated denials during Senate confirmation hearings that his trip was related to vaccines, recently obtained emails from the U.S. Department of State and United Nations staff revealed that vaccine safety concerns were indeed a motivating factor behind his visit.
These revelations have prompted multiple members of Congress to accuse Kennedy of misleading them and have intensified calls for his removal from office. The controversy surrounding the tattoo image only adds to the perception of insensitivity and disregard for Indigenous cultures and Pacific communities.
Critics argue that Kennedy’s actions reflect a broader pattern of disrespect toward Indigenous peoples and cultures, as well as a failure to acknowledge the serious consequences of his public health positions. The image has sparked discussions on social media and among Indigenous rights groups about the importance of cultural respect and the dangers of perpetuating stereotypes.
As the debate continues, Kennedy’s office has not responded to requests for comment regarding the tattoo image or the recent email disclosures. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the complex intersections between cultural heritage, public health policy, and political accountability in an increasingly interconnected world.
For more on the cultural significance of Māori tattoos, visit the New Zealand Ministry of Māori Development. Details on the measles outbreak in Samoa and the public health response can be found through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Congressional inquiries into Kennedy’s actions are documented at the U.S. Congress website.
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