Rising Nigerian singer Shoday has ignited heated debate online after declaring that people without substantial wealth have no business getting tattoos, insisting financial milestones must come first before body ink.
In a viral video clip from his radio session with Max FM, the artist shared his personal philosophy on delayed gratification and lifestyle choices, arguing that tattoos should only follow serious financial security.
“I believe that if someone doesn’t have a certain amount of money, he shouldn’t have any tattoos. I have money now but I haven’t gotten to the threshold where I can allow myself draw a tattoo,” Shoday stated.
He doubled down dramatically:
“Personally, I don’t think it makes sense to have a tattoo while driving a car of 100 million—to me, you’re a poor man.”
Shoday explained that he has set a personal money target before considering any tattoo, positioning the decision as a marker of true financial readiness rather than impulsive spending.
His comments have divided netizens sharply. While some praised his mindset of prioritizing financial goals and discipline before luxury or self-expression choices, many others slammed it as elitist, classist, or disconnected from personal and cultural reasons for tattoos. Critics argued that body art holds deeper meaning beyond bank balances and that even high earners sometimes choose not to ink their skin.
Many young fans related to the idea of delaying gratification, while others called it a “poor mentality” disguised as wisdom.