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‘I Was Totally Prepared To Douse My Face In Acid:’ Ex-Skinhead Gets His Racist Tattoos Removed After Becoming A Dad
Meet Bryon Widner, a former – in his own words – borderline sociopath who was full of hate and had an insatiable lust for violence.
Image credits: AP
He became a skinhead at the age of 14, and he spent 16 years involved with racist organizations in the midwest. He earned the nickname of pit bull, and went on to co-found Vinlanders Social Club, a white power group in Indiana.
Vinlanders soon gained a reputation for excessive violence and racia ldiscrimination, becominf one of the fastest-growing neo-nazi organizations in the US.
Image credits: AP
In 2005, Widner married Julie Larsen and a year later, the couple had a son. The responsibilities of fatherhood gave Widner the desire to reform and leave the racist movement, a desire shared by his new wife.
Image credits: AP
Widner decided to leave the neo-nazi group, but it took years of death threats and harassment before he felt that he was finally becoming “human again.”
Image credits: AP
Widner’s attempts to become part of regular society were understandably made more difficult by his many face tattoos, which were both intimidating and openly racist. His wife Julie was afraid that he would do something extreme to erase his gang tattoos, so depressed and desperate he was becoming.
“I was totally prepared to douse my face in acid,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press.
Image credits: AP
Image credits: AP
Julie eventually contacted Daryle Lamont Jenkins, an anti-racist activist, who put her in contact with the Southern Poverty Law Center.
After several weeks of meetings and evaluation, SPLC representatives decided that Widner was sincere in his desire to fully reintegrate into society and agreed to help him to remove his facial tattoos. They found a plastic surgeon who was willing to perform the tattoo removal, and an anonymous donor provided $35,000 for the procedures.
Image credits: AP
Image credits: AP
The complete removal of Widner’s facial tattoos took around a year and a half, and he had to endure over a dozen individual procedures, all of them were excruciatingly painful.
Dr. Bruce Shack, chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, told Widner that the removals “would feel like you have the worst sunburn in the world, your face will swell up like a prizefighter, but it will eventually heal.”
“This is not going to be any fun.”
Image credits: AP
It often took days for the burns and oozing blisters to heal, before he was ready for the next round under the laser. But Widner was determined to do the right thing by his new family, and he kept on going back for the agonizing laser tattoo removal procedures until only some scarring remained.
Image credits: AP
Widner has since become the subject of a documentary that chronicles his story of redemption, called Erasing Hate. As well as this, a feature film called Skin was recently released and is a dramatized version of his story, starring Billy Elliot actor Jamie Bell as the reformed neo-nazi.
Image credits: AP
Having thrown out everything to do with his racist past, Widner has now covered up his remaining racist body tattoos and hopes that his story can inspire others. In a time of increasing hatred and division, if just one angry young teenager on the verge of becoming a skinhead changes his mind after seeing his suffering, that is a victory for Widner.
Speaking to Bored Panda, he offered the following words of advice:
“You do not owe anyone anything, please take a step back, and realize this world will always fight back. Before throwing your life away, quit digging your own grave, and know that hate has consequences.”
It’s never too late to choose love over hate and if Bryon Widner can do it, anyone can!
RELATED:
Here’s what people had to say about Widner’s transformation
What do you think ?
Foxxy 5 years ago (edited)
If I remember rightly, I saw him on a doco or news source and he pretty much said the pain of having his tattoos removed he deserves because of the pain he has caused others. Some say that people can’t change but people change everyday, so it can be done. I wish him and his family the best and he continues down the better path.
Daria Z 5 years ago
His wife must have seen something good in him from the start. I'm sure his family's support was what motivated him to change, both internally and externally. Good story and happy ending :D
Foxxy 5 years ago
She met him at a white supremist rally. But they now have both changed.
Load More Replies...
Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
Whatever the reason may be, it's wonderful to see someone learning a positive lesson, and making a positive change. It will *never* undo past mistakes... but it *can* be a wonderful inspiration for others who are at a fork in the road or whether to chose hate or acceptance. I wish them all the best, and hope that those negatively affected by his past, can take some modicum of solace in the knowledge that he's learned his lesson & is trying to do better. May we all try to do better.
Eric Lambrecht 5 years ago
It takes a strong person to say they're sorry and an even stronger person to forgive. No, he cannot change his past mistakes. But he can lock away that past, and sink it to the lowest depths, and start over
Load More Replies...
Unicornstar 5 years ago
Best of luck to him. I hope he spends the rest loving instead of hating.
Bored Alchemist 5 years ago
This man proves that it's not to late to change in any form, no matter how long or painful the process is
Kjorn 5 years ago
i'm pretty sure that for him redemption was painfull, but the reward certainly Worth it
JinxBox 5 years ago
It's never too late to change. Many people in the comments are referring to the past. The past is way gone, we all have the right to stop being the person we were just five minutes ago. Mercy and peace. What this guy was is no more, let's celebrate this new man witouht judgement (sorry fir the typos, I live way up scandinavia...)
K C 5 years ago
To those of you who feel bad for the pain he went through, DON'T. He CAUSED more pain to those who had to see those tats and deal with his "former" racist self. If he changed, great. That makes me more than happy. But lets not give credit to someone for doing what they should do....
Foxxy 5 years ago
I don’t see anyone on here who feels bad for the pain he went through. Even he himself says he deserved the pain for all the pain he has caused others.
Load More Replies...
Dorothy Parker 5 years ago
...and a little child shall lead them. Very moving and shows what the innocence of a child can accomplish. I wish this family peace and joy.
Leo H 5 years ago
But if he was a violent sociopath...how does removing facial tats solve that problem.. Isn't he still mentally unstable
Foxxy 5 years ago
He wasn’t diagnosed as a sociopath, he said he was “borderline sociopath” but that was in his own words because of everything he has done. Doesn’t mean he actually is a sociopath.
Load More Replies...
Mona Khadra 5 years ago
It's nice to know ppl can change for the better in this society. Especially for someone growing up in white power hate group. Like "American History X" I love that movie.
Bluebell Rizzi 5 years ago
I'm just gonna throw this out there - you can't be a "former sociopath" Proud of him for changing though.
Marion Capriotti 5 years ago
True, but keep in mind, he didn't exactly have a formal diagnosis of sociopathy - he is just saying he was on a dangerous road to extremism and violence, and as a layperson, he used the word "sociopath" to describe what he was afraid of becoming.
Load More Replies...
Leo H 5 years ago
First off I'm not an expert but where on his face was anything racist?., is an arrow racist..is some bad tribal racist..he doesnt any neo nazi tats, no as tats, no white power tats
Heather Vardarsuyu 5 years ago
Yup. Possibly a very crudely drawn iron cross? Also maybe a half-assed unfinished swastika or wannabe rune? Why are these ppl never even white? Everyone should stop praising this nonsense.
Load More Replies...
Arno Nüüm 5 years ago
Don't know what to think about stories like this one. This guy wasn't just some dude who leaned a bit towards being racist, he was a 100 % convinced hardcore neonazi that seems to have devoted his entire life to racism and hate. And then he knocks up a girl and suddenly he's a whole different person? Hardly believable.
Ceredwyn Ealanta 5 years ago
As people say, depending on how you see a tree, you can see a massive, starving mad thing that only exists to steal water from everything around it, and to block out the sun and nutrients from it's fellows. So yeah, we could decide that a year and a half of agonising tattoo removal was 'suddenly' or the truth could be more complex than that. SPLC is a pretty reliable group.
Load More Replies...
Joann Wegman 5 years ago
Hope your heart matches your new look. With redemption comes hard trails of a good makeover. Inside & Out. Peace to you...
Blue Cicada 5 years ago
His story is a beautiful example of _how_ we make America great again. Not with hate, not with violence, but with understanding and compassion. With maturity and patience.
Brandy Grote 5 years ago
Kudos. If having a child could GUARANTEE that someone could and would step away from that sort of thinking, that would be grand. But we have seen the opposite, where other parents were glad to indoctrinate their babies into hate and intolerance.
Krystine Patterson 5 years ago
Check out the movie trailer, if it's accurate portrayal, then he has an incredible story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6g2VMnmFRk
Give me a beagle any day... 5 years ago
There was a really good looking, honorable, and noble man under that ink. Kudos to him! I know his wife and family must be so proud. And someday, when his son is old enough to understand, he will be AWED by his father.
Mark Fuller 5 years ago
Whatever the tatts represented, he looks a damn sight more attractive without them!
Konstantin Seleznev 5 years ago (edited)
He did not actually change, he wanted to change the prejudice for his child, which is a step in the right direction but not entirely overwhelming as the title says..unless i figured it all wrong in which case i appologize. Shouldnt have been involved in such a thing in a first place
ZombieGirl 5 years ago
Does it really matter how someone changes, as long as they change for the better?
Load More Replies...
Foxxy 5 years ago
Not everyone believes in God. Getting tattoos is generally self expression and nothing to do with a mental disorder.
Load More Replies...
Vicky Zar 5 years ago
Well look at Hitler! Big blond guy, right? ;) The biggest joke is, that he wasn't even German!
Load More Replies... 
Foxxy 5 years ago (edited)
It’s not just him that would suffer because of his face tattoos. His tattoos are offensive to many people so it would effect them. Their children can be bullied because of them, be encouraged by the messages the tattoos have. It would effect his employment so cant provide for his family and that’s just some of the reasons why he made the right choice to have them removed. He may have moved forward but doesn’t mean he moved on. We don’t know how he feels regarding what he has done. He even said he deserved the pain of getting the tattoos removed for all the hurt he has caused others.
Load More Replies...
Foxxy 5 years ago (edited)
If I remember rightly, I saw him on a doco or news source and he pretty much said the pain of having his tattoos removed he deserves because of the pain he has caused others. Some say that people can’t change but people change everyday, so it can be done. I wish him and his family the best and he continues down the better path.
Daria Z 5 years ago
His wife must have seen something good in him from the start. I'm sure his family's support was what motivated him to change, both internally and externally. Good story and happy ending :D
Foxxy 5 years ago
She met him at a white supremist rally. But they now have both changed.
Load More Replies... Pseudo Puppy 5 years ago
Whatever the reason may be, it's wonderful to see someone learning a positive lesson, and making a positive change. It will *never* undo past mistakes... but it *can* be a wonderful inspiration for others who are at a fork in the road or whether to chose hate or acceptance. I wish them all the best, and hope that those negatively affected by his past, can take some modicum of solace in the knowledge that he's learned his lesson & is trying to do better. May we all try to do better.
Eric Lambrecht 5 years ago
It takes a strong person to say they're sorry and an even stronger person to forgive. No, he cannot change his past mistakes. But he can lock away that past, and sink it to the lowest depths, and start over
Load More Replies... Unicornstar 5 years ago
Best of luck to him. I hope he spends the rest loving instead of hating.
Bored Alchemist 5 years ago
This man proves that it's not to late to change in any form, no matter how long or painful the process is
Kjorn 5 years ago
i'm pretty sure that for him redemption was painfull, but the reward certainly Worth it
JinxBox 5 years ago
It's never too late to change. Many people in the comments are referring to the past. The past is way gone, we all have the right to stop being the person we were just five minutes ago. Mercy and peace. What this guy was is no more, let's celebrate this new man witouht judgement (sorry fir the typos, I live way up scandinavia...)
K C 5 years ago
To those of you who feel bad for the pain he went through, DON'T. He CAUSED more pain to those who had to see those tats and deal with his "former" racist self. If he changed, great. That makes me more than happy. But lets not give credit to someone for doing what they should do....
Foxxy 5 years ago
I don’t see anyone on here who feels bad for the pain he went through. Even he himself says he deserved the pain for all the pain he has caused others.
Load More Replies... Dorothy Parker 5 years ago
...and a little child shall lead them. Very moving and shows what the innocence of a child can accomplish. I wish this family peace and joy.
Leo H 5 years ago
But if he was a violent sociopath...how does removing facial tats solve that problem.. Isn't he still mentally unstable
Foxxy 5 years ago
He wasn’t diagnosed as a sociopath, he said he was “borderline sociopath” but that was in his own words because of everything he has done. Doesn’t mean he actually is a sociopath.
Load More Replies... Mona Khadra 5 years ago
It's nice to know ppl can change for the better in this society. Especially for someone growing up in white power hate group. Like "American History X" I love that movie.
Bluebell Rizzi 5 years ago
I'm just gonna throw this out there - you can't be a "former sociopath" Proud of him for changing though.
Marion Capriotti 5 years ago
True, but keep in mind, he didn't exactly have a formal diagnosis of sociopathy - he is just saying he was on a dangerous road to extremism and violence, and as a layperson, he used the word "sociopath" to describe what he was afraid of becoming.
Load More Replies... Leo H 5 years ago
First off I'm not an expert but where on his face was anything racist?., is an arrow racist..is some bad tribal racist..he doesnt any neo nazi tats, no as tats, no white power tats
Heather Vardarsuyu 5 years ago
Yup. Possibly a very crudely drawn iron cross? Also maybe a half-assed unfinished swastika or wannabe rune? Why are these ppl never even white? Everyone should stop praising this nonsense.
Load More Replies... Arno Nüüm 5 years ago
Don't know what to think about stories like this one. This guy wasn't just some dude who leaned a bit towards being racist, he was a 100 % convinced hardcore neonazi that seems to have devoted his entire life to racism and hate. And then he knocks up a girl and suddenly he's a whole different person? Hardly believable.
Ceredwyn Ealanta 5 years ago
As people say, depending on how you see a tree, you can see a massive, starving mad thing that only exists to steal water from everything around it, and to block out the sun and nutrients from it's fellows. So yeah, we could decide that a year and a half of agonising tattoo removal was 'suddenly' or the truth could be more complex than that. SPLC is a pretty reliable group.
Load More Replies... Joann Wegman 5 years ago
Hope your heart matches your new look. With redemption comes hard trails of a good makeover. Inside & Out. Peace to you...
Blue Cicada 5 years ago
His story is a beautiful example of _how_ we make America great again. Not with hate, not with violence, but with understanding and compassion. With maturity and patience.
Brandy Grote 5 years ago
Kudos. If having a child could GUARANTEE that someone could and would step away from that sort of thinking, that would be grand. But we have seen the opposite, where other parents were glad to indoctrinate their babies into hate and intolerance.
Krystine Patterson 5 years ago
Check out the movie trailer, if it's accurate portrayal, then he has an incredible story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6g2VMnmFRk
Give me a beagle any day... 5 years ago
There was a really good looking, honorable, and noble man under that ink. Kudos to him! I know his wife and family must be so proud. And someday, when his son is old enough to understand, he will be AWED by his father.
Mark Fuller 5 years ago
Whatever the tatts represented, he looks a damn sight more attractive without them!
Konstantin Seleznev 5 years ago (edited)
He did not actually change, he wanted to change the prejudice for his child, which is a step in the right direction but not entirely overwhelming as the title says..unless i figured it all wrong in which case i appologize. Shouldnt have been involved in such a thing in a first place
ZombieGirl 5 years ago
Does it really matter how someone changes, as long as they change for the better?
Load More Replies... Foxxy 5 years ago
Not everyone believes in God. Getting tattoos is generally self expression and nothing to do with a mental disorder.
Load More Replies... Vicky Zar 5 years ago
Well look at Hitler! Big blond guy, right? ;) The biggest joke is, that he wasn't even German!
Load More Replies... Foxxy 5 years ago (edited)
It’s not just him that would suffer because of his face tattoos. His tattoos are offensive to many people so it would effect them. Their children can be bullied because of them, be encouraged by the messages the tattoos have. It would effect his employment so cant provide for his family and that’s just some of the reasons why he made the right choice to have them removed. He may have moved forward but doesn’t mean he moved on. We don’t know how he feels regarding what he has done. He even said he deserved the pain of getting the tattoos removed for all the hurt he has caused others.
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
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