It seems “Black Ink Crew: Chicago” star Ryan Henry is fed up with his earlier employees and friends.
Previously this season, Henry opened up a second 9MAG tattoo shop in Chicago and left the first one to his longtime friend and sometime enemy Van Johnson to manage. He hired a completely new staff for the second shop and left behind his longtime employees and friends who’ve ostensibly been there with him for years, including Charmaine Walker, Phor Brumfield and Don Brumfield.
The purpose of the 9MAG owner opening a second location was to implement rules and regulations the old 9MAG team seemingly had an issue with abiding by. He clearly assumed the crew would be happy with Johnson now in charge, but instead all chaos broke loose, even affecting the maintenance of the first shop.
During the cast’s Miami trip shown on this week’s episode, which included employees from both the new and old 9MAG shop, the employees from the original tattoo shop took their issues up with Henry, expressing they feel he’s somewhat abandoned the old shop. Walker in particular said she felt the entire brand of 9MAG was completely different than what she originally “fell in love” with, especially since there are now two different shops.
Henry wasn’t buying her tears and seemed completely fed up with his original employees seemingly having a problem with the way he did business.
“Don’t sit up here and act like in a sense that me doing what I have to do for business is wrong,” Henry told his teams at dinner, including Walker. “Yeah you loved 9MAG for what it was, but you fell in love with some bulls–t. We didn’t have no rules, we ain’t have no set, we didn’t have nothing. That s–t was destined to fall because it built on a bad foundation.”
He continued, “Yes, I got a whole new way that I run s–t, and it ain’t for everybody. … We ain’t no family and I have to bow down to no mutherf–king body. If you don’t like it, walk!”
“Black Ink Crew: Chicago” viewers clearly agreed with the 9MAG owner, even applauding him for going off on his cast mates.
“BOSS!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥 They could have taken heed to the changes and improved the way they handled the SHOP HE GAVE THEM!!! Sometimes your day ones are the reason why YOU’RE STILL STUCK AT DAY ONE. Good job Ryan!”
“He finally maned the f–k up he have a good heart he got a caring spirit I hate when his workers run over I get so mad now he’s the man with structure. I’m glad he learn his lesson as being a business man 🙌🏽.”
“I have to be on Ryan side. They still disrespected him. You don’t do it that disrespected boss like that. You can’t blame him, if I was on his shoe, I would have done Same. Just saying 🤷🏽♀️.”
Others felt indifferent.
“You cant decide to be a leader years after all the fu–k ups you participated in. This was a weak move on Ryan’s half and they all should walk. he was wrong af.”
“EXTRA..should’ve let them all go. Not look down at them now…ILL QUIT I’m disappointed in Ryan 🤷🏽♀️.”
