A tattoo artist who confronted men hoisting a St George's Cross flag on a lamppost outside his home has said he has since received vile abuse. Adam Willett asked the men to stop hanging the flag after he spotted them near his home on Sunday, April 19.
The 35-year-old filmed the encounter, describing how he believes some have 'ulterior motives' rather than appreciation for their country. His video went viral, wracking up almost 1.5 million views. But Adam said he had received threatening and abusive messages - including one which said his pregnant partner should be raped by migrants. There is no suggestion the men putting up the flag were behind the abusive social media messages.
Adam said: "They'll claim putting up the flags is about unity and patriotism but I don't know who is being unified here. I've been called a traitor, homophobic slurs, been told I should be hanged, that my pregnant partner should be raped by a gang of migrants. One fake review left for my business complained I had tattooed his 19-year-old daughter and touched her inappropriately. If you're part of a movement that claims equality and safety for women, and say you want to protect your daughters, it is pretty despicable to fabricate something like that."
Adam, who lives in Braintree, Essex, said he put his head out the window to 'politely' ask the men to remove the flag and to ask why they were putting it up in the first place. When he went outside with a ladder to take it down himself, a few of them began filming him although he had stopped. The tattoo artist of 15 years said: "I was trying to ask them a few questions about why they were doing it and they didn't really have an answer. They just said they loved the flag. I don't wish these people any ill will but the fact they didn't have an answer is very telling. There are a lot of people who have genuine concerns about immigration but they're being undermined by people with ulterior motives. The timing of everything is convenient, they're very careful with their words, and lots of people are divided by this. Braintree is a predominantly white area but there are people of colour, and of different sexualities, and in my work, I hear how people are being impacted."
Adam said his workplace had been plagued by false, negative reviews since then. He has received messages targeting hate at him and his partner - who did not want to be named. But he said he has also received many messages of support. Adam added: "People have come into my shop to say thank you. People use that we've had people die for our country as an argument for the flags. But the amount of ex-servicemen and women who have come out in support of me is staggering."
Adam is calling for his local council to remove all flags from street furniture on safety grounds. He has also contacted Essex Police over some of the hate he received due to its threatening content. Essex Police confirmed they had received a report and were investigating.
