‘Poorly exercised judgment': AI startup cofounder apologizes after the company's tattoo-for-an-interview stunt draws backlash

At first, Zietz boasted about the tattoo challenge, sharing in a since-deleted LinkedIn Post: “We are bold, we take risks, and we do things that haven’t been done before.”

Zietz didn’t stop there, following up with another post.

“Being committed to our mission is paramount,” he wrote. “Pre-requisites for building the future. If you’re reaching out to us to apply for a job, you might want to take notes.”

Backlash erupted after the posts went public.

“I am DISGUSTED at this founder’s behavior… The commodification of humans by an AI company is just too on-point,” noted one LinkedIn post.

Before long, Zietz reappeared with a July 30 LinkedIn apology.

“I messed up,” he stated. “At our YC afterparty, we offered free tattoos and said we’d be happy to interview anyone who got one. What I thought would be a fun, memorable way to meet people was, in reality, reckless, and instead came across as tying a permanent tattoo to a job opportunity, which showed poor judgment.”

Zietz also added that the post was removed and the interviewees were contacted and assured they would receive a LemonLime job interview with no strings or tattoos attached.

“We’re also ready to cover associated removal costs with anyone facing any delayed regret. I’m sorry to the people we put in that position, and to everyone who expected better from me,” he added. “There’s no clever explanation here. I got carried away, and I was wrong. For the facts: Interviews were available to everyone regardless.”

The tattoo incident may say more about startup culture or today’s job market

Workplace experts say a founder who believed people might permanently tattoo a company logo for an interview opportunity may have a point, if ill-delivered. They also say the stunt reveals the dark underside of the current hiring environment, particularly for young professionals trying to break into AI and tech.

“It says a lot about startup culture and entrepreneurialism because startups and entrepreneurs are risk takers who tend to move faster than larger corporations and companies,” Charles Krugel, a management-side labor and employment lawyer based in Chicago, Illinois, told Moneywise. “What LemonLime is doing is reflective of that culture.”

Krugel also noted that Zietz’s tattoo challenge was “fun.”

“It shows that the company is seeking risk takers who seek to be part of that culture,” he stated.

That’s not to say LemonLime wasn’t walking a fine line, ethically and legally, with the tattoo ask.

“It’s not coercion, but it could expose LemonLime, and companies that imitate such initiatives, to legal exposure and liability,” Krugel said.

Even more specifically, if a well-qualified candidate is excluded from an interview or candidacy because tattoos may pose a health risk or violate a job candidate’s religious beliefs, and LemonLime’s hiring procedures favor those who accept the tattoo offer, that’s courting trouble.

“That could equate to what in legalese is ‘disparate treatment’ or ‘disparate harassment,” Krugel added.

The transactional nature of the offer could also be illegal if there are “reasonable accommodations” or workarounds that are readily available, or if some job candidates with disabilities or specific religious beliefs are rejected from a job because they can’t get a tattoo.