Farrah Abraham Criticized for Watching Daughter Get Pelvic Bat Tattoo

Farrah Abraham is facing a social media firestorm after treating her 16-year-old daughter Sophia to a gigantic tattoo across her pelvis.

The Teen Mom star took to Instagram Thursday to share videos of Sophia getting two long lines of bats inked around and below her belly button — and fans were not impressed.

Farrah, who has previously sparked controversy over Sophia’s septum piercing at age 13, looked overjoyed in the clips, smiling as Sophia, dressed in goth glam with a full face of white makeup, lay on the table with her pants lowered while the tattoo was applied.

In one post, Farrah even teased that Sophia was pregnant, with the teen holding her stomach — a reveal that quickly fell flat with followers, who rushed to the comments to slam the parent.

‘Y’all call this parenting?! She’s 16 years old… And so is Farrah in the head..’ wrote one upset critic. 

Another asked, ‘Isn’t she a kid?’ while a third added, ’16 I think… she’s too young for a tattoo.’ 

One follower warned, ‘Permanent decisions shouldn’t be made until you’re an adult.’

Some offered a more psychological take, noting, ‘She’s literally just testing Farrah to see how far she’ll allow her to take it as a cry for help and true attention and she just doesn’t get it…. Sigh.’

Of course, Farrah also had her defenders. 

One wrote, ‘It is with parent consent. At least she took her so she didn’t have to sneak around and get it like most teens do.’

Another chimed in, ‘I second that, I don’t have kids but if I did I’d rather them come to me so it was done safely.’

With reactions raging from shock to support, it seems Farrah has once again sparked a heated debate over parenting and teen freedom.  

Back in February 2022, Sophia appeared to enjoy her thirteenth birthday to the fullest as she took to social media to share that she got a septum piercing. 

Sophia – whose birth was documented on the MTV hit show 16 and Pregnant and who later starred on Teen Mom alongside Farrah – posted a video of the procedure to her Instagram.

‘I got my septum piercing for my birthday!!’ the thrilled teenager wrote in her caption.

She went on, writing, ‘I am so happy with how it turned out! I am the first person in my family to get a septum piercing at 13!! Birthday wish came true!!’ 

The septum piercing wasn’t the first time Farrah’s parenting choices sparked backlash. 

A few years earlier, fans had criticized her for allowing Sophia to wear a crop top, arguing the reality star was pushing boundaries too early. 

Farrah was a senior in high school when she became pregnant with Sophia, a journey documented on the second episode of MTV’s 16 and Pregnant. 

She later went on to star in the network’s Teen Mom series, which was eventually renamed Teen Mom OG.

Sophia’s father Derek Underwood  never got the chance to meet his daughter, as he tragically died in a car accident on December 28, 2008, while Farrah was still pregnant. 

Reflecting on his death in her 2012 memoir, My Teenage Dream Ended, Farrah wrote, ‘I got off the phone and tried to calm down, but my mind was racing. Derek was the father of the baby I was carrying inside me. He was my first love, my only true love,’ adding, ‘Now Derek was gone forever, and so was my happy ending.’

Farrah has continued to honor Derek’s memory over the years. 

In 2017, she marked the anniversary of his passing with a heartfelt Instagram tribute, writing, ‘December 28th comes every year when we review all of our love, great memories, share stories and know how special Derek was and how all the special and highly favored charisma passed on to Sophia.’

Although Sophia never met her dad, she has visited his grave. 

In a 2019 Instagram post, she reflected, ‘I’m thankful for my mom bringing me to see my dad over the years, my family coming with, sharing me the best and sharing stories I wish I could of met my dad I love daddy Derek and so grateful for him watching over me love & peace.’

Back in 2016, the Teen Mom alum told People she was weighing the idea of homeschooling Sophia. 

Farrah gushed, ‘I know she’s going to be so smart – and she’s gorgeous, she’s everything I could have ever asked for in a child – and getting through that when you’re in high school just means drama with everyone.’

By the following year, Farrah confirmed to In Touch that Sophia had started homeschooling. 

She explained, ‘I didn’t really want to make it about the bullying, dating, those things. It’s focusing more on her studies, traveling the world if she wants to do that while she is going to school. She’s doing more runway so she’ll be at New York Fashion Week.

‘She has a lot going on and this just helps her be the better her.’