Brook McDaniel was arrested after authorities in Kentucky alleged she gave her 22-month-old son a tattoo at home.

According to investigators, McDaniel reportedly claimed the child “got in the way” while she was tattooing herself and also allegedly said the toddler “wanted it.” Police say the child was left with a small “party dot” tattoo, which quickly sparked outrage and debate online after details of the case spread.

The story gained major attention because tattooing laws involving minors are extremely strict across most states, especially when very young children are involved. Many people online reacted with disbelief that a toddler could end up tattooed at all, while others focused on the legal and safety concerns surrounding homemade tattoo equipment and sanitation.

Cases like this tend to go viral because they sit at the intersection of parenting, legality, and internet shock value — especially when the child involved is so young.

For most people online, though, the reaction was simple:

A 22-month-old should never be anywhere near a tattoo needle.