In the midst of their sold-out U.S. arena tour, Sleep Token are facing growing criticism after multiple tattoo artists and fans reported receiving copyright-related takedowns for sharing artwork inspired by the band.
The controversy gained attention on October 9th, 2025, when tattoo artist @OhMyEmz revealed that her Instagram account had been permanently suspended after a series of DMCA strikes against designs based on Sleep Token’s masks and logos. The loss included her entire portfolio — both band-related and unrelated tattoo work.
According to fans on X (formerly Twitter), the takedowns appear to be connected to Rico Management (KillLynx LLC), the company overseeing the band’s business affairs. Observers have noted a noticeable shift toward stricter copyright enforcement following Sleep Token’s signing with RCA Records in 2023 — a contrast to the band’s earlier leniency toward fan art, tattoos, and cosplay.
The situation underscores broader issues surrounding Instagram’s automated intellectual property enforcement, which critics argue disproportionately affects small creators and independent artists. Many tattooers rely on social media to showcase their work and connect with clients, making such strikes potentially devastating to their livelihoods.
As of this writing, neither Sleep Token, RCA Records, nor Rico Management have issued a public statement regarding the situation. Fans continue to debate whether the strikes reflect direct action from the band’s team or an overly aggressive algorithmic enforcement of trademarks and logos.
The backlash also raises a larger question about how fan-inspired artwork intersects with copyright law — especially when it comes to tattoos, which exist in a legal gray area between personal expression and intellectual property.
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58 Comments
SLEEP TOKEN Face Backlash Over DMCA Strikes Targeting Tattoo Artists And Fans
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I’m sure it’s more because of the record company than it is sleep token themselves. Notice how it says they got stricter once they signed to RCA. Not sure how they are as a record company but sounds like they don’t want anyone even tattoo artists profiting off anything related to sleep token whether it’s official imagery or not.
Definitely the work of suits and record label as well as algorithms within social media platforms. This has happened with other big name bands in the past. Definitely not the work of sleep token themselves and I’m sure they are not a fan of it happening to their fans.
Aaaah Finally, Some Repercusions For This Band.
Wild. We love when fans have our art on their bodies. Wouldn’t ever change that.
As the City Sleeps you’re also not signed to a major label who gives a shit about that sort of thing. 🫡
Jake Brown and pll give a shit about sleep token. That’s the difference between them. Also weird self insert there, Its funny bc no one asked them. Shameless self insertion lolol
Jake Brown even if given the chance, we also wouldn’t be signing to a label that gives a shit about that sort of thing 🫡
Brandon Mcneary nobody asked you either and yet here you are as well 🤭🤭🤭
As the City Sleeps hopefully the band corrects the label and gets it removed. Also guys the AI band picture is not it. I am sure y’all have some awesome pictures from shows you can use.
Kyle Bhart only AI pic we got and it was just for dumb fun. We have recent member changes and are working on new official photos before swapping it so we don’t have to go through the FB approval process on a verified page multiple times lol but I hear you.
As the City Sleeps well i just work. But im glad you know no one cares about you lol
Brandon Mcneary such a weird hill you’re dying on here my guy 😂
As the City Sleeps im not dying. Im not jumping on other bands posts news posts for the engagement. I think youre dying bud lmaoooooo
As the City Sleeps clout chasing trash band lmao what a bad look
Justin Helmuth oh man yeah such clout chasing by saying we wouldn’t be mad if someone had our logo on them lmfao.
As the City Sleeps by throwing another band under the bus that’s much more successful and has nothing to do with this, but play dumb I guess
Justin Helmuth saying they have nothing to do with this is very inaccurate though. They sign deals and know what’s in them. They have lawyers that go through everything. Things like this can be avoided. They just don’t care.
As the City Sleeps so you’re admitting that you’re throwing a much more successful band under the bus?
Justin Helmuth under the bus? I’m merely stating facts.
As the City Sleeps so when I say that no one cares about a shitty local pop punk bands opinions I’m just stating facts too?
Justin Helmuth for someone that doesn’t care about our opinion, you sure do seem to be caring a lot about our opinion
As the City Sleeps that response was original as your band
Justin Helmuth again, you sure do seem to care a lot lol
As the City Sleeps it’s not your opinion though tbf, it’s just shitty practice
Justin Helmuth that doesn’t make any sense, but okay lmfao. Shitty practice is signing shitty contracts with shitty labels that have shitty policies.
As the City Sleeps Its not the band that does it. And doing the “we would never” act in the comments is gross.
William Barwell oh god grow a pair you soy cunt
William Barwell the band signed with the label. Stuff like this they should line out in contracts ahead of time.
As the City Sleeps good thing you’re not with RCA then
Good luck with that 😆 🤣 😂 😹
They can’t figure out if they’re pagan or Nintendo.
Imagine getting a dmca after a long day of telling people to stop gatekeeping metal
Yes please somebody make them cease & desist for God’s sake
Good luck kat von d had the same lawsuit and told them to suck it
Most of the time it’s not the actual band. It’s usually their label/management acting on their behalf usually without their knowledge
Lorne Brooks So now the band have knowledge of what the label has done they will reverse all of these decisions? Oh wait of course they won’t..
Tom Kirkland I just said they most likely don’t know that any of this had happened. If it’s their management then yes, Sleep Token can reverse it. If it’s their label then most likely they can’t
Tom Kirkland they already have
Michelle May “Due to public backlash” not because they disagree so let’s not try take the moral high ground when they basically pussied out because they are scared of their fans. 😂
Tom Kirkland there has never been a band that has loved its fans more then Sleep Token. It’s really ok to be a hater. Just go play somewhere else. The narrative is getting old you sound sad.
Michelle May You couldn’t be more wrong or deluded if you tried. I’m not a hater at all either. Just being honest something that you aren’t allowed to be on a ST post apparently.
Tom Kirkland first, sorry. I get all worked up over ST and really did not need to nor did it warrant coming for your neck. Second, Vessel did tell his team to stop all action again that lady for the Tattoo stuff, I don’t think it was due to backlash. That man loves his fans more than anything. If more happened next I’m not aware. Again ,I’m sorry.
Its RCA. Not the band.
But its all BS because why dont they do this to all the sclapers profiting off their tour but they shut down cosplay or tattoo pages. I also see tons of ads, constantly, for bootleg merch… yet RCA does stuff like this. Never had these issues before. I’m sure scalpers are making way more money than a tattoo artist who is technically selling their time and skill, yet scalpers are legit selling their tickets extremely marked up. Its all a fcking game.
More like a label problem not a sleep token one
As a tattoo artist, here is how it works, legally, I can tattoo, anything from this band at any price I so please. Their Logo, lyrics, mask, any of it. It is not illegal. What would be an issue is if i took a picture of it, printed it shirts or posters and then sold it. A tattoo is a one of a kind appropriation in fine art (even if it is a logo) Andy Warhol didn’t design the Campbells soup can, but he was allowed to do what he did with them.
This was the legal info I learned in art school, so take it for what its worth, but that tattoo artist did nothing wrong
Ive done plenty of band logo tattoos, and never had a problem, even had bands share them. This is Bs
Alexander Haber actually i think the problem was when the artist did a “flash” sheet of Sleep token stuff. Promoting the logo and all of that. If the reel goes viral and makes money off of that then yeah that could be a problem
Esteban Yanez ahhhhh hmmmm never considered that, especially since Social Media views, clicks ect wasn’t taken into account when I leanred about this before!!! Good point
It’s the record label not the band…. Unless they maybe had a say in banning them I highly doubt it since vessel appreciates the fans so much and loves our creative so blame the record not the band itself 
This is the action of RCA not of sleep token themselves.
I’ll bet a million bucks it’s RCA behind all of it. Hard pressed to believe that Vessel is out here curating Cease and Desists over fan art
Puddles Pity Party > Sleep token
It’s RCA, not ST.
caramel came on the radio on the way home from work today… you guys like that?
Steven Drums like?? No. Love?? Yuuuup.
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It’s RCA not the band
It’s the record label not the band themselves
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