Katherine von Drachenberg — who’s professionally known as Kat von D — is one of the most well-known tattoo artists in the world. She gained prominence after signing onto the reality show Miami Ink and its subsequent spin-off LA Ink, which ran for four seasons beginning in 2007. Nowadays, Kat is most well-known for her cosmetics line of the same name, which incorporates her edgy, gothic-inspired style into its packaging.

For years, Kat said she never saw herself having children. The celebrity had a string of high-profile (and often bizarre) relationships. She’s been linked to Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx, Sandra Bullock’s ex-husband Jesse James, and even famous DJ Deadmaus. However, it appears that Kat finally met her match when she began dating musician Rafael Reyes from the band Prayers. The couple was married in a gothic wedding in February 2018, and Kat gave birth to her son, Leafar, last November.

Since becoming pregnant, Kat has made headlines for her controversial opinions on parenting, with fans becoming so upset they’ve threatened to boycott her makeup line. Regardless of the backlash, the star has said she’s going to continue to raise her son how she wants. With her eclectic style and untraditional attitude, Kat is raising her little boy. Keep reading to find out how.

20 She Got A Stranger To Breastfeed Her Son

This past December, Kat revealed that she’d been having trouble breastfeeding baby Leafar. Under her doctor’s recommendations, the celebrity began asking friends and family who were nursing if they could lend her some milk. Her midwife eventually connected her to a breastmilk donor, although Kat had never met with her prior.

“During the first two days of Leafar’s life, his ... sugar count had been low, and as much as I had committed myself to strictly breastfeed, my milk hadn’t come in yet,” Kat explained on social media. “The pediatrician suggested asking around to see if any friends might have a bit of extra milk they could donate — and if not, I’d have to consider supplementing with formula — something we personally did not want to do.”

19 The Donor Needed To Have A Plant-Based Eating Regimen

While some fans were already unsure of Kat’s decision to use a stranger’s breastmilk rather than formula, many were even more surprised about the conditions she had for the donor. According to She Knows, Kat and her husband made sure the anonymous donor abided by a plant-based diet, just as they do.

“[The donor] who, without even knowing me, and without question, stepped up and donated a few ounces to us in the middle of the night,” Kat wrote on social media, expressing her gratefulness. “This is true community. True sisterhood. True kindness,” she continued. “I can’t wait to pay it forward one day soon.”

18 She Refuses To Vaccinate Her Baby

Prior to giving birth, Kat stirred controversy online when she revealed her plans not to vaccinate her baby boy. Fans immediately criticized the star’s decision, which prompted her to make another social media post explaining that she was expecting the backlash and that it wasn't going to influence their decision.

“I knew the minute we announced our pregnancy that we would be bombarded with unsolicited advice,” the makeup mogul wrote online. “I also was prepared for the backlash and criticism we would get if we decided to be open about our personal approach to our pregnancy.”

17 She’s Raising Her Baby Vegan

Being a vegan adult is tough enough. It can be difficult getting all of the necessary nutrients because the food restrictions are so specific. It’s even more controversial to put a baby on a vegan diet, as many professionals feel it will not provide the baby with the adequate nutrition they need.

Kat and her husband are outspoken vegans and have adhered to a plant-based diet for years. So, the couple says they’re raising their baby as a vegan, too. "If you don’t know what it’s like have people around you think you are ridiculous, try being openly vegan," Kat wrote online. "Try being an openly pregnant vegan on [social media], having a natural, drug-free home birth in water with a midwife and doula, who has the intention of raising a vegan child, without vaccinations."

16 She Shares Breastfeeding Videos Online

Breastfeeding in public: Some people are opinionated about it. And Kat made it clear where she stands on the matter when she posted a clear-cut video of herself breastfeeding her son to social media. While it seemed like a sweet moment, the celebrity’s post didn’t sit well with many fans.

While there were many followers who praised the star for being open and honest about breastfeeding (she’d accompanied the video with an honest post about her struggles to produce milk), some thought she could’ve uploaded a more tasteful video or picture.

Do you think the video was too much for social media?

15 She Had An At-Home Water Birth

Having an at-home birth is becoming more popular among millennial parents, but there are still many people who feel strongly against it.

According to Am. Pregnancy, some of the benefits of an at-home birth include a less stressful environment. However, there are still risks associated with it. Namely, because mom isn’t giving birth in a hospital, there’s a greater chance that things could go wrong if she has complications since a doctor won’t be on hand.

For Kat Von D, she decided that an at-home birth submerged in water would feel the most natural for her, despite the backlash from fans that she received online.

14 She Chose A Midwife Over A Doctor

Tons of millennial parents hire a midwife to help bring their bundles of joy into the world - and Kat is one of them. The star has revealed her decision was inspired after a friend urged her to watch the documentary The Business of Being Born.

“The minute we met [our midwife] Sara, it was like, ‘Okay, let’s get excited now.’ It was so much fun … like, ‘This is really happening. This is how it’s supposed to feel,’” Kat revealed about the moment she knew she made the right decision.

Unfortunately, the star’s openness has just gotten her more criticism from fans who don’t agree that a midwife is the best route.

13 She Dresses Her Baby In All Black

It’s clear to see that both Kat and her husband, Rafael, love to dress on the edgier side. The couple owns their out-there sense of fashion with their black ensembles, a plethora of tattoos, wild hairstyles, and even more piercings. And while we love Kat’s eclectic sense of style, not all of her fans appreciate that she’s pushing it onto her son.

Whenever the makeup mogul has uploaded a picture or video of baby Leafar, the little one is always dressed in all black. Talk about a gothic family! Some fans have suggested in the comments that she try dressing her baby in more colorful or age-appropriate clothes.

Hey, as long as the baby is healthy, happy, and dressed then that’s all that matters, right?

12 And All Of Her Baby Products Are Black, Too

Some eagle-eyed fans have found a problem with the baby products that Kat chooses to use with baby Leafar.

Specifically, some of the celebrity’s followers have pointed out that the new mom seemingly only uses things when they’re in a shade of black. For instance, Kat is always uploading pics of her baby in her black, gothic-style baby carriage.

While we think the stroller is super cool, some fans think the mom should try and branch out. Just like they’ve criticized her for dressing her baby predominantly in all black, some fans think she should get a bit more colorful and kid-friendly with her baby products.

11 She Wore Devil Horns At Her Wedding

We always imagined that Kat Von D’s wedding would be untraditional if she ever made it down the aisle again. And she certainly didn’t disappoint when she married her baby daddy! Last June, the makeup artist wed punk rocker Rafael Reyes in a gothic ceremony. But it was the star’s outfit that had fans talking.

Many were surprised when the pregnant celebrity uploaded photos from the special day featuring her wearing devil horns in addition to a red veil. The celebrity’s dress was a steampunk-inspired red gown with a Victorian neckline. While many fans loved her edgy ensemble, others thought it was distasteful to dress like the devil for a wedding. What do you think?

10 She Went On Tour While Pregnant

Some parents have strong opinions on whether you should travel, let alone go on tour, with a newborn or while pregnant. And although tons of celebrity families take the whole brood on the road, it didn’t stop some fans for criticizing Kat when she toured with her husband’s band Prayers while heavily pregnant.

The celebrity posted several photos to social media showing off her bump while performing with the electronic punk band. While many fans saw no problem with a pregnant woman being up on stage, some expressed concerns for the singer's health, implying she should be resting in her third trimester rather than rocking out on stage.

9 Fans Are Boycotting Her Makeup Because She's Anti-Vax

Kat Von D’s decision not to vaccinate her son caused so much controversy that some fans said they’d begin boycotting her makeup line if she didn’t rescind her words, Buzzfeed reports.

“I can't believe that Kat Von D isn't gonna vaccinate her kids. Absolute madness,” one angry fan wrote online. “[Very disappointed] as I've only recently bought her 10-year anniversary palette. Looks like I'm gonna have to boycott her brand. I don't like injections but I know they're vital for not only me but others.” Another added, "Kat Von d is an anti-vaxxer so I guess I have to boycott another brand lmao.”

8 Which Made Her Admit She’s Not An Anti-Vaxxer

In response to fans threatening to boycott her makeup line because of her choice to not vaccinate her baby, Kat felt pressured to make a video responding to the controversy. She said that, even though they don’t want to vaccinate their baby, she and her husband aren’t completely against vaccinations.

"I am not an anti-vaxxer," she stated. "What I am is a first-time mother. I read everything, from ingredients in food to cleaning supplies and medicines. After doing a bunch of research [on vaccines] and reading the ingredients, naturally, I experienced some hesitancy."

7 But Now Fans Are Calling Her Hypocritical

While we’re sure Kat hoped making the video would calm tensions among her fans, it seems like it’s stirred the pot even further. Specifically, her video left fans confused. Although the celebrity said she’s not against vaccinations, she still said she’s not planning on vaccinating her son because of the research she’s read.

Many fans called out her hypocrisy online. “Kat Von D: hey guys, I’m not anti-vax, but I’m not going to vaccinate my kid & I’m not gonna talk about vaccines. thank you. but I’m not anti-vax...” one fan wrote, Buzzfeed reports. Another said, "Lmao Kat Von D made a video saying she’s not an anti-vaxxer and still wouldn’t say if she vaccinated her kid.”

6 Her Friends Have Turned On Her

Evidently, not all of Kat’s friends agree with her decisions, parenting-related and otherwise. A few years ago, the celebrity’s long-time friend and fellow makeup artist Jeffree Star went on a long online rant calling out Kat. Jeffree called her “vicious and disheartening,” adding, “I never knew you would take things this far.”

“Things have gotten past the point of Internet drama,” he continued. “We’re now at the point where, two days later, I get a call from three of my family members. People from the Internet have found their numbers. They’re calling my family, screaming […] threats into the phone.”

We doubt Jeffree will be invited to Leafar’s first birthday…

5 She Curses Out Mommy Shamers Online

When you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all?

Well, some fans certainly haven’t been kind to Kat Von D during and after her pregnancy. But rather than turning her cheek to the naysayers, there have been plenty of times Kat has lashed out at her followers online for their unwarranted advice.

After announcing her plans not to vaccinate, The Mirror reported that Kat was having a field day cursing out critics in the comments of her social media post. While she claims to not care about the backlash, she clearly cares enough to give the naysayers a piece of her mind!

4 Her Son’s Name Is Her Husband’s Spelled Backward

Many parents choose to give their child a name that has a family connection, and Kat and her husband Rafael are no exception. It didn’t take fans long to figure out that their son Leafar’s name is simply Rafael spelled backward. We think this name is brilliant and adorable. Not only is it unique, but it has a meaning close to the family’s heart.

However, some fans weren’t impressed with the modern baby name. When she announced the name on social media, some followers left comments that they thought the name sounded and was spelled weird - some so-called fans even told Kat to give her baby a more traditional name.

Hey, if Kimye can name their kid North, then we think Leafar is perfectly acceptable!

3 She Blocks Negative Comments On Social Media

We’ve already established that Kat has gotten a ton of heat for her controversial parenting views regarding vaccination and veganism. Evidently, the backlash got so bad that the celebrity started moderating the comments on her social media pages.

Fans began to assume Kat was hitting the block button after negative comments began disappearing from her feed. Most of her photos only feature words of encouragement and positivity.

Many social media sites allow you to block comments that feature certain words you want to avoid. Kat isn’t the first celebrity to have a moderated comments section, but some fans felt that was taking the easy way out rather than confronting the naysayers straight on.

2 She Always Said She Didn’t Want Kids

One reason that Kat’s pregnancy was so surprising was that she had been adamant about not wanting children in the past.

"The funny thing is that I've known since I was 7 years old that I was never going to have kids. I always imagined myself as this worldly, traveling, gypsy lady," Kat once told Dr. Drew, People reports. "I love children, kids love me, but I think I'd [make] a really good buddy. I don't know if I'd be a bad mom, but it's not what I want. I don't want to put my body through it."

We guess this is proof that people change over time!

1 She’s Relying On Her Own Research

Many fans have attacked Kat’s parenting decisions, particularly her choices to raise her baby as a vegan and with no vaccinations. And while she’s received immense backlash online and in the media, Kat is adamant that she’s confident in the research she’s done. She’s not letting the naysayers get to her!

“This is my body. This is our child. And this is our pregnancy journey,” she once wrote online. “I already know what it’s like to make life choices that are not the same as the majority. So your negative comments are not going [to] influence my choices — actual research and educating myself will, which I am diligently doing.”

Still, this hasn’t stopped many fans from encouraging the celebrity to speak with her son’s doctor, though Kat assures fans she’s doing just that.

Sources: She Knows, Global News, Am. Pregnancy, USA Today, People, The Mirror, Hollywood Life, Buzzfeed