Nigel Farage mocked with haircut photographs after Turkish barber store feedback
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage slammed Turkish barbers in a video last year, but Glasgow artist Rebel Bear has hit back with satirical photos
Nigel Farage was jokingly thanked for ‘coming down to model’
A Glasgow-based artist has given a Turkish barber shop in the city’s west end a cheeky makeover, featuring images of Nigel Farage sporting a variety of comical hairstyles. This comes after the Reform UK leader criticised the increasing number of barbers on high streets.
The Rebel Bear, a local artist, decided to lend a hand to G11 Barbers in Partick by creating these humorous images, following Farage’s allegations that many such businesses serve as fronts for money laundering and drug trafficking.
In a Facebook video last year, Farage expressed his concern about the proliferation of Turkish barber shops, claiming they only accept cash, don’t actually cut hair, and “they’ve got a Lamborghini parked out the back”.
In a playful retort, as reported by the Daily Record, the Rebel Bear adorned the shop with various images of Farage showcasing an array of hairstyles, including an afro, a mullet, and curtains.
On the door of the barber shop, the Rebel Bear left a statement: “After Nigel Farage’s ignorant and deliberately divisive comments about Turkish barbershops Street artist The Rebel Bear teamed up with G11 Barbers to highlight the stupidity, absurdity, and hypocrisy behind both the remarks and the man himself.
“Rather than meeting hate with more hate, we aimed to respond with unity and humour. They also do belting haircuts inside, so pop in next time you need one.
“Cheers to big Nige for coming down to model himself.”
In the Facebook video last year, Farage also went onto smugly brag how authorities have “raided over 300” of the Turkish barbershops.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, the devolution, faith and communities minister, said the Reform UK leader was deploying the “politics of grievance” as his populist rightwing party attempts to capitalise on high street decline.
“We’re all aligned in thinking the last government failed in the last 15 years, but they [Reform] don’t have the answers,” she said. “They turn and do the politics of division. They blame people of difference rather than deal with the fundamentals.”
Asked if she thought the focus on Turkish barbers had racist overtones, she said: “Yes, I do. The fundamentals aren’t to do with the colour of the skin of people running our high streets. It’s to do with long-term decline and neglect.”
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