Troy ‘Catman’ West covers up ‘swastika’ tattoo
Geelong’s most flamboyant supporter has taken to social media to announce he’s covered up a questionable bit of ink, but he denies it was a Nazi design.
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One of Geelong’s most prominent supporters has taken to social media to announce he’s covered up swastika tattoo, saying he just got tired of having to explain it.
Troy West, better known as Catman, is known for his exuberant and flamboyant attire and painted face at Cats games and has become one of the club’s most recognisable fans.
In an Instagram post on Saturday morning, Mr West told his 3700 plus followers that the tattoo in question had been covered up, replaced with a “black sun”.
“To the fwits saying I have/ had a Nazi tattoo design,” Mr West’s post began.
“Pardon your ignorance but the swastika is a 3000-year-old ancient symbol and I was with the Hari Krishnas (sic) back in the 90s and my tattoo is Hindu and it means good fortune, good luck and good health.
“Only dumb ignorant trolls think it’s a Nazi symbol.”
Speaking to the Geelong Advertiser, Mr West said he got the tattoo in about 2005 and it was covered up last year.
“I was hanging out with the Krishnas for a while, they have it all over their clothing and the doors of their houses because it’s an ancient, beautiful symbol,” Mr West said.
Mr West said the tattoo had gotten him “a lot of s--t and into a lot of arguments” over the years.
He had taken to wearing singlets, even at the beach, because explaining it was a Hindu symbol was fraught as a tall, white man with short hair.
“I’m not Hindu, I’m just saying it’s a Hindu symbol, which I love and I love Indian culture … but it doesn’t wash on a white man,” he said.
In a picture accompanying the post, Mr West sports the troublesome tattoo in question on his lower abdomen, a tilak marking on his forehead and various necklaces draped over his chest, including a swastika-shaped pendant.
“I just got sick of the controversy, sick of explaining it,” Mr West told the Geelong Advertiser.
“I didn’t want people to think I’m a neo-Nazi, I’ve been branded that in the past.
“People just put you in a pigeonhole.”
Mr West said the decision to cover it up was in part due to Victoria’s swastika ban, the first of its kind in Australia.
“I recently had it covered over due to that dog (poop emoji) Dan Andrews bringing in a law that has banned it and a $20,000 fine for showing it,” Mr West said in his Instagram post.
The ban, which became law in 2022, means it is a criminal offence to publicly display Nazi symbols including the swastika, Nazi salute, SS bolts (sig runes) and Totenkopf (Nazi skull).
The ban does include exceptions for usage by Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and other communities due to its cultural and historical significance.
One of the Cats’ most colourful fans, Mr West has been dressing up for games since 2005 and in 2019 was voted Geelong’s biggest supporter by Addy readers.
Mr West, son of 1963 premiership Cat Roy, even sports specially fitted fangs.
Originally published as Troy ‘Catman’ West covers up ‘swastika’ tattoo
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