Jordan Zietz, cofounder of AI startup LemonLime, says a widely criticised LinkedIn post overstated what happened at a party where he offered interviews to people who got tattoos. He insists nobody was required to get the company logo tattooed, and that any attendee who wanted an interview could have one; the incident matters because it prompted concerns about exploiting jobseekers in a difficult labour market.

Zietz said seven people received free tattoos, choosing from citrus-themed or personal designs, while three of LemonLime’s five employees got LemonLime-themed tattoos. He acknowledged that his wording made the offer sound conditional, but described the tattoo station as a deliberately unconventional test of cultural fit; he is reportedly the only person with the actual LemonLime logo tattooed.