“NY Ink” cast member bows out

August 13, 2012 by Kelly Anderson

Tattoo artist Billy DeCola (pictured), a cast member in the first two seasons of TLC reality series NY Ink, has dropped out of the just announced third season.

Despite an announcement from Discovery Networks International citing a cast list that included DeCola, he posted on his personal website that he wouldn’t be taking part in the third season of the Original Media series.

“I’m not doing season three of NY Ink because I’m no longer living and/or working in NYC,” DeCola said in an emailed statement to realscreen. “I haven’t been there since we finished shooting the second season. My family and I are living together in my wife’s hometown close to her family and we are planning on settling down here. We just had a baby boy on July 17th and I am staying here to spend time with my family. 

“There is a TV project in the works but I don’t want to discuss anything just yet,” he added.

Discovery Networks International also provided a statement to realscreen, which said: “Now that we have greenlit season 3 of NY Ink with Ami James, we are focused on the rest of the casting for the show. Discovery Networks International looks forward to bringing viewers the new season with a diverse group of tattoo artists from around the globe, and wishes Billy the best of luck with his future endeavors.”

Photo: Jake Smith of Think First Media

Tags: Billy Decola, Discovery Networks International, NY Ink, Original Media, TLC