We’ve all heard stories, or maybe even experienced it: the dreaded tattoo regret. You were so excited for your new ink, ready to show it off. But what happens when the art doesn’t quite a-match your vision? Perhaps the design that seemed brilliant at the time just didn’t hold up. Since tattoos are a lifelong commitment, your options might feel limited. Or are they?
In the midst of tattoo remorse, cover-ups often seem like a beacon of hope. While they can be a better route than removal and potential scarring, sometimes the fix ends up being far worse than the original problem. Get ready to explore ten of the most unfortunate tattoo coverups where the solution arguably made things a whole lot more regrettable.
10From Ex-Love to Ape Escape
Gorilla tattoos can be impressive, a symbol of strength and wildness. However, not every attempt to mask old ink with a primate turns out so well. This was precisely the situation for a man who initially got his girlfriend’s portrait on his upper arm. When the relationship ended, he understandably didn’t want a permanent reminder of his ex.
To conceal the, shall we say, less-than-flattering original tattoo, he opted for a gorilla cover-up. Unfortunately, the result was far from majestic. This new piece was rather poorly executed. He ended up spending more money and getting a lot more ink than he probably wanted, all for a cover-up that arguably made things worse.
9Pete Davidson’s “Cursed” Ink
Anyone who keeps up with pop culture knows about Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson’s whirlwind romance. It was a notable relationship that, for a time, seemed to work despite its intensity.
During their lovey-dovey phase, Davidson got a tattoo of Ariana’s name. A sweet gesture, perhaps? But, as is common in Hollywood, the romance didn’t last. After their split in October 2018, Davidson decided to erase her name from his skin, quite literally. He covered it with the word “cursed.” The exact meaning behind “cursed” remains a bit of a mystery, but the sentiment is pretty clear. Thank you, next, indeed!
8The Devilish Downgrade
Seriously, can we all agree to stop getting partners’ faces tattooed on our bodies? It rarely ends well. This individual had their girlfriend’s face etched onto their arm. While the original portrait wasn’t the worst ever, it wasn’t particularly flattering either; she had a somewhat puppet-like appearance.
When it was time to move on, the owner decided to cover up this tribute. And that’s where things took a turn for the truly awful. The tattoo artist transformed her face into a demonic figure, complete with horns, a red complexion, and sharp teeth. Pretty much everything that could go wrong with this cover-up did. This is a prime example of the cover-up being significantly worse than the initial tattoo.
7When “Ink Happens” Goes Wrong
It seems broken hearts fuel a lot of tattoo regrets. In an effort to cover up what they deem “bad decisions,” people sometimes make the situation even more regrettable. Such was the case for this internet user, who bluntly summarized their breakup online with the phrase “sh*t happens.” The name “Olivia” clearly once held significance, but its magic had faded.
It’s fine to regret a choice. What truly matters is how you address it. This person simply crossed out the name Olivia, but it remained quite visible. Instead of a clever new design, they’re left with a permanent, G-rated expletive and an obvious reminder of past heartbreak.
6An “X” Over Edwin
Whoever Edwin may be, he found himself “covered up” in ink and shared online quite swiftly. In a picture shared by an anonymous user, the first image shows a declaration of love: the name “Edwin” inked between two stars, seemingly on the lower back.
The second image reveals the aftermath: more stars and a heavily inked “X” obscuring where “Edwin” used to be. Besides its rather infamous placement, the original tattoo actually looked neater than the cover-up. But, understandably, the name had to go. Despite adding more stars, this tattoo cover-up is regrettable. As they say, though, “X marks the spot” of a love lost.
5Pete Davidson’s Awkward Heart
If there’s one thing Pete Davidson seems to enjoy, it’s getting tattoos and then covering them up. His tumultuous relationship with Ariana Grande proved to be quite “artistically challenging” for his tattoo collection, requiring several updates.
Originally, Davidson sported a “bunny ears” tattoo behind his ear, mirroring the iconic symbol from Grande’s Dangerous Woman album cover. Around the time of their breakup, he had these ears transformed into a heart. One might think this signaled cutting ties, but he also added the letter “A” next to the heart (presumably for Ariana, who was also rumored to have a heart tattoo).
Honestly, the real issue here is the heart’s shape. It looks oddly cartoonish, more Looney Tunes than a symbol of love. And as for Pete and Ariana’s romantic saga? That’s all, folks!
4Hyundai to Huh? A Puzzling Cover-Up
As we’ve seen, breakup tattoo coverups often head into disastrous territory. But surely, tattooing things we love, like cars, is a safer bet, right? Well, not always. This anonymous internet user was apparently so enamored with his HGV that he got the vehicle brand’s logo inked on his arm. The original tattoo wasn’t exactly a masterpiece, but its automotive meaning was clear.
When the owner grew tired of it, he decided to cover the original with something new. However, it didn’t quite work out. Due to the logo’s awkward shape, the cover-up Eended up as a strange, unidentifiable blob that only the owner (hopefully) could decipher. We’ll never know what happened between him and his beloved HGV, but it’s doubtful it warranted such a baffling cover-up.
3Nas’s Lion-Woman Mashup
Hip Hop icons Nas and Kelis were one of the genre’s most prominent couples between 2002 and 2009. Their connection was so strong that Nas got a tattoo of Kelis on his forearm. However, after their 2005 wedding, the marriage hit rough waters. Accusations of infidelity surfaced in 2008, and they decided to step back from the public eye.
Shortly before their first child was born in 2009, Kelis filed for divorce. In response, Nas had Kelis’s tattoo altered. Instead of a complete redesign, Nas simply replaced her head with that of a lion, leaving her original torso intact.
The end result? Nas was left with a tattoo of a woman’s body topped with a lion’s head. It’s a frankly bizarre image, like something from a surreal nightmare. Perhaps he wanted a tattoo as regrettable as the way their relationship concluded.
2Johnny Depp: From “Slim” to “Scum”
Many people supported Johnny Depp during his recent, highly publicized court battle (which he won). However, his history with tattoos has seen its share of drama. Famously known for his “Winona Forever” tattoo (later altered to “Wino Forever”), the actor also had the word “Slim” inked on his knuckles, a nickname for his then-wife, Amber Heard.
Following their acrimonious divorce, Depp had the tattoo changed from “Slim” to “Scum.” While Depp has numerous tattoos, many of which have undergone alterations, this particular one is arguably among his most regrettable, given the painful public history it represents.
The cover-up itself is straightforward, but the story behind it speaks volumes. One can imagine he’d prefer to erase that chapter of his life entirely.
1Jhene Aiko’s Cyclical Ink Story
Jhene Aiko, an American musician celebrated for her unique voice, is also well-known for her on-again, off-again relationship with rapper Big Sean. Shortly after they released their joint album Twenty88 in 2016, Jhene got a large tattoo of Big Sean’s face on her arm. However, fans soon noticed she had covered this prominent ink with an elaborate dragon tattoo. It was later confirmed the couple had split, with Jhene even posting a since-deleted cryptic tweet.
While the dragon cover-up itself is quite impressive, the story took another turn when Jhene and Big Sean later reconciled and even had a child together. One can only imagine the awkwardness. First in love, then not, then back in love again – all chronicled in very permanent ink. Perhaps she’ll think twice before getting another portrait tattoo, no matter how strong the feelings.
These tattoo tales serve as a potent reminder: think carefully before you ink, and think even more carefully before you cover it up! Sometimes, the attempt to fix a mistake only creates a bigger, bolder one.
