Tattoo Regrets: 15+ Celebrities Who Decided to Erase Their Ink

Tattoos are always cool, and famous people often show off their ink. But sometimes, they regret getting a tattoo from a past relationship or just because they got tired of it. Some celebrities even believe that a tattoo brought them bad luck. This happens more than you might think, and some stars have had to deal with it more than once. We looked into which celebrities covered up or removed their tattoos, and here’s what we found!

1. Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie got rid of the tattoo she got for her ex-husband, Billy Bob Thornton. After they broke up, she started using laser treatment to remove it. Later, she said she wished she hadn’t gotten the tattoo.

2. Eva Longoria

This actress had multiple tattoos dedicated to her ex-husband, basketball player Tony Parker. The initial one was on her neck, and it featured the word “Nine,” representing the number on the jersey he wore while playing for the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. Another noticeable tattoo displayed the date of their wedding, “July 7, 2007,” in Roman numerals (VII-VII-MMVII). Originally on her right wrist, Eva went to have it removed immediately after their divorce, erasing the artwork that once symbolized her love for the French basketball player.

3. Rumer Willis

The daughter of actors Demi Moore and Bruce Willis chose to remove the lion on her left arm, explaining that it was “negatively affecting her ability to land acting gigs.” Even for celebrities, work is a priority, though she also mentioned, “It just didn’t feel like me anymore, so I just thought to change it up.”

4. Heidi Klum

During her marriage to musician Seal, Heidi Klum proudly sported a tattoo on her right forearm featuring her husband’s name and stars representing their children’s initials. Once she was no longer with the singer, she promptly began the process of removing part of the tattoo with a laser. Care to guess which part was removed?

5. Rose McGowan

Rose McGowan hasn’t talked about why she got rid of the pinup girl tattoo on her right shoulder blade. It was there one day, and by 2007, it was mostly gone.

6. Kaley Cuoco

The actress who gained fame for portraying Penny in The Big Bang Theory had commemorated the date of her wedding with Ryan Sweeting on her back. However, following their divorce announcement, she opted to conceal the Roman numerals with a moth-like insect.

7. Kelly Osbourne

In 2010, the host of Fashion Police, a show on the E! Entertainment channel, publicly discussed for the first time her choice to remove some of her 15 tattoos, generating considerable tabloid attention. She even documented the painful process on her Instagram account as she underwent laser treatment for their removal.

Following her announcement, various media outlets compiled lists ranking the tattoos that Osbourne had inked on her body. These included symbols like a piano and the word “Daddy” in tribute to her famous father, Ozzy Osbourne, the lead singer of the rock band Black Sabbath. Her ink also featured a red heart, an anchor, the name “Jack” in honor of her brother, the word “Lovely,” a star, skulls, and red wings with a phrase dedicated to her mother.

8. Megan Fox

The actress chose to completely remove a tattoo dedicated to Marilyn Monroe. The motive behind her decision? As per some media reports, Megan eliminated the image of the cinema legend because it was bringing negative energy into her life.

9. Denise Richards

The actress was wedded to actor Charlie Sheen, and they both got each other’s names tattooed on their ankle and wrist, respectively. Unfortunately, after four years, their marriage ended, prompting them to start fresh. Denise, for instance, opted to conceal the name of the renowned star from Two and a Half Men with a fairy, while he covered up her name by creating a sort of bracelet.

10. Marc Anthony

The Puerto Rican singer was in a marriage for several years with singer and actress Jennifer Lopez. However, after their decision to part ways, he proceeded to cover up her name, which he had previously tattooed on his right wrist.

11. Melanie Griffith

To commemorate her then-husband, Spanish actor Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith chose to get a heart tattoo on her right arm with his name on it. However, in 2014, when they began divorce proceedings, the actress made the decision to completely remove the symbol of the love she had once gotten for him.

12. Colin Farrell

The actor has had multiple tattoos that he has chosen to remove over time. One of the reasons for completely getting rid of some of his ink, as he himself puts it, is because he grew weary of having to be covered in makeup whenever he wore a T-shirt. He also mentioned that some of the images he had tattooed on his skin no longer appealed to him and even made him feel embarrassed.

13. Pamela Anderson

The renowned Baywatch star used to have a tattoo of barbed wire on one of her arms. However, come 2014, the actress chose to have it entirely removed. The exact meaning of this tattoo remains relatively unknown. Some speculate it symbolizes feeling confined, while others believe it represents a life marked by sacrifice.

14. Pharrell Williams

Back in 2008, Pharrell Williams said he was going to get laser surgery to take off his many tattoos. “It’s basically like getting a skin graft, but you’re not taking skin from your legs. These guys actually grow the skin for you,” he said. “First you have to give them a sample of your skin, which they then replicate. Once that’s been done, they sew it on — and it’s seamless.” He added, “It’s going to be pricey, but worth it. I got fire on my arms! I’m a grown man!”

15. Kat Von D

The well-known tattoo artist had a tattoo dedicated to her ex-fiancé, Jesse James, removed. The tattoo featured an image of him from his childhood. Upon announcing their separation, Von D initiated laser sessions to eliminate all reminders of the past.

16. Chris Zylka

This actor was once engaged to Paris Hilton, and they made promises of eternal love, marked by a tattoo on his arm. Regrettably, their relationship ended. It took Zylka 9 months to cover his ex’s name with the image of a gorilla.

As we bid farewell to the inked choices that celebrities regretted, the next journey takes us into a realm of creativity and resilience. Stay tuned for our upcoming article, where we unveil the beauty of 20 scar-covering tattoos, each telling a unique story of triumph over adversity.