Tattoo Removal Takes on a New Name with Celebrity Break Ups

It seems like each and everyday we read in the tabloid and entertainment magazine headlines that yet another Hollywood couple is calling it quits.  There are so many hook ups, break ups, and make ups in the headlines it is difficult to keep track of which couples are hot and which are not.  It also seems that most of these celebrity couples, that are doomed to disintegrate in a few months or a few years, get each other’s names tattooed on their bodies. 

Now, we all know that getting a tattoo or jumping into a relationship should not be a fleeting decision, but with the amount of Hollywood tattoo removal we’ve read about, maybe the stars should stay away from the ink.

One of the most famously tattooed movie stars of modern times may be Angelina Jolie.  She’s got tattoos all over, some in plain sight, others we have only heard about.  However, it seems as though Ms. Jolie falls in love and then inks her body, which might not always be the best course of action.  It’s an age old piece of cautionary advice to NOT tattoo a spouse or lover’s name anywhere on you just in case you should split up.  Apparently, no one gave Angelina that advice before she made her tattoo appointments.  Angelina Jolie has been linked up (and inked up) with both Timothy Hutton and Billy Bob Thornton.  The former is represented by a single “H” on the inside of her left wrist, which now she claims represents her brother, James Haven.  However, her more famous tattoos, associated with Billy Bob, were in a “private” place and her upper shoulder.  He also tattooed her name on his shoulder.  Both have since had the tattoos removed or altered since their divorce.

A more risqué tattoo removal or alteration story may belong to Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee.  The two married just four days after they started dating and instead of exchanging wedding rings they exchanged tattoos.  Pamela got the word “Tommy” tattooed on her ring finger while Tommy had her name tattooed onto his penis.  He had a tattoo of his previous wife (Heather Locklear) which read “Heather” which Pamela had him change to “eather”.  After their split, Pamela didn’t undergo any complicated tattoo removal methods, but she did have her ink changed to read as “Mommy” instead.

Another celebrity break-up that involved a tattoo removal or modification involves Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder.  He had a large tattoo on his right shoulder exemplifying his love for his then-fiancée which read “Winona Forever”.  After their breakup (they never made it to the altar) he had the “na” removed so the tat now reads as “Wino Forever”.  Johnny learned his lesson and has since only tattooed himself with more permanent relationships which include the names of his mother and two children.  He plans to have his tattoos removed and pickled as keepsakes for his children after he dies.

There is a lesson to learn from our famous friends in Hollywood.  Tattoos of lovers' names, regardless of the letters, almost always spell regret.  There is enough heartache with parting ways, who really needs the added heartache of investing time and money to undrego tattoo removal to erase the name of fallen love.   I am sure our three infamous celebrity breakups mentioned and written in ink would vow for that.