Tattoos have definitely become a huge part of many celebrities’ identities, with some even becoming iconic symbols associated with their personas. From athletes to musicians and actors, tattoos are often used to express personal beliefs, and milestones, or create a unique aesthetic. Similarly, the iconic Mike Tyson face tattoo hasn’t just become popular — it has become his signature. However, there have been rumors and questions about whether he really got rid of his tribal tattoo. So here’s the answer to it.
The rumors and speculation about whether Tyson had gotten rid of his iconic face tattoo started swirling back in 2013. It all began with one tweet from the former undisputed boxing champion that literally broke the internet. Fans and the media went wild trying to figure out why Tyson had made the big decision to remove the tattoo that had become so synonymous with him.
In his tweet, Iron Mike said he was at the doctor’s office that morning to have the tattoo taken off his face, mentioning it would be a painful process. However, it never came true, as it turned out to be an April Fools’ joke that Tyson had played.
And if one looks at the recent Tyson vs. Paul press conference, his tattoo was still there, proving that it’s very much a part of his face. The question of whether he got rid of it was never really the case.
What’s The Story Behind Mike Tyson’s Iconic Face Tattoo?
The story behind Tyson’s iconic face tattoo goes back to 2003, just before his fight against Clifford Etienne. In Graham Bensinger’s interview, Tyson said he originally planned to get a face tattoo featuring “a bunch of hearts” if he won his 2002 match against Lennox Lewis. However, despite the eighth-round knockout loss to Lewis, Tyson proceeded with his tattoo idea. However, Tattoo artist S. Victor Whitmill initially refused to create the heart design. And he suggested Tyson come back in a few days till he gets a new idea.
After getting the idea, the tattoo artist called Tyson, went for a bold tribal design, which ultimately became a defining feature of his persona. In his words, “I was going to be the man of hearts, baby. Victor Perez, the tattoo artist said ‘I ain’t doing that. I can’t do that. And I waited around. And two days later [Victor Perez] called and said ‘Mike, I’ve got some tribal stuff’. I said ‘woah, put another one over there’.”
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Talking about Tyson and his tattoos, though he has many, from Mao to Che Guevara, no other ink is more iconic than his face tattoo. It became so famous that it even made its way into the iconic comedy movie The Hangover. It’s not just ink; it’s a symbol that’s been etched into the public’s consciousness, making Tyson even more iconic.
Also Read: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul: How To Watch In 20+ Countries Including USA, UK, Canada, And Brazil?
