Famous Tattoo Removals: Shocking Transformations of Mark Wahlberg, Megan Fox, Pete Davidson and Others

Celebrities like Mark Wahlberg, Megan Fox, and Pete Davidson have all undergone the painful process of tattoo removal, despite the popular belief that tattoos are permanent. In fact, Wahlberg has even spoken publicly about his decision to remove all "six or seven" of his tattoos, citing a desire to set a good example for his children and make his job as an actor easier by not having to constantly cover up his ink.

The celebrity who was nominated for an Oscar and known for having a tattoo of Bob Marley on his shoulder shared that he had taken his two older children to the doctor to understand the pain and process of getting a tattoo removed. The actor, who has four children with his wife Rhea Durham, has two older children named Ella and Michael. Similarly, in 2011, Fox spoke about her decision to remove her famous tattoo of Marilyn Monroe, which was located on her forearm.

The actress from Transformers shared with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show in February 2012 that obtaining them wasn't too difficult. However, when it came to their removal, she likened the sensation to her skin bursting and resembling small pieces of popcorn popping up. Despite attempts to numb the area, the pain persisted.

"When I was a teenager, I thought my tattoos were here to stay. I was stubborn and believed that they would forever be a representation of my life's story and the things I loved during my youth," shared the Johnny & Clyde actress during her appearance on a late night talk show. "But as I grew older, I realized that's not the case." Similarly, comedian-turned-actor Davidson revealed in May 2021 that he opted to laser away his tattoos after transitioning into acting from full-time comedy.

During an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, the former Saturday Night Live cast member expressed his love for acting, admitting that he never expected to have the opportunity. However, he also revealed the challenges of being a heavily tattooed actor, including the need to arrive on set three hours early to cover up his tattoos, as they are not typically seen on movie characters. Davidson also shared that he had over 100 tattoos before deciding to have them removed, a process he described as even more painful than getting them in the first place.

The Dirt actor made headlines in January 2023 after it appeared that he had successfully removed tattoos dedicated to his ex Kim Kardashian. Pictures from his Hawaii trip showed that Davidson’s chest ink, which previously read “my girl is a lawyer,” was no longer visible. Additionally, the words “Aladdin” and “Jasmine,” which were associated with their SNL skit that sparked their romance, were also seemingly removed. It was previously confirmed in August 2022 by Us Weekly that the couple had split after getting together in October 2021.

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Celebrities Who’ve Had Their Tattoos Removed: Mark Wahlberg, Megan Fox, Pete Davidson and More

Celebrities such as Mark Wahlberg, Megan Fox, and Pete Davidson have shown that tattoos are not always as permanent as they may seem. Many have chosen to remove their ink over the years, often detailing the painful and difficult process.

Wahlberg, in a January 2012 interview on the Today show, expressed his reluctance towards his kids getting tattoos. He shared that he had gradually removed all his "six or seven" designs and wanted them gone before filming The Fighter because it was a hassle to cover them up with makeup. Despite having a Bob Marley tattoo on his shoulder, the actor revealed that he took Ella and Michael, his two older children, to the doctors to demonstrate how painful it is to get tattoos removed. Wahlberg and his wife Rhea Durham have four children, including Brendan and Grace.

Fox revealed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in February 2012 that she had begun the process of removing her iconic Marilyn Monroe tattoo, located on her forearm, which she had previously spoken openly about. She also shared that getting tattoos wasn't a difficult process for her.

She likened the sensation of tattoo removal to bursting popcorn kernels on your skin. Despite attempts to numb the area, the pain persists. As a teenager, Fox believed her tattoos would be a permanent reflection of her interests and identity. However, she now realizes the permanence was not worth it.

During an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers in May 2021, Davidson revealed that his transition from full-time comedian to actor prompted him to remove his tattoos with a laser. He expressed his love for acting, stating that he never thought he would have the opportunity to pursue it. However, he also noted the extra effort required to cover up his tattoos on set, as movie characters typically have less ink than he does.

When Davidson decided to remove his tattoos, he had over 100 designs on his body, a process he admitted was more painful than getting them. By January 2023, the comedian appeared to have successfully erased the tattoos dedicated to his ex-girlfriend, Kim Kardashian. Pictures from his trip to Hawaii showed that his chest ink, which previously read "my girl is a lawyer," was no longer visible, along with the words "Aladdin" and "Jasmine," which were inspired by their SNL skit. (Their relationship ended in August 2022, following their October 2021 romance.)

Scroll down to see which stars have undergone tattoo removal surgery:

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Megan Fox

She decided to remove her Marilyn Monroe portrait after realizing that the late actress had a troubled and negative personality. In an interview with Italian magazine Amica in August 2011, the New Girl star stated that she did not want to have any negative energy in her life. The following year, she also mentioned on The Tonight Show that the process of covering up the tattoo took too much time on set, which was another reason for removing it.

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Mark Wahlberg

In January 2012, the Departed actor announced he was in the process of removing his ink, including his two bicep designs.

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Khloe Kardashian

In September 2015, the removal of her lower back cross tattoo and the word “daddy” was documented by the former Keeping Up With the Kardashians star on social media. She captioned the clip by saying, “The end of an era … Got this bad boy when I was 16. Not so cute anymore.” Reflecting on her past decision, she added, “I should've listened to Kim when she told me, ‘You don't put a bumper sticker on a Bentley.’ Bye-bye bumper sticker!!!”

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Tallulah Willis

She expressed remorse about one of her 28 designs in March 2016, according to an interview with W Magazine, and later had the cactus tattoo on her hip removed three months later. Another design was documented being erased from her forearm in February 2020.

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Jessica Alba

In July 2019, the actress known for her role in Honey disclosed that she attempted to remove the flower tattoo on the back of her neck, but her efforts were unsuccessful. During an interview with Refinery29, Alba expressed regret about two of her tattoos, including a bow on her lower back and the flowers. She revealed that she got the tattoos when she was only 17 years old and is now frustrated with her decision. Despite undergoing numerous laser treatments, the flower tattoo has yet to fade.

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Sarah Hyland

In a November 2019 Instagram Story, the former Modern Family star shared a detailed account of the process of removing her dinosaur butt tattoo. The tattoo was originally inked in 2017 with her friend Katie Welch.

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Kelly Osbourne

In her Instagram post from October 2020, Osbourne shared the excruciating experience of removing her beloved four-leaf clover wrist script and the vibrant keyboard tattoo on her forearm. She expressed the unbearable pain of the laser removal process and asked her followers if they could relate.

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Amanda Bynes

In March 2022, the former All That star shared on social media that she had been making strides in removing the heart tattoo situated underneath her left eye. The tattoo had first made an appearance in December 2019.

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Shanna Moakler

In a May 2021 Instagram post, Moakler revealed that she had decided to remove her ex-husband Travis Barker's name from her wrist through laser removal. She advised her followers against tattooing names on their bodies, stating, "It's my ex's name." Barker, who had split from Moakler in 2008, had recently married Kourtney Kardashian in May 2022.

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Pete Davidson

In a candid admission, the lead actor in The King of Staten Island revealed his desire to remove his tattoos to enhance his acting career. He later updated his fans that it would take at least two more years to get rid of all his tattoos, and by January 2023, his tattoos related to his previous relationship with KKW Beauty founder had disappeared.