Tattoos often symbolise personal stories, relationships, or significant moments in our lives. However as time passes and we evolve, so can our feelings about these designs on our skin. Celebrities, despite their fame and fortune are no exception – they are just as human as the rest of us. They too, experience the evolutions of life and undergo tattoo removal for reasons that can resonate with many of us. Read on as we explore some of the famous faces who have decided to go on their own tattoo removal journeys, and discover their common motivations that we can all relate to!
Pete Davidson - Saying goodbye to a lifetime of tattoos.
Pete Davidson has been open about his decision to remove nearly all of his tattoos! He shared how his life changed after getting sober, saying, “I got sober and I saw myself in the mirror and I was like, nah, who that? I was like, I got to change it up a little bit.’”
This reason for removing his tattoos is something we can all understand. Sometimes you grow into someone new through your life experiences and your body needs to reflect that evolution.
For Pete, the decision wasn’t just about aesthetics. He admitted that the lengthy makeup sessions to cover his tattoos for acting roles also became a hassle. He’s been completely upfront about how the process feels, describing it as “burning off layers of skin,” and also emphasised the importance of really thinking about your tattoo choices before getting inked.
While Pete’s description captures how the process can feel, it's important to note that laser tattoo removal doesn’t actually burn the skin. The laser breaks down ink particles beneath the top layers of skin - and while the treated area often feels similar to a sunburn afterward – the process of ink removal is largely internal, and is removed via the lymphatic system.
To watch Pete’s full interview CLICK HERE
Angelina Jolie - Erasing a past love.
Actress Angelina Jolie once had her ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton’s name tattooed on her upper arm. After their divorce in 2003, she chose to fade the tattoo and replace it with the coordinates of her children’s birthplaces—a meaningful and healing transformation.
We see this often in our clinic. Removing tattoos linked to past relationships can be a symbolic way to close a chapter in life.
Pamela Anderson - Removing the famous barbed wire.
For those of you paying close attention, you may have noticed that Pamela Anderson’s iconic barb wire tattoo has faded over the years! Pamela initially got this after she was inspired by her role in the 1996 movie Barb Wire. Years later, she decided to remove it, saying she was “over it” and preferred a cleaner look.
This is something else we see being a huge motivator for our clients – as we get older, our aesthetic preferences evolve along with us.
Jessica Origliasso - Outgrowing a half-sleeve.
With motivations very similar to those of Pamela Anderson, Jessica Origliasso—one half of The Veronicas—decided to start removing her half sleeve in late 2014. She shared on social media that she had simply "grown out of" the appeal of her tattoos, writing, "People grow and change through their journey in life." Having been inked at 18, she explained that while she had loved and lived with her tattoos for years, she had "outgrown it" and wanted something "more relevant to my soul now."
We hear this a lot—tattoos that once felt like a perfect fit don’t always last forever, and that’s okay!
Megan Fox - Letting go of negative influences.
Actress Megan Fox once had a portrait of Marilyn Monroe inked on her forearm as a tribute piece. She later decided to begin her own laser journey on this tattoo, feeling the piece brought with it a kind of "negative energy" linked to the iconic Hollywood star.
Sometimes removing a tattoo is more than just about the art—it’s about letting go of something that no longer serves you.
Mark Wahlberg - A clean slate for maturity.
Mark Wahlberg made headlines when he decided to have several of his tattoos removed, including a portrait of Bob Marley on his arm. During interviews on The Graham Norton Show and The Late Late Show with James Corden, he explained that he had about 8 or 9 tattoos removed from his neck, stomach, back, arms, and legs. The process took five years and was “incredibly painful”. He even joked that it felt like "hot bacon grease getting flicked on you over and over." When he was asked why he decided to remove them he said “maturity” and “sensibility”, ultimately it was a decision about personal growth. “Shit happens at 40,” he joked, admitting that as a young man, he thought his tattoos would always hold deep meaning, but as he grew older, they didn’t fit who he had become. His role as a father also played a big part in his decision, with him stating that it was getting harder to explain his tattoos to his kids.
Mark’s story is a reminder that as we go through life, our sense of self changes and sometimes that means changing the things that we thought would last forever.
To watch Mark’s full interview CLICK HERE
Victoria Beckham – Bye bye blow out tattoo.
Victoria Beckham has been lasering multiple tattoos for a few years now, including one of her husband’s initials on her wrist. Her decision to remove this tattoo sparked media rumours about their relationship, Victoria clarified that it wasn’t about their marriage—it was simply because she was “sick of the tattoo.” She explained in an interview "I had these tattoos a long, long time ago, and they weren’t exactly delicate”. She also compared her tattoos to her husband's, who is known to have intricately designed pieces created by world-renowned artists. "My tattoos were just a little bit thick, a little bit bleeding, and not looking as pretty.”
Just like many of the tattoos we see come through our doors at LaserTat, even celebrities with access to the world’s best artists can experience aging and blowout of their tattoos. This is a very common reason for tattoo removal.
To watch Victoria’s full interview CLICK HERE
Colin Farrell - Professional life and personal change.
Actor Colin Farrell shared on The Late Late Show with James Corden that he decided to remove several tattoos, especially because they became a hassle during film productions. He explained that sitting in makeup for hours to cover them up was just too much.
For many of our clients, tattoos can sometimes interfere with their professional life—whether it’s a strict uniform policy or simply not fitting the new career path they’re on. The choice to remove tattoos to achieve a look that better aligns with a professional life is a popular one!
To watch Colin’s full interview CLICK HERE
Regardless if you're a celebrity or just an everyday person, deciding to remove a tattoo is a deeply personal choice. Relationships shift, personal styles evolve and sometimes past decisions no longer reflect who we are. Laser tattoo removal isn’t just about removing tattoos—it’s about boosting your confidence too. To find out more or start your own laser journey contact us today!
Phone: 0421 132 734
Email: info@lasertat.com.au
