History Main / EmbarrassingTattoo

** Corporal Nobbs's tattoo in says "WUM". The tattooist didn't notice Nobby was upside-down because he was drunk as well. It's not a proper tattoo if ''anyone'' can remember how it got there.
** It can be assumed that Alfonse the smuggler in ''Literature/{{Pyramids}}'' isn't ''usually'' embarassed about his ComicSutra tattoos, but he's rather uncomfortable when a young lady (Ptraci) notices them, and even more so when she turns out to be a trained cortesean who matter-of-factly critiques the designs.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Father Forthill is revealed to have one of the Eye of Thoth, which he and several other newly christened priests got the morning after they killed a vampire (and celebrated by getting drunk). [[spoiler:Harry had seen the symbol on a corpse earlier in the novel, so when he sees Forthill's tattoo, he realizes that Father Vincent (who helped kill the vampire and was the one who hired him to find the Shroud of Turin) has been replaced by a Denarian.]]

** In another episode, Sal gets another Jayden Smith tattoo ''with Jayden Smith himself watching''!

* In Creator/AlfredBester's novel ''Literature/TheStarsMyDestination'', the hero is given a horrific tattoo on his face by a CargoCult RecycledWithAGimmick which, while never completely described, seems to look like a tiger's face (the novel's original title was ''Tiger Tiger''). Interestingly, he does get it removed, but it ends up serving as a MarkedChange, as the lines still appear on his face when he is angry. The description and some illustrations make it out to look like a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MaoriChief1784.jpg Maori face tattoo]]-- with "N♂MAD" written across his forehead as well.

* In Creator/AlfredBester's novel ''Literature/TheStarsMyDestination'', the hero is given a horrific tattoo on his face by a CargoCult InSpace which, while never completely described, seems to look like a tiger's face (the novel's original title was ''Tiger Tiger''). Interestingly, he does get it removed, but it ends up serving as a MarkedChange, as the lines still appear on his face when he is angry. The description and some illustrations make it out to look like a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MaoriChief1784.jpg Maori face tattoo]]-- with "N♂MAD" written across his forehead as well.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' has Prompto hiding his tattoo [[spoiler:of a barcode]] under several armbands, as it would [[spoiler:reveal his origins as not only being from Niflheim but also being a [[DesignerBaby tube baby]] of [[CloningBlues Verstael]]]].

* A fan of ''Family Guy'' decided to get a memorial tattoo of Brian Griffin after he dies in an episode called "Life of Brian". After an episode or two, not only was [[ShaggyDogStory Brian brought back to life]], but Creator/SethMacFarlane [[https://twitter.com/sethmacfarlane/status/412407556942753792 mocked everyone]] who thought Brian was KilledOffForReal.

* ''WebOriginal/LoomingGaia'': In "Body Hopping", Tojum switches bodies with Jeimos. Once Jeimos gets their body back, they're distraught to find a tattoo of a rat and a cockroach mating on their butt. They manage to remove it with fire magic, though.

* In ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'', there's nothing wrong with Jacuzzi's massive facial tattoo in itself, but being a ShrinkingViolet, he treats it more as an embarrassing disfigurement. It makes more sense when you know how he got it: [[spoiler:he got it when his best friend Nice [[EyeScream blew out her eye]] in a backyard explosive accident, thinking that she shouldn't have to deal with the stares alone.]]

* Canadian YouTuber named ''{{WebVideo/FluffeeTalks}}'' has a sub-series called "Worlds Worst Tattoos" where he calls people out for them.

* YouTuber ''After Prison Show'', an ex-convict has a video about [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYS8w5_CpWw Tattoos you don't want to have on you in prison]].

A comedy trope where a character [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin has an embarrassing tattoo]]. It might be shoddily done, misspelled, or show the name of a former romantic partner. It might be written in a language the wearer doesn't understand (or even read) and thus [[MyHovercraftIsFullOfEels not mean what they think it does]]. It might be part of a trend that has been CondemnedByHistory. It might represent a gang or hate group, or otherwise not reflect the wearer's current beliefs or lifestyle. It might be a design or symbol from a [[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy culture the wearer has little or no relevant connection to]]. It might be warped due to age, weight changes, pregnancy, or infection. It may have been the work of an amateur artist. It might be the location of the tattoo that is embarrassing (e.g.: [[IntimateMarks on the buttocks or near the genitals]]). It might also be the result of [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb teenage whim]]; even if the person was legally an adult at the time, what looks cool at 19 can ''easily'' become embarrassing by 30. Bonus points, or perhaps a FacePalm (depending on the perspective), if AlcoholInducedIdiocy is a factor, regardless of whether it's the one doing or getting the tattoo.

* ''WebOriginal/LoomingGaia'': In "Body Hopping", Tojum switches bodies with Jeimos. Once Jeimos gets their body back, they're distraught to find a tattoo of a rat and a cockroach mating on their butt. They manage to remove it wirh fire magic, though.

* In the 1955 Creator/JohnWayne movie ''The Sea Chase'', a sailor from a German vessel meets some British sailors in a neutral port during World War II, and to show there's no hard feelings they take him out drinking. [[WhatDidIDoLastNight He wakes up]] with a huge Union Jack tattooed on his back with the words BRITANNIA RULES THE WAVES.

* A not-so-rare real-life example is the infamous practice of getting a lover's name tattooed since it can become a bitter reminder of their relationship that went south, which happened so often that many people believe the practice jinxes relationships. Most artists have strict personal policies of what names they'll do (i.e. only the customer's children, pets, or a dead loved one) because they don't want an irate customer returning later and blaming them.

* Sally in ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}'' gets embarrassed when [=McQueen=] notices the marking on her rear end. She's got a [[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=california+license+plate California license plate]].

* A not-so-rare real-life example is the infamous practice of getting a lover's name tattooed since it can become a bitter reminder of their relationship that went south (it happened so often that many people believe the practice jinxes the relationships). Most artists have strict personal policies of what names they'll do (i.e. only the customer's children, pets, or a dead loved one) because they don't want an irate customer returning later and blaming them.

* A not-so-rare real-life example is the infamous practice of getting a lover's name tattooed since it has a nasty habit of jinxing the relationship. Most artists have strict personal policies of what names they'll do (i.e. only the customer's children, pets, or a dead loved one) because they don't want an irate customer returning later and blaming them.

* ''Film/TheHangover Part II'' had Stu doing a replica of Mike Tyson's facial tattoo while in the wild drunken night. (and once Tyson himself shows up, he asks Stu to remove it [[HypocriticalHumor for looking like an idiot with it]])

* ''Series/YouMeHer'': Jack, Izzy, and Emma get tatoos early into season 2 after drinking stupidly after losing their patience with how their relationship won't be tolerated by their respective friends. The tattoo in question is the acronym described below under FunWithAcronyms.

* Late Finnish pro-wrestler and nationalist politician Tony Halme had "exit only" tattooed over his anus.

** A semi-humorous example is the forehead tattoo of the badass mercenary Raven, which reads "Poor Impulse Control". What makes this one less amusing is that it was given as a judicial punishment rather than a personal choice.

* Chinese (and occasionally Japanese) characters were the tribal tats of the 2000s, only they affected men and women equally. They were intended to look exotic and mysterious, but instead, they made the wearer look like an idiot if they couldn't actually read the tattoo for themselves. This can obviously be averted if the wearer knows the language, but by the end of the decade, Chinese tattoos had become such a cliché that they would be embarrassing regardless. Most Asian languages are tone-based, meaning that the kanji can mean anything if you don't know how to pronounce it accurately. The blog [[http://hanzismatter.blogspot.com/ Hanzi Smatter]] translates many unfortunate Asian tattoos. It's hard to decide which ones are worse: the "Asian Gibberish Font" where English letters are replaced by Chinese-looking scribble and the resulting "word" is meaningless, or the ones that are blatant insults like "Toilet Goblin".

* In a ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' short, Grif and Church debate the merits and drawbacks of tattoos, one of Church's points being that whatever you get a tattoo of, you will be ashamed of it in ten years' time.