40 Disgusting Tattoos That’ll Make You Say “WHY Would You Do That?!”
Proof that regret comes in many shapes… and even worse placements.
We all make mistakes. Some of us just choose to ink them permanently. Whether it’s a poorly spelled quote, a disturbing pop culture mashup, or a face tattoo of a taco for reasons known only to the universe—bad tattoos walk among us. And boy, do they scream.
Grumpy Sharks has gathered the most outrageous, stomach-turning, and “what were they thinking?” tattoos from the depths of Instagram’s @bodyartmuseum and Reddit’s notorious r/shittytattoos. These 40 disasters defy good taste, design sense, and sometimes even human anatomy.
This isn’t about judging someone’s self-expression. It’s about standing in awe of the fact that someone looked at a design of a melting Garfield and said, “Yep. Forever, please.” Ready to cringe? Let’s dive into the beautiful chaos.
#1. lol
Source: bodyartmuseum
#2. What you think? 🤩
Source: bodyartmuseum
#3. 1997-2018
Source: Reddit User
#4. (we love realism)
Source: bodyartmuseum
#5. Would you tattoo your Finger?
Source: bodyartmuseum
This curation comes straight from two of the internet’s most tattoo-obsessed corners. r/shittytattoos, a subreddit with over 900,000 members, celebrates ink that ranges from hilariously bad to downright cursed. It’s where misspelled names and nightmare-inducing portraits go to live on—both skin and screen.
Meanwhile, the infamous @bodyartmuseum Instagram page documents wild and often unintentionally grotesque tattoo art from around the world. With hundreds of thousands of followers, it’s a visual warning sign that just because you can get a tattoo doesn’t mean you should.
We, Grumpy Sharks, bravely sorted through the wreckage to find the absolute worst offenders—ones that make you stare, laugh, cry, and maybe question your own next appointment.
#6. It’s a period piece
Source: DegenerateSnails
#7. When the love is over … 💀
Source: bodyartmuseum
#8. I think it looks just like her lol
Source: bodyartmuseum
#9. proof he should have waited till the 8th day💀
Source: bodyartmuseum
#10. Mango
Source: bodyartmuseum
A fine line tattoo refers to delicate work with precise ink. But what we’re talking about? A fine line of judgment.
These tattoos exist in that strange zone between bravery and madness. You can’t unsee them. And you kind of don’t want to. That’s the paradox: these tattoos are so wrong, they become unforgettable. Like fever dreams trapped in ink.
#11. I love the commitment to pettiness.
Source: DriftwoodBill
#12. Hard
Source: bodyartmuseum
#13. Dear god in heaven
Source: BishopGodDamnYou
#14. ABCDEFUCK
Source: bodyartmuseum
#15. Yes, it goes all the way around like a beard….
Source: HerpesOnMyButthole
I once sat in a tattoo shop waiting for my appointment when the guy next to me proudly showed the artist his design—a tribute to “Thug Life,” spelled as “Thag Lufe.” The artist blinked. He pointed it out. The guy shrugged and said, “It makes it more unique.”
The tattoo happened. And I watched it, stunned, as the artist inked every single letter with full commitment. I think about that tattoo sometimes. Especially when I make a typo in a text and panic.
#16. This behavior is why Jesus never comes to visit us.
Source: bodyartmuseum
#17. Learn math
Source: bodyartmuseum
#18. My first and only tattoo. It seemed like a good idea when I was 18 (2002). On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being absolute shit, how would you rate it?
Source: Demonic-Tooter
#19. Would you go to hell if he got it removed?
Source: LordMinivan
#20. Ultrahealed 🤓
Source: bodyartmuseum
According to a study published in The Journal of Consumer Research, spontaneous tattoos are more likely to be regretted—especially when the tattoo reflects impulsive humor or “ironic” designs.
What’s more fascinating is why people still get them. It’s often not about taste or logic—it’s about identity, rebellion, or even bonding. Some tattoo disasters are inside jokes, dares, or late-night moments gone permanent.
We laugh—but sometimes, that weird tribal SpongeBob has a story behind it. Not a good one, but a story nonetheless.
#21. Biggest regret
Source: FremtidigeMegleren
#22. The only legitimate reason to get rid of this would be if you lose your other leg.
Source: Holiday-Carry-9654
#23. Your local go-to gal for creepy crawlies 🐜🐜🐜
Source: bodyartmuseum
#24. A walk-in my artist did
Source: xDisciple
#25. Understandable
Source: bodyartmuseum
Humans love to push limits. Tattoos are one way to wear that edge like armor. Even the worst designs are often worn with pride.
Psychologists call this self-symbolizing—the act of using symbols to affirm identity. Even if that identity includes a badly drawn Pikachu in lingerie.
So while we cringe, many of these tattoo owners aren’t regretting a thing. They’re laughing with us—or at us—because they own their chaos.
#26. Regret
Source: Acceptable-Wear2718
#27. Yikes…Is that who I think it is on her shoulder?
Source: Jimbo072
#28. By the artist i found on insta
Source: urjok
#29. I’m struggling to wrap my head around who greenlighted this
Source: dollyspine
#30. Again
Source: bodyartmuseum
Once, visible tattoos were seen as rebellious or criminal. Now, they’re common across professions. But what about bad tattoos?
That’s the twist. A poorly drawn cartoon or an offensive meme tattoo isn’t just tolerated—it’s becoming a subculture. Online communities thrive on sharing these disasters, and some people get them intentionally to stand out or “go viral.”
Cringe is currency now. And these tattoos? Worth their weight in internet points.
#31. Why get a haircut when you can get this?
Source: Andvin_Valmaar
#32. maybe he will blow his head off
Source: bodyartmuseum
#33. Two wolves, no brains
Source: Many_Fac3d_G0d
#34. Ring tattoo… getting divorced
Source: IEatAndDrinkDiarrhea
#35. Blackouts are old now, Pinkouts are the next big trend!
Source: Reddit User
Let’s be real—you’re probably not walking away from this article booking a melting Minion tattoo. But there’s still something oddly liberating about these bad tattoos.
They remind us not to take life so seriously. That imperfection can be hilarious. That mistakes—when permanent—still have the power to entertain. And sometimes, that is enough.
We, Grumpy Sharks, believe in freedom of expression. Even if that expression involves a taco cat vomiting a rainbow on someone’s thigh.
#36. Blush tattoo. A new trend
Source: junior_dos_nachos
#37. My buddy got this today
Source: UngaBunga-2
#38. Freehand Ocean Design’ she did on herself
Source: Important-Stomach406
#39. This is suppose to be the solar system. ✨🌍🌞
Source: milehigh11
#40. My dyslexic son’s tattoo – he’s keeping a postivite attitude
Source: PistolGrace
If you laughed, cringed, or double-checked your own tattoo while reading this—you’re not alone. These 40 ink catastrophes serve as a hilarious reminder that while art is subjective, regret is forever… and sometimes, that’s the punchline.
So the next time you see a tattoo that makes you scream “WHY?!”, remember: someone chose that. And maybe that’s what makes it beautiful. Or at least unforgettable.
