--- title: "We Are in Awe of This Absolutely Horrifying Elon Musk Tattoo" description: "A New York-based tattoo artist has really outdone themselves with one of the most grotesquely hideous Elon Musk tattoos we have ever seen." date: "2022-05-05" modified: "2022-05-05" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/horrifying-elon-musk-tattoo" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "elon musk" - "tattoo" - "the digest" --- # We Are in Awe of This Absolutely Horrifying Elon Musk Tattoo ![A New York-based tattoo artist has really outdone themselves with one of the most grotesquely hideous Elon Musk tattoos we have ever seen.]() *\Image: Mashkow via Twitter\* ## Elon Devil A New York-based tattoo artist who goes by the moniker Mashkow has really outdone themselves with one of the most grotesquely fascinating Elon Musk tattoos we've ever seen. An image [circulating online]() shows the billionaire CEO's face imprinted in full color on the forearm of the artist's client, throwing the Twitterverse into a fit of rage and confusion. The depiction is truly a sight to behold. The tattoo shows Musk awkwardly smirking with red tinted eyes. The names of his companies, including "Boring Company" and "Tesla," alongside what appear to be "X Space" and "Neural Link," are scrawled in messy letters across his cheeks and neck. Oh, and "Free Speech" is emblazoned on Musk's forehead in graffiti-style font, next to the Twitter bird, in a reference to the CEO's obsession with [turning the site into an "arena for free speech](). And just for good measure, something appears to be drizzling from the entrepreneur's lower lip. Naysayers were quick to point out some issues with the ink. "Actually, it's Neuralink," one Twitter user [offered helpfully](). https://twitter.com/MASHKOW1/status/1521538051792588801 ## That's the Point It's a tattoo so hideous that it makes us question the true intention behind it. Is it meant to be a commentary on society's current obsession with the entrepreneur? Or was it simply a case of astronomically bad taste? Given the artist's previous and extensive work, which can be viewed on their [Instagram account](), it's likely the former — or, perhaps, a little bit of both. "I genuinely don’t know if this is ironic or a fanboy," one Twitter user [wrote]() in response to the image. It's not a stretch to assume the artwork was meant to evoke this kind of visceral reaction. Besides, art is in the, well, bloodshot eyes of the beholder. But given the fact that there's simply no way this tattoo will age gracefully, we wouldn't be shocked if the client will eventually have a moment of regret. "Can't wait to see this on a coverup episode of Inkmaster," [quipped]() *BuzzFeed News* editor John Paczkowski. **More on Musk:** *[Famous NFT Hater Elon Musk Changes Profile Picture to Stolen Apes]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()