Mark Wahlberg Brings His Kids to His Painful Tattoo Removal Sessions
Tattoos have become more a normal, mainstream part of society, but that doesn’t mean that every tattoo is wanted forever- and actor Mark Wahlberg admits a rather hands-on approach in deterring his kids from ever dabbling in permanent ink.
While it’s far less likely now that a tattoo will prevent you from getting a job, tattoos can be an ever-present nuisance, and Wahlberg has succumbed to the temptation a few times in the past. The actor currently has roughly half a dozen tattoos- designs you are probably aware can only be removed through a painful, expensive series of laser treatments. (And even then, blurry remnants often remain at the end of treatment.)
And though Wahlberg maintains that the tattoos are all “meaningful” to him, he also doesn’t want to see his kids go through the same hassle of dealing with no-longer-wanted ink only to have to pay to eradicate the mistake. Talking about the negative consequences of tattoos is one way to deal with the issue, but Wahlberg has taken another approach- bringing his kids with him to observe the painful process. Wahlberg explains:
“I don’t want my kids getting tattoos. And I wanted them to be [gone] by the time I did The Fighter because putting make-up on and covering them up has always been a pain in the butt.”
He continues:
“I’ve taken my two older kids to the procedure so they see how painful it is and what I have to go through.”
Do you think Mark Wahlberg’s approach to teaching his kids about the downsides of certain decisions should be adopted by more parents?
Tags : Mark Wahlberg, Mark Wahlberg kids, mark wahlberg tattoo removal, mark wahlberg tattoos, tattoo removal
Posted: February 20, 2012
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Feb 20, 2012
Good for him. Seems like a great dad.
Feb 20, 2012
I can't wait to meet Mark, my husband will be working on his next movie in Miami.
Feb 20, 2012
Maybe if he didn't get such crappy tattoos he wouldn't want them removed.
Feb 20, 2012
OMG… Tammy… Mark is so freaking hot. What's your husband do?
Feb 20, 2012
Yes! Visuals work much better than speech…..
Feb 20, 2012
Maybe he should introduce his kids to the man whom he blinded when he was younger.
Feb 20, 2012
Maybe he should introduce his kids to the man whom he blinded when he was younger.
Feb 20, 2012
He is entitled to teach what he thinks is important to his children. However, I personally think tattoos are absolutely beautiful, when they're thoughtful and done right. I have 5 that I absolutely love because they're meaningful to me and each has their own story. My mom is adamantly against tattoos and she was displeased initially but got over it because she saw how beautiful they were. She figured, well you're an adult and you're going to get it regardless of what I think. Now, she doesn't think they're so bad.
Feb 20, 2012
Kudos to Mark Wahlberg. Kids should absolutely learn about tattoos and in particular about how they are basically impossible to ever completely remove (particularly if they contain green ink). It might prevent a few huge mistakes from ever being made. And there is certainly no harm in what Wahlberg's doing. There are millions of people in this world for whom getting a tattoo is something they regret.
Feb 20, 2012
No, his kids are going to want to be just like dad. Dad went through it so I can. "I'm a tough guy or girl too."
Feb 20, 2012
from all I read he is an amazing dad who out grew his bad boy stuff and is a good man. I hope the lesson works, no one wants their kids to make the same mistakes they made, way to go Mark.
Feb 20, 2012
I thnk he's become a surprisingly good role model. http://wp.me/p1se8R-2au Other parents might be wise to follow his lead.
Feb 20, 2012
I think that's a great idea. I made the mistake of letting one of kids talk me into a tattoo. Course then how could I tell my other child to not do it. It's just a small tattoo but my child didn't stop with one. He now has a dozen or more. He wishes he didn't have some of them but that don't stop him from getting more. I have often talked about getting mine removed. I didn't realize it was that painful so thanks for that little tip. NO removel for me. I hate pain.
Feb 20, 2012
When his kids are old enough they will make their own decision whether or not to get a tattoo, whether or not he brings them. They will just say , " I won't have mine taken off" I love tattoos especially if they mean something and your body is just that your body and if are of the legal age it is your responsibility no one else.
Feb 20, 2012
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Feb 20, 2012
What his doing is good for kids experience, a lot of teens nowadays get tatoo during their early age, parent should disallowed this.
When u have tattoo, there are a lot of job u will not going to get during job interview. So in the end, you are blaming the President, the economy etc etc etc but yourself. Well, unless u are rich or working by urself.
Feb 20, 2012
With the rough upbringing he had, and the crap he's seen, I think this is marvelous.
For me, all I had to do was see the faded wrinkly old tats on my godfather (Popeye the Sailor!) and that was enough for me!
Feb 20, 2012
Tell me, I'll forget.
Show me, I'll remember.
Involve me, I'll understand.
– B. Franklin
Feb 20, 2012
I don't think parents can help but to show their kids the downside of rotten decisions. Watching their parents make rotten decisions isn't always a deterrent to the kids making the same rotten decisions – but seeing what the consequences of a parent's rotten decision are, is definitely going to make the kid think twice before making the same mistake. As far as telling other people how to parent, however, it ain't me, babe. That's way above my pay grade.
Feb 20, 2012
I remember in high school, I just had to have some cool shirt and loved wearing it over and over. A few years later, I wouldn't be caught dead in it. Believe me young folks, you might change your mind. They don't look good from a distance. It looks like a dark blob.
Feb 20, 2012
Great idea!
Feb 20, 2012
Mark better hope he didn't get Hep C from one of those tattoo's, the laser brings it out of dormancy, and he'll be sick as a dog. I like Mark Wahlberg, he's a good actor. I won't comment on his parenting skills, I don't know him and it's not my place to judge one way or the other. Good luck with the removal though, I hope it works for him.
Feb 20, 2012
Feb 20, 2012
Josh, even if you get great tattoos, years from now you may not think they are so great. I love when people like you show total disregard or disrespect for people like Mark doing doing what he thinks is best for his kids. You do what you think is best and we will do the same.
Feb 20, 2012
Fear works.
Feb 20, 2012
There's no guarantee that his kids will want to copy each and every single move he made in his whole life. Amazingly, kids DON'T always imitate their parents to the last detail. What Wahlberg is doing is great. He's giving his kids knowledge. That's it.
Feb 20, 2012
And what exactly is wrong with them having a deeper understanding of the implications before they go into the tattoo parlor for the first time?
Feb 20, 2012
More important: you CAN'T remove most tattoos. I speak from experience. 8 laser treatment sessions did almost nothing to the green ink in my first tattoo and I ended up getting a cover-up. Only black ink is really responsive to laser treatment. So if you get a color tattoo, you're stuck with it.
Feb 20, 2012
and yeah, the "removal" process is much more painful than the inking process.
Feb 20, 2012
Chris Hewitt, Mind is purple and black so I guess I'm stuck. It's on my ackle so it don't really show that much. My husband hates it. He was mad for three weeks because I got it. Now I wish I had listened to him. I had a co-workers ask me what I was going to do when I was old and wrinkled. I thought that was funny so I told her that it would slide down to the bottom of my foot and no one would see it. I'm not there yet but it will happen and it won't be so funny.
Feb 20, 2012
If Mark Wahlberg doesn't want his kids to have tattoos, he should use the following approach: 1) Tell your kids you want them to get tattoos. 2) Offer to pay for them. 3) Say you think they are "cool." I find with my own teenager, whenever I do these three things, it nearly guarantees he won't have anything to do with whatever it is I'm talking about. Plus, I was part of the insane many who got tattoos back in the late 80's/early 90's. He doesn't want ANYTHING his mom has. That alone is a pretty good deterrent.
Feb 20, 2012
I agree! And it is so weird given his past and all of his movie roles. It's like he has grown up and become Mr. Responsible with a good heart and a conscience. It's quite nice to see.
Feb 20, 2012
I agree! And it is so weird given his past and all of his movie roles. It's like he has grown up and become Mr. Responsible with a good heart and a conscience. It's quite nice to see.
Feb 20, 2012
Angela Griffin Bunch It sounds yours is fairly discreet. And i doubt it'll sag THAT much. but I would not even consider laser treatment… That's gonna hurt a ton having that laser zap you right on the ankle bone <shudder> Mine is on my shoulder and I do believe that getting a tattoo was the dumbest thing I ever did. They work for some people but not me
But since I can't get rid of it, I am probably going to get a second on on my left shoulder to balance things out. But I damn well intend to think about it much more in advance.
Feb 20, 2012
Angela Griffin Bunch It sounds yours is fairly discreet. And i doubt it'll sag THAT much. but I would not even consider laser treatment… That's gonna hurt a ton having that laser zap you right on the ankle bone <shudder> Mine is on my shoulder and I do believe that getting a tattoo was the dumbest thing I ever did. They work for some people but not me
But since I can't get rid of it, I am probably going to get a second on on my left shoulder to balance things out. But I damn well intend to think about it much more in advance.
Feb 20, 2012
Chris Hewitt I said it won't make any difference if he brings them or not when they are of legal age they will make up their own minds. The fact that he chooses to take them off is his decision, his children might get one can never take it off. No one knows what the future will bring or the choices people make.
Feb 20, 2012
Chris Hewitt I said it won't make any difference if he brings them or not when they are of legal age they will make up their own minds. The fact that he chooses to take them off is his decision, his children might get one can never take it off. No one knows what the future will bring or the choices people make.
Feb 20, 2012
Cruzin Susan You say in the same post "it won't make any difference" and "no one knows what the future will bring." Well, which is it? How do you know it won;t make a difference? Parents show their kids scary stuff all the time to teach them life lessons. And sometimes, it works! Anyway, you ignored my point, which was simply that people (i.e. his kids) make better decisions when they are better informed.
Feb 21, 2012
One fact no tattoo artist will never tell you. There is no FDA approved ink for insertion into your skin. Check out what stuff the ink is made of.
Feb 21, 2012
Sydney Wright Brown and it WILL eventually saggggggg. thats life lol
Feb 21, 2012
Good for him. At least he's being honest with his kids and showing them the consequences of his actions.. Possibly helping them to make informed decisions. There are many people who regret tattoo's. At least he's not afraid to appear humble and admit his past mistakes to his children. Now that's a great parent
Actions speak so much louder than words, especially to kids. Reminds me of a sign I saw in a dr's office once it said "don't tell your kids not to smoke when you have an ashtray in your house" 
Feb 21, 2012
Bob Parenteau I didn't say that wasn't possible, but generally if you get something heart felt and personal/meaningful it doesn't come to that. It was also a joke about the picture they have about his tattoo, it looks like a laughably terrible prison tattoo, which isn't hard to imagine considering he has been in prison. Maybe he should introduce his children to the people he assaulted and what it did to them to show them how their actions effect other people in a more permanent way. That would certainly be more meaningful and human then showing his kids some masochist reconciliation for getting bad art on his body.
Feb 21, 2012
If more people taught or showed their kids the consequences of their actions, maybe more thought would be put into their actions.
Feb 21, 2012
not sure what to make of it but there are worse things father can do to his kids…
Feb 21, 2012
Good lesson for his kids and maybe others who are thinking of getting tatoos. I know those who like their tatoos and those who wish they could get rid of theirs but don't want to go through the pain.
Feb 21, 2012
Recently a friend of mine had her new boyfriends name tattooed on her neck, couldn't hide it unless she were wearing a Turtleneck (do they still make those?) Anyway, she did it after he put her name on his neck, like others, we know this is not going to be a lasting relationship (but you never know!) so what do you do when you have some guys name on your neck for the rest of your life? I think that was totally ignorant on both parts. However, I don't see anything wrong with a nice tatoo in a good place. I know way to many people that wish they had never put (whoever's) name on there body forever.
Feb 21, 2012
All I know is that my mother would rise up out of the grave and strangle me if I did something like that. Never, ever,EVER get a tattoo that you can see while wearing your wedding dress.
Feb 21, 2012
Jody Schreffler-Schlamb My husband works in the Motion Pictures Industry as a Set Decorator, Prop Master, Set Construction, and Greens. The Movie stars Mark Wahlberg, & "The Rock, Dwaine Johnson". It's going to be called "Pain and Gain" and I can't wait.
Feb 21, 2012
yes, he is showing his older children the problems of getting tattoos when young and what it takes to get them removed later in life. Better that than saying don't do what I did because kids do things anyway. I personally think this is a great way for kids to learn.
Feb 21, 2012
Chris, There are serial killers out there with no tattoos. There are bad parents with no tattoos. Tattoos shouldn't be looked at so negatively. That is what's wrong with this society. I know a great lawyer who wears a buttoned up shirt and suit everyday. Well put together, very successful and handsome. The second he takes off his shirt, you will see tattoos from his shoulders to his wrists. I know another person that volunteers working with children and she has tattoos. I also know another person who works at the local animal shelter, walking dogs that don't get adopted, just to give them somewhat of a life and some love. So in other words Chris…you have no clue what you're talking about. Oh, and I have tattoos as well as 2 college degrees!
Feb 21, 2012
I don't think there is a "right" or "wrong" way to address this issue. I have a tatoo, and love it. I'm 41 yrs old and had it done when I was 35. Kids are going to grow up getting tatoos or not. Kids are influenced not only by there parents but mostly from outside the home. Friends, Celebrities, Singers, Actors…..etc…mostly influence people in there interests.
Feb 21, 2012
Christine Capone I have a college degree, a Masters Degree, and a Law Degree, and I am an attorney. I have a tattoo, and I deeply regret getting it. I never said tattoos were an unequivocally bad thing, and I don't really care about your handful of anecdotes.. However they are permanent and a lot of people who get them with all the noblest intentions and convictions, later realize they made a terrible mistake. This is a well established fact, confirmed by a lot studies. All I said was that Wahlberg's actions here were good because his kids at least impart a better understanding of the implications of getting ink permanently injected into your skin. Maybe they'll end up getting one or more. Fine! But at least they will make a very well-informed choice. So, yeah, I have a clue, Chirstine. I'm not sure you do.
Feb 22, 2012
Chris Hewitt When I said it wouldn't make a difference, I meant if the person is determined to get a tattoo, I don't know but I don't think anyone can change his mind. I see nothing wrong with him taking the kids, I was saying that if someone really wants a tattoo, it won't make any difference if the see one being removed or not. Whoever is thinking about a tattoo should think long and hard about it, because ink is forever. I love every single one of mine, and I really don't care if people judge me, I am the same person I was before getting my tattoos. I don't want to argue with you, LOL, cause you will win. Lawyers usually do. You are right if he brings them they can make a better informed decision when they are older. Hope this puts this thread to sleep. Have a good night.
Feb 22, 2012
what defines you at 20 may not define you at 40 or 50. He has changed some nothing wrong with that.
Feb 22, 2012
too bad he didn't film it so that the message couldn't be seen by a lot more people.
Feb 22, 2012
When his kids grow up they will have plenty of tats.
Feb 22, 2012
Chris Hewitt sounds like you were a drunk college boy when you got your tattoo.
Feb 22, 2012
doggysteps it sounds like you have no fucking idea what you're talking about. But why should that stop anyone from posting some random speculation on a message board?
Feb 22, 2012
doggysteps sounds like you enjoy making completely uninformed speculations on message boards. And not surprisingly, you're wrong. But something tells me that's nothing new.
Feb 23, 2012
I love Mark Wahlberg. I can't help it, I do. (sigh)
Feb 23, 2012
Who really gives a F#%$!
Mar 7, 2012
Hey Tammy, did you know that "The Rock" graduated from Freedom?
Mar 24, 2012
Yes, I went there too.