# Ben Affleck's Back Tattoo: new photos surface **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959 "2018-03-21T13:24:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/1 "2018-03-21T13:24:36Z")
Okay, it’s a Snow Day, so I have a bit of time. Saw this on CNN and had to chuckle. I had not realized that Ben had claimed that the tattoo was for a film and temporary. I have no ink but enjoy well-done body art. John Mayer has a great sleeve, for instance. But this giant Phoenix? WTF?! Maybe he’s a Dumbledore fan 😉 What do you think? If you know tattoos, how would you rate the work done? > **[Ben Affleck's massive back tattoo mocked | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/19/entertainment/ben-affleck-back-tattoo/index.html)** > > Remember that huge back tattoo Ben Affleck said was fake? Apparently not so much. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/2 "2018-03-21T14:37:49Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > If you know tattoos, how would you rate the work done? I know tattoos (I have dozens of hours of work on myself and used to hang out in parlors in my free time). If he’s happy with his back-piece, then I think it’s wonderful. To seriously evaluate work requires a close up viewing and hands-on evaluation. The people mocking the guy really need to show their backs so we can compare. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/3 "2018-03-21T14:45:44Z")
The blank strips running through it is odd. Maybe it is temporary. “Don’t worry, it’ll wash off in about four years.” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/4 "2018-03-21T15:09:15Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > The blank strips running through it is odd. I assumed it to be a work in progress. Most backpieces take several sittings to complete. What he has looks like 8 to 16 hours of work to outline, and another 10 to 20 hours for color/shading. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/5 "2018-03-21T15:29:22Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I assumed it to be a work in progress. Most backpieces take several sittings to complete. What he has looks like 8 to 16 hours of work to outline, and another 10 to 20 hours for color/shading. But his tattoo was first noted in 2016. And while I know they are usually done in multiple sittings, the blank strip are just weird. One is a break in the peacock feather and the others are quarter inch strips through the middle of things. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/6 "2018-03-21T17:10:58Z")
I wouldn’t get it and I’m generally on the “anti” side of tattoos (I don’t care if you get one, but I don’t like 'em) but this doesn’t seem significantly worse than a lot of other tattoos I’ve seen. It’s big, sure, but it looks better than say [Bieber’s derp-tiger](https://www.google.com/search?q=bieber+tiger+tattoo&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=uUcQkmDAMYP5lM%253A%252CicUkKIV3kCq5sM%252C_&usg=__WgwTt8W908qMtNElTYPwz7ygAQY%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9pMab9P3ZAhUIUK0KHSW-DgcQ9QEIKTAA#imgrc=uUcQkmDAMYP5lM:). ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/7 "2018-03-21T17:14:05Z")
I don’t have any tattoos, but they don’t bother me in the slightest. If I saw Mr. Affleck on the beach, I doubt I’d give it a second look. What a strange “news” item. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/8 "2018-03-21T17:29:22Z")
It doesn’t appeal to me personally, and, as **kayaker** said, you really can’t tell without being able to see it up close and in person (and I will happily volunteer for that job, btw). That being said, I hardly think it’s worth mocking and certainly not news worthy. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/9 "2018-03-21T17:30:21Z")
He’s gonna cut back to 1 pack per day soon, and then in 3 or 4 paychecks he will have enough saved to finish the tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/10 "2018-03-21T17:38:29Z")
It’s not to my taste, but it’s not my back :). I think it comes across a bit worse because he has a reputation for being such a douche. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/11 "2018-03-21T17:43:51Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > He’s gonna cut back to 1 pack per day soon, and then in 3 or 4 paychecks he will have enough saved to finish the tattoo. I’ve never paid for ink. My work is all by friends and I’ve traded my work for theirs. And yet I can never line up the time to get my next piece started. I usually sit for 4 hours, so there’s that. But I also want to have the three weeks after scheduled for after-care (no swimming, no sun, better-than-usual nutrition, ideally no clothing rubbing on the area). So I can easily see a large back-piece done in stages. Plus, it’s not excruciating pain, but it does get aggravating. I’m a pussy when it comes to pain, so I feel that I need to psych myself up. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/12 "2018-03-21T18:14:01Z")
I guess I haven’t see very good pictures of it. I don’t understand why people spend their time making this a “big” story about the guy. What I can see of it, I like. If it needs more work, then finish it up. If he lied about it, that’s weird. Just own the thing Ben. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/13 "2018-03-21T18:24:16Z")
I don’t get why he would lie about it at all. He is sure to be shirtless in some future movie and he’s constantly followed by pazzarati. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/14 "2018-03-21T18:49:44Z")
I’m not a fan of tattoos at all - I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man or woman whose appearance was improved by having one - but it’s a free country, and if Affleck wants to have one (or lie about just how permanent it is or isn’t), that’s up to him. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/15 "2018-03-21T21:38:42Z")
Surely it’s more alarming that someone stole his butt. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/16 "2018-03-21T22:25:32Z")
A phoenix is a fairly common choice for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, which he’s been pretty open about. Blank strips might symbolize relapses, or just be unfinished work. I like the phoenix idea, but not this particular tattoo, just because it’s not my personal taste. I guess the red and black at the bottom is meant to be fire and ashes, but in these photos it looks like the phoenix is dragging a golf bag. Which would be completely surrealistically awesome, if it were true. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/17 "2018-03-21T22:40:48Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Surely it’s more alarming that someone stole his butt. According to South Park, his [butt is on his face](http://4.images.southparkstudios.com/images/shows/south-park/clip-thumbnails/season-5/0510/south-park-s05e10c16-ben-assfleck-16x9.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/18 "2018-03-22T00:29:03Z")
Looks like something I would have thought was totally cool on a black light poster when I was 13. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/19 "2018-03-22T00:35:55Z")
Maybe if it was smaller it would be cool, but it’s just way too big. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959/20 "2018-03-22T00:41:29Z")
I think he and Matt Damon should do another movie together where they have matching back tattoos, specifically this one: [https://www.google.com/search?q=gay+mermaid+back+tattoo&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=jj\_BY7HyygU1qM%253A%252CL\_76EsSPewxrbM%252C\_&usg=\_\_VuEG\_OYb6kCLYyaW1PU9TirPClE%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiSh6b42P7ZAhUJvFkKHfgpAfMQ9QEIKzAA#imgrc=bmCHuyYS8cE\_CM:](https://www.google.com/search?q=gay+mermaid+back+tattoo&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=jj_BY7HyygU1qM%253A%252CL_76EsSPewxrbM%252C_&usg=__VuEG_OYb6kCLYyaW1PU9TirPClE%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiSh6b42P7ZAhUJvFkKHfgpAfMQ9QEIKzAA#imgrc=bmCHuyYS8cE_CM:) WARNING: NSFW! NSFW! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-afflecks-back-tattoo-new-photos-surface/810959.md?page=2)