The heartwarming meaning behind Machine Gun Kelly's new shocking black-out tattoos has been revealed.
The 33-year-old musician - whose real name is Colson Baker - stunned fans on Tuesday (February 20) after showcasing his latest inkwork, which is a series of blackout tattoos across his arms, shoulders, and chest.
The design, which was crafted by celebrity tattoo artist Roxx, encompasses the majority of 'Emo Girl' rockstar's upper body, leaving a distinct cross shape on his chest and revealing hints of his previous colorful tattoos beneath the darkened layers.
MGK debuted the new look on his Instagram and shared the cryptic message: "For spiritual purposes only."
Check out MGK's new tattoos below:To say the least, fans have had a mixed reaction towards the reveal. Some expressed disappointment that he had covered up his previous tattoos, as one user criticized: "Wow. All dat previous work down da drain."
Another interjected: "I had an emotional attachment to those tats ngl," while a third commented: "I like your old tattoos they were like your history and so iconic."
A fourth slammed: "MGK is known for his various tattoos and even his Cleveland tattoos. To get that all covered up and go straight black is wild and weird to me," and a fifth added: "You continuously keep doing dramatic drastic things to erase who you were in the past it seems like. Idk man. I love u but this is a lot."
However, others offered their support for the new black-out look and the personal significance behind his ink. "Proud of u brother, the change has been beautiful to watch," one user named Mod Sun commented.
A loyal supporter chimed in: "This so beautiful and I love watching your transformation. Thankful to be a part of it. God has so much in store for you," and a fan also remarked that they hope the new ink "is a sign of much healing," before adding: "We love you!"
The tattoo artist spoke to TMZ about MGK and revealed that they started the grueling tattoo journey in mid-December when the singer visited her in LA four days a week for 13 six-hour sessions.
Roxx explained that the Home artist transformation - which was one of the biggest projects she's done in such a short amount of time - was a deeply personal one, as the pair had a "spiritual consultation".
According to the outlet, the heartfelt reason for Kelly's new look is to do with the colorful tattoos on his arms, torso, and back being "too chaotic for him now" as he was adopting a new mindset in his life.
Furthermore, Roxx praised Machine Gun Kelly, stating that he was "the toughest client she's ever had" in 30 years. So, safe to say... it probably hurt a lot.