A woman is fuming at her boyfriend after he told her to get her sentimental tattoo covered up because it makes him feel ‘disrespected’ – because it honours someone important to her
Everyone has their own opinion on tattoos, but it’s entirely up to you what you choose to have inked on your body. Not every tattoo has to have deep meaning, but many do, and people often choose to get tattoos that are tributes to loved ones they’ve lost or to memorable moments in their lives.
One woman who dedicated a tattoo to someone who passed away several years ago has now been left fuming, however, as her new boyfriend is demanding she get it covered up. She explained her partner told her he feels “disrespected” by the ink, but she believes he’s overreacting.
In a post on Reddit, the woman revealed her tattoo is dedicated to her late boyfriend, Daniel, who died in 2023. The pair had been together for over three years, but had been childhood friends before that, and after his passing, she got his name and the date of his death inked on her wrist.
Now she’s ready to move on and has recently started dating someone new. But when her new man saw her tattoo, he told her is was “weird” to have another man’s name inked on her skin.
She said: “In 2023, I lost my late boyfriend unexpectedly. It was devastating. He was a huge part of my life as we were childhood best friends and then dated for three years. After he passed, I got a meaningful tattoo in his memory.
“Now, I’m dating someone new. Things have been going well overall, and he knew about my late boyfriend, but recently, he actually saw the tattoo and noticed it in proper detail.
“He got visibly upset. He said it made him feel ‘disrespected’ and like I’m not over my ex. He basically implied I should remove or cover it up.”
The woman said she tried to tell her boyfriend that she could honour the past without it holding her back from embarking on a new romance, but he doubled down, stating he would feel like “second best” if she kept the tattoo.
She added: “I tried to explain that grief and love aren’t black and white, and that honouring the past doesn’t mean I can’t be present in a new relationship. But he just kept saying it’s ‘weird’ and made him feel ‘second best’. Am I overreacting for being hurt by his reaction? Or is it fair that he feels threatened by a piece of my past?”
Commenters on the post were split. Some said that her new partner does have the right to be “bothered” by the tattoo, but many also agreed that she shouldn’t have to cover it up or have it removed.
Ultimately, most commenters decided that this might be a problem that the couple cannot compromise on – meaning it could spell the end of their relationship.
One person said: “Sometimes people have differences that are too great to get over. This is probably one of them. He’s allowed to feel upset by it, and you’re allowed to hold firm on keeping it. Sounds like one of those things where you just may not be suited for each other.”
Another added: “I think it’s fine if this bothers him, but given how important it is to you, maybe he’s just not the one for you. You probably need a partner who is able to handle the complicated feelings you have for your late boyfriend. I would not cover it up, and I’d seriously question if this is the right relationship for you.”
A third wrote: “He is immature. Dump him and find an adult who doesn’t say this kind of stuff to you. Someone who is mature will recognise your loss as part of you and accept it. And won’t feel lesser because of it.”