There’s more to Ben Affleck than what’s on the surface, namely his handful of startling and intricate tattoos.
Fans got a glimpse of the actor’s ink via his wife Jennifer Lopez‘s Instagram in June 2023, as she posted a shirtless photo of him for Father’s Day. “Daddy Appreciation Post ✨ Happy Father’s Day Dad,” she captioned a slideshow of photos, which included one of Affleck’s mirror selfies. “And Happy Father’s Day to all the Amazing Dads!! We love and appreciate you more than you’ll ever know 🤍.
Pictured is Affleck – who shares children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel with his ex-wife Jennifer Garnier – showed off his two shoulder tattoos while smoking in the mirror. The two were visible in Lopez’s 2002 music video for “Jenny from the Block,” in which he made a guest appearance alongside his then-girlfriend. (The cross on her left shoulder has since been adorned with floral details.)
In honor of his first Valentine’s Day with Lopez as a married couple — the couple previously dated from 2002 to 2004 before reconnecting in 2021 and wed a year later — Affleck and the Grammy nominee have got additional tattoos in February 2023. Lopez got an infinity sign with an arrow crossing it on her left rib cage, while the Oscar-winning actress, for her part, got two crossed arrows with the initials ” J” and “B” next to it – apparently representing their first names.
Perhaps Affleck’s most famous tattoo is of a giant phoenix on his back. Although he clarified in a March 2016 interview with Additional TV that the intricate piece was fake and ‘for a movie’ he was pictured wearing the ink during a practice session at the beach for his action flick Triple Frontier in Hawaii in March 2018.
He responded to criticism of the back tattoo later that month after the new yorker published an article slamming the design. “@NewYorker I’m doing great,” he wrote via Twitter at the time. “Thick skin enhanced by garish tattoos.”
Affleck poked fun at the look again during a March 2018 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, dubbing the tat “a phoenix coming out of my ass.” THE missing girl the star also opened up about the meaning of the tattoo, telling the host Ellen Degeneres: “It’s something that I kind of kept private.”
While Affleck received support from BFF Matt Damon for notable ink – stating during a March 2018 appearance on The daily show that “it’s not a man’s job to tell another man what he can do for his back” – Lopez previously admitted she’s not a fan.
“It’s awful”, the Hustlers actress – who shares twins Max and Emme with her ex-husband Mark Anthony – told the host Andy Cohen on Watch what’s happening live in 2016. “And I would tell him that. What are you doing? It has too many colors! His tattoos always have too many colors. They shouldn’t be so colorful, you know what I mean? They should be, like, cooler.
Keep scrolling to see all of Affleck’s tattoos and the meaning behind them:
A Phoenix
Affleck was first spotted with his phoenix back tattoo on the set of the movie Live the night in December 2015, shortly after he and Garner announced their separation after 10 years of marriage in June.
Although he has never publicly revealed the meaning of the ink, he did reveal that it “represents something really important to me” during a March 2018 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. ” Its important to me. I like that,” he explained at the time. “It’s something that I kind of kept private.”
Through
Although it is not known when the Justice League the actor got a tattoo of a cross on his left shoulder, the piece was featured in Lopez’s 2002 “Jenny from the Block” music video, and again in her 2003 film Lilies.
Once just an outline of a cross, the tattoo was later embellished and surrounded by several flowers.
Ben Affleck.
Courtesy of Jennifer Lopez/InstagramA sword, roses and playing cards
On Affleck’s right shoulder is a cross surrounded by colorful roses and playing cards, which also featured in the “Jenny from the Block” music video and Lilies. The ink also features barbed wire and what looks like an angelic figure on the right side of the sword.
Just like the phoenix, the meaning behind his shoulder tattoos remains a mystery. “There is inspiration for all of this,” he said. entertainment tonight in March 2016. “You have to get much, much closer than we are now to get this story any further.”
Ben Affleck in “Lilies”, 2003.
Columbia/Revolution Studios/Kobal/ShutterstockArrows and initials
Affleck and Lopez celebrated Valentine’s Day 2023 by getting complementary tattoos. He matched Lopez’s infinity sign with an arrow going through it with two arrows to him, with the initials “J” and “B” for their first names. “Commitment ♾️,” Lopez captioned photos of their meaningful ink at the time. “Happy Valentine’s Day my love 🤍.”
Ben Affleck’s ink in tribute to Jennifer Lopez.
A dolphin
Among his many tattoos, the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice The actor also has a little dolphin on his right hip. In November 2011, page 6 reported that the ink was used to cover up a tattoo of his high school girlfriend’s name, although Affleck has never confirmed or denied the reason behind the tattoo.
Mystery Initials
Perhaps Affleck’s most mysterious tattoo is the initials “OV” on his right shoulder blade. The phrases “MOH NON TE” and “TA OR” are written above and below the initials respectively, although the meaning of the words remains unknown.