Dave Bautista, known for his roles in action-packed movies and his wrestling career, is a figure who commands attention. While many admire his physique and on-screen persona, there’s a deeper story etched onto his skin – the story of Dave Bautista’s tattoos. These aren’t just random designs; they are a roadmap of his life, values, and personal evolution. In a recent interview with GQ, Bautista openly discussed his extensive tattoo collection, revealing both the pieces he cherishes and those he’s chosen to cover, offering a fascinating glimpse into the man behind the muscles.
One of the most prominent pieces in Dave Bautista’s tattoos gallery is the striking image of a woman in La Catrina makeup on his left forearm. This tattoo is a testament to his appreciation for cultural symbolism and artistry. However, this space on his arm wasn’t always dedicated to La Catrina. It previously held a tattoo representing a friendship that soured due to deeply conflicting values.
Bautista revealed that the covered-up tattoo was linked to someone he once considered a close friend and mentor. This individual, who remained unnamed in the GQ interview but is publicly known to be boxer Manny Pacquiao, later made vehemently anti-gay statements. For Bautista, whose mother is a lesbian, this was an intolerable betrayal. “I was part of a team of a person I considered a friend and someone I really looked up to,” Bautista explained. “And then he later came out publicly with some anti-gay statements, and turned out to be an extreme homophobe. So I had a huge issue with it. It’s a personal issue with me, my mom’s a lesbian, and I just could no longer call him a friend.”
The original tattoo was reportedly a copy of Pacquiao’s own meteor tattoo, a symbol of their shared association when Bautista joined Pacquiao’s team in 2009. However, Pacquiao’s 2016 comments, where he infamously described LGBTQ+ people as “worse than animals,” irrevocably damaged their relationship and prompted Bautista’s decisive action regarding the tattoo.
Bautista’s reaction to Pacquiao’s statements was immediate and forceful. “He’s a fucking idiot,” Bautista stated plainly to reporters at the time. “If anyone called my mother an animal, I’d stick my foot in his ass. […] There’s no coming back from that.” This powerful statement underscores the depth of Bautista’s loyalty and love for his mother, Donna Raye, and his unwavering stance against homophobia.
His commitment to inclusivity extends beyond words. During Pride 2022, Dave Bautista demonstrated his allyship by posting a photo on Instagram wearing a “Be You” rainbow shirt. In the caption, he proudly declared that he inherited his unapologetically authentic attitude, his “in your face, fuck you if you don’t like it” approach, directly from his mother.
Dave Bautista’s tattoos are not just skin deep. They tell a story of personal growth, unwavering values, and the courage to stand up for what he believes in. The cover-up of the Pacquiao tattoo is a powerful symbol of his zero-tolerance stance on homophobia and his deep respect for his family and the LGBTQ+ community. More than just body art, Dave Bautista’s tattoos are a visible representation of his character and convictions.
