Look, we’ve all done things we regret when we were nineteen. Maybe you bought a car you couldn't afford or dyed your hair a color that definitely didn't suit your skin tone. But most of us don't have our mistakes permanently etched onto our skin for the entire world to zoom in on for the next decade. Justin Bieber does. Specifically, that angel tattoo on his left wrist.
You know the one. It’s based on a photo from a Selena Gomez Elle magazine shoot. It’s been more than seven years since the "Jelena" era officially imploded, yet here we are in 2026, and that face is still staring back at him every time he checks his watch.
People are obsessed with it. Honestly, it’s kinda wild. Every time Justin and Hailey post a photo where his left arm is visible, the comment sections turn into a forensic investigation. Is it faded? Did he add more shading? Is it actually gone?
The truth is a lot more complicated than a simple "yes" or "no."
The "Angel" That Won't Go Away
Back in 2013, when Justin first got the ink, it was a grand romantic gesture. It’s a portrait of Selena with long, dark hair and angel wings. It was the peak of their on-again, off-again saga. But by 2016, the vibe had shifted.
During a famous video interview with GQ, Justin sat there, shirtless and covered in ink, and pointed directly at his wrist. "This is my ex-girlfriend," he said. He didn't even use her name. He admitted, "I tried to cut her face up with some shading, but people still know."
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That "shading" basically just made the tattoo look a bit blurrier. It didn't erase her. It just made her look like a slightly more mysterious version of herself. Fast forward to now, and it's still a permanent fixture on his arm.
Why hasn't he lasered it off?
You’d think a guy with a net worth in the hundreds of millions would just book a few laser sessions and be done with it. Laser removal hurts, sure, but so does 100+ hours of needles.
There are a few theories on why it’s still there:
- The "Canvas" Philosophy: Justin has gone on record saying he doesn't regret any of his tattoos because they represent a specific time in his life. He literally called his body a "canvas" on Instagram.
- The Cover-up Challenge: Portrait tattoos are notoriously hard to cover without creating a giant, dark blob. To fully hide Selena, he’d likely need a massive, solid black piece, which might not fit the aesthetic of his current sleeve.
- Hailey’s Stance: Interestingly, sources have occasionally claimed Hailey isn't as bothered by it as the internet is. In her mind, it’s a relic of a past life, not a current threat.
The Secret "S" in the Neck Rose
If the wrist tattoo is the "obvious" one, the neck rose is the conspiracy theorist’s dream. In late 2020, Justin got a large, detailed rose on the side of his neck. Immediately, fans started claiming they could see a faint letter "S" hidden in the petals.
It sounds like a stretch, right? But the internet went into a full-blown meltdown over it.
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Justin eventually addressed the neck ink, though he didn't mention Selena. He told fans it was a request from Hailey and that he was "done with neck tattoos." He explained that the thorns represent the rough patches and the rose represents the beauty.
Whether there's a hidden initial in there or not, the fact that people are still looking for it shows just how much the Justin Bieber Selena Gomez tattoo lore continues to dominate pop culture.
Did Selena Ever Get a Justin Tattoo?
This is where the story gets a bit more one-sided. Selena has plenty of ink—around 15 to 20 tattoos depending on the year—but she never got a portrait of Justin.
She does have a small "g" behind her ear. For a long time, people thought it was for Justin. It wasn't. She cleared that up pretty quickly, explaining it’s a tribute to her younger sister, Gracie.
The closest thing she has to a "matching" tattoo is a pair of praying hands on her thigh, which looks remarkably similar to a design Justin has on his leg. But praying hands are a pretty standard tattoo motif, so calling it a direct tribute is probably reaching.
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What This Means for Tattoos and Exes
The "Bieber Effect" has actually changed how people think about relationship tattoos. If a literal superstar can't successfully hide a portrait of his ex, what hope do the rest of us have?
Real Talk for Anyone Considering an "Ex" Tattoo:
- Portraits are Permanent-ish: Lasering a face is ten times harder than lasering a name.
- Shading isn't a Solution: As Justin proved, adding shadows doesn't hide the identity; it just makes the tattoo look "bruised."
- Placement Matters: The wrist is one of the most visible parts of the body. You will see it every single day.
The 2026 Reality
As of right now, the Selena portrait remains. It’s faded, sure. It’s surrounded by newer, darker ink that draws the eye away. But it’s a part of his history.
In a world where we try to curate and delete everything that doesn't fit our current "aesthetic," there’s something almost refreshing about a guy who just lets his past stay visible. Even if that past is a world-famous pop star with angel wings.
If you're thinking about getting inked for a partner, maybe stick to something symbolic. Or better yet, just buy them a nice watch. You can always sell a watch. You can't sell a wrist.
Next time you see a photo of Justin, take a look at that left wrist. It’s a reminder that even for the most famous people on earth, moving on is a process, and sometimes, the ghosts of our past stay exactly where we put them.