Justin Bieber Debuts Tattoo of Hailey Bieber at the Grammys

Justin Bieber cannot get Hailey off his back. At the 2026 Grammy Awards on February 1, the pop singer made his return to a major stage with a shirtless, loop-pedal rendition of “YUKON,” from his nominated but ultimately shut-out album, SWAG. That’s okay — his wife, Hailey, was supporting him in the crowd and onstage. In a wide shot of his performance from behind, he has a new tattoo of Mrs. Bieber in between his shoulder blades. She appears to be framed by at least one cross. And I’m simply standing on business when I say it looks bad.

Photo: Getty Images for The Recording A

Even under the bright lights of the Grammys stage, Hailey’s lines appear shallow and the shading is weak, and if I didn’t know the exact 2020 Elle cover the tattoo is referencing, I would assume that is a portrait of Amanda Batula from Summer House. Justin’s body has been treated like scratch paper since he got his first pieces in 2010, but if we give him and his artist the benefit of the doubt, this could be the first step in a multi-session cover-up and back piece. On his left shoulder, the script and cross are just starting to go over the profile of a Native American man, which Bieber got in 2013 to commemorate his grandfather’s love for a Canadian hockey team that no longer uses its “Indian head logo.” Better late than never? On his right shoulder, beneath the guitar strap, you can just start to make out the quote he had stamped in 2016 (“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path,” from Psalm 119:105), also potentially in the early stages of being sketched over and covered up.

So while he isn’t going the way of Pete Davidson and getting rid of all his unfortunate body art referencing old relationships, maybe Justin is finally finding a way to make up for the hideous Selena Gomez tattoo on his wrist. In 2016, three years after getting it, he told GQ he added angel wings and went over her face with more shading after their breakup (or once he and Hailey started dating that year). More recently, he appeared to black it out entirely. Unlike Pete, who seems to be making do with body makeup, Justin may be in laser sessions for the rest of his life. A massive portrait of Hailey is probably the best bet for his latest confirmation of love, which comes weeks after he was allegedly caught “liking” old comments about his ex. But wouldn’t the tattoo be more meaningful if it were Hailey’s Vogue cover?