A comprehensive guide to Ben Affleck’s shoulder, back, and hip tattoos

There’s more to it am Affleck than what’s on the surface, namely his handful of surprising and intricate tattoos.

Fans have caught a glimpse of the actor’s ink through his wife Jennifer Lopez‘s Instagram in June 2023, when she posted a shirtless photo of him for Father’s Day. “Daddy Appreciation Post ✨ Happy Father’s Day Papa,” she captioned a slideshow of photos, including one of Affleck’s mirror selfies. “And Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads out there!! We love you and appreciate you more than you will ever know 🤍.”

In the photo, Affleck – who shares children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel with ex-wife Jennifer Garner — showed off his two shoulder tattoos while smoldering in the mirror. Both were visible in Lopez’s 2002 music video for “Jenny from the neighborhood,” in which he appeared together with his girlfriend at the time. (The cross on his left shoulder has since been embellished with floral details.)

In honor of his and Lopez’s first Valentine’s Day together as a married couple — the couple previously dated from 2002 to 2004 before reconnecting in 2021 and then tied the knot a year later — Affleck and the Grammy nominee got additional tattoos in February 2023 . infinity sign with an arrow going through it on her left ribcage, while the Oscar winner, for his part, got two intersecting arrows with the initials “J” and “B” next to them – seemingly representing their first names.

Perhaps Affleck’s most famous tattoo is that of a giant phoenix on his back. Though he clarified in a March 2016 interview with Additional television that the intricate piece was fake and “for a movie” he was photographed wearing the ink during a beach workout for his action movie Triple Border in Hawaii in March 2018.

Later that month, he responded to criticism of the back tattoo The New Yorkers published an article slamming the draft. “@NewYorker I’m fine,” he wrote via Twitter at the time. “Thick skin backed by flashy tattoos.”

Affleck once again poked fun at the look during a performance in March 2018 The Ellen DeGeneres Show, who dubbed the tat “a phoenix rising out of my ass.” The Missing girl star also opened up about the meaning of the tattoo and told the host Ellen DeGeneres: “It’s something I’ve kind of kept private.”

While Affleck has received support from BFF Matt Damon for the remarkable ink – stating during a performance in March 2018 on The daily show that “it’s not one man’s job to tell another man what to do with his back” — Lopez previously admitted she wasn’t a fan.

“It’s terrible,” the hustlers actress – who shares twins Max and Emme with ex-husband Mark Antony – told 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 cooler.

Keep scrolling to see all of Affleck’s tattoos and the meanings behind them:

A phoenix

Affleck was first seen with his tattoo of a phoenix on the set of the film Live at night in December 2015, not long after he and Garner announced their separation in June after 10 years of marriage.

While he has never publicly revealed the meaning behind the ink, he did reveal that it “represents something very important to me” during a March 2018 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “It makes sense to me. I like it,” he explained at the time. “It’s something I’ve kind of kept private.”

About

Although it is unknown when the Justice League actor got a cross tattooed on his left shoulder, the piece was featured in Lopez’s music video “Jenny from the Block” in 2002, and again in his 2003 film Gigli.

The tattoo used to be just an outline of a cross, later it was embellished and surrounded by various flowers.

A sword, roses and playing cards

On Affleck’s right shoulder is a cross surrounded by colorful roses and playing cards, which was also featured in the “Jenny from the Block” music video and Gigli. The ink also features barbed wire and what appears to be an angelic figure on the right side of the sword.

Like the phoenix, the meaning of his shoulder tattoos remains a mystery. “There’s inspiration for everything,” he said Entertainment tonight in March 2016. “You have to get much, much closer than you are now to move forward with that story.”

Arrows and initials

Affleck and Lopez celebrated Valentine’s Day 2023 by getting additional tattoos. He combined Lopez’s infinity sign with an arrow passing through it with two arrows of his own, complete with “J” and “B” initials for their first names. “Commitment ♾️,” Lopez captioned photos of their meaningful ink at the time. “Happy Valentine’s Day my love 🤍.”

A dolphin

Among his many tattoos, the Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice actor also has a small dolphin on his right hip. November 2011, Page six reported that the ink was used to cover up a tattoo of his high school girlfriend’s name, though Affleck has never confirmed or denied the reason behind the tattoo.

Mysterious initials

Perhaps Affleck’s most mysterious tattoo is that of “OV” initials on his right shoulder blade. The phrases “MOH NONTE” and “TA OR” are written above and below the initials, respectively, though the meaning behind the words remains unknown.