Fans aren’t sure to make of her new look

Art is subjective, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but for many, facial tattoos might be a step too far. While the likes of Chris Brown, Cardi B, and Amanda Bynes have all shocked with their face ink, Claire “Grimes” Boucher has left fans confused and divided in equal measure.

Aside from being known for songs like “Oblivion” and “Flesh Without Blood”, the Juno Award-winning artist is also remembered for providing her vocals for Cyberpunk 2077, starring as a judge on the Alter Ego gameshow, and her complicated love life with Elon Musk.

Even though we imagine being married to the world’s richest man is never easy, Grimes and Musk’s on-again-off-again relationship had been thrust into the spotlight.

From their iconic couple debut on the 2018 Met Gala carpet through to Boucher clapping back as Musk ‘parading’ their son around the White House, it’s been quite the ride. Grimes has largely tried to stay out of the spotlight when it comes to her ex-husband, although there have been a few thinly veiled comments, like when she branded Musk’s X as ‘a prison’ and ‘poison’.

Grimes has shown off her new tattoo (Theo Wargo / Staff / Getty)

There’s been the occasional time she’s stuck her head above the parapet, like when she made a heartfelt public plea for him to get in touch about a medical crisis involving one of their three children – although she quickly deleted it.

Some have been concerned for Boucher and her unwanted ties to Musk, especially sparking further worries with her latest tattoo. The 37-year-old shared a selfie of her tattoo, which some have claimed looks like a scar. The circular tattoo was seemingly designed to look this way, curving over Boucher’s temple and through her left eyebrow and eye.

Explaining the story behind her tattoo, Grimes said she’d been ‘working up’ to getting a facial tattoo for the past decade, clarifying that she can appreciate the ‘true beauty’ and ‘innovation’ of the artist’s design.

While it’s definitely a striking piece, Boucher downplayed the idea that it’s even that noticeable: “Spent like ten years emotionally working up to a face tattoo but I guess I drew on my face too much and literally no one noticed, not even my parents, not even after the video lol.”

Many might be confused by the new look, but Grimes seems pretty happy with the finished product as she added: “‘Feel like tats are in a crazy renaissance period that’s sort of under appreciated atm.”

Most in the comments seemed to be confused why Boucher would get such a striking piece in such an obvious place. There were plenty who said it looked like ringworm, with one person saying: “I remember my first Ringworm.”

Another confused onlooker said: “Is the face tattoo in the room with us ??”

A third concluded: “You could have the coolest face tattoo ever but you have this instead. I’m sorry but I’m so confused💀.”

Over on X, Grimes said: “Idky this face tattoo is imperceptible but just for the record it’s my fave tat.”

The tattoo was inked by Glyphomancer, an artist who specializes in the cybersigilism tattoo method that blends modern aesthetics with ancient sigil symbolism and a cyberpunk vibe.