MGK Reveals His Skin Became “Yellow” Following Blackout Tattoo

MGK has opened up about suffering serious health issues after undergoing an intensive blackout tattoo transformation, revealing that his skin turned "yellow" and he became "really sick" during the process.

Speaking in a new interview with Billboard Canada, the artist formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly shared that he reached a point in early 2024 where he felt ready for a major change to his existing tattoos.

As a result, MGK contacted celebrity tattoo artist ROXX and asked her to cover large portions of his arms and torso with a blackout design that he described as a personal "dark mode" makeover.

Before beginning, however, ROXX reportedly warned him that completing the work would require at least two months.

"She warned me that it was going to be near impossible, even from a pain tolerance standpoint," he recalled. "I said, 'Yeah, we got two months.'"

Determined to finish the project, MGK made daily trips to ROXX's Los Angeles studio to continue the lengthy tattoo sessions.

But the constant tattooing soon began affecting his body in unexpected ways.

"After the first week, we hit my lymph nodes around my armpits and shoulders, and I got really sick. My skin was turning yellow. I wasn't able to sleep. I stopped being able to move certain parts of my upper body," the 36 year old said.

Even so, MGK, whose real name is Colson Baker, does not regret going through the experience.

"I came out the other side extremely inspired," he said. "Not just because of what I had done, but because of what I had to overcome."

MGK released his most recent album, Lost Americana, in August 2025.