Aaron & Sam Taylor-Johnson got tattoos of each other’s names, so they’re fine?

Sam Taylor-Johnson and Aaron Taylor-Johnson arrive at the EE BAFTA British Academy Film Awards, Royal Albert Hall, London, UK

Back in April, there was a weird rumor going around social media that Aaron and Sam Taylor Johnson were over after nine years of marriage. There didn’t seem to be any real source for the rumors other than “Twitter” and “the Taylor Johnsons put their LA home on the market.” In the weeks since then, I’ve been waiting to see if any outlet would run a story about their marriage or “split rumors.” Nothing came out. Aaron and Sam even got pap’d together a few times in May. And now this: they’ve gotten his-and-hers tattoos of their names on their chests/collarbones.

So… everything’s fine? They got tattoos of each other’s names. I guess we’re supposed to greet this news with a “I’m so glad that you’ll be together forever!” Mostly I feel like this is just kind of weird move after nine years of marriage? Plus, those tattoos are so light and delicate, they’ll both be able to laser them off pretty easily! Too far? Come on, “getting tattoos” as a symbol of undying love just isn’t what it used to be. The lasered echo of Angelina Jolie’s “Billy Bob” tattoo proves that.

I really do wonder what’s going on with them, because this does feel… I don’t know, like they have something to prove.

Sam Taylor-Johnson and actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson arrive at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Golden Globes, in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, USA, on 08 January 2017. Photo: Hubert Boesl  - NO WIRE SERVICE - Photo: Hubert Boesl/

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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46 Responses to “Aaron & Sam Taylor-Johnson got tattoos of each other’s names, so they’re fine?”

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  1. Cecilia says:

    I truly do not care how long you’ve been together as a (married) couple. Couple tattoos will always be a NO.

    And judging from this i would say that them having “issues” or “separate” is nothing but some hollywood gossip.

    • Amanda says:

      I agree. Also, I feel like she groomed him. Their relationship has always creeped me out.

    • Bryn says:

      Why though? Tattoos can be covered, they can be removed. I could care less what people put on their bodies so long as it isn’t racist stuff and what not.

    • whatWHAT? says:

      agree on name tattoos, unless it’s a child of yours.

      EVERY person I know who got someone’s name tatted on them wound up breaking up. EVERY. ONE. granted, that’s not a huge pool of people, but it’s 100% of them. in a couple of cases, it was almost like a jinx on the relationship.

      and yes, Amanda, she DID groom him. it’s not just you.

      • Bryn says:

        I’ve had my husband’s name on me since we were 17. My parents have each others names on them and they still do many, many years later. Just because you know people who’s relationships ended doesn’t mean its bad for everyone. Once again, its an individual choice and who the hell cares what people do with their bodies. At least tattoos can be removed and covered up. Thats the last thing we should be criticizing this couple for is tattoos.

      • whatWHAT? says:

        I specifically stated that, yes, it’s a small pool, and that it was my personal experience.

        I’m glad that it worked out for you and your parents, Bryn, but as you noted, just because it worked out for you and your folks doesn’t mean it’s good for everyone. the large majority of posts here on this subject are in alignment with my experience, not yours. yours is more like the exception to the rule. which is great, I hope you and your husband never have to get them removed or covered.

        yes, it is an individual choice and, based on what I’ve seen from my friends’ experiences, I would make a different choice than you did.

    • Audrey says:

      Tattoos are like sealing relationships with the kiss of death when it’s struggling

  2. Renata says:

    Isn’t it their tenth year of relationship? Maybe that’s why the tattoos. I watched a few interviews of them together last year and whatever you feel about them, that man is totally besotted with her. I can count on one hand the number of men who look at their wives like that. I know it’s triggering but it’s true.

    • DS9 says:

      Of course he looks at her that way, she’s ensures that she’s the center of good universe.

      There are girls around the world who gaze at their predatory “partner” in exactly the same fashion. It doesn’t validate the grooming.

      • Renata says:

        Absolutely. Celine Dion’s devotion to her dead creep is an example. I’m simply saying that there’s no impending split, at least not instigated by him.

  3. Jay says:

    I dunno, I think getting a tattoo of your SO is sort of like a vow renewal ceremony. It’s sort of like “ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to see here. We’re fine. More than fine. I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW FINE AND TOTALLY HAPPY WE ARE!

    If you have to shout that loud…

    • Eh says:

      My husband and I renewed our vows before he left for Afghanistan to fly around in the back of a medevac helicopter. Sometimes there are better reasons than “look how fine we are.”

  4. milliemollie says:

    She groomed him- it’s unlikely that he’ll ever leave her. The tattoos are probably for an anniversary.

  5. Izzy says:

    Isn’t the tattoo thing kind of a harbinger of doom for most relationships? When’s I see a celebrity do this I think “well, that’s over soon.”

    • Lisa says:

      Yes!! Even if not a celebrity! My sister and her husband got them and I was like “so, are you trying to doom your relationship”? Let’s just say I know of no one that has their SO name tattooed and are still solid and together. I prefer my husband’s constant look of being beaten down, worn out, exhausted and defeated to be my “tattoo” on him. He’s so lucky. 🙂

      • SM says:

        @Lisa :))))) now that’s true love. When you see the best and the worst reflection of yourself in your partner. Tattoos – meh, easily removable. And I agree with some of the comments here, he is the equivalent to Celine Dion in Hollywood. Creepy no matter the sex of the one being groomed or the one doing the grooming.

    • goofpuff says:

      Yeah I mean getting one is one thing, but making it a big deal and publicizing it? That is a harbinger of doom for sure. Especially for celebrity couples.

  6. S808 says:

    His tattoo is much bigger than hers omg. This relationship is all around weird to me and the tattoos just make it weirder.

  7. MellyMel says:

    Yikes! Couple tattoos are never a good idea…you’re just playing with fate. Wouldn’t be surprised if they’re done in within the year.

  8. Midge says:

    Seems like a totally healthy relationship that’s on solid ground. Sure.

  9. souperkay says:

    So someone in Aaron’s orbit did tell him he was groomed into this relationship by a predator. Sam definitely heard, this is her marking her possession.

    I hope he can get out sooner rather than later so he can heal.

  10. Tanesha86 says:

    This feels contrived and try hard, I bet they announce a divorce in a year

  11. Sigmund says:

    Their relationship does not seem healthy. Usually I’d say the tattoos are a harbinger of impending divorce, but I’m not sure. He seems completely tied to her in a very worrying way.

  12. ThatgirlThere says:

    She is a predator and a groomed that man. I will share that thought every time a story about them pops up. She is an awful woman.

  13. Eh says:

    I got my husband’s name in Chinese as my first tattoo many years ago, sort of an homage while he was in boot camp. We’re still going strong. But then again, we’re not celebrities.

  14. Sammy says:

    Weird, I’m pretty sure he already had this tattoo of her name on his chest for years. I don’t about her tattoo but I remember seeing his tattoo years ago. Perhaps, he went with her to get hers ?

    • Sammy says:

      Yes, I’m right! Back in 2017 he tattooed Sam on his chest and posted a photo on his Instagram. Apparently he just added a bird next to it. If you search his name + chest you can see the photo I’m talking about. Now I’m thinking she went to get a tattoo matching his to show people that everything is fine on their relationship.

      • Twin falls says:

        The IG post says captured a healed humming bird for Aaron and added some love for Sam.

      • paranormalgirl says:

        Yeah, he’s had the Sam tattoo for a few years. He added the hummingbird and some embellishment to the Sam tattoo recently.

  15. Jolly says:

    I’ve been reading more and Ive seen that Sam knew Aaron when he was 8 or 9?

    • Sammy says:

      Ok, so I’ve been reading about them for years now. I pretty much read every single interview with them, together or alone. To answer your question, no, she didn’t met him when he was child. This is something that came from Tik Tok, I think, from people trying to make the situation even more weirder than already is. So, about the timeline of their relationship, they met in september of 2008, when he auditioned for the role of John Lennon in Nowhere Boy, at the time he was 18 (he’s was born in june of 1990). Sam started to shoot the movie between february and march of 2009. In march, a journalist from The Guardian went to the movie set to see how things were going and noticed that they were very very close, they were wearing matching jackets with their initials on backs, dancing and laughing together, some very inappropriate behaviors for a director and an actor. But, according to them they only started to date after the movie was done, which is funny considering that they were already living together during the shooting, if I not mistaken they stopped filming the movie in May of 2009, and in June (I’m not sure) they went public with their relationship.

  16. Boo says:

    I just googled. He was 19, she was 42 when they first got together. Surely 19 is mature enough to know what you want?! Why would it be grooming?

    • CHIMES@MIDNIGHT says:

      From what I have read (other comments on different articles), Sam was acquainted with Aaron’s parents and knew him from a much younger age, so there is speculation that she groomed him to be her partner even before he was a consenting adult, removing much of his agency in agreeing to be in a relationship with her at all.

    • Tiffany says:

      But he was 17 when he stared in and she directed Nowhere Boy.

      I totally believe that she preyed on him then and they were together.

    • cassandra says:

      It’s not just the age difference, it’s also the difference in power. As his director she’s his boss. Swap the genders and a lot more people would deem it inappropriate.

      Also, as a 42 year old she had much more experience being in relationships. Anecdotally, I let men treat me pretty terribly at that age because I didn’t know any better.

    • Lory says:

      He was 18 and it’s grooming because she was the director and his boss. She was in a position of great influence and power. They went open with their relationship when he was 19 and she was pregnant with their first child.

  17. AMJ says:

    The more a couple shows off their ‘happiness’, the more I think it’s just compensation for a sh**ty relationship. Seen it happen way too many times – a couple you know keeps posting these lovey-dovey pics (or even pro photoshoots) on social media, they get tattoos or go on a ‘second honeymoon’ and then suddently it’s splitsville. Taylor-Johnsons also have the tiny little problem of him being a victim of her grooming, so not really her partner.

  18. FancyPants says:

    To each their own, your body your choice, etc. Having someone else’s name tattooed on my body would feel very NXIVM/cult/branding to me, but they don’t need me to like it for them to like it.

  19. Mina_Esq says:

    It could be worse, they could have renewed their vows. That’s the true kiss of death.