MGK Reveals Blackout Ink Gave Him Illness That Turned His Skin Yellow

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Machine Gun Kelly took the fast road in getting his blackout tattoo. 

The singer of “Loney Road” recently had a health scare shortly after getting a large tattoo. His tattoo artist, ROXX, had actually recommended spreading the work out over two years, but he didn’t wait that long.

Okay, so she – like, the professional – seriously tried to warn me it would be almost unbearable, even for someone who can handle pain. But I just told her, ‘No way, we’ve got two months to make this happen!’ I was so determined, you know? It had to work.

It started about a week after treatment began. I developed swelling in my lymph nodes, particularly around my armpits and shoulders, and it made me incredibly sick. I started to notice my skin turning yellow, and I couldn’t sleep at all. It got to the point where I lost the ability to move my arms and shoulders properly – it was terrifying.

MGK (born Colson Baker) debuted his extreme new look in a 2024 Instagram post, captioning the snap, “for spiritual purposes only.”

He further elaborated on his decision to go under the needle in his track “Don’t Let Me Go.”

The Grammy-nominated artist rapped about wanting to be understood, explaining that they had a mental health crisis and covered almost their entire body in tattoos, leaving only one small area untouched.

Indeed, MGK—dad to daughters Casie, 16, with ex Emma Cannon and Saga, 15 months, with ex Megan Fox—took on the striking body art to mark a new chapter in his life.

He explained to Billboard Canada that he wasn’t just looking for a superficial change. He wanted something truly substantial and impactful – a change he could really feel.

The singer, known for his hit song, said he didn’t initially like how he looked after getting so much new ink—it covers most of his upper body, including older tattoos. But he’s since grown to appreciate the change.

He described his tattoos as a visual representation of his inner turmoil, showing both the highs and lows of his bipolar disorder. He saw images of death and drug use woven into the designs he’d created on his body, feeling like his mental state was openly displayed for everyone to see.

And despite the toll the tattooing process took on his body, the 36-year-old noted that the physical pain had nothing on the experience’s emotional benefits. 

He said he felt incredibly inspired after finishing the challenge. It wasn’t just about completing it, but about everything he had to deal with along the way.

For more stars who have opened up about their health scares, read on…

In May 2026, the host of the BFFs podcast had emergency surgery when doctors found a large cyst on her ovary. The cyst had twisted her internal organs and was causing her to bleed internally.

“There was a half a liter of blood in my pelvic floor,” Brianna shared in a TikTok video after the operation. “I have five incisions all over my stomach. They went in through my belly button with a camera so they could find all the blood.”

Former Total Bellas star Nikki Bella shared that a breast implant moved after being hit in the chest by fellow wrestler Piper Niven during a match in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, that they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitments – implying after her divorce was finalized – she’d return to address the problem and ensure everything looked its best, as she anticipated future use and wanted it to be presentable.

Lupita Nyong’o received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids – non-cancerous growths in or around the womb – in 2014, the year she won an Academy Award for her acting.

She didn’t share her diagnosis until 2025, when she revealed on Instagram that she had been privately struggling with the condition for over ten years.

She explained that growing up, people are often told that periods are painful and that pain is just something women have to deal with. This leaves many of us feeling like we’re going through a difficult experience all by ourselves.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she was hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she had been wearing pants that were too tight, which caused a gap in her abdominal muscles.

She messaged Suki on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “You haven’t tweeted in ages!” She then jokingly added, “I’ve been meaning to tell you… I think those super tight pants I wore six months ago gave me a hernia, and I’ve been too afraid to say anything.”

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery to fix a nearly ruptured appendix.

“Last week, I started feeling some pain in my stomach,” Brian said in an Instagram video at the time. “I ended up going to the emergency room, and I had a perforated appendix. Not quite burst, but just before.”

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

The Racing Louisville midfielder collapsed just a few minutes into her soccer team’s Sept. 14 match against Seattle Reign at Lumen Field in Seatle.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player was seen slowly sitting down on the field with a teammate supporting her, before suddenly collapsing. Trainers were immediately called to assess her condition.

After receiving initial treatment from medical staff at the game, Savannah was taken to a nearby hospital for more tests. League officials reported she was in stable condition and fully conscious later that evening.

Adam Devine revealed that injuries from a cement truck accident he experienced at age 11 still cause him problems today.

“It’s been awful,” Devine shared on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast in 2025. “I’ve been having spasms all over my body, and doctors recently told me I was facing a life-threatening situation—within the last year, actually.”

He acknowledged that his pain is intermittent, explaining that his body has several minor imperfections and issues.

Let me tell you, I recently had a really scary health experience. I ended up in the hospital because of terrible back pain. It got so bad during a road trip with a friend that I literally had to crawl on my hands and knees to get help. It was a frightening moment, but thankfully I’m on the mend!

“Right now, knees to my toes, it’s, like, still tingly, which is crazy,” he said on a March 2025 episode of his Trading Secrets podcast. “And to put in perspective, I don’t know, man, like not to sound douchey, but like two, three weeks ago, maybe a month ago, I was squatting probably like 295 pounds. And right now, I can’t do a squat on my foot. I can’t do a one legged squat, I fall. It’s like I had a stroke or something.”

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Real Housewives of Orange County’s Gina Kirschenheiter shared her ex-husband Matt Kirschenheiter suffered a heart attack in March 2025, but thankfully survived the ordeal.

The 30 Rock star suffered a health scare at a New York Knicks basketball game in March 2025, leading to him being wheeled out of Madison Square Garden.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain he’d actually gotten food poisoning and was starting to feel better.

The Even Stevens alum shared in February 2025 that she was shot in the face while on a trip to shoot clay pigeons to celebrate husband Brendan Rooney‘s birthday.

According to her Instagram post, she was accidentally shot in the face by someone at a party who fired a gun unsafely. Brendan Rooney quickly helped her, evaluated her injuries, and took her to the hospital. She was hit five times, and one bullet came dangerously close to her right eye – less than an inch away.

The Kim Possible alum continued, “Unfortunately a fragment got lodged behind my eye and it is too risky to remove surgically at this time. Doctors will continue to monitor me (I can see normally at the moment).”

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving a frightening experience. She shared how much she cherishes her daughters, husband, family, and friends, explaining that she realized how quickly life can change. She urged everyone to hug their loved ones often, reminding them to appreciate every moment.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, despite its often harsh nature, because it ultimately helped her discover a health issue. After noticing she looked “puffier,” Schumer was surprised to see doctors commenting on interviews, suggesting she might have Cushing syndrome – a condition potentially caused by high cortisol levels or steroid injections. This prompted her to realize she’d received steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. Without the online commentary, she wouldn’t have connected the injections to her symptoms. Schumer recently shared that discovering she had a form of Cushing syndrome that would resolve on its own was “the greatest news imaginable.”

The AHL player was cut by a fellow player’s skate during a game in December 2024 and received 25 stitches. His father, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald later told ESPN after his son was fully recovered, “We’re very lucky. I don’t wish that on any parent.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly developed stroke-like symptoms, initially struggling to respond when Justin noticed something was wrong. She couldn’t speak, and the right side of her face began to droop.

Although her speech and facial movement eventually returned, Hailey went to the hospital for evaluation. Tests revealed she had suffered a small blood clot to the brain, which doctors diagnosed as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack).

Further testing at UCLA uncovered a hole in her heart called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Doctors determined the blood clot had traveled to her heart, passed through the PFO, and reached her brain, causing the TIA. Hailey has since undergone a successful procedure to close the hole in her heart and is now doing well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained that the virus affected nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on the affected side. He also mentioned it became increasingly difficult for him to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away. Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well, calling the situation scary and unexpected, but assuring everyone he would be completely fine and was grateful he was on the mend.

Jamie Foxx recently shared details about the serious health scare he experienced in April 2023, which he had previously kept private. He explained that while in Atlanta, he suffered a severe headache and asked for aspirin, but then lost consciousness. He doesn’t remember the next twenty days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, became worried and took him to the hospital. There, doctors discovered he had a brain bleed that led to a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then traveled to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed his gratitude for the prayers he received, saying he needed every single one.

The reality star revealed that she “died” while running a mile during the first challenge of the NBC competition series. 

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather. After that, she remembered only darkness, followed by light, leading her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where the body essentially begins to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the series, she experienced a sudden, severe headache at the gym, which quickly escalated. She described feeling violently ill and realizing something was seriously wrong with her brain.

A hospital scan revealed she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage – a life-threatening stroke caused by bleeding around the brain – due to a ruptured aneurysm. She immediately underwent surgery to repair it, but the pain was excruciating. During her recovery, she experienced aphasia, struggling to speak coherently.

Though the aphasia eventually passed and she was discharged after a month, a 2013 scan revealed the aneurysm had doubled in size, requiring a second surgery. This procedure initially failed, causing a massive bleed and putting her life at risk. Doctors had to perform a more invasive surgery, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia Clarke is now fully recovered and says she is “at a hundred per cent.”

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, is thankful for the support of her family. In January 2024, she suffered a stroke and immediately reached out to her loved ones, who quickly came to her aid. She shared with TopMob News’ Will Marfuggi in December 2024 that “Everybody just came to my rescue.”

Cori’s hospital stay ended up being longer than expected due to other health issues. While she could have gone home after the stroke, she was also dealing with lupus and kidney problems.

Now, Cori is recovering well. “I’m doing great,” she said. “I just had a little bit of motor skills that I had to work back on. But other than that, I was fine.”

Shailene Woodley struggled with significant health issues throughout her early twenties. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she explained that she experienced hearing loss, debilitating fatigue, and digestive problems. She saw many doctors, but received conflicting diagnoses.

Because of her background in holistic medicine and herbalism, Woodley sought a combination of traditional medical care and alternative healing methods to find answers. This search for well-being lasted for ten years.

She explained that the physical discomfort led to anxiety around food and, eventually, to struggles with body image, identity, and feeling comfortable in her own body.

Ultimately, Woodley’s health improved, and she is now feeling very well. She shared that her issues resolved themselves and she is happy to be healthy again.

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2026-06-09 22:18