WWE Star Dave Bautista Stands Firm, Covers Tattoo Linked to Manny Pacquiao Over Anti-Gay Remarks

Hollywood actor and former WWE star Dave Bautista is opening up about a personal decision that led him to cover a tattoo once tied to a former friend, a reference widely reported to be about Manny Pacquiao, saying the move was rooted in his family and his values.

Bautista said the tattoo originally represented someone he admired and considered a friend. “It used to be a team logo,” he said in an interview with GQ. “I was part of a team of a person I considered a friend and someone I really looked up to. And then, he later came out publicly with some anti-gay statements and turned out to be an extreme homophobe.”

He said the issue became deeply personal because of his mother. “So, I had a huge issue with it. It’s a personal issue with me; my mom’s a lesbian. And I just could no longer call him a friend. So, I had it covered up.”

The remarks refer to widely reported statements made by Pacquiao in 2016 opposing same-sex relationships, which drew backlash from LGBTQ groups and led to the loss of major endorsements, including a deal with Nike.

Bautista’s decision highlights how personal convictions can shape public actions, especially when family is involved. His remarks place his mother at the center of that choice, making clear that the decision to remove the tattoo was not just about a falling out, but about standing by someone close to him.

Bautista, who is part Filipino, has since built a successful acting career after his time in WWE, gaining global recognition through roles in major films such as Guardians of the Galaxy.