A 35-year-old American horror fan, Tyler Lut, decided to immortalize the memory of “The Butcher of Plainfield” – the infamous serial killer and body snatcher Edward Gein – on his leg. The grand portrait, stretching 60 centimeters (2 feet) along the front of his shin, was done on October 16th in a burst of inspiration after watching a recent Netflix series. However, when Tyler posted the result of the multi-hour work, social media users immediately pointed out a glaring mistake: instead of Ed Gein himself, actor Charlie Hunnam was staring out from his skin.
Ode to Horror: Pop Culture-Inspired Tattoo
Tyler Lut, a resident of Portsmouth, Ohio, is known for his love of macabre and “scary” content. The idea to tattoo Ed Gein came to him after watching a series dedicated to the life of the killer, who served as the prototype for such iconic characters as Norman Bates (“Psycho”) and Buffalo Bill (“The Silence of the Lambs”).
The design decision was spontaneous. Artist Danny Jones, with 12 years of experience in the tattoo industry, offered a free horror project on social media, and Tyler’s unusual proposal was chosen. However, it was Danny Jones who insisted on depicting not a historical photograph of the criminal, but his image as created by popular culture.
The process of applying this monumental work took seven hours and, according to Tyler himself, was the most painful tattooing experience. If the work were done on a commercial basis, its cost would be around 1200 US dollars.
Details of the Controversial Plot
The tattoo, executed by Danny Jones, is a complex composition filled with references to Ed Gein’s case files and his cinematic portrayals:
- Central Portrait: A large image of Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein from the Netflix series.
- Second Portrait: A smaller image of the actor, dressed in a “leather mask” – one of the most terrifying attributes of Gein’s real crimes.
- Bottom Element: A torn piece of the Wisconsin State Journal, the local newspaper of Plainfield, which published news of his horrific deeds.
- Inscription: The word “monster,” complementing the dark atmosphere.
Jones explained that, having received “artistic freedom” from the client, he decided to focus on a visually more striking and recognizable image from the media, rather than an original, less cinematic portrait of Ed Gein.
Community Reaction and Ethical Dilemma
After the video was posted on TikTok, garnering over 600,000 views and 23,000 likes, the tattoo sparked a heated discussion. Users were divided into two camps: those admiring the quality of the work and those outraged by its content.
The main cause for bewilderment was that the body of a fan permanently bore not a real person, but a Hollywood actor. Commenters expressed confusion: “This is weird. But tattooing an actor instead of the real Ed Gein is doubly weird,” and another sarcastically remarked, “Why not just tattoo the guy himself instead of Jax Teller?” (a reference to Hunnam’s role in the series “Sons of Anarchy”).
However, a deeper level of criticism concerned the ethical aspect of the issue. Many users believe that immortalizing real serial killers on one’s body, regardless of their role in the horror genre, is unacceptable and offensive to the victims’ families.
Tyler Lut’s Position: “Godfather of Horror”
Tyler Lut, despite the barrage of criticism, has absolutely no regrets about his choice. He views Ed Gein as the “godfather of the horror genre,” whose crimes inspired a whole host of cult films.
“I absolutely love this work, and it’s my favorite piece. I have no regrets whatsoever that Ed Gein is now on my leg,” stated the 35-year-old Tyler. He also shared his ambiguous view of the criminal:
“Ed Gein was misunderstood, he was very mentally ill, and no one helped him, he was left alone. It’s just a tragedy, and it’s sad. I think if someone had helped him, he wouldn’t have gone down this path.”
Tyler, who is already planning to fill his second leg with an equally “macabre” theme, emphasizes that he doesn’t care about others’ opinions: “People can think whatever they want. I’m my own person, I like it, and that’s all that matters.”
Expert Analysis: Tattoo Culture, “Pop Horror,” and Portrait Realism
In contemporary tattoo culture, portraits of famous villains or horror characters have long ceased to be something out of the ordinary. However, the case of Ed Gein and Charlie Hunnam demonstrates an important shift in the genre of realistic tattooing: a move from historical documentation to media consumption.
Danny Jones, the tattoo artist, confirms this trend. He notes that many clients are obsessed with the horror genre, and his work often involves applying “pop culture” images. He insists that such tattoos are merely a reflection of the client’s interests, not an endorsement of violence.
“Usually, I don’t think about the meaning of the tattoos people get. Clients don’t think murder is good or cool; they just like scary things,” Jones explained.
The Controversial “Murderabilia” Tattoo Trend
Tattoos dedicated to real criminals (so-called “murderabilia” on skin) always spark fierce debate. Unlike fictional villains like Freddy Krueger, Ed Gein, Ted Bundy, or Jeffrey Dahmer are real individuals whose actions caused real pain. There is an unwritten rule in the tattoo community that many studios adhere to: not to tattoo portraits of real serial killers out of respect for the victims.
Nevertheless, this trend is gaining momentum, especially among fans who perceive criminals as dark icons of mass culture, often thanks to cinema and streaming services. Lut’s case is unique in that he chose not an authentic image, but its Hollywood interpretation. This highlights that for the modern consumer, tattoos are more about an emotional connection to a media product than historical accuracy.
From a portrait realism perspective, choosing an actor over a real person simplifies the task: Hunnam, as a professional model, has clearer and more dramatic facial features, perfectly suited for a detailed black and gray tattoo. Artist Jones, aiming to create an impressive and technically flawless portrait, consciously opted for “factual inaccuracy,” which, however, fully aligns with the fan’s request for “Ed Gein’s Monster from the series.”
Tyler Lut’s tattoo, dated October 25, 2025, will undoubtedly go down in the annals as a prime example of how pop culture rewrites history, even if that history is etched in skin. And while many users called it “weird,” and some “classy,” one thing is clear: this work is a masterful portrait that demonstrates Danny Jones’s highest level of talent, despite its controversial subject matter.