When a marriage falls apart in front of millions of viewers, some things remain on the body that are not so easy to erase. “90 Day Fiancé” reality star Sarper Güven is openly talking about his desire to get rid of the red lip tattoo on his neck, which was modeled after his ex-wife Shekenna Garner’s lips. The couple is heading for divorce, and the most prominent “artifact” of their relationship still adorns the artist’s body. According to information from October 13, 2026, Güven is already exploring removal options and doesn’t hide his dream of a “clean neck.”
A Tattoo You Can’t Hide
Güven himself explains his position calmly and without drama. “Ideally, I’d like to have a clean neck again,” he says. “Not because I want to erase the memories. The memories can stay in my head.” This is an important detail: the person isn’t denying the past, but simply wants his body to stop publicly reminding him of it. When a tattoo is on the neck, it effectively becomes part of one’s image and even a calling card – which is why its removal is perceived as a separate public event.
Interestingly, the initial choice of location was deliberate. “At the time, I was in love and wanted to do something very special and permanent,” Güven recalls. “I chose the neck because it’s visible. I didn’t want to hide it. I wanted everyone to see my devotion.” The color was also chosen symbolically: “Lips are red, love is red, passion is red.” And then, in his own words, “unfortunately, no one told me that red is also the color of warning signs!”
Why Red Ink is a Separate Story
Here, it’s worth adding expert context, because that’s what determines what can realistically be done. Red pigment has historically been considered the most difficult for laser removal: it absorbs the wavelength of most older lasers less effectively than black or dark blue. Therefore, in the past, tattoo artists and dermatologists often discouraged clients from hoping for complete removal of red. But technology has advanced: modern picosecond lasers and multi-wavelength systems have significantly improved results for red and orange shades. Nevertheless, “significantly improved” does not mean “guaranteed 100% removal,” especially on the thin skin of the neck, which is prone to pigmentation and scarring. That’s precisely why Güven emphasizes that he wants to “properly research the issue and talk to specialists,” rather than rushing to the first salon he finds.
The second realistic option is cover-up, meaning a new tattoo over the old one. But here, the artist sets a limit for himself: he doesn’t want to turn one impulsive decision into a chain of others. “Imagine, I try to cover it up and end up with a giant dragon on my neck,” he jokes. “Then in a year, we’ll have another interview about why I have a dragon!”
How They Got to Divorce
To understand why the tattoo became such a painful topic, it’s worth recalling the timeline. After the show “90 Day: The Last Resort” aired, where the couple publicly “re-signed” their relationship, Shekenna Garner stated on social media that it was a gesture of pity, and the project itself became “an advertisement for your comedy career, not an attempt to save our marriage.” Güven rejected these accusations at the time. Later, he publicly declared himself “SINGLE,” and Shekenna responded that legally she was still married. A few days later, she filed for divorce, citing “incompatibility” as the reason.
Today, Güven has shifted his focus to stand-up comedy and has reportedly appeared on “90 Day: The Single Life.” That is, life goes on, and the tattoo remains as a hard-to-miss “souvenir of parting.” “It’s a strange feeling,” he admits. “Sometimes I forget it’s there, and then I look in the mirror and boom! My past says good morning to me!”
What This Says About Tattoo Culture
Güven’s case is not isolated but part of a larger trend. Tattoos have long ceased to be mere decoration: they have become a chronicle of relationships, statuses, and emotional states. And when these states change, the body turns into an archive that needs to be either rewritten or erased. For the tattoo industry, this is both a challenge and a market: demand for removal, cover-ups, and “editing” of old work is growing. At the same time, the professional community increasingly emphasizes that the neck, face, and other exposed areas require particularly careful planning – both at the stage of application and at the stage of possible removal.
Güven has not yet made a final decision: laser or cover-up, complete removal or partial. One thing he has said for sure is that he doesn’t devalue the feelings that were behind the tattoo. “At the time, it was a symbol of my love. It was real for me, and I don’t want to be disrespectful to my feelings from that period.” The rest is a matter of technology, skin, and how many sessions it will take for his neck to become “clean” again.