If you’ve ever watched It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, then you know Rob McElhenney as the jacked, karate-loving, incredibly delusional Mac. Rob is one of the show’s creators and lead stars, and he helped turn Sunny into one of the longest-running and most iconic sitcoms in TV history.
The whole gang’s chaotic energy didn’t stop once the cameras stopped rolling. Off-screen, their commitment to the wild side was just the same. In fact, during a memorable appearance on Conan, Rob and the cast revealed some quirky (and questionable) temporary tattoos they got just to make the audience laugh. But one of Rob’s tattoos ended up being a little more controversial than the rest. Let’s dive into their Conan interview and check out the hilarious tattoos they proudly revealed.
Rob McElhenney gets a hilarious tattoo
When the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia cast sat down with Conan, they didn’t shy away from displaying their usual chaotic energy. After discussing a few slides of fans getting the face of the cast tattooed on their body, the show’s cast revealed their own unhinged tattoos.
Glenn Howerton kicked things off by revealing a tattoo of Tom Selleck with the words “Selleck Forever” written above it. According to Glenn, Selleck was a timeless icon, and the whole thing was delivered with the same deadpan humor that makes Dennis Reynolds so funny.
Charlie Day went next, and his choice managed to crack up Conan and the crowd—he got a tattoo of Howerton’s face with the phrase “Stone Cold Fox” underneath. It was weirdly sincere, something you can expect Charlie to do.
But it was Rob McElhenney’s tattoo that made him stand out from the rest. Sure, it’s a temporary tattoo, but Rob being Rob didn’t shy away from making it a full-out permanent tattoo cover-up joke. A temporary tattoo of Bill Cosby, but given the public fall and controversy, Rob turned it into a joke. He added an “R” between the letters, changing “Cosby” to “Crosby,” and drew a mustache over the face—transforming the disgraced comedian into the legendary musician David Crosby.
It was a funny yet clever tattoo that matched the gang’s unusual sense of humor perfectly. Even though the tattoo was only temporary, this moment perfectly captures the show’s humor and why the fans continue to cherish it.
Rob McElhenney gets rid of his actual tattoos
While the Conan tattoo bit was all fun, it was also temporary. Rob McElhenney was actually one of the few cast members covered in real tattoos—most of them on his arms.
Over the years, fans got used to spotting his ink in various episodes. But as It’s Always Sunny progressed into newer seasons, fans started to notice something missing: the tattoos were just gone.
The Cosby-to-Crosby joke was purely a temporary tattoo done for laughs, but Rob’s real ink seemed to quietly vanish. One Reddit user sparked a discussion by asking when exactly Rob removed his tattoos:
When did Rob remove his tattoos?
byu/AjjuSama inItsAlwaysSunny
Another fan took to X to ask directly what happened to them, to which McElhenney replied: “Laser beams.”
Laser beams. https://t.co/8ho964LbJJ
— Rob McElhenney (@RMcElhenney) October 11, 2018
McElhenney didn’t share why he removed his tattoos, but confirmed they were gone—not covered up.
While the official reason remains unknown, fans now know it was laser removal. His ink may be gone, but it’s just another quirky evolution in Rob’s journey on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and one can only wait to see what he is bringing to season 17.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
