MVP is setting the record straight about another long-running rumor tied to his WWE look — this one claiming the company forced him into his signature bodysuit to hide a Malcolm X tattoo.
While continuing to debunk dirt sheet stories from his past, MVP addressed the claim that WWE officials created his bodysuit specifically to cover a tattoo on his chest. The story has circulated online for years, often repeated as fact without confirmation.
MVP made it clear the rumor wasn’t just wrong — it had no basis in reality at all. He explained that the tattoo itself came from a deeply personal place, tied to his experiences during incarceration and the influence Malcolm X had on his outlook at the time.
“They said that they made me wear a bodysuit because I had a tattoo of Malcolm X on my chest… Again, not even remotely true.”
MVP went on to explain that the Malcolm X tattoo wasn’t about politics or controversy, but about inspiration and personal transformation during a difficult period of his life. He described how Malcolm X’s life story connected with him as a young man who had gone through hardship and growth.
“When I was in prison, I read the autobiography of Malcolm X, and it resonated with me… I connected with him because I came up through the streets. I went through prison. While in prison, I discovered Islam and embraced Islam… and what he overcame and what he ended up becoming — that resonated with a much younger version of me.”
He also addressed accusations he received from critics who misunderstood the meaning behind the tattoo, including people who assumed his beliefs without knowing his background.
“For the record, my mother is a white woman with green eyes, auburn hair, and freckles… I don’t like white people? No. I don’t like racists. I don’t like bigots. So if you fall under that, then I probably don’t like you.”
Beyond clearing up the tattoo story, MVP explained the real origin of his famous bodysuit — and it had nothing to do with hiding ink. According to MVP, the look was actually his own creative idea, developed while he was working in developmental and trying to shape his character’s identity.
“That was my idea. I wanted that because of the idea of the character… They didn’t make me wear it because I had a Malcolm X tattoo. No such thing. That’s just more of that ridiculous nonsense that people just make up.”
MVP’s breakdown of the tattoo rumor shows how personal details can sometimes get twisted into completely different stories once they hit the internet. By explaining both the meaning behind the tattoo and the real reason for his ring gear, he turned a long-standing rumor into a deeper look at his journey and identity.
What do you think — have wrestling rumors gone too far when it comes to rewriting history, or do fans enjoy speculating even when the facts aren’t clear? Drop your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
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