People Called Him a Bad Dad Because of His Face Tattoos—Then His Wife Spoke Up

We’ve all heard the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover,” but sometimes people still need a reminder. Just because someone doesn’t fit the image of what you expect a parent to look like doesn’t mean they’re not doing an incredible job.

That’s exactly what 51-year-old Richard Huff has been trying to show the world. He’s a proud husband and father of five—but because of his heavily tattooed appearance, many people are quick to assume the worst. When his wife started posting videos of him with their kids, people online were quick to criticize. But what she shared next caught everyone off guard.

“I’m Just Being Me”

Richard describes himself as an “ink addict.” He’s covered in over 240 tattoos—about 85% of his body is inked, including his face. His tattoos include meaningful symbols like his kids’ names and even his daughter’s lip print.

He says it started with his legs and just became a passion. “I don’t know if it’s the pain or the artwork,” he explained, “but it just becomes fascinating. I want to be 100% covered in tattoos—probably within the next four years.”

But his appearance hasn’t always been easy to live with—especially as a parent.

People See the Ink, Not the Person

Richard says people often assume the worst about him just by looking at him. Strangers online criticize him constantly, calling him “scary” or even a “bad father.” Kids at his children’s school have even said they were afraid of him at first.

His daughter, though, knows the truth. “They say, ‘Ah, he’s scary,’ and I say, ‘No, my dad is not scary—he just has tattoos,’” she said.

Even Richard’s wife, Marita, admitted she judged him at first based on his looks. “I was scared at first,” she said, “but once I got to know him, I realized he’s actually got the biggest heart.”

More Than Just a Father

Marita had three children from previous relationships before marrying Richard, and she says he stepped up like no one else ever had. She often shares how loving and devoted he is—not just to her, but to all their children.

Still, the judgment keeps coming. One commenter wrote, “I’m not against tattoos, but come on—did he really need to cover his face like that?”

Others, though, were quick to defend him. “Everyone keeps talking about his face tattoos,” one person commented. “He likes them, he got them, and he’s a great dad. Let him live.”

“We’re Happy. That’s What Matters.”

Richard has taken the criticism in stride. “If someone feels the need to say something negative, that says more about them than it does about me,” he said. “This is who we are—and we’re happy. We’ve been together for six years, our kids are happy, and that’s all that matters to us.”

He adds that no amount of online hate could ever change the love he has for his family—or theirs for him. “My tattoos don’t scare my children. They don’t make me a bad father. If anything, they help my kids see the world from a different perspective.”

At the end of the day, it’s a simple lesson: Being a good parent isn’t about how you look—it’s about how you love.