American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez's 'God Forgives' Tattoo - Hulu Series

American Sports Story: The "God Forgives" Tattoo – A Look at a Controversial Detail!

American Sports Story and Aaron Hernandez's Infamous Tattoo

American Sports Story is a really intense show, showcasing the complicated life of Aaron Hernandez, a former NFL star convicted of murder. It delves deep; highlighting his difficult childhood, meteoric rise to fame and tragic downfall. One truly interesting detail involves his tattoos– and there are a lot! Those tattoos become an especially compelling element in episode 6, “Herald Street,” where we see him getting that infamous “God Forgives” tattoo. And we’ll cover why that was actually controversial.

For viewers unfamiliar, the show portrays Hernandez's rise: from University of Florida superstar, to NFL glory playing with the New England Patriots and some other players (like Rob Gronkowski, Tom Brady, and Tim Tebow) before ultimately losing his fame. This episode (Episode 6) shows this alleged violent incident involving his buddy, Sherrod (which is the series’ name for Avery Bradley). Get ready, because this is one deeply emotional journey that will bring about a great amount of intrigue; and this article’s major focus concerns those critical tattoo moments within this overall narrative.

Also Read: American Sports Story: The Aaron Hernandez Story - A Must-See Hulu Series

The "God Forgives" Tattoo: More Than Just Ink

Josh Rivera as Aaron Hernandez in American Sports Story episode 6 Image

Episode 6 shows Hernandez (played by Josh Rivera) getting that incredibly controversial and deeply personal tattoo–the “God Forgives” tattoo prominently placed across his back and uniquely made backward and legible only in a mirror. This isn’t like his other ones. It's especially compelling. In the show’s narrative, this tattoo is made right after Hernandez is portrayed as committing this horrific, double homicide in Boston (this part mirrors accusations that involved the real-life player). This becomes seriously important later.

American Sports Story highlights those tattoo choices—showing them as potential indicators of Hernandez’s inner turmoil and dangerous tendencies, it uses his habit to get tattooed. Some characters; including a former highschool friend and former lover (within the series itself), notes them, recognizing that it might've become some major marker to display the change within the actual player himself! Prosecutors viewed his many tattoos (some involving images of firearms) as essentially a confession of guilt, further implying and highlighting just how deep that connection to the overall narrative became. Those actions made sense; especially because this became some critical element, a deeply suggestive marker which helped provide more detail; adding greater credibility to this theory of using the evidence against him, further making the overall point even stronger for the prosecutors.

Also Read: American Sports Story: Bill Belichick, Aaron Hernandez, and a Gripping True Crime Tale

Hernandez's Other Tattoos: A Deeper Look into His History

Josh-Rivera-as-Aaron-Hernandez-in-American-Sports-Story Image

The show doesn’t directly show those additional, related Tattoos featuring imagery related to weapons or crimes! Instead it uses that "God Forgives" tattoo to symbolically capture all his past potentially problematic actions, many leading to suspicion by authorities!

Specifically, it really showcases those accusations from those earlier violent incidents that actually involved him and this infamous, allegedly intentional double Murder (in 2012), which prosecutors heavily related to his "God Forgives" tattoo, suggesting guilt over the matter. Another detail included this alleged act involving an attack in Florida using a gun where this “pistol and shell-casing” tattoo became evidence against the actual player involved!

Also Read: American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez - The Tim Tebow Casting Debate

American Sports Story Changes the Location of Hernandez’s "God Forgives" Tattoo

The show deliberately places that infamous "God Forgives" tattoo on Hernandez's back in American Sports Story; this greatly deviates from reality! The real tattoo is on his arm. Why this change was made; why they might’ve made these stylistic changes: For intense drama; that very act greatly increases its intensity.

However, by shifting the tattoo’s location (which might have also affected the shape and size), it’s used within the series to frame him explicitly as guilty, and also becomes somewhat deeply suggestive. While the real Hernandez was actually acquitted in court of the double murder in question, American Sports Story’s creators are very open and honest about their explicit belief in Hernandez's actual guilt in these matters and that they felt that the original trial lacked due process. The specific production decisions to move, reshape and adjust the detail demonstrates these kinds of thematic intentions in their design!

Also Read: American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez - A Shocking True Crime NFL Story

Conclusion: A Controversial Detail Highlighting a Complicated Story

American Sports Story Aaron Hernandez & Bill Belichick Image

Aaron Hernandez's "God Forgives" tattoo is deeply powerful– both in the series and in the actual event itself. The intentional change to place it differently (within the actual series itself), changes its role. This alteration becomes incredibly important for emphasizing certain points that had transpired earlier, enhancing those thematic concerns presented, not directly portraying this element for its original purpose but for an even far more intense impact intended by those involved in the creative and overall story narrative process!

The episode’s depiction focuses on intense feelings surrounding this extremely sensitive storyline and its controversial themes surrounding both guilt and justice, and should leave you thinking: What exactly do we think of that very specific tattoo’s presentation, especially in this very intense and dramatized narrative focusing on these sensitive details within someone's extremely troubling history?