Gold Medals And “Occult” Tattoos: Alysa Liu’s Style Sparks Social Media Storm

MILANO CORTINA — Alysa Liu is being hailed as the “unbothered queen” of the 2026 Games. After a stunning comeback from a two-year retirement, she secured two gold medals (Individual and Team). Yet, away from the ice, a viral screenshot of her lower back tattoo has divided the internet.

1. The Back Tattoo: Symbol of Balance or Occult?

A grainy photo of Liu’s lower back tattoo, originally glimpsed in her TikTok dance videos, has recently resurfaced on X (formerly Twitter).

• The Speculation: Some users have claimed the design—which features a central figure with wing-like extensions—depicts Baphomet, an occult deity.
• The Backlash: The claim sparked a wave of judgment from conservative corners of social media, while fans rushed to her defense. “No way y’all are hating on Alysa Liu for having a back tattoo,” one viral post read.
• The Reality: There is no concrete evidence that the tattoo is occult-related. Baphomet, as a symbol, represents the “reconciliation of opposites” and individual liberty, but Liu herself has not confirmed the meaning of the ink.

2. The DIY “Smiley” Piercing

Liu has been equally candid about her facial piercings, particularly her smiley (a piercing through the frenulum under the upper lip).

• DIY Method: In an interview with the BBC, Liu revealed she performed the piercing herself two years ago. “I had my sister hold up my lip… I was looking in the mirror with my piercing needle,” she recalled.
• The Pain Factor: She claimed the process was painless because the skin in that area is so thin, though professional piercers generally advise against the “do-it-yourself” approach.

3. A Historic Olympic Comeback

Despite the “bombardment of attacks” regarding her appearance, Liu’s athletic achievement remains the primary story of the 2026 Games:

• The Drought Ends: Her individual gold ended a 24-year wait for the U.S. in women’s singles.
• Technical Mastery: Skating to Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park Suite,” she landed seven clean triple jumps to overtake Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto.
• The Future: Liu has already expressed interest in becoming a character in Fortnite, telling reporters, “I would love Fortnite to do a skin on me. I would buy it.”

Alysa Liu: 2026 Winter Olympics Snapshot