Rich Froning Tattoo Controversy: BSN Responds to Fans

The CrossFit world has been buzzing about the Rich Froning tattoo controversy, and now BSN, the supplement company sponsoring Froning, has finally responded.

It all began when readers of Muscle & Fitness noticed something odd in the December issue—Rich Froning’s Galatians 6:14 tattoo, which typically runs down the right side of his body, appeared to be missing in several advertisements. The tattoo is a signature mark of the CrossFit champion and a symbol of his Christian faith, often visible during competitions and photo shoots. This sparked immediate online speculation and led many fans to question: Was BSN deliberately editing out Froning’s tattoos?

The Faith Behind the Froning Tattoo

Rich Froning Jr., a multiple-time CrossFit Games Champion, is well known for his commitment to his Christian faith. His Galatians 6:14 tattoo is prominently inked on his right side and often appears during workouts or in promotional photos. This Bible verse reflects his religious beliefs and serves as a public declaration of his values.

When the tattoo didn’t appear in the BSN ads, fans raised concerns. Was this an intentional move by the company to hide his faith-based tattoo? Or just a simple mistake in image editing?

We first reported about the matter in our weekly news wrap back in November and again in an article in December.

BSN Clears the Air

The Rx Review was able to speak directly with Helga Moya, BSN’s talent coordinator, to get to the bottom of the issue. According to Moya, BSN never removed the tattoo and had no intention of doing so.

“We did not remove the tattoo. We do not remove any of Rich’s tattoos on any of our advertising,” said Moya.

She explained that what readers saw was simply the result of a reversed image:

“The actual ad is a reverse image. When we shoot him, we shoot him at all different angles. Then our print team selects the best pictures for the ad. Sometimes they reverse the image to fit the layout. So, some images show the Galatians tattoo, and some don’t. It’s just his other side, where he doesn’t have a tattoo.”

A Matter of Perspective, Not Erasure

Moya emphasized that BSN has been fully supportive of Froning’s tattoos and his faith since the beginning of their partnership:

“We’ve always supported all of Rich’s tattoos. We know what they mean, and we respect his religious beliefs. There is no reason we’d want to remove them.”

The company even sent The Rx Review additional images of Froning where the Galatians 6:14 tattoo is visible, along with other tattoos on his body. This helped dispel the rumours and reassured fans that BSN respects and supports their athletes’ identities.

Rich Froning Back Tattoo Still Intact

Interestingly, while the focus has been on the Galatians 6:14 tattoo, many fans also admire Froning’s other ink, including the often-discussed Rich Froning back tattoo. Though less visible in promotional materials, it remains an integral part of his look and story. BSN reaffirmed that they do not alter these features for marketing purposes.

“We have athletes with tattoos, and we don’t see any reason to remove them. It’s part of who they are,” Moya reiterated.

Visual Evidence Supports the Truth

To further clear the air, BSN shared side-by-side images comparing the controversial ads in Muscle & Fitness with unedited photos of Froning. The difference? Simply image orientation. In one, his froning tattoo isn’t visible due to the angle. In others, it is.

Examples:

• Muscle & Fitness Ad (December): Froning is pictured swinging a kettlebell, no visible tattoo.

• BSN Original Photo: Same pose, but the Galatians 6:14 tattoo is visible along his side.
  

This visual confirmation put the rumours to rest for most fans and highlighted the importance of context when evaluating media content.

Final Thoughts on the Rich Froning Tattoo Controversy

The Rich Froning tattoo controversy turned out to be a classic case of misinterpretation. While many fans feared censorship or image manipulation, the truth was much simpler—image reversal, a common practice in advertising design.

Rich Froning’s faith and his tattoos are part of what makes him such a relatable and inspirational figure in the CrossFit community. BSN’s transparency and willingness to address the issue directly has gone a long way in clearing the confusion.

So next time you see a Froning tattoo-less ad, remember—it might just be the flip side.

We have provided all those images and the ones taken from the Muscle and Fitness December issue below.

The first two pictures are the original images that caught our readers attention in Muscle and Fitness. The bottom two are the images BSN sent us yesterday. 

BSN Image Above

BSN Image Above: If you look at the image of Froning swinging the kettlebell above, you will see the top of the Galatians 6:14 tattoo.