Pete Davidson is getting candid about the painful, expensive, and emotional process of removing his more than 200 tattoos – a journey he says is deeply tied to his past struggles with addiction and self-image.
The comedian and actor began the process back in 2020, initially explaining it was for practical reasons: covering the ink with makeup while on set took too long. But in a recent interview with Variety, Davidson shared that the decision runs much deeper.
“It was really just because I wasn’t taking care of myself,” he said. “I used to be a drug addict and I was a sad person. I felt ugly, and I thought I needed to be covered up.”
Though he made it clear that he’s not anti-tattoo, Davidson explained that, for him, the ink served as a reminder of a darker time. “When I look at them, I see someone who was very unsure. So I’m removing them and starting fresh — because that’s what works best for me and for my brain.”
Now sober, Davidson says he doesn’t want his body to hold visual reminders of that chapter. “When I look in the mirror, I don’t want to see, ‘Oh yeah, you were a f**king drug addict.’ That’s why you’ve got SpongeBob smoking a joint on your back. Tattoos should have meaning, not just that I was high watching Game of Thrones.”
The physical process of removing the tattoos is as grueling as it is symbolic. Each session requires six weeks of healing, and most tattoos need 10 to 12 sessions. “That’s 60 weeks of your life just for one,” he said. “It’s like putting your arm on a grill and burning off a layer. Then you have to care for it and let it heal. It’s pretty horrible. It sucks, I’m not gonna lie.”
The financial cost is equally intense. While Davidson didn’t initially want to disclose the amount, he joked that a tabloid had already leaked it. “I’ve already spent like $200,000, and I’m only about 30% done. So, yeah, it’s gonna suck,” he admitted. “Now that I’ve mentioned my tattoo remover by name, though, he’s a little nicer, for sure.”
Through it all, Davidson is committed to the process – not just of tattoo removal, but of personal transformation. And while it’s painful, both physically and emotionally, he’s clear about why he’s doing it: to move forward.
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