Pete Davidson announced that his lengthy tattoo removal journey is nearing its conclusion. Once boasting around 200 tattoos, the 31-year-old former Saturday Night Live star recently confirmed that his ink is almost entirely gone on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Ultimately, Davidson highlighted the challenges of undergoing this procedure. Davidson goes into honest and raw detail during his interview. So what is going to stay and what isn’t?
Pete Davidson’s The Tonight Show Interview
Pete Davidson described the removal of his tattoos as a grueling experience, which he likened to “burning” them off. Moreover, he emphasized that the tattoo removal process was far more painful than getting tattooed in the first place. Specifically, the process involves removing a layer of skin, which then requires six to eight weeks to heal fully. In the interview, he explained that he must undergo the process multiple times, precisely a total of 12 or more sessions, and avoid sunlight as well. While describing his experiences, the audience was visibly shocked by the extent of his ordeal.
Promoting his new animated film, Dog Man, Pete Davidson opened up about his decision to remove most of his tattoos. Personally, he’s aiming to start fresh, only keeping a few meaningful tattoos as a reminder of his past. The comedian’s tattoo collection has been a reflection of his eclectic interests and past relationships. While some tattoos are dedicated to former love interests, others are attributed to iconic figures like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Hillary Clinton. Furthermore, his love for pop culture was on display with his SpongeBob SquarePants and Rocky Balboa-inspired tattoos.
2021 Seth Meyers interview
Ultimately, Pete Davidson decided to remove his tattoos partially due to his desire to advance his acting career. In an interview with Seth Meyers in 2021, Davidson shared his thoughts, explaining that he initially didn’t envision a future in film. At the time, the comedian assumed that his stint on Saturday Night Live would be the peak of his career. However, he would discover a passion for action as new opportunities emerged. Nevertheless, his numerous tattoos are a problem, requiring a lengthy three-hour process to cover them for roles. Due to this challenge, his realization led him to consider removing his tattoos altogether.
Pete Davidson also shared that the laser tattoo removal experience was humbling. During the procedure, Davidson spoke about how the doctor would announce the name of each tattoo before renewing it. This process allowed him to confirm whether he wanted to keep it or not, leading to some awkward moments. Particularly, Davidson felt weird when the doctor would point out some of his more unconventional tattoos. While under the influence of a pain-relieving gas, Pro-Nox, Davidson would be relaxed and even enjoy the experience. However, he’d be snapped back to reality by the doctor’s deadpan announcements, for instance, his blunt-smoking Stewie Griffin tattoo.
Pete Davidson’s Return to Saturday Night Live
Additionally, Pete Davidson had Jimmy Fallon in hysterics, sharing a humorous anecdote about a surprise encounter with Leonardo DiCaprio. Dating back to 2015, Davidson was still a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live’s 40th anniversary special. Moreover, this specific time was his first year on the show, which means he hadn’t yet gained widespread recognition.
Due to its unconventional audience, the anniversary episode was particularly anxiety-inducing for Davidson. Instead of the usual crowd, the live audience consisted of A-list celebrities, including Jack Nicholson and Taylor Swift. When discussing the nerve-wracking experience, Davidson jokingly described himself as feeling like a “potato” in front of the superstar audience.
