Aside from his comedy chops and high-profile relationships, Pete Davidson is known for his extensive collection of tattoos. Remember when he got Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman bunny ears inked and eventually covered it up once they broke off their whirlwind engagement? Maybe that time he inked “My Girl is a Lawyer” across his chest to pay homage to his then-girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, rings a bell.
Well, Pete’s impulsive ink days are long gone as the Saturday Night Live alum has reportedly been removing his tattoos since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In a new interview with Variety, Pete got candid about the grueling process, admitting that it’s “pretty horrible” to be reminded he was a “sad person that was very unsure.”
“I used to be a drug addict and I was a sad person, and I felt ugly and that I needed to be covered up,” he told the outlet. “So I’m just removing them and starting fresh, because that’s what I think works best for me and for my brain. When I look in the mirror, I don’t want the reminder of ‘Oh yeah, you were a fucking drug addict. Like, that’s why you have SpongeBob smoking a joint on your back.’”
He also shared a relatable review of how the removal process feels on his skin, saying, “It’s like putting your arm on a grill and burning off a layer. It sucks, I’m not gonna lie.”
As seen in his Reformation campaign earlier this year, Pete’s arms, hands, and neck are almost entirely bare. According to Variety, each tattoo takes 10-12 sessions to remove over 60 weeks due to his busy schedule. The comedian revealed that the removal process will probably take another 10 years to finish and cost “hundreds of thousands more dollars.”
According to a January report from People, he’s spent upwards of $200,000 to zap his ink away. “He just woke up one day and wanted them gone, and it’s been a years-long process,” an insider told the mag. A second source chimed in, adding that the removal is part of his fresh start, as he “has been sober since September, and gained twenty pounds.”
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, please visit https://www.samhsa.gov/ or call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
