Pete Davidson Opens Up About Going Tattoo-Free, Mental Health, and Why Social Media Is “Crippling” Young Men
Pete Davidson doesn’t sugarcoat it — removing his tattoos is excruciating, dating in the social media age is brutal, and he’s worried today’s young men “don’t even have a f—ing shot.”
The comedian and Saturday Night Live alum sat down for a candid conversation ahead of his upcoming campaign with Axe, where he’ll host a live “AXE Me Anything” on Instagram. But the real story is how far Davidson has come from the tattooed, chaotic persona that defined his earlier years.
Now 30, Davidson has spent the last few years reworking his relationship with fame, his body, and his mental health. He’s sober, off social media, and deep into the painful process of erasing the hundreds of tattoos that once covered his arms, neck, and torso.
“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 said. “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 began the removal process during COVID and estimates it’ll take 10 more years and “hundreds of thousands” of dollars before it’s complete. “It’s like putting your arm on a grill and burning off a layer,” he said. “It sucks, I’m not gonna lie.”
For Davidson, the change is part of a broader mission to reset his life — and he hopes to guide others along the way. Particularly young men, who he believes are growing up in a digital minefield that warps expectations and erodes confidence.
“I really feel bad for this crop of people,” he said. “Because I have anxiety, and when I grew up it was just flip phones — and it was pretty awesome. But the kids today, they don’t even have a fucking shot.”
Dating apps, he said, are one of the worst offenders: “It’s just like, ‘No. Yes. No.’ That’s so rude. You don’t even know this fucking person. So I hope enough people start reverting backwards.”
His Axe campaign plays into that nostalgia, featuring Davidson giving confidence-boosting advice to younger guys — and yes, even starring in a “Short Kings” commercial giving pep talks and spraying cologne. But at its core, Davidson says it’s about reminding people to be okay with being themselves.
“‘Rizz’ is just being shamelessly who you are,” he said. “That’s attractive now. We live in a doom-scrolling world where we’re all trying to be what we think people want us to be. That’s not a healthy way to live.”
Still, Davidson is deeply grateful for where he’s ended up. He reflects warmly on SNL, the “surreal” SNL50 anniversary, and his bond with Lorne Michaels: “He’s like my dad kind of. He’s always been above and beyond understanding of my life.”
As for that Staten Island ferry he bought with Colin Jost? It’s slowly becoming the floating venue they dreamed of — with the first floor done and summer events on the way.
Pete Davidson’s story isn’t one of overnight transformation. It’s a work in progress — painful, funny, vulnerable, and real. Just like him.