Pete Davidson, the well-known comedian and former Saturday Night Live star, is on a painful and transformative tattoo removal quest, shedding the mark of over 200 tattoos he accumulated over the years. Since embarking on this arduous process back in 2020, Davidson has openly shared the challenges and discomfort associated with this decision, labeling it ‘horrible’ and pushing him to reflect on his large collection of body art.
During recent appearances on shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Today, Davidson explained the nature of the tattoo removal process, which involves laser treatments painful enough to be worse than getting the tattoos themselves. “They’ve got to burn off a layer of your skin, and then it has to heal for, like, six to eight weeks. And you can’t get in the sunlight, and you’ve got to do it, like, 12 more times,” he shared candidly.
This experience has admittedly cost him approximately $200,000, as reported by People, but the financial burden seems secondary to the emotional release and the fresh start he seeks following his decision to achieve sobriety. Davidson noted how his change began with personal reflection: “I got sober and I saw myself in the mirror and I was like, ‘Nah. Who’s this?’ I was like, ‘I got to change it up a little bit.’”
The transition appears to be more than skin deep. Davidson mentioned how the tattoos initially seemed to serve as badges of identity during what he described as ‘a weird time’ filled with emotional struggles. “I was sad boy,” he recalled, referencing his past and the impulsive decisions he made during those years of tattooing, aligning with the trends among celebrities at the time. “Everybody was getting tattoos like five years ago,” he chuckled.
At this new stage of life, Davidson's motivation to remove his tattoos aligns with his desire to embrace adulthood, wanting to leave behind the impulsive choices of the past. He stated, “I’m trying to clean slate it, trying to be an adult,” with plans to retain only “two or three” of his tattoos.
Davidson’s efforts mark not only personal change but also reflect on the broader culture surrounding tattoos, presenting it as something to reconsider—especially for those contemplating getting new ink. “It’s pretty terrible, so if anybody out there is watching and thinking about getting a tattoo, make sure you really want to get it,” Davidson warned during his television appearances.
Despite his battle with the tattoo removal procedure, Davidson's spirits seem high, particularly as he promotes his animated film Dog Man. Reports indicate he has received excellent reviews for the film, emphasizing the positive changes happening both professionally and personally. “Things are going really well for him. Things are heading in the right direction,” noted one insider. His weight gain—reportedly around twenty pounds since entering recovery—adds another layer to his self-image overhaul.
Davidson’s tattoo removal saga not only serves as personal introspection but also invites others to reflect on the permanence of their choices, especially concerning body art. His candidness about the painful reality of tattoo removal feels like both warning and encouragement to take one's decisions seriously.
Dealing with tattoo removals may come with its own host of difficulties, but for Davidson, it stands as part of his commitment to living as his truer self, pursuing opportunities without the visual reminders of past struggles permanently inked onto his body.
Visibly lighter and evidently reflective, Davidson’s desire for change captures the sentiment many experience on their paths to personal growth: the need to shed old skins, along with their associated stories, to embrace the future. With aspirations to return to acting unhindered by his past marks, it’s evident Davidson is on the rise, seeking to navigate his career and identity with newfound freedom.
His openness encourages discussion about the emotional weight tied to tattoos and the perceived need for them; perhaps even inducing some to reconsider their artistic choices. Davidson’s story exemplifies how the human experience evolves and morphs, much like the canvas of our skin, urging us all to think twice before making lifelong decisions.