Pete Davidson Reveals Tattoos He Plans to Keep During Removal Process

NEW YORK, NY — Pete Davidson, the comedian and former Saturday Night Live star, has shared insights about his ongoing tattoo removal journey. The 31-year-old has over 200 tattoos, and while he plans to remove the majority, a few special designs will remain.

In a recent interview, Davidson discussed the sentimental value of certain tattoos. One he intends to keep is dedicated to his mother, Amy Waters Davidson. “I got all these tattoos, so my mom was like, ‘How come you’ve never gotten a “Mom” tattoo?’” Davidson said. He added, “Now I have a tattoo that just says ‘MOMTATTOO.’ That one has to stay.”

One other tattoo he will retain honors his late father, Scott Davidson, a firefighter who died in the September 11 attacks. Davidson shared, “I have my dad’s ID number, and that’s pretty much it.” He also noted he plans to keep tattoos inspired by the show The Sopranos.

Removing the other tattoos has been a long and uncomfortable process for Davidson, which he started in 2020. “It’s awful,” he admitted, explaining that he wants younger family members to understand the potential consequences of tattoos. “I’ve been filming it and showing all the younger people in my family to be like, ‘If you don’t like it, this is what you have to do.’”

As he navigates these changes, Davidson is also preparing for fatherhood with his pregnant girlfriend, Elsie Hewitt. On being sober for over a year, he credited his mother’s support for helping him stay on track. “My mom’s the most supportive person in the world,” he said during a podcast appearance. “She called me when I was in rehab and said, ‘My biggest fear is that I will turn on the news and I’ll see that my son has died.’”

Despite spending an estimated $200,000 on tattoo removal, Davidson acknowledges the difficulty of the process. He mentioned that healing usually takes between 6 to 8 weeks before another treatment, sometimes requiring up to ten sessions for each tattoo. “It’s not for the faint of heart,” he added.

Davidson has said he wants to keep designs that reflect his current self rather than his past. “It sounds like a long road, but it’s worth it,” he concluded.