Pete Davidson is saying goodbye to more than 200 tattoos — and it’s not just about Hollywood makeup or aesthetics. For the comedian and actor, removing his ink is about reclaiming his body and leaving behind the pain of his past.
In a heartfelt interview with Variety, Davidson got candid about why he’s enduring the long, expensive, and physically brutal process of laser tattoo removal.
“It was really just because I wasn’t taking care of myself,” he shared. “I used to be a drug addict and I was a sad person. I felt ugly, and I thought I needed to be covered up.”
A Journey of Healing
Davidson began removing his tattoos back in 2020. At first, he said it was practical — the hours spent covering tattoos with makeup on film sets were exhausting. But the more he reflected, the more he realized it was about much more.
“When I look at them, I see someone who was very unsure,” he said. “So I’m removing them and starting fresh — because that’s what works best for me and for my brain.”
He emphasized he’s not against tattoos in general. For many people, they’re meaningful. But for him, they became symbols of a time clouded by addiction and self-doubt.
A Harsh Physical and Financial Toll
Removing tattoos isn’t as easy as getting them. Davidson described it bluntly: “It’s like putting your arm on a grill and burning off a layer.” Each session takes six weeks to heal, and most tattoos need up to a dozen sessions. That means months — even years — of recovery.
The cost? So far, around $200,000 — and he’s only about 30% done.
But he’s committed. “When I look in the mirror, I don’t want to see, ‘Oh yeah, you were a f**king drug addict.’ That’s why you’ve got SpongeBob smoking a joint on your back,” he said with a mix of honesty and humor.
Moving Forward, Not Erasing the Past
Davidson isn’t trying to erase who he was — just choosing what he wants to carry forward. The tattoo removal process, painful as it is, represents something bigger: healing, clarity, and growth.
“Tattoos should have meaning,” he said. “Not just that I was high watching Game of Thrones.”
Now sober and moving forward with intention, Pete Davidson is proving that transformation doesn’t always look glamorous — but it can be deeply powerful.
