Pete Davidson, the comedian and actor known for his bold personality and even bolder collection of Pete Davidson Tattoos, is undergoing a significant personal transformation. For years, Davidson’s body has been a canvas of ink, reflecting different phases of his life and personality. However, in a recent update, Davidson shared his arduous journey of removing a vast majority of his tattoos, a decision that has sparked curiosity and conversation among fans and tattoo enthusiasts alike.
Davidson, aged 31, first publicly announced his decision to remove his pete davidson tattoos back in 2020. In recent appearances on Today and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote his new movie Dog Man, he provided insights into the painful reality of laser tattoo removal and the reasons behind his extensive change.
During his Today show appearance with hosts Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, Davidson openly discussed the removal process. “It’s pretty terrible,” he admitted, emphasizing the discomfort to anyone considering getting inked. Pulling up his sleeve, he revealed the visibly faded pete davidson tattoos on his forearm, a testament to the ongoing process. “It’s pretty gone,” he noted, highlighting the progress, albeit slow and painful.
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The motivation behind removing his pete davidson tattoos is multifaceted. Davidson candidly shared that sobriety played a crucial role. “I got sober and I saw myself in the mirror and I was like, ‘Nah. Who that?’ I was like, ‘I got to change it up a little bit.'” This introspective moment of self-realization spurred him to reconsider his extensive body art.
Expanding on the difficulties of tattoo removal, Davidson described the process on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as “horrible,” even “worse” than getting the tattoos themselves. He detailed the procedure, explaining, “They have 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 then you’ve gotta do it, like, 12 more times.” This vivid description underscores the commitment and pain involved in reversing the tattooing process. He jokingly cautioned viewers thinking about getting a Game of Thrones tattoo to seriously reconsider, given the removal ordeal.
At one point, the comedian estimates he had accumulated around 200 pete davidson tattoos. “Yeah, I was sad boy,” he reflected, acknowledging a past phase in his life reflected in his extensive ink. He connected the tattoo trend to a broader cultural moment from about five years prior, referencing Post Malone’s under-eye “always tired” tattoo as an example of the prevailing tattoo culture.
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Despite the massive undertaking of removing hundreds of pete davidson tattoos, he intends to keep a select few, “maybe, like, two or three.” He frames this decision as an effort to “clean slate it” and transition into adulthood. This suggests a desire for a fresh start and a move away from the image associated with his heavily tattooed past.
Davidson first hinted at tattoo removal plans in 2020, and further confirmed his commitment in a 2021 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers. He explained that his burgeoning acting career was a significant factor in his decision. “I honestly never thought that I would get an opportunity to act and I love it a lot,” he told Seth Meyers. The practicalities of acting, requiring hours of makeup to cover his pete davidson tattoos, became a compelling reason to undergo removal. “For some reason, people in movies, they don’t have them that much,” he humorously noted, highlighting the industry norms.
Most recently, in October 2024, Pete Davidson was seen at a preview event with significantly faded arm tattoos, further illustrating the progress of his removal journey. Posing with Machine Gun Kelly at The Room @ Intuit Dome preview, his arms appeared noticeably less inked, showcasing the results of his long and painful removal process.
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Pete Davidson’s journey of removing his pete davidson tattoos is a testament to personal evolution and the changing landscape of self-expression. It highlights not only the permanence, but also the reversibility of tattoos, and the significant effort involved in altering body art decisions. His candid discussions about the pain and motivations behind his tattoo removal offer valuable insights for anyone considering tattoos or their removal, especially within the context of career changes and personal growth.
