Pete Davidson's body art used to serve as an open diary of his public life, mental health struggles, and high-profile romances. Before the comedian started a multi-year laser removal process to clear his skin for acting roles, he accumulated over 200 tattoos. While public attention often fixed on rapid-fire relationship tributes, his collection spanned deep personal grief, pop culture obsessions, and hometown pride.
Understanding the stories behind Pete Davidson's tattoos requires looking past the tabloid headlines. His ink catalogued a specific era of modern celebrity culture where personal milestones were instantly stamped into skin, only to be lasered off or covered up when life moved on.
Tributes to Family and Personal Loss
Some of Davidson's earliest and most permanent pieces honored his family, particularly his late father, Scott Davidson. A New York City firefighter, his father died during the September 11 terrorist attacks.
- Badge Number 8418: This black and grey piece featured his father's firefighter badge number, serving as a permanent anchor to his childhood tragedy.
- The Fireman's Prayer: Positioned on his shoulder alongside a kneeling firefighter, lines from the traditional prayer highlighted his connection to rescue workers and his father's legacy.
- The Verrazzano Bridge: Inked across his left shoulder, this bridge connected Staten Island to Brooklyn, celebrating his hometown roots and blue-collar upbringing.
- Leo: Located on his neck, this tribute honored his godson, the child of comedian and close friend Ricky Velez.
High-Profile Relationship Tattoos
No aspect of Davidson's body art drew more media scrutiny than his romantic tributes. He frequently marked new relationships with permanent ink, a habit that left him with numerous cover-ups and laser sessions when splits occurred.
During his engagement to Ariana Grande, he added roughly ten tattoos dedicated to her. These included the Dangerous Woman bunny ears behind his ear, her initials on his thumb, a portrait of their pet pig on his torso, and the phrase mille tendresse on the back of his neck. Following their breakup, these pieces were systematically covered with black hearts or altered into new designs.
Later relationships brought similar additions. While dating Kim Kardashian, Davidson added collarbone text reading Jasmine and Aladdin (referencing their Saturday Night Live sketch), the letters KNSCP representing her children's initials, and the phrase my girl is a lawyer. Reports also surfaced that he had her first name branded directly onto his chest. Most of these relationship-driven pieces have since been removed or faded out as part of his clean slate initiative.
Pop Culture, Politics, and Random Ink
Beyond relationships and family, Davidson filled vacant space with chaotic pop culture references, cartoon characters, and political figures.
- Political Portraits: He famously tattooed Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on his shoulder, calling her a personal hero. He also tattooed Hillary Clinton on his leg, describing her simply as a dope person.
- Cartoon Characters: His arms and lower body featured whimsical animations, including DoodleBob from SpongeBob SquarePants, a cartoon toaster, and various characters from stoner comedies and graphic novels.
- Literary Quotes: A line from Harry Potter quoting Albus Dumbledore sat on his forearm alongside quotes from Rocky.
Why Pete Davidson Removed His Tattoos
The transition from a heavily inked canvas to clear skin came down to professional practicality and personal evolution. In interviews with outlets like Variety, Davidson explained that the removal process was driven by three main factors.
First, many of the tattoos were poorly executed impulse decisions. Second, professional demands made the ink a logistical nightmare, requiring makeup artists to spend hours spraying over his arms and chest before film shoots. Third, and most importantly, he viewed the tattoos as physical manifestations of an intense period of emotional pain. Clearing his skin marked a psychological reset as he moved into a new chapter of his career and personal life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tattoos did Pete Davidson have?
At his peak, Davidson had over 200 tattoos covering his arms, legs, torso, neck, and hands.
Did Pete Davidson remove all of his tattoos?
He underwent a multi-year laser removal process to clear nearly all of his body art. However, he has occasionally kept or added small, selective pieces that carry strict personal significance.
Why did he get tattoos for his girlfriends so quickly?
Davidson has noted that his past body art reflected impulsive decisions made during intense emotional periods. Marking relationships quickly was part of an overarching pattern of wearing his heart—and his temporary emotional states—directly on his skin.
Which tattoo did Pete Davidson keep?
While he cleared the vast majority of his body art, he retained a select few items, including his tribute to political figures like Hillary Clinton and specific milestones tied to close family members.
