Why Is Pete Davidson Removing His Tattoos? The Comedian Opens Up About His Painful Decision

Pete Davidson is no stranger to reinvention, and his latest transformation might be one of the most significant yet. The 31-year-old comedian and actor has spent years accumulating a massive collection of tattoos, but now, he’s making a big change—removing almost all of them.

In a recent appearance on the Today Show (January 31, 2025) to promote his new movie, Dog Man, Pete got candid about the brutal process of getting rid of his 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,” he told hosts Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, rolling up his sleeve to show his faded forearm tattoos. “It’s pretty gone.”

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So why is Pete Davidson undergoing one of the most painful cosmetic procedures out there? Let’s break it down.

The Sobriety Factor: Seeing Himself with New Eyes

When asked what motivated his decision, Pete gave an unexpectedly personal answer:

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“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.’”

Pete has been open about his struggles with mental health and substance use. Over the years, he has spoken about battling depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Achieving sobriety gave him a new perspective—one that apparently didn’t include 200 tattoos.

The Painful Tattoo Removal Process

While speaking with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show (January 30, 2025), Pete described the sheer agony of the removal procedure.

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“It’s horrible,” Pete admitted. “It’s worse than getting them. 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.”

His advice? “So yeah, really think about that Game of Thrones tattoo you’re thinking of getting.”

At one point, Pete estimated that he had around 200 tattoos. Now, he’s keeping just a few, saying he’s trying to “clean slate it” and “be an adult.”

A Career Move: Hollywood Demands a Clean Look

Back in 2020, Pete first announced that he was starting the tattoo removal process. By 2021, he confirmed his decision during an interview with Seth Meyers on Late Night, explaining that acting played a big role in his choice.

“I honestly never thought that I would get an opportunity to act, and I love it a lot,” Pete said at the time. “It takes, like, three hours—you have to get there three hours earlier—to cover all your tattoos. For some reason, people in movies, they don’t have them that much.”

It seems Hollywood prefers a blank canvas, and Pete is making sure he fits the part as he continues to land more serious film roles.

Pete Davidson’s Age, Family, and Net Worth in 2025

As of 2025, Pete Davidson is 31 years old, and his career is stronger than ever. Born on November 16, 1993, in Staten Island, New York, Pete grew up with his mother, Amy Waters Davidson, and lost his father, Scott Davidson, a firefighter in the 9/11 attacks—a loss that has deeply influenced his life and comedy.

Despite his self-deprecating humor about money, Pete’s net worth is now estimated at $15 million. His earnings come from:

• Stand-up specials and Netflix deals
• Film roles (The King of Staten Island, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Dog Man)
• SNL salary (2014-2022)
• Endorsements and business ventures

A Cultural Shift: Tattoos Aren’t as Permanent as They Used to Be

Pete joked about his past tattoo choices, referencing Post Malone’s “Always Tired” under-eye ink and how everyone was getting spontaneous tattoos five years ago.

“Yeah, I was a sad boy. It was a weird time. Everybody was getting tattoos, like, five years ago. Do you remember that? Post Malone was like, ‘always tired’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, me too, dude. I’m exhausted.’”

In a way, Pete’s tattoo removal journey is reflective of a larger shift in pop culture—tattoos were once seen as permanent badges of rebellion, but now, removal has become just as accessible as getting inked in the first place.

What’s Next for Pete Davidson?

Between his film career, comedy specials, and Staten Island ferry venture with Colin Jost, Pete isn’t slowing down. With Dog Man coming out in 2025, his Hollywood trajectory is only growing stronger.

His tattoo removal symbolizes a new phase—one where he’s shedding old identities and stepping into a cleaner, more refined version of himself.

So, will Pete stay ink-free forever? That remains to be seen. But for now, he’s all about that “clean slate” life—and Hollywood is here for it.