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The 10-Year Tattoo Erasure: Why Pete Davidson Is Removing 200+ Tattoos And The Shocking Cost

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As of December 2025, comedian and actor Pete Davidson is well into one of the most extensive and expensive celebrity body transformations in recent memory: the complete removal of his nearly 200 tattoos. This monumental, multi-year process is far from over, but the progress is becoming increasingly visible, signaling a profound shift in the public persona of the former *Saturday Night Live* star. The decision to erase his signature ink—a collection that once defined his "sad boy" aesthetic and rapid-fire relationships—is driven by a blend of career pragmatism and a deeper focus on his personal mental health journey. This is not a simple cover-up; it is a grueling, decade-long commitment that he has publicly described as "pretty horrible," costing him upward of six figures.

Pete Davidson: A Brief Biography and Profile

Peter Michael Davidson is an American comedian, actor, and writer, instantly recognizable for his self-deprecating humor and candid discussions about his personal life and mental health struggles. Born and raised in Staten Island, New York, his early life was marked by tragedy and would later heavily influence his comedy and acting career.

  • Full Name: Peter Michael Davidson
  • Born: November 16, 1993, in Staten Island, New York, U.S.
  • Age (as of Dec 2025): 32
  • Father: Scott Matthew Davidson, a New York City firefighter who died in the September 11 attacks.
  • Mother: Amy Davidson
  • Career Breakthrough: Became one of the youngest cast members on NBC’s *Saturday Night Live* (SNL) at age 20 in 2014.
  • Notable Projects: *The King of Staten Island* (2020), *Bodies Bodies Bodies* (2022), and the semi-autobiographical series *Bupkis* (2023).
  • Personal Life: Known for a number of high-profile relationships, including those with Ariana Grande, Kate Beckinsale, Kim Kardashian, and Emily Ratajkowski.

The Shocking Timeline and Cost of Erasing a Body of Work

Davidson’s tattoo collection was once a defining feature, a chaotic collage of pop culture references, sentimental tributes, and impulsive decisions. The sheer volume of ink—estimated to be over 200 individual pieces—means that removing them is not a quick fix, but a marathon of laser sessions.

The Grueling 10-Year Process

The journey to a "clean slate" began in earnest around 2020, and the comedian has been transparent about the painful reality of the laser tattoo removal process. The physical toll and time commitment are staggering.

  • Estimated Duration: The entire process is expected to take up to 10 years to complete.
  • Session Requirement: Each individual tattoo requires an average of 10 to 12 laser sessions to be fully removed.
  • Healing Time: There is a mandatory six-week healing period between each session to allow the skin to recover.

Davidson has joked that the sessions, which he has described as feeling like being "burned off," are so intense that he is often put under anesthesia to manage the pain. This level of commitment underscores just how serious he is about shedding his tattooed past.

The Six-Figure Price Tag

The cost associated with this massive undertaking is equally shocking. While the exact final figure is unknown, Davidson has revealed that the total bill is upward of six figures. Some reports suggest he has already spent over $200,000 on the removal and was only 30% to 50% done as of the most recent updates in 2024.

This financial and physical investment highlights the profound change he is seeking, moving away from the impulsive decisions of his younger self toward a more polished and versatile professional look.

The Core Reasons: Career, Mental Health, and a Clean Slate

When asked why he decided to undergo such a lengthy and painful transformation, Davidson has offered two primary, interlinked motivations that provide deep insight into his current life stage.

1. The Pragmatic Reason: The Cost of Acting

The most immediate and practical reason for the removal is his burgeoning career as a film and television actor. Davidson realized that his extensive body art was becoming a major obstacle to landing certain roles and a massive drain on production time and budget.

In his own words, the process of covering his arms and hands with makeup for roles like *The King of Staten Island* or his series *Bupkis* was taking hours. This time and effort were deemed unsustainable for a full-time actor. Removing the tattoos is, in essence, an investment in his long-term professional versatility, allowing him to play characters without the distraction or the extensive makeup chair commitment.

2. The Personal Reason: Escaping the "Sad Boy" Past

Beyond his career, the decision is deeply personal, tied to his ongoing mental health journey. Davidson has candidly stated that many of his tattoos were acquired during a period where he was a "sad boy," a time of impulsivity and emotional turmoil.

He views the removal as a necessary step toward a "clean slate," a symbolic shedding of the past that reminds him of a more difficult, less healthy phase of his life. This move aligns with his public commitment to focusing on his well-being, including several stints in rehab and therapy. By erasing the ink, he is creating a physical manifestation of his emotional and psychological progress.

Which Tattoos is Pete Davidson Keeping?

While the goal is a near-total erasure of his body art, Davidson has confirmed he is keeping a select few tattoos that hold profound, irreplaceable meaning. These exceptions offer a glimpse into the parts of his life he considers sacred and permanent.

The Tattoos That Will Remain:

  • His Father's Badge Number: The most significant tattoo he is keeping is the one dedicated to his late father, Scott Matthew Davidson, a New York firefighter who perished on 9/11. This tribute is an enduring symbol of his family legacy and personal history.
  • *The Sopranos* Tattoos: Davidson is a noted fan of the HBO series *The Sopranos* and plans to keep his tattoos related to the show. This decision suggests he is willing to keep the ink that represents genuine, lasting passion rather than fleeting trends or relationships.
  • The Hillary Clinton Portrait: In a surprising revelation, Davidson has indicated he will be keeping a portrait of Hillary Clinton's face. He got the tattoo to honor the former Secretary of State, whom he greatly admires, proving that not all political or celebrity-inspired ink is regrettable.

The tattoos being removed are believed to include many of the more impulsive, relationship-based pieces—though he rarely mentions specific ex-partners. Tattoos he acquired during his high-profile relationship with Ariana Grande, such as the *Dangerous Woman* bunny ears and the "REBORN" script, are widely assumed to be among the hundreds being targeted by the laser. The fading ink marks the end of his "tattoo guy" era and the beginning of his next chapter as a serious, versatile actor.

The overall journey is a powerful statement on personal evolution, demonstrating that even a public figure with a deeply entrenched image can commit to a difficult, long-term process to achieve a true "clean slate" both on his skin and in his career.

pete davidson tattoos removed
pete davidson tattoos removed

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