Pete Davidson is being open about the emotional, costly, and agonizing process of getting rid of his more than 200 tattoos; he claims that this journey is closely related to his previous battles with addiction and self-esteem.
The comedian and actress started the procedure in 2020, initially for practical reasons: it took too long to apply makeup on set to cover the ink. However, Davidson revealed in a recent Variety interview that the choice has deeper roots.
He claimed that it was just because he wasn’t taking care of himself. “I used to be depressed and a drug addict. I felt unattractive and believed that I should be hidden.
Davidson clarified that he is not anti-tattoo, but that the ink reminded him of a more sinister period of his life. “I saw someone who was really unsure when I look at them. Since that’s what works best for me and my brain, I’m taking them off and beginning over.
Davidson claims he doesn’t want his body to contain visual evidence of that chapter now that he is sober. “I don’t want to see, ‘Oh yeah, you were a f**king drug addict,’ when I look in the mirror.” SpongeBob is smoking a joint on your back because of this. Tattoos ought to convey more than just the fact that I was high after watching Game of Thrones.
Removing the tattoos physically is as difficult as it is symbolic. Most tattoos require 10 to 12 sessions, with each session taking six weeks to heal. He remarked, “That’s sixty weeks of your life just for one.” It’s comparable to placing your arm on a grill and removing a layer. After that, you must tend to it and allow it to recover. It’s quite awful. I won’t lie: it’s awful.
The financial toll is just as high. Davidson joked that a tabloid had already leaked the sum, even though he didn’t want to reveal it at first. “I’m only about 30% done, and I’ve already spent approximately $200,000. So, yes, it will be awful,” he said. “But he’s definitely a little nicer now that I’ve called out my tattoo remover by name.”
Davidson is dedicated to the procedure throughout it all, not only to getting rid of the tattoos but also to changing himself. Even though it hurts both physically and emotionally, he knows why he is doing it: to move on.
