Pete Davidson is known for three things: His Staten Island upbringing, his penchant for dating and latching onto star-studded, drop dead gorgeous women — I’m looking at you, Kim, Ariana, Emrata, Kylie — I could go onnn, but I shall refrain. And the third? Petey’s endless display of tattoos. So when the news broke that he was going through painful measures to remove his ink, lemme tell you, I was shocked. 

At this point, the lad’s arms are nearly bare! Pete Davidson eradicating his tattoos is as baffling to me as Cindy Crawford erasing her classic beauty mark. His tats define him as a true character and yet just one more celeb slapping on a sentiment or icon that will pass its sell-by date in 6 months. In the old days it seemed like there was a fresh headline daily from entertainment magazines yapping about the latest ink Pete was sporting.

Because of all this, it makes me wonder: why is the former SNL star taking such a drastic leap by getting rid of his staple feature? Is it simply for headlines? Or is there something deeper going on here?

Why is the former SNL star removing his tattoos? 

Back in 2020, Davidson announced his plan to remove his iconic body ink for several reasons: Basically, he wanted to land more acting roles thus expanding his range beyond appearing in silly, comic skits. This makes sense. If he’s supposed to be immersed in the role of a film character, seeing his tattoo dedicated to ex-gf Ariana Grande on the screen will instantly catapult the audience out of the moment. 

This isn’t the first time a celeb altered their signature look for the purpose of getting more acting roles. I’ll never forget when Harry Potter star Emma Watson — if I’m remembering right, this is 2012-ish — flaunted the most adorable pixie-cut. In several interviews, Watson gushed about how liberated she felt with her brand new look, yet she ultimately ended up growing her hair back out. According to Watson, as liberating as the gamine cut was, she was forced to make adjustments in order to score more acting gigs. 

For more drastic measures, many celebs are rumored to have turned to plastic surgery to enhance their appearance on the silver screen. For many Hollywood actors and actresses, taking dramatic — and sometimes quite painful — measures is seen as a way to boost their careers.

In Davidson’s case, his quest to have an ink-free bod is no walk in the park. Seriously. There are few things in life that are more excruciatingly p.a.i.n.f.u.l  than tattoo-removal. So the fact that the Set it Up thespian’s willing to undergo this agonizing journey just goes to show you how dedicated he is to his craft.

Besides his hankering for a prestigious acting career, why else might Davidson have chosen to undergo such a tortuous process?

Pete’s removed tattoos that pay homage to his famous exes

Another thing to consider is the sheer number of tats Pete Davidson has dedicated to his former girlfriends — and just how did he land all those stunning ladies? The SNL comedian has so many tats that are related to past relationships, it’s easy to see why he’d want to remove them after all the heartbreak and breakups.

While his actions may have been a passionate display of love for his girlfriends in the heat of the moment, in hindsight, it’s understandable that he’d want to let go of aspects of his life that are no longer relevant. Plus, his new amores might feel uncomfortable if they are to see his ex-boo’s face wrapped around his bicep. I know I’d be!

Davidson has removed his Kim Kardashian tattoos 

Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian shared a passion-fueled romance that lasted for a total of nine months. In honor of their relationship, Davidson showed no qualms about getting a whole bunch of tats that pay homage to Kim K. 

One of them simply says “Jasmine and Aladdin” which refers to his SNL performance with the reality star in which they portrayed the Disney characters. Another tat scribbles Kim’s first initial, followed in succession by the first initials of her kids. 

One of his more infamous tattoos he has since removed was the “My Girl is a Lawyer” that he boasted on his clavicle. (In 2021, Kimmy K famously passed the baby bar. I guess this was the couple’s bizarre way of celebrating?)

And last but not least, Davidson eradicated the tattoo which plainly said “Kim” — also on his clavicle. Sometimes, the simpler the better, amiright?

The ‘King of Staten Island’ actor removes his Ariana Grande tats

Oh Lordy. If you thought Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian’s relationship was constantly being shoved in our faces, that was practically a demure display of PDA when compared to Pete Davidson’s whirlwind romance with Ariana Grande. 

We couldn’t go a single minute it seemed without hearing a breaking news piece about Grande and Davidson’s tête-à-tête. Even people who couldn’t care less about the couple were spoon-fed so much tea by the press, that it was impossible to not feel like a certified expert on their romance. In fact, we as a nation were so let in on this couple’s love life, that we might as well have been enmeshed in the relationship ourselves.

So when news broke out that the couple was ending their engagement, we were all *shookith* to the core. Who would have custody over Piggy Smalls? What was Davidson gonna do about all his Grande-centric tattoos? 

Taking a stroll down memory lane, in the far, faraway land of 2018, let’s dive into all of the SNL star’s tattoos he’s had dedicated to the “Break Up With Your Girlfriend” songstress.

One tattoo matched the pop star’s, by referencing a phrase from Truman Capote’s novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Mille Tendresse. (Ari’s favorite.) Davidson then got a bunny mask tattoo in homage to Grande’s signature look from her “Dangerous Woman” album. (Oh, how I miss his AG era.)

On top of that, the “King of Staten Island” star rocked a tattoo identical to Grande’s, which solidified their mutual love of the Harry Potter series. It says “Always,” which references Severus Snape’s unwavering love for Lily Potter. 

Scribbled over his ribcage, he had the word “Grande” inked in large font. He also got a tattoo of the pet pig the couple shared. Oh, and let’s not forget the cloud tattoos both stars got on their fingers early in their courtship. 

Now that’s what I call commitment, y’all!

Pete Davidson gets rid of his Cazzie David body ink

To add to the hoopla, the “King of Staten Island” star inked his former girlfriend Cazzie David’s face on his arm when they were still a couple. (Cazzie David, aka Larry David’s daughter, aka comedic genius in her own right. I would know; she was my classmate!)   

Initially, Davidson had a cute cartoon-like drawing of Cazzie on his arm. Following their abrupt breakup, he covered up that intimate tat with an entire forest. 

Will Pete Davidson remove ALL his tattoos? 

You might be wondering if Davidson plans to obliterate each and every of the 100 tats he’s ever gotten. (Yes, 100.)

Given that the comedian has several sentimental tattoos, like the badge number honoring his father who died on 9/11 while serving as a firefighter, fans may wonder if he’s considering eliminating them as well.

While there is no official report as to whether Davidson plans to get rid of his more sentimental body ink, he did say he aspires to get all his tattoos removed by the age of 30. Welp, the comedian is currently 30, flirty, and thriving, and he seems to be taking his commitment towards tat-free skin quite seriously.