Pete Davidson used to look like a middle school desk. If you’ve followed his career from the early SNL days to his status as a certified movie star, you know exactly what I mean. He was covered. From the "Swerve Life" ink he got at 17 to the dozens of doodles that eventually crept up his neck and down his shins, Pete Davidson tattoos became as much a part of his brand as his self-deprecating humor.
But lately, he looks… different.
If you’ve seen him in recent campaigns or caught him on a talk show in early 2026, you might have noticed the ink is fading. It’s not just a few cover-ups. He’s basically undergoing a $200,000 architectural demolition of his own skin. It turns out, living your life as a human Pinterest board has some major downsides when you’re trying to move into the "serious actor" phase of your life.
The Brutal Reality of Being a Human Coloring Book
Honestly, the initial reason Pete started the removal process was pretty practical. It was about the chair. Specifically, the makeup chair.
When you’re a lead in a movie like The King of Staten Island or Bupkis, you can’t always have a giant tattoo of SpongeBob smoking a joint on your back. It doesn't fit every character. Pete revealed that he was spending three to four hours in the makeup trailer every single morning just to get the ink covered with heavy concealer.
Think about that.
You’ve gotta wake up at 3:00 AM just so someone can airbrush your arms. "It’s much easier to just get them removed," he told Seth Meyers a while back. But as the process dragged on, the motivation shifted from "I’m tired of waking up early" to something way more personal.
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It’s a Sobriety Thing Now
By 2025 and moving into this year, Pete has been more open about the mental health aspect of the laser sessions. He’s described his old tattoos as a "reminder of a sad person."
He once told Variety that he felt "ugly" and "unsure" during the years he was getting most of the work done. He used the ink like a shield. Now that he’s focused on sobriety and a "fresh start," he doesn't want to look in the mirror and see a visual map of his hardest years.
It’s about growth.
What’s Actually Gone (and What’s Staying)
People always ask if he’s getting rid of everything. The answer is mostly yes, but there are a few heavy hitters he’s decided to protect. It’s a selective Edit.
He had upwards of 200 tattoos at his peak. That is an insane amount of laser time. If you’ve never had laser removal, just know it feels like someone is snapping a thick rubber band against your skin while also burning you with a cigarette. Pete describes it as "putting your arm on a grill."
The "Safe" List
Despite the $200,000 price tag and the years of sessions, a few pieces are sticking around:
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- The Hillary Clinton Portrait: This is the one everyone talks about. He got it after she lost in 2016. He recently confirmed on The Breakfast Club that "Hillary’s staying." He likes the toughness she represents.
- The Tributes to His Father: Pete’s dad, Scott Davidson, was a firefighter who died on 9/11. Tattoos like the badge number "8418" and the kneeling firefighter are non-negotiable. They aren't just ink; they’re his connection to his dad.
- The "MOMTATTOO": In a classic Pete move, his mom once asked why he never got a tattoo for her. So, he literally got "MOMTATTOO" in block letters. That one is staying too.
The Famous Ex-Girlfriend Ink
We can’t talk about Pete Davidson tattoos without mentioning the "relationship" ink. This is where he usually gets into trouble.
Remember the bunny ears for Ariana Grande? Gone. Replaced with a black heart and the word "Cursed" before eventually being targeted for total removal.
Then there was the Kim Kardashian era. That was wild. He didn't just get tattoos; he literally had "KIM" branded onto his chest with a hot iron. You can't just "laser" a brand away the same way you do ink. It scars. As of 2026, most of the Kim-related tributes—including the "My girl is a lawyer" neck piece—have been heavily faded or removed as he moves on with new chapters.
The Math of Laser Removal: Why It’s Taking Forever
If you’re thinking about following in his footsteps and clearing some space on your own skin, don't expect it to happen overnight. Pete started this journey in 2020. It’s now 2026, and he’s still only about 60% to 70% done.
The process is a "slow burn," literally.
You can’t just do the whole body at once because your immune system would freak out. You have to wait about six to eight weeks between sessions for the skin to heal and the body to flush out the shattered ink particles.
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Why the Cost is So High
- The Specialist: He’s using top-tier dermatologists like Dr. Roy Geronemus in NYC.
- The Sessions: Some tattoos require 10 to 12 passes to actually disappear.
- The Surface Area: Removing a sleeve is vastly more expensive than a tiny star on your wrist.
By the time he’s "clean-slated," he’ll likely have spent more on the removal than he ever did on the original art.
Lessons from the King of Ink Regret
Honestly, Pete has become a bit of a cautionary tale, and he’s the first person to admit it. He’s even joked about showing the removal process to the younger kids in his family to scare them off getting anything impulsive.
His advice is basically: Wait. If you want a tattoo, sit on the idea for two years. If you still want it then, go for it. But getting "SpongeBob smoking" because you were high watching Game of Thrones is a recipe for a very expensive laser bill five years down the line.
What to Do If You're Considering Your Own Removal
If Pete's journey has inspired you to start your own "fresh start," here is the expert-level reality check you need:
- Consult a Pro, Not a Parlor: Go to a medical dermatologist who uses PicoWay or similar high-end lasers. They are more effective on different colors.
- Budget for the Long Haul: It’s going to cost 10x what the tattoo cost. Minimum.
- Manage Your Expectations: Some ink—especially yellows and greens—never fully goes away. You might end up with a "ghost" of the image.
- Sun Protection is Key: You can't laser tanned skin. If you want the ink gone, you have to become a vampire for a few years and use high-SPF sunblock religiously.
Pete’s goal is to be a "clean slate" by the time he’s 40. He’s 32 now. That tells you everything you need to know about how long this road is. He’s trading the "detention desk" look for a chance to be whoever he wants to be on screen, and honestly, you've gotta respect the commitment to the bit.