Pete Davidson Discusses His Tattoo Removal Journey

Pete Davidson recently shared insights into his tattoo removal experience, describing it as ‘brutal.’ The comedian, known for his roles in Saturday Night Live and other projects, provided an update during the New York City premiere of How to Rob a Bank while speaking to E! News.

Davidson, at 32, expressed that he has frequently resorted to wearing sweaters for the past six months, concealing the ongoing tattoo removal process beneath. Despite this, he hinted at the possibility of new tattoos in the future, stating, ‘You never know, they might come back.’

During an appearance at CinemaCon in April 2026, Davidson displayed his arms, which were near-bare of tattoos. Wearing a red T-shirt, the fading of his tattoos was evident, although some outlines remained visible. This marked clear progress in his journey to remove the ink.

Fans received another update on Davidson’s tattoo removal endeavor when his ex-girlfriend, Elsie Hewitt, shared a shirtless photo of him with their newborn daughter. The image showed Davidson enjoying skin-to-skin contact with the baby. A subsequent photo depicted Hewitt holding the child while clad in a cozy black sweater.

Davidson has been candid about the slow removal of his 200 tattoos. In an April interview with Variety, he attributed his decision to focus on mental health and personal transformation. He confessed that his tattoos reminded him of a time when he was ‘a sad person that was very unsure.’

‘I used to be a drug addict, and I was a sad person, and I felt ugly and that I needed to be covered up,’ Davidson revealed. ‘So I’m just removing them and starting fresh, because that’s what I think works best for me and for my brain.’

Davidson explained the tattoo removal process involves scheduling sessions between work, as each removal requires a six-week healing period. He estimated the entire process would involve 10 to 12 sessions, spanning approximately 60 weeks, and speculated it would take another 10 years to complete.

‘It’s pretty horrible,’ Davidson remarked about the procedure. ‘It’s like putting your arm on a grill and burning off a layer, and then you gotta do maintenance and let it heal properly. And it’s pretty tough. It sucks, I’m not gonna lie.’