Actor and comedian Pete Davidson has invested approximately $200,000 in removing his extensive collection of tattoos, marking a fresh chapter in his life alongside his sobriety journey that began in September.
The Saturday Night Live alum, who once had around 200 tattoos, opened up about the painful removal process during recent appearances promoting his new movie "Dog Man."
"It's pretty terrible," Davidson told Today show hosts while displaying his faded forearm tattoos. "If anybody out there is watching and thinking about getting a tattoo, make sure you really want to get it."
The 30-year-old actor's decision to remove his tattoos was influenced by both his sobriety and acting career aspirations. After getting sober, Davidson recalled looking in the mirror and deciding he needed a change. The removal process has been ongoing since 2020, with Davidson hoping to complete it by the time he turns 30.
His collection included notable pieces such as tributes to ex-girlfriend Kim Kardashian, including "My girl is a lawyer" and references to their SNL sketch together. The actor previously explained that covering tattoos for movie roles required an additional three hours in makeup, prompting his decision to have them removed.
Sources close to Davidson report he's gained twenty pounds since becoming sober and is receiving positive reviews for his recent work. The actor plans to keep only "two or three" of his original tattoos as he embraces what he calls "trying to be an adult."
The removal process involves multiple painful sessions, with each treatment requiring six to eight weeks of healing time and protection from sunlight. Recent public appearances, including an October 2024 event with Machine Gun Kelly, showed Davidson sporting notably clearer skin, demonstrating the progress of his transformation.