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Pete Davidson is saying goodbye to most of his tattoos, undergoing what he describes as a "horrible" removal process. The 31-year-old comedian discussed the experience on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, revealing that he initially had "probably, like, 200" tattoos, but most of them are "almost gone" now.
"I've been burning them off," Davidson told Fallon, rolling up his sleeves to reveal his bare arms. He explained that the process is worse than getting inked in the first place. "They burn off a layer of your skin, then it has to heal for six to eight weeks. You can't get in the sunlight. And then you've got to do it, like, 12 more times," he said.
Despite his efforts to "clean slate it," Davidson admitted he plans to keep "maybe, like, two or three" tattoos. However, he did not specify which ones would remain. Over the years, his ink collection has included portraits of Hillary Clinton and late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as well as tattoos dedicated to past relationships, including Kim Kardashian, Cazzie David, and Ariana Grande.
When Fallon asked about his tattoo obsession, Davidson reflected on why he got so many in the first place. "I was a sad boy. ... It was a weird time," he said. "Everybody was getting tattoos, like, five years ago. Remember that?" He even referenced singer Post Malone's signature face tattoo, saying, "Yeah, me too, dude! I'm exhausted!"
Davidson began the tattoo removal process in 2021 and has since shared occasional updates. He previously mentioned that his ink made acting more complicated, as it often required lengthy makeup sessions to cover up. "For some reason, people in movies, they don't have them that much," he explained during a past interview on Late Night With Seth Meyers.
Before wrapping up his conversation with Fallon, Davidson jokingly warned the audience against impulsive tattoo decisions. "Really think about that Game of Thrones tattoo you're thinking of getting," he quipped. Davidson isn't the only celebrity changing his ink game. His close friend, rapper Machine Gun Kelly, recently covered most of his tattoos with black ink, embracing a new look.
