Pete Davidson, once almost as famous for his tattoos as for his high-profile relationships, has undergone a dramatic transformation. The comedian and actor, now 32, recently made headlines for his decision to remove most of his extensive body ink — a process that has reportedly cost around $200,000.
Earlier this year, Davidson revealed that he had a change of heart about the more than 200 tattoos he once had. Speaking on Late Night with Seth Meyers in January 2025, he explained that his growing passion for acting played a major role in the decision. Covering tattoos for film roles, he said, can take hours each day, and many movie characters simply aren’t inked. As his career evolved, so did his perspective.
Davidson has also been candid about regretting many of the tattoos he got before entering rehab. On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he admitted that some of his choices were particularly questionable, including cartoon characters depicted smoking blunts — designs he now views as mistakes from a different chapter of his life.
Motivated by sobriety, Davidson began the lengthy laser-removal process, acknowledging that it’s both painful and time-consuming. According to E! News, he hopes to be mostly finished by the time he turns 40. The treatment involves burning off layers of skin, followed by six to eight weeks of healing, and must be repeated at least a dozen times while avoiding sun exposure.
A recent photo shared by his girlfriend, Elsie Hewitt, offered fans a glimpse of his progress. The image shows Davidson holding their newborn daughter, Scottie, and noticeably free of much of his former ink. Hewitt captioned the post, “MY BEST FRIENDS.”
The couple, who reportedly began dating in March, welcomed their first child on December 12. Sharing her joy online, Hewitt wrote that she was overwhelmed with love and gratitude. Davidson responded simply but affectionately: “wu tang forever.”
Despite removing most of his tattoos, Davidson has said he plans to keep just two or three — reminders of a past he’s learned from but no longer lives in.
