Pete Davidson Says He Spent $200K on Tattoo Removal and Is Only 30% Done: 'It Sucks'

Pete Davidson has opened up about the process of removing his tattoos and how much it "sucks."

In an interview with Variety, the Saturday Night Live star discussed how difficult tattoo removal is and the healing process, which he says takes up to six weeks. According to Davidson, each tattoo requires 10 to 12 sessions, and it's "pretty horrible" given how many tattoos he has on his body.

"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," said Davidson. "And it's pretty tough. It sucks, I'm not gonna lie.”

He also explained how the process is costing him a bag, as he’s already spent almost $200,000 and is only 30 percent done. What’s even crazier is that it will take Davidson "another 10 years" to finish up the process.

Davidson began the process in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, and he already had tattoos removed from his arms, neck, and hands. He still has to get work done on his back and torso.

According to the comedian, getting his tattoos removed was a result of him wanting to enter a much healthier era of his life. 

“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,” said Davidson. “And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with tattoos, but mine, when I look at them, I remember a sad person that was very unsure. So I’m just removing them and starting fresh, because that’s what I think works best for me and for my brain.”

He added: "When I look in the mirror, I don’t want the reminder of ‘Oh yeah, you were a fucking drug addict. Like, that’s why you have SpongeBob smoking a joint on your back.’ They should have meaning. Not just that I was high watching Game of Thrones."

In Reformation's "official boyfriend" Valentine's Day campaign earlier this year, Davidson bared his tattoo-free arms, giving the world a sneak peek at how his tattoo removal is going.