Pete Davidson revealed a major transformation earlier this year when he showed off his tattoo-free arms and midriff in a Reformation campaign. But in a recent interview with Variety, the former Saturday Night Live star explained the reasons behind his decision to gradually remove his extensive collection of 200 tattoos.
Davidson shared that he began the removal process during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and expects it to take another 10 years to complete. While his arms, hands, and neck are almost finished, he still has to remove tattoos from his torso and back. “It was really just because I wasn’t taking care of myself,” he said, reflecting on the personal motivation behind the decision.
The process, which Davidson described as “like putting your arm on a grill and burning off a layer,” is clearly no walk in the park. As for the cost, the actor acknowledged the financial burden, revealing that he’s already spent around $200,000 (approximately £150,000) and is only about 30% done. “It’s a pretty uncomfortable amount of money to disclose,” he admitted.
Davidson explained that his decision to remove the tattoos is part of his journey toward a new chapter in his life, especially his sobriety. “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,” he said. “So I’m just removing them and starting fresh, because that’s what I think works best for me and for my brain.”
Though Davidson has no issues with tattoos in general, he noted that he plans to keep a few, telling NBC’s Today in January that he intends to preserve “maybe, like, two or three” of them.
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