Pete Davidson Reveals Massive Tattoo Removal Cost & Sad Reason for Artwork

Comedian and actor Pete Davidson has disclosed the staggering cost of his ongoing tattoo removal process — and revealed the deeply personal reasons that led him to ink his body in the first place.

The Saturday Night Live alum, now 31, was once known for his heavily tattooed physique, with over 200 distinct designs covering his body. But in a surprising turn, Davidson is choosing to erase them all — a process he began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking to Variety, Pete shared, “I started during COVID in 2020 and it’s gonna take me another 10 years.” As of now, he’s only about 30% through the journey. “My arms are pretty much gone, and my hands and neck are gone. But I still have to do my torso and back,” he added.

The cost of the process? A hefty $200,000 so far — and that’s just the beginning. Davidson called the amount a “pretty uncomfortable amount of money to disclose,” and admitted, “It’s gonna suck.” Each tattoo reportedly requires 10 to 12 laser sessions to remove, with a six-week healing period after each. “That’s 60 weeks of your life right there on just one tattoo,” he explained. “So, it’s pretty horrible.”

But the financial burden pales in comparison to the emotional weight behind the decision. Davidson opened up about his struggles with addiction and self-esteem, stating, “I used to be a drug addict. I was a sad person, I felt ugly. That’s why I felt like I needed to be covered up.”

While he emphasizes he has nothing against tattoos, he now views his old body art as a symbol of his past emotional pain. “When I look at them, I just see a sad person that was very unsure,” he said, adding that clearing his skin is his way of “starting fresh.”

This isn’t the first time Pete has reflected on his ink. In a 2019 interview with Inked magazine, he described tattooing as a form of emotional release. “It’s just a release… When I’m so manic and upset, sometimes that’s the only thing that will work for me,” he had said.

Some of his former tattoos include Hillary Clinton’s portrait, a large shark, and an image of New York’s Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. He also famously inked several tributes to former girlfriend Kim Kardashian during their nine-month relationship — a topic that still leaves him visibly uncomfortable. When recently asked about their past on Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney, Davidson responded with laughter and buried his face in his hands, clearly not ready to revisit the details.

From emotional healing to painful laser sessions, Pete Davidson’s tattoo removal journey is a deeply personal one — both physically and mentally. As he continues to reshape his image, he’s also rewriting the story his skin once told.