Photo: Jeff Daly/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
During an episode ofLate Night with Seth Meyers,theSaturday Night Livealum said his budding film career prompted him topursue tattoo removal.
“I honestly never thought that I would get an opportunity to act and I love it a lot,” Davidson told the late-night host. “It takes like three hours — you have to get there like three hours earlier — to cover all your tattoos. For some reason, people in movies, they don’t have them that much.”
Though Davidson has gotten a few more tattoos since his big announcement (most notably, several forex-girlfriend Kim Kardashian), he has started removing some of his other ink, including some smaller tattoos on his hands.
In January 2023, Davidson was photographed shirtless while hitting the beach with his rumored new love interestChase Sui Wonders. In the photos, several of the comedian’s tats appear to have been removed — includingall of the ones he had dedicated to Kardashian.
Steven Ferdman/WireImage
From his tattoos dedicated to his former relationships to his sillier, lighthearted designs, here’s a complete guide to all ofPete Davidson’s tattoos, past and present.
“Swerve Life”
“I was 17 when I got my first tattoo. It was a tattoo I got with my buddy Ricky,” he toldVarietyin 2017. “It says ‘Swerve Life’ because the Big Sean song that had that– swerve in it, and we were like ‘That’s gonna last forever.”
“Zeke”
“We Babies”
In 2017, Davidson andMiley Cyrusgot matching tattoos saying “WE BABIES” to commemorate their SNL sketch in which they were dressed like “trap babies.” While appearing on a 2021 episode ofThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Davidson said he had his tattoo artist come to 30 Rock to tattoo himself and Cyrus. The comedian had the tattoo placed on his hand (and has since had it removed), while Cyrus opted for the side of her foot.
A Cartoon Toaster & DoodleBob
Just above his left elbow, Davidson has two cartoon tattoos: a toaster and DoodleBob, a reference to an episode ofSpongebob Squarepants. The comedian is a known fan of the animated Nickelodeon show; in 2019,Ellereported that he went on a Spongebob-themed shopping spree at his local mall in Staten Island. During a 2020 episode ofFresh Air, Davidson said that Spongebob made a cameo in his new film,The King of Staten Island. “I loveSpongeBob,” he said. “What can I say.”
A Forest of Trees
To cover up aportrait of ex-girlfriend Cazzie Davidon his forearm, Davidson went to his tattoo artist, Jon Mesa.
“Did this crazy coverup last night on my boy @petedavidson,” Mesa captioned a now-deleted Instagram post showing off the new tattoo, a forest of trees and a moon, which also covered up a few other tattoos.
“Warning”
Davidson has the word “warning” tattooed on his wrist. The meaning behind the tattoo hasn’t been confirmed, but it was done shortly after his breakup withAriana Grande.
The Verrazzano Bridge
A proud native of New York City’s Staten Island, Davidson has a tattoo of the Verrazzano Bridge — which connects the borough and Brooklyn — on his left shoulder.
A Shark
The massive sea creature tattoo on Davidson’s chest actually serves as a cover-up. When the comedian posed shirtless for aGQcover in 2018, the internet went wild over his tattoo that read, “jokes come and go but swag is forever.” Not long after, Davidson covered up the tattoo with a shark, adding the words “wobbly” and “soulmates” around it.
A Flower With Bees
“93”
In the center of his chest, Davidson has the number “93” tattooed. This presumably refers to his birth year, 1993. He also has “1993” tattooed on his arm.
An Electrocardiogram Graph
Kena Betancur / AFP
The reason isn’t clear, but Davidson has an electrocardiogram graph, which records the heart’s electrical activity, at the center of his collarbone.
ARocky BalboaQuote
Davidson pays homage toSylvester Stallone’s 2006 filmRocky Balboawith a tattoo of one of the character’s famous quotes. In a script font, the tattoo reads, “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
Boxing Gloves
Beside hisRocky Balboaquote on his back, Davidson has a tattoo of a pair of boxing gloves, presumably also a nod to the film.
The Planets
Along his left forearm, Davidson has four planets tattooed: Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Just above, the words “pure imagination” are written in cursive.
A Map
Jackson Lee/GC Images
Below the planet design on his arm, Davidson has a map tattoo on his left hand.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Portrait
Holding Hands
On the back of his left shoulder, Davidson has a tattoo of a pair of hands holding each other.
TheMars AttacksAlien
One of his many film-inspired tattoos, Davidson has the alien from the 1996 sci-fi comedyMars Attackson his chest. Above the alien are the words “thank goodness.”
A Black Scribble
On his hip, Davidson has a back scribble tattooed. The meaning isn’t known, but it may be a coverup of a previous tattoo.
“Leo”
Davidson has the name Leo tattooed on the side of his neck, presumably a tribute to his godson. Leo is the son of the comedian’s longtime best friend, Ricky Velez, who told theDaily Beastthat Davidson was “like family” to him.
“Kanan”
Davidson also has the name of another friend’s son, “Kanan,” tattooed on the other side of his neck.
Tributes to His Late Father
A kneeling firefighter tattoo on Davidson’s left arm is atribute to his late father, Scott Matthew Davidson, a first responder who passed away during the 9/11 attacks. Next to the image, the comedian also has a tattoo of the firefighter’s prayer and the Roman numeral 9, which may represent the month his father died. Behind his ear, Davidson has the number 11 tattooed. His upper left arm also has a tattoo of his father’s initials, SMD.
“8414”
Robert Kamau/GC Images
On his forearm, Davidson has a tattoo of his late father’s firefighter badge number. During his engagement to ex-fianceAriana Grande, the singergot a matching tattooon her left foot. Davidson also has a firefighter’s helmet tattooed below the badge number.
A Crying Heart
Below the many tributes to his father on his left arm, Davidson has a tattoo of a crying heart.
Three Rubber Duckies
Right above his father’s badge number, Davidson has a row of three rubber duckies.
Star of David
UMV/Star Max/GC Images
Davidson’s Star of David tattoo on his left bicep could be referencing his Jewish heritage, which he discovered in 2017. In an interview withHot 97, the comedian shared the recent ancestry DNA test results.
“I’m just an Irish Jew … My mom was Irish, my dad was Jewish,” he said. “I just found out, like this year. My mom just never told me.”
A Four-Leaf Clover&Lotus Flower
Next to the Star of David, Davidson has a four-leaf clover tattoo, symbolizing good luck. Below that, Davidson has a lotus flower tattoo. He hasn’t spoken publicly about the meaning behind the ink, but the flower is symbolic in many cultures and religions.
Jungle Cats
Davidson appears to have two wild cats tattooed on his left arm, one on the underside and another on the outside of his arm just below his shoulder.
“Bada Bing!”
Davidson paid homage to the HBO showThe Sopranoswith a tattoo on his abdomen. The tattoo features the words “Bada Bing!” — the name of a fictional strip club in the show — in bold red letters and a woman’s silhouette.
A Unicorn
Ryan Mullins Instagram
Shortly after being romantically linked to English actressKate Beckinsale, Davidson got a massive black-and-white rendering of a unicorn on his arm courtesy of tattoo artist Ryan Mullins. Mullins shared the work on Instagram, writing, “Unicorn on my dudePete Davidson.”
“Goon” & a One-Eyed Cartoon
On his chest, Davidson has the word “GOON” tattooed in red ink above a one-eyed cartoon character.
A Driver’s License
It’s unclear whether it depicts a real or fictional identity, but Davidson’s right arm features a New York State driver’s license tattoo. Above the license, he has three stars tattooed and below it, a quote reading, “Light up the dark.”
“Davidson”
Down the left side of his abdomen, Davidson has his last name written vertically in all capital letters.
Winnie the Pooh
Mira Mariah Instagram
Courtesy of tattoo artistMira Mariah, who shared the fresh ink on her Instagram page, Davidson has a tattoo of Winnie the Pooh holding a balloon. The comedian hasn’t shared the meaning behind the ink, but it could be that he simply grew up with the beloved character.
Piggy Smalls
Afteradopting a pig with his then-fiance, Ariana Grande, Davidson got a drawing of a pig’s face along with his new pet’s name, Piggy Smalls, tattooed on his side. The tattoo artist wasMira Mariah, who shared the work on her Instagram page.
“Katy Must Learn to Share Her Friends…”
It’s not exactly clear what the somewhat ominous phrase, which is written along Davidson’s side, is supposed to mean.
“You Know Bupkis”
On his chest, Davidson has the phrase, “you know bupkis.” The tattoo may be referencing thecomedian’s television series,Bupkis, a fictionalized depiction of Davidson’s life that was announced in October 2022.
“Shaolin”
Davidson has the word “Shaolin”, one of the oldest forms of martial arts, tattooed across his stomach.
An Assortment of Micro Finger & Hand Tattoos
The comedian has started the removal process, but in the past, he had a variety of small tattoos on his hands. On his fingers, these included the Pokémon character Pikachu and a black kite that covers the"AG" tattoohe had done when he was engaged to Grande. He also had a peace symbol, a black heart and the number sequence “237” on his hands. Additionally, Davidson had an arrow (which was used to cover up the “H2GKMO” he got with Grande) and the words “WRONG WAY.”
The Tootsie Pop Owl
In 2019, Davidson’s tattoo artist Jon Mesa shared the Tootsie Pop Owl he drew on the comedian’s back.
Willy Wonka
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Davidson’s cartoonish Willy Wonka tattoo on his left forearm has a strange story behind it — and made for a controversial joke.E! Newsreported that during a 2018 stand-up show in Boston, the comedian said: “I got a Harry Potter tattoo … then the next day Alan Rickman,the guy who played Snape died, and I was like, oh, what a weird coincidence. Then I got a Willy Wonka tattoo. Next day— Gene Wilder dies. Now I’m like, alright, that’s a coincidence, that’s weird. So I’m thinking of getting a tattoo of Louis C.K., what do you guys think?”
A Smoking Angel
On the right side of his lower back, Davidson has a large tattoo of an angel with a cigarette in his hand and three birds flying above it. Tattoo artist London Reese shared polaroids from the session with Davidson on Instagram, writing, “Yes, we watchedGame of Thronesthe whole session.”
A Hooded Figure
A Portrait of Hillary Clinton
In 2018, Davidson toldVarietythat he got a tattoo ofHillary Clintonafter she lost the 2016 presidential election because “she’s such a cool person.”
“Wanted to get @hillaryclinton a Christmas gift so I got atattoo of my hero,” Davison captioned a photo showing off his new ink. “Thanks for being such a badass and one of the strongest people in the universe.” Clinton responded, “Thanks, @petedavidson, This makes it significantly less awkward that I’ve had aPete Davidsontattoo for years. But seriously, I’m honored. Merry Christmas my friend.”
A Ski Mask With Layered Designs
In the middle of his abdomen, Davidson has an outline of a ski mask with various other designs layered over it, including a broken heart, a barcode, a ghost and Pac-Man.
The Chesire Cat,a Bridge&“2 19 4”
On his right arm, Davidson has a tattoo of the Cheshire Cat, the famously mischievous character fromAlice in Wonderland. Next to that, Davidson has a large bridge tattoo.
Below the Chesire Cat, the comedian has a series of numbers tattooed. Davidson has not spoken about the significance of the numbers.
A Keyhole
To cover up a tattoo of his ex-fiance Grande’s last name on the side of his abdomen, Davidson got a tattoo of a large black keyhole.
AKing of ComedyQuote
A nod to the 1982 comedyThe King of Comedy, Davidson has a quote from the Scorsese-directed film tattooed on his hip. It reads: “Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime.”
“mille tendresse”
Splash News; Jason Merritt/Getty
“Christmas Boy”
Davidson has the words “Christmas boy” and a holly leaf on his abdomen.
“Redrum”
Written in red ink, Davidson has the word “REDRUM” tattooed on his hand. The tattoo, which spells out “murder” backward, is a reference to the 1981 horror filmThe Shining, based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name.
A Wolf
Mike Coppola/Getty
A detailed wolf tattoo sits on Davidson’s right forearm, next to a forest of trees that’s a coverup for a tattoo of his ex-girlfriend, Cazzie David. Intertwined with the wolf, Davidson also has an “Order of the Phoenix” tattoo, another nod to his love forHarry Potter.
The Wu-Tang Clan Symbol
Portraits of His Favorite Comedians
Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan
On Davidson’s leg, tattoo artist Snuffy created portraits of the star’s comedy idols." He wanted a tribute to all of his comedy gods," he said in a 2020interview withGQ. “So instead of going with that classic face on top of face on top of face and covering the thing, I tried to use a lot of negative space and it puts the attention on the tattoo instead of just covering the whole skin.”
Snuffy also created a tattoo on Davidson’s shoulder representing what he calls “dead idols.”
“I came up with this piece for the back of his shoulder, which is mostly line work,” the artist said. “It’s pretty much spears with the heads of dead idols, which are cartoon characters.”
A Painting FromGoodfellas
An homage toGoodfellas, Davidson has a tattoo of a man and his dogs on his abdomen, which references a painting that appears in the film.
The Grinch
On his arm, Davidson has a tattoo of the Dr. Seuss character.
AHarry PotterTribute
A knownHarry Potterfan, it makes perfect sense that Davidson would have tattoos dedicated to the magical franchise. On the inside of his left arm, he has the Deathly Hallows symbol and a quote from Albus Dumbledore that says, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
“Reborn”
Jamie McCarthy/Getty
The couple also got matching tattoos on their thumbs reading “H2GKMO”, an abbreviation of Grande’s favorite saying, “Honest to God, knock me out,” though Davidson later had his covered up.
Black Bunny Mask
London Reese Instagram
“Kim” Branding
Kim Kardashian Instagram
In March 2022, eagle-eyed fans spottedDavidson’s first tattoo for his then-girlfriend, Kim Kardashian. In a shirtless selfie that the comedian’s friend Dave Sirus shared (and then deleted) from his Instagram, the name “KIM” can be seen on his chest. During an appearance onThe Ellen DeGeneres Showin April, Kardashian said that the marking was actually not a tattoo but a branding.
“I think he was like, I want something that’s there that I can’t get rid of … because he’s in the process of getting rid of his arm tats and his neck tats, so he’s like, ‘I don’t want to be able to get rid of it or to cover it up and I just wanted it there as a scar on me,’ " Kardashian told the host.
“My Girl Is a Lawyer”
Kim Kardashian/Instagram
Kim Kardashian’s Kids’ Initials&“Aladdin” and “Jasmine”
In late April 2022, fans spottedanother new tattoo on Davidsonwhen paparazzi photographed the couple leaving the Netflix Is a Joke: The Festival event in Los Angeles. The tattoo, which was on Davidson’s clavicle/collarbone area, appeared to read, “KNSCP,” which would be Kardashian’s initials, as well as those of her four children with ex-husbandKanye West: North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm.
Davidson’s final tattoo for Kardashian seemed to bededicated to the couple’s first kiss. The tattoo, which read “Aladdin” and “Jasmine” with an infinity symbol between them, was likely a nod to the sketch they did together onSaturday Night Liveas the main characters from the 1992 Disney movieAladdin. However, in January 2023, Davidson was photographed shirtless on the beach in Hawaii, and the snaps appeared to reveal that he had all of his tattoos dedicated to Kardashian removed.
source: people.com
