Pete Davidson has been removing his tattoos to start fresh and, he says, to address issues from his past mental health and sobriety. He explained that a difficult period in his life left him with tattoos he no longer wants to be reminded of, and that changing his appearance is part of a broader effort to change how he feels about himself.[5][7]
Latest context
- In interviews since 2024, he has attributed the tattoo removals to his sobriety journey and a desire to leave behind markers of a troubled time, noting that the ink represented a “sad person” he no longer wants to be reminded of.[7][5]
- Reports from 2024–2025 indicate he began the process in 2020 and has since continued removing hundreds of tattoos, with phrases suggesting he aims for a much cleaner, ink-free look as part of his mental health and personal evolution.[4][9]
Key details and what to know
- Scope and pace: He has removed a large portion of his tattoos over several years, with estimates pointing to hundreds of tattoos crossed off, and ongoing work on remaining areas like the torso.[4][5]
- Motivations: He has cited sobriety and self-image as core drivers, describing the tattoos as connected to a period of struggle and insecurity, and stating that he wants to “change it up” for his mind and how he sees himself in the mirror.[5][7]
- Public commentary: He has discussed the removal process as painful and gradual, and has emphasized that starting fresh can be a healthy step for those who feel their past ink signals negative associations.[7][5]
Illustration
- A recent photo series showed him tattoo-free for a campaign, signaling the practical outcome of his removal efforts and reinforcing his stated motivation to move on from that era.[3][8]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent updates and summarize them with line-by-line quotes or compile a brief timeline of key milestones in his tattoo-removal journey, with citations.
Sources
The comedian, who began removing his tattoos in 2020, shares which body part he's addressing now. A source previously told PEOPLE the actor has spent $200K on the process.
people.comPete Davidson debuted his new tattoo-free look as he explained the reason behind his drastic change. The comedian, who stars in a new clothing ad campaign for Reformation, has had hundreds of tattoos removed from his body. The 31-year-old, who flaunts his bare skin in photos for the brand, discussed his personal reason for having the tattoos removed when he appeared on the Today show recently. 'I saw myself in the mirror, and I was like, 'Nah.' I was like, 'I need to change it up a little...
www.independent.co.ukFind out!
www.justjared.comPete Davdison just gave a surprising update about his tattoo removal process.
parade.comThe actor shared that it will take 10 years to completely rid his body of ink.
parade.comPete Davidson talks about his arduous tattoo removal process, the perils of social media and online dating and his new campaign with Axe.
variety.comPete Davidson opened up about removing his 200 tattoos, saying that he plans to keep only "two or three" of them. On 'Today,' the comedian described the painful removal process as "horrible."
people.comPete Davidson is showing off his tattoo removal progress. Davidson, 31, went shirtless on a weekend getaway with girlfriend Elsie Hewitt. On Friday, Aug. 29, the model, 29, shared photos to her Instagram account that featured herself and her boyfriend enjoying a beach vacation together.
people.com