Mr. Pete Davidson, aged 31, has publicly expressed remorse regarding a number of tattoos he acquired earlier in his career, as evidenced by his undergoing multiple laser removal procedures in recent months. However, among these regretted tattoos, one in particular has emerged as a notable source of personal discomfort.
During his appearance on the July 28 episode of Hot Ones—a program in which guests respond to interview questions from host Mr. Sean Evans while consuming progressively spicier chicken wings—Mr. Davidson disclosed that a prominent tattoo on his chest, inspired by an encounter with comedian Mr. Dave Chappelle, stands as his foremost source of tattoo-related regret.
This admission was made in the context of broader commentary concerning other tattoos he now views with embarrassment, including several that were influenced by his brief romantic involvement with Ms. Kim Kardashian.
Mr. Pete Davidson candidly disclosed, “I’ve never admitted this because it’s so humiliating,” as he recounted an early-career experience during his appearance on Hot Ones. He described performing a stand-up set at approximately 19 or 20 years of age—potentially at the Knitting Factory during a time when Mr. Hannibal Buress was hosting the venue’s comedy night.
At that point, Mr. Davidson had not yet joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. He recalled that during this performance, a high-profile individual—comedian Mr. Dave Chappelle—was present in the audience. This encounter would later serve as the inspiration for a tattoo he now characterizes as his most regrettable.
This revelation follows Mr. Davidson’s recent public comments regarding his forthcoming transition into fatherhood.
At the time of the incident in question, Mr. Pete Davidson was still in the early stages of his career and had not yet attained mainstream recognition, such as his eventual role on Saturday Night Live. The encounter took place during what Mr. Davidson referred to as a “wilderness period” for comedian Mr. Dave Chappelle, who had stepped away from his widely acclaimed Chappelle’s Show on Comedy Central in 2005 due to creative differences surrounding the production and direction of its delayed third season.
According to Mr. Davidson, the comedy set in question occurred in approximately 2012 or 2013—prior to Mr. Chappelle’s high-profile return to the comedy circuit, which began in 2014 with major tours and televised stand-up specials.
Mr. Davidson recalled being astonished by Mr. Chappelle’s presence in the audience. “So seeing him was crazy,” he stated. “He was like, ‘I watched your whole set. It was really good.’” Seizing the rare opportunity to engage with an established figure in the comedy world, Mr. Davidson inquired about Chappelle’s creative process: “How do you keep coming up with new stuff? I’m working on new stuff. It’s difficult.”
In response, Mr. Chappelle offered a remark that Mr. Davidson found profoundly resonant at the time: “Jokes come and go, but swag is forever.” Interpreting this statement as both motivational and emblematic of a broader comedic philosophy, Mr. Davidson chose to have the quote permanently tattooed on his chest, above his left nipple.
Notably, the tattoo did not include any attribution to Mr. Chappelle, a detail that Mr. Davidson later came to regard with a sense of embarrassment and regret.#newsafro_
