Pete Davidson reveals the insane timeline and cost for removing his 200 tattoos: ‘It’s pretty horrible’

“I started during Covid in 2020, and it’s gonna take me another 10 years,” the Saturday Night Live star told Variety in an interview published Wednesday.

“My arms are pretty much gone, and my hands and neck are gone,” Davidson explained, adding that he still has ink to remove on his torso and back — a process he later described as “pretty horrible.”

“It’s like putting your arm on a grill and burning off a layer, and then you gotta do maintenance and let it heal properly,” he explained. “And it’s pretty tough. It sucks. I’m not gonna lie.”

Davidson, 31, also admitted that he “wasn’t taking care of [himself]” when he tatted up his body.

“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,” the Bupkis actor divulged.

“And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with tattoos, but mine, when I look at them, I remember a sad person that was very unsure.”

Davidson explained that “starting fresh” with the tattoo removal makes the most sense for him now.

“When I look in the mirror, I don’t want the reminder of, ‘Oh yeah, you were a f***ing drug addict. Like, that’s why you have SpongeBob smoking a joint on your back,’” the comedian said.

“They should have meaning. Not just that I was high watching Game of Thrones.”

The actor, who is currently dating Elsie Hewitt, famously got tattoo tributes to his famous exes, including Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande.

In October 2024, Davidson emerged from a stint in rehab with many of his forearm tattoos either significantly faded or completely gone.

The comedian continued showing off his tattoo-free arms during a surprise appearance on SNL that November.

In January, the King of Staten Island star revealed he might keep “two or three” tattoos during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

And in February, he gave another glimpse at the tattoo removal process when he stripped down to his undies for a Reformation campaign.

A source told People in January that Davidson spent $US200,000 on his tattoo removal journey – and the star confirmed it in his new interview.

“It’s a pretty uncomfortable amount of money to disclose, but I think one of the tabloids already leaked it,” he said.

“I’ve already spent like $200K and I’m like 30 per cent done. So, like, it’s gonna suck.”

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission