Pete Davidson: 20 Facts About the Staten Island King of Comedy

Pete Davidson: 20 Facts About the Staten Island King of Comedy

Born on 16th November 1993, Peter Michael Davidson who is famously known by his stage name Pete Davidson is a renowned comedian, writer, and actor. He started stand-up comedy in 2013. Pete was later hired to join the cast team on the NBC late-night sketch comedy series, Saturday Night Live. He joined this cast for 8 seasons which began from 2014 to 2022.

Pete was born in Staten Island borough and is the son of Amy and Scott Matthew. Tragic struck his family when his father who was a New York City firefighter for Ladder 118 passed away. Scott died while in service during the 11 September 2001 attacks staged on the US. His father was last seen going up the staircases of the Marriott World Trade Center before it was destroyed.

This incident affected Pete Davidson so much that at one point he told reporters that he plucked his hair and became bald. However, he chose to follow his career as he studied comedy. Here are the 20 Facts About the Staten Island King of Comedy:

1. Pete’s Father Died when the Twin Towers Collapsed

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Peter Michael Davidson’s father, Scott Matthew was a New York City firefighter for Ladder 118. His father was a serviceman who died while he was in service. He died during the September 11th, 2001 attacks.

Scott Matthew was last seen climbing up the stairs of the Marriott World Trade Center. After he had climbed up the Twin Towers, it collapsed killing him and his colleagues in it. Scott’s Requiem Mass was held at St. Clare’s Catholic Church.

2. His Father’s Death Affected Him Mentally

During this period when his father was killed at the Twin Towers, he was mentally affected. At one time during an interview with The New York Times, Pete revealed how the loss affected him as it came when he was aged seven.

Pete revealed that he was overwhelmed by the loss which made him act out in school. At one point, Pete Davidson had to rip his hair out until he got bald. This was a tough time for him and his family.

3. Pete had Suicidal Thoughts when he was Younger

The loss of his father was massive as he was still a young child. This made him want to do some unthinkable things and have self-harm thoughts.

During the Breakfast Club morning radio show in October 2016, Pete revealed something that could have changed his future completely. He revealed that he struggled with suicidal thoughts when he was young, however, Kid Cudi’s music saved him.

4. His First Stand-up Comedy Trial was at the Age of 16

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Pete Davidson’s comedy career did not begin later in his life, but it began earlier. At the age of 16, Pete had his first successful stand-up comedy trial.

This came in a Staten Island bowling alley where his friends including Matthew Festa pushed him to follow his dream of comedy. Pete was urged to take the stage and perform his comedy which he successfully did. After schooling and joining St. Francis College, he decided to pursue a full-time comedy career after one semester.

5. Davidson was the First SNL Cast Member to be Born in the 1990s

Pete Davidson’s career started blooming after he decided to partake in it full-time after leaving college in the first semester. After taking part in several television comedy series early into his career, Pete got more engagement in top comedy shows.

On 27 September 2014, he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live during the show’s 40th-season premiere. He was 20 years old at the time he joined the show. Pete was the first cast member to be born in the 1990s. He was also the youngest-ever member of this cast.

6. Pete’s First Televised Stand-up was Aired at the Age of 20

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His first stand-up performance on television debuted in June of that year when he was still 20 years old. It was on Gotham Comedy Live, a Comedy Central series that features stand-up comedians from the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. It was an episode from the show’s second season.

He made his first of six appearances on Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out the following month, marking his comeback to MTV2. After that, he performed stand-up on television and made a cameo on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

7. His Comedy is Based on His Life

The fact that Davidson bases his comedy on his personal experiences and uses parts of his life that have been compared to “a series of brutal truths and vulgar confessions”. This helps him to connect with viewers and has won him plaudits. He talks about relationship issues, sex, and marijuana.

He discusses everything from his uncomfortable high school days to his brief time living in a dorm at St. Francis College. Pete usually makes light-hearted remarks about extremely delicate topics, such as the death of his father in the September 11 attacks. He claims that it gives him the ability to confront the sense of helplessness that going through such a catastrophe as a young person left him with.

8. He has Lived in Several Homes Since 2015

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Davidson was a resident of Brooklyn Heights, New York, as of October 2015. He shared a house that he and his mother bought in Staten Island in 2019. He moved into his flat in Staten Island in April 2021. Davidson declared his intention to relocate from Staten Island to Brooklyn in February 2022.

9. Davidson is a Supported of Hillary Clinton

In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Davidson backed Hillary Clinton. On 5th December 2017, he announced on Instagram that he had gotten a tattoo of Clinton on his leg, referring to her as his “hero,” “badass,” and “one of the strongest people in the universe.”

Clinton joked that she was grateful to Davidson for the compliment by stating: “This makes it significantly less awkward that I’ve had a Pete Davidson tattoo for years.”

10. He was Diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at 18

Pete Davidson’s health took a different turn when he was 18 years old. At this age, he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. He has been receiving intravenous biologic therapy. Pete also has been on medical marijuana for his pain management as well as for recreation.

11. Pete was also Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder

In an interview with comedian Marc Maron on his podcast, Davidson made it clear that the only drug he ever used was marijuana. He also stated that, although he has since reduced his daily use of the drug significantly, the emotional and personal issues he first believed to be brought on by his use of marijuana were the result of his recently diagnosed borderline personality disorder, for which he has since begun treatment. Davidson said on his Instagram page on 6th March 2017, that he had given up narcotics and was clean for the first time in eight years.

12. He Dated and Got Engaged with Singer Ariana Grande before Calling Off

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Pete Davidson began dating singer Ariana Grande in May 2018. Davidson announced his engagement to Grande in June 2018, however, the relationship was called off in October of the same year.

The song “Pete Davidson” by Grande, which is about Davidson, can be found on her 2018 album Sweetener. She also made mention of him in the line “Even almost got married / And for Pete, I’m so thankful” from her song “Thank U, Next”.

13. Davidson also Dated Kim Kardashian after She Divorced Ye

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After Kardashian’s debut on Saturday Night Live, Davidson and Kardashian were first seen together in October 2021. The two enjoyed an on-screen kiss in a Disney-themed sketch where they played Jasmine and Aladdin while she was hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live. Their courtship started in November 2021.

In February 2021, Kim Kardashian had previously filed for divorce from her spouse, Kanye West. A judge formally pronounced Kardashian single in March 2022 after a highly public breakup. After dating for nine months, Davidson and Kardashian called it quits in August 2022.

14. Pete Davidson was to Board a Space Flight for a Space Mission

The spaceflight corporation Blue Origin announced in March 2022 that Davidson will be traveling on board NS-20, a suborbital flight of its New Shepard vehicle, as an “honorary guest” along with five other paying customers. The mission was scheduled for later that month. But Blue Origin declared that Davidson was “no longer able” to accompany the craft’s crew, and the mission was rescheduled.

15. He Crashed his Car into a House Getting him 50 Hours of Community Service

On 4th March 2023, while driving late at night with his lover Chase Sui Wonders, Davidson’s vehicle crashed into a house. In the collision, no one was hurt. Later, as part of a diversion program, he was charged with a misdemeanor for “reckless driving” and had to perform 50 hours of community service and attend 12 hours of traffic school.

16. Pete Davidson Criticised the Catholic for a Record $27.5M Settlement on a Sex Abuse Scandal

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In September 2018, following the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens’ approval of a record-breaking $27.5 million settlement for charges of sexual abuse, Davidson made his remarks.

In the sketch, Davidson stated, “[Kelly] is a monster and he should go to jail forever. But if you support the Catholic Church, isn’t that the same thing as being an R. Kelly fan? I don’t see the difference, except for one’s music is significantly better.”

In March 2019, Davidson was asked to apologize by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn following an SNL skit. Pete had compared the Catholic Church to the artist R. Kelly, who was charged and found guilty of pedophilia.

17. Davidson has Featured in Top Rated Films

Other than being a comedian who performs stand-up comedy and is featured in several comedy series, Pete has been actively involved in the film industry. Pete Davidson has also featured in highly rated films where his roles have been heavily praised. Davidson has acted in films such as The Suicide Squad (2021), Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), Meet Cute (2022), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), and Fast X (2023).

18. He is a Huge Fan of Harry Potter

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According to The Talko, Davidson has acknowledged in interviews that he is an enthusiastic Harry Potter fan. He adores both the books and the films, and he recalls the first one being released when he was maybe seven or eight years old.

Davidson has even admitted to being a Harry Potter nerd and to having multiple tattoos with the series’ themes, which must have been painful for him. He and Ariana Grande shared photos of themselves decked out in Hogwarts robes on social media during their relationship.

19. Pete has a Love for Tattoos with Some on His Body Dedicated to His Father

The comedian Davidson has several tattoos, some of which are quite strange, in addition to his Harry Potter mark. On his left arm, Davidson has a tattoo of the number 8418. It is dedicated to his late father, a firefighter, whose badge number was this one.

In addition, he has four tattoos honoring the singer Ariana Grande, his former girlfriend. Her initials, their favorite music, and a bunny ear logo—which alludes to an internal joke they shared—are among some of these tattoos.

20. Davidson was on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List

Pete Davidson had gained his place on a highly distinguished list by the time he had been a Saturday Night Live cast member for two years. According to Factinate, he was awarded a highly sought-after place on Forbes’ 30 Under 30’ list in 2016. This is a list of 30 individuals Forbes thinks are worth keeping an eye on because they are rising stars in their fields and could do amazing things. This demonstrated Pete Davidson’s status as a rising star without a doubt.

Pete Davidson has a special combination of talent, resiliency, and relatability, which has contributed to his ascent to popularity and ongoing success in the entertainment business. His film appearances, stand-up comedy, and Saturday Night Live sketches have all demonstrated his keen intelligence and capacity to engage audiences with humor that frequently alludes to personal hardships.

Davidson stands out for his openness to speak candidly and vulnerably about mental health concerns and his personal experiences. This has won him over a lot of admirers and started crucial discussions about mental health in a culture that stigmatizes it a lot.