Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 31, 2025 · Entertainment

Pete Davidson's Tattoo Regrets: From Kim K. Ink to Chappelle Quotes

Pete Davidson revealed the tattoo he most regrets on the July 28 episode of Hot Ones (pictured)

Pete Davidson's Tattoo Troubles: A Regrettable Romp Through His Ink-stained Past

In a candid admission, comedian Pete Davidson has come clean about his tattoo troubles, confessing that he regrets many of the body art adornments plastered on his skin. The 31-year-old SNL alum is currently undergoing a pricey and painful laser tattoo removal process to erase some of the most cringe-worthy ink on his body.

But one particular tattoo stands out as Davidson's biggest source of regret: a sizable quote emblazoned high up on his chest, inspired by none other than comedy legend Dave Chappelle. The phrase "Swag is forever" seemed like a profound wisdom at the time, but now it serves as a painful reminder of his youthful hubris.

Davidson admitted that a sizable tattoo on his chest that was inspired by a run-in with Dave Chappelle is his biggest source of tattoo-related regret; pictured in 2019 in nYC

The origin story behind this ill-fated tattoo dates back to a 2012 comedy club gig where Davidson met Chappelle in person. The rising star was floored by the veteran comedian's praise and took it upon himself to immortalize their encounter on his body. However, he forgot to give credit where credit was due – leaving fans and friends to assume he had coined the phrase himself.

To make matters worse, Davidson compounded his mistake by covering up the offending ink with a massive "Jaws" tattoo featuring a Great White shark from the 1975 classic film. This monstrosity now hides the embarrassing quote, but the damage is done – and it's not just the aesthetics that are the issue.

Chappelle has since become notorious for his transphobic jokes in recent stand-up specials, leaving Davidson to wonder if he inadvertently perpetuated harm by embracing Chappelle's words without context. This regrettable tattoo may have been a harmless blunder at the time, but it now serves as a cautionary tale about the power of social media and the importance of being mindful of one's own privilege.

He recalled that Chappelle saw him doing stand-up prior to his SNL debut, and he was inspired by something the comic said when he spoke to him afterward

Davidson's foray into laser tattoo removal has been no cakewalk – in fact, he's spent a staggering $200,000 on the process so far. He flashed his progress to fans last October, revealing significantly faded ink on his arms. The comic also confessed that he hopes to have all of his tattoos erased by the time he turns 40, a goal that might take up to a decade to achieve.

In a recent interview with Variety, Davidson revealed the emotional motivations behind his tattoo removal journey. "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," he shared candidly. "So I'm just removing them and starting fresh, because that's what I think works best for me and for my brain."

The painful process of removing tattoos is likened by Davidson to putting his arm on a grill – it's a gruesome metaphor, but one that drives home the agony involved in erasing the ink. He first shared his plans to remove at least some of his tattoos back in 2021, citing practical concerns about how long it takes to cover up his extensive body art for film and TV shoots.

'How do you keep coming up with new stuff? I¿m working on new stuff. It¿s difficult,' he recalled asking Chappelle. Davidson said the Half Baked star replied, 'Jokes come and go, but swag is forever'; seen together a couple years later in 2015 in LA

However, Davidson's tattoo collection has far more cringe-worthy entries beyond the Chappelle-inspired quote. Among them is a text "My girlfriend is a lawyer" emblazoned above his clavicle – a nod to his infamous romance with Kim Kardashian. He also had her name inked on his chest and got a Disney's Aladdin tattoo featuring Jasmine, a reference to their SNL sketch together that helped spark the romance.

As Davidson prepares to welcome his first child with girlfriend Elsie Hewitt, he'll be starting anew – free from the regrettable tattoos that have dogged him for so long. This fresh start is bound to bring a clean slate, not just for his body but also for his personal life and career. Will this new chapter be the key to unlocking Davidson's true potential as a comedian? Only time will tell.

The latest update on Pete Davidson's tattoo removal journey:

But Davidson didn't credit Chappelle for the quote, so people who saw it assumed he originated the phrase. He decided to cover it up with his massive 'Jaws' tattoo; still from The King Of Staten Island

Pete revealed that he has spent at least $200,000 so far on laser tattoo removal sessions, with some of his tattoos significantly faded. He hopes to have all of his tattoos erased by the time he turns 40, which could take around a decade.

The most cringe-worthy tattoos on Pete Davidson's body:

  • A quote "Swag is forever" emblazoned high up on his chest
  • The text "My girlfriend is a lawyer" above his clavicle
  • Kim Kardashian's name inked on his chest
  • A Disney's Aladdin tattoo featuring Jasmine, referencing their SNL sketch together

Pete has also had embarrassing ink related to his short-lived romance with Kim Kardashian; seen together in 2022 in NYC

The emotional motivations behind Pete Davidson's tattoo removal journey:

"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," he shared candidly. "So I'm just removing them and starting fresh, because that's what I think works best for me and for my brain."

How long will it take for Pete Davidson to remove all of his tattoos?

Pete revealed in 2021 that he planned to remove his tattoos to save time in makeup while filming. He later said that he got so many tattoos because he was a 'drug addict' and 'a sad person' and he 'felt ugly'; seen with Bel Powley (L) in The King Of Staten Island

The process is estimated to take around a decade, but Davidson remains optimistic about achieving his goal by the time he turns 40.

Stay tuned for more updates on Pete Davidson's tattoo removal journey as The Scholarly Note brings you the latest news and gossip from the world of entertainment.

It could take up to 10 years to remove all of his tattoos, but Pete will have already removed a considerable amount of ink when he and his girlfriend Elsie Hewitt welcome their first child; seen together on Sunday in LA