If you’re curious about why Pete Davidson still has tattoos despite starting the removal process years ago, recent photos of the comedian on a Florida beach with his new girlfriend have reignited interest in the status of his ink. After a high-profile campaign where he appeared almost tattoo-free, fans are now wondering why some tattoos remain visible on his skin.
Here’s an update on Pete Davidson’s tattoo removal journey and why certain tattoos are still prominent in recent photos.
Why Pete Davidson still has tattoos in new photos
Pete Davidson was recently spotted with visible tattoos during a beach outing in Palm Beach, Florida on March 21, 2025, alongside his new girlfriend, Elsie Hewitt (via TMZ).
The contrast between these photos and a campaign from February 14th, where he appeared almost tattoo-free, has raised questions about the progress of his tattoo removal. It’s unclear whether the earlier photos showed Davidson with clearer skin due to makeup or editing. Recent images from March reveal that he still sports several tattoos.
The comedian shared in 2020 that he had started the tattoo removal process. He mentioned, “It takes like three hours – you have to get there three hours earlier to cover all your tattoos because for some reason, people in movies, they don’t have them that much” (via Buzzfeed). Davidson has shown glimpses of his progress, such as a tattoo-free arm during a February 2025 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Is Pete Davidson still removing all of his tattoos?
Yes, Pete Davidson is still in the process of removing his tattoos.
During a February 2025 interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers, he explained that tattoo removal is a lengthy and painful process. “It’s at least seven visits. If it’s black and white, it’s a little easier, but if it’s a color tattoo, it takes forever,” he shared. Davidson also mentioned, “When I’m 40, it’ll all be gone, like the chest and the back.”
Davidson began the removal process for both professional and personal reasons. He mentioned, “Well, I made a lot of those decisions before rehab. So, I got the dumbest tattoos.” He also described some of his tattoos, saying, “I got a collection of cartoons smoking blunts. Like, a Muppet smoking a blunt, the Tootsie Pop owl smoking a blunt.”
