- Pete Davidson is removing more than 200 tattoos after beginning the process in 2020.
- He plans to keep a portrait of former First Lady Hillary Clinton on his right leg.
- Davidson has linked some of his past tattoos to emotional pain and his history of self-harm.
Pete Davidson Keeps Hillary Clinton Tattoo During Removal Process
Pete Davidson is undergoing the lengthy process of removing more than 200 tattoos, but one design will remain: a portrait of former First Lady of the United States Hillary Clinton wearing a power suit. The comedian began removing most of his extensive body art in 2020 after becoming widely known for the large number of tattoos covering his body.
Davidson has said the decision was partly professional. His tattoos required hours of makeup work to conceal when he was working on screen, and he also came to view many of the designs as reminders of an earlier period in his life.
“One, they were f*****g horrible. Two, it was a business decision. I hated coming into the makeup trailer three hours early to spray-paint over horrible f*****g tattoos. And third, I was like, ‘I’m not this dude.’ I got these when I was in an immense amount of pain and I was trying to show people my pain.”
Speaking to Variety, the 32-year-old explained why he wanted to move toward a more natural appearance. Davidson, whose firefighter father died during the 9/11 attacks, has previously discussed struggling with self-harm and confirmed that some of his tattoos were used to cover cuts.
Why Pete Davidson Is Keeping His Hillary Clinton Ink
Despite removing much of his body art, Davidson has no plans to say goodbye to the Clinton portrait on his right leg. The tattoo stands apart from more conventional designs such as wolves, clocks and lower-back butterflies, and has remained especially meaningful to him.
“She stays. That’s my dog. I love Hillary, man. She’s awesome and a good friend.”
Davidson has previously described some of his tattoos as “dumb,” including a giant shark on his chest and tattoos featuring the names of former partners. His tattoo removal also appears to mean that his most recent ex-partner, Elsie Hewitt, will not be represented in the same way, despite the couple welcoming their first child in December and seemingly confirming their separation in May.
In a TikTok clip, Hewitt discussed the demands of caring for her baby while working:
“I’m exhausted, OK? I should’ve left the house looking nicer yesterday. I should’ve known that that was going to happen.”
“And I also have to work and make money. I’m doing it on my own, which is hard.”
Why This Matters
Davidson’s tattoo removal reflects both the practical demands of screen work and his changing relationship with tattoos associated with emotional distress. His decision to keep the Hillary Clinton portrait shows that the removal process is selective rather than a complete rejection of body art. The comments also place his appearance changes within the broader context of his publicly discussed mental-health history and personal experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tattoos is Pete Davidson removing?
Davidson is in the process of removing more than 200 tattoos.
Which tattoo is Pete Davidson keeping?
He plans to keep a portrait of Hillary Clinton wearing a power suit on his right leg.
When did Pete Davidson begin removing his tattoos?
Davidson began the tattoo removal process in 2020.