Comedian Pete Davidson has built a reputation for politicizing pain and turning it into punchlines, but his recent performance at the North to Shore Festival in Newark, New Jersey, brought a deep, emotional side out of the 31-year-old comedian. Performing alongside fellow comedians Jon Stewart and John Mulaney at Prudential Centre on June 27, Davidson opened up about his complicated history with his maternal grandfather.
Throughout his performance, Pete confessed, “I’m not that close with him. I’m close with my dad’s dad. I don’t like my mom’s dad.” He then went on to confess that his mother’s father was abusive while he was growing up, bluntly declaring, “He used to beat the s–t out of me, and I don’t like him very much. He’s old school, he’s very Irish.
Davidson added an extra layer of emotional conflict by sharing that his 81-year-old grandfather is now struggling with emphysema, a long-term lung condition that greatly affects breathing. Pete wasn’t shy, saying, “I hope he f—-g rots,” before admitting the inner struggle he has. “It’s a bad situation because I want to support my mom, but inside, I’m so psyched about my grandfather’s death.”
Even with the severe trauma, Pete insisted on the need to be present for his mother, Amy Davidson, whom he referred to as “the best mom in the world.” He wanted to be there for her emotionally through this difficult process and told us that he’s attempting to remember at least one positive memory of his maternal grandfather, stating, “so I could hold onto it.”
Conversely, Pete shares a good relationship with his paternal grandfather, Stephen Davidson, who even made an appearance in Pete’s 2020 semi-autobiographical movie The King of Staten Island. The movie, which explored themes of mourning and healing, was influenced by Pete’s own life experience when he lost his father in the 9/11 attacks.
New Love and Life Changes
On a positive note, Pete is also in a stable relationship with model Elsie Hewitt. The two are said to be doing well and dividing their time between Brooklyn and New York. Davidson, who is also famed for his constantly changing appearance, was in the news recently after he shaved off all his tattoos and checked himself into a wellness centre to resume his mental health treatment.
Also Read: Comedian Pete Davidson seeks mental health treatment, cancels shows
By comedy and honest testimony, Pete Davidson continues to deal with life’s emotional nuances through a combination of dark humor and naked truth.
