Pete Davidson looks like he should be delivering your pizza. He dresses like he just woke up. He has dark circles under his eyes and tattoos everywhere.
He's also dated Ariana Grande, Kate Beckinsale, Margaret Qualley, Kaia Gerber, Phoebe Dynevor, Kim Kardashian, and Emily Ratajkowski.
How? How does this work?
The Resume
Let's be clear about who Pete has dated:
- Ariana Grande: Pop superstar, engaged within weeks
- Kate Beckinsale: Hollywood actress, 20 years older
- Margaret Qualley: Rising star
- Kaia Gerber: Supermodel
- Phoebe Dynevor: Bridgerton star
- Kim Kardashian: The Kim Kardashian
- Emily Ratajkowski: Supermodel/actress
This is an absurd list. It needs explanation.
The Ariana Era
Pete and Ariana in 2018:
- Met at SNL
- Engaged within weeks
- Matching tattoos
- Very public love
- Song written about him
Then she dumped him after her ex Mac Miller died. The engagement lasted five months.
But "thank u, next" made him more famous than SNL ever did.
The Kim Moment
Pete and Kim was the peak:
- Met at SNL (she hosted)
- They kissed in a sketch
- Started dating after her Kanye divorce
- Lasted 9 months
- He met her kids
- Kanye went after him publicly
Dating Kim Kardashian is the Mount Everest of celebrity dating. He did it.
The Explanations
People have theories about Pete's appeal:
The BDE Theory After Ariana's comment about his anatomy, "Big Dick Energy" became a Pete Davidson meme. It stuck.
The Funny Theory He makes them laugh. Humor is attractive. Famous women date boring famous men all day.
The Emotional Openness He talks about mental health, his dad's death, his struggles. That vulnerability can be attractive.
The Non-Threatening Energy He's not intimidating. He's not trying to compete. He's comfortable being himself.
The Temporary Appeal He's exciting but not long-term. That's what some people want at certain moments.
The Mental Health Honesty
Pete has been open about:
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Depression
- Suicidal ideation
- His father's death on 9/11
- Going to therapy
This honesty either attracts people or scares them. For some women, it's attractive.
The Tattoo Situation
Pete gets tattoos constantly, including:
- Tattoos for his girlfriends
- Tattoos removed after breakups
- Tattoos that document his life
- A constantly changing canvas
The tattoos are commitment indicators. They're also chaos indicators.
The Comedy Career
Beyond dating, Pete is actually successful:
- 8 seasons on SNL
- Multiple standup specials
- Film roles (The King of Staten Island)
- Produced by Judd Apatow
He's not just "the guy who dates famous women." He has a career.
The Father's Death
Pete's father was a firefighter who died on 9/11. Pete was 7. He's discussed:
- The trauma of the loss
- Acting out as a kid
- Struggling with identity
- His dad as absence and presence
This grief shapes everything about him. It also connects him to people.
The Self-Deprecation
Pete's comedy is self-aware:
- He knows he's an unlikely heartthrob
- He jokes about his appearance
- He doesn't pretend to understand his success
- He's in on the joke
That self-awareness is part of the charm.
The Transactional View
Some see his relationships as:
- Women using him for attention
- Him using them for fame
- Mutually beneficial PR
- Not "real" relationships
But they clearly have genuine connections, even if brief. It's more complicated than transactional.
The Kanye Situation
Dating Kim meant dealing with Kanye:
- Kanye targeted him publicly
- Included him in disturbing videos
- Harassed him on social media
- Created safety concerns
Pete handled it with relative grace: minimal response, let Kim handle it.
The Emily Ratajkowski Phase
Post-Kim, Pete dated Emily Ratajkowski briefly:
- Another massive name
- Another model/actress
- Another short relationship
- Another "how does he do it"
At this point, the pattern is the pattern.
The Pattern
What the relationships have in common:
- Start fast
- Very intense
- Relatively short (weeks to months)
- Public and scrutinized
- End without major drama
He burns bright and brief. That's consistent.
The Women's Perspective
What these women might see:
- Respite from intense men
- Emotional availability
- No ego battles
- Genuine interest in them
- Fun without pressure
He's apparently good at being present and attentive.
The Staten Island Factor
Pete is proudly Staten Island:
- Working class background
- Not polished or Hollywood
- Authentic in a fake town
- No pretense
The realness is part of it. These women date fake people constantly.
The Current Status
As of late 2024:
- Single (publicly)
- Focused on work
- Less tabloid presence
- Calmer period
The dating merry-go-round seems to have slowed down.
The Career Focus
Recent Pete projects:
- Bodies Bodies Bodies
- Bupkis (Peacock series)
- Standup specials
- Film roles
He's building beyond SNL and beyond the dating reputation.
The Criticism
Not everyone finds it charming:
- Some see him as using women
- Some question the mental health openness
- Some find the tattoos concerning
- Some think the fame is unearned
He has genuine critics, not just jealous men.
The Defense
Those who like him point out:
- He's actually funny
- He's not hurting anyone
- The women choose him freely
- He's honest about who he is
He's not pretending to be something he's not.
What He's Said
Pete on his dating life:
- "I'm just very into whoever I'm with"
- "I treat women with respect"
- "I'm a hopeless romantic"
- Doesn't understand the fascination either
He's not strategic about it. That's probably part of why it works.
The Lesson
Pete Davidson teaches:
- Confidence beats looks
- Authenticity is attractive
- Humor matters
- Emotional honesty connects
- Being yourself is enough
He's not trying to be something he's not. He's just Pete from Staten Island.
And somehow, that keeps being exactly what some of the most famous women in the world want.
At least for a while.
The mystery of Pete Davidson continues.
