Key Highlights
- Pete Davidson has criticized online trolls targeting his former fiancée, Ariana Grande, over her appearance.
- Davidson says his public image is often reduced to his past relationships with celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Emily Ratajkowski and Kate Beckinsale.
- The comedian also addressed the “big **** energy” attention that followed Grande’s 2018 comment about his penis and said it overshadowed his professional work.
Pete Davidson defends Ariana Grande against online trolling
Pete Davidson has spoken out against people trolling Ariana Grande over her appearance, saying he does not understand why the singer continues to face that kind of public scrutiny. Davidson, 32, dated Grande, 33, for around five months in 2018, and the pair ended their engagement in October that year.
In an interview with Variety, Davidson said Grande was strong enough to deal with the criticism but condemned the way she was being treated.
“I don’t like it at all. It’s not cool,” he told Variety. “She’s a really strong person — I’ve witnessed it — and I don’t understand it. “She knows how to handle this stuff though. She’s been around. So she’ll be OK, but I think it’s ****** up.”
Davidson welcomed his daughter, Scottie Rose, with model Elsie Hewitt in December. Davidson and Hewitt split in May 2026. Although he has appeared to be single publicly, Davidson said he remains frustrated by the continued focus on his previous relationships with Kim Kardashian, Emily Ratajkowski and Kate Beckinsale.
Davidson says his work is overlooked
The comedian argued that coverage of his dating history has overshadowed his professional achievements, including his time on Saturday Night Live and work with prominent filmmakers. Davidson said his career and relevance had been overlooked despite his extensive credits.
“It’s been over a decade. My work and my relevance is super overlooked, and it’s confusing to me,” he admitted. “I’m still only 32, but I have really crazy credits: nearly a decade at SNL; I hosted a year after I left; I worked with Gillespie and Gunn and Liman and Leitch and Judd and Edie and Pesci.”
Davidson acknowledged that his relationships had contributed to the public attention but said he was being singled out for behavior that was common in Hollywood. He also pointed to the fact that he was in his 20s when many of those relationships took place.
“What the **** do I have to do? And look, I get it — I’ve dated a lot of people,” he added.
“But so has everyone else! Everyone is ******* everyone in this business! Everyone! “And for some reason it’s zeroed in on me, and I can’t feel sorry for myself because I put myself in those situations, but everyone else is doing it. I was in my 20s.
He also questioned whether he was expected to avoid the same experiences as other people in the entertainment industry.
“Am I not supposed to **** around and do drugs and have fun and be in Hollywood like everybody else? Sorry, everyone!”
The “big **** energy” label and its impact on his career
Davidson previously discussed the pressure surrounding the “big **** energy” label during an interview with The Breakfast Club. The attention began in 2018, when Grande speculated on X that Davidson’s penis was “like 10 inches”.
Speaking to Charlamagne Tha God about the effect on his work at SNL, Davidson said the subject brought unwanted tabloid attention and diverted focus from his performances.
“I brought a lot of pop culture into the show, like I made it [a] sort of tabloidly, trendy thing unintentionally.”
“Also, I was embarrassed by it because… no one talked about any work I was doing.”
“They were just like, ‘Oh, that’s the **** stick.’ And that hurt so much.”
Davidson said crew members, friends and family noticed how “sad” he had become as a result of the attention. He described the situation as embarrassing and questioned why the public was concentrating on him when sexual behavior was widespread in Hollywood.
“It’s embarrassing, ’cause, you know… It’s Hollywood. Everybody ***** everyone,” he added.
“Why are they focusing on me?”
Davidson suggested that his appearance may be one reason he receives a different kind of attention from more conventionally regarded Hollywood stars. He also joked about his public image as a comedian and former drug addict, while noting that he has since removed almost all of his tattoos.
“I’m just like this dude that tells **** jokes and is a drug addict,” Davidson – who has now removed almost all of his tattoos – joked.
He argued that the sexualization of a man’s body would likely be discussed differently if the subject were a woman.
He said: “I don’t want to victimise myself in any way because I’m cool, but the sexualization of me – if that was a girl, people would be like, there would be a march for it… Seriously. You’re just talking about my **** all day.”
Why This Matters
Davidson’s comments highlight the tension between celebrity coverage, public interest and the treatment of entertainers’ personal lives. His remarks also show how a viral discussion linked to his relationship with Ariana Grande continued to affect the way audiences and media outlets discussed his career.
At the same time, Davidson’s comments place his wider professional record—including nearly a decade at SNL and collaborations with filmmakers—against a public narrative dominated by dating history, appearance and sexualized commentary. His latest criticism connects that long-running frustration with the current trolling directed at Grande.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Pete Davidson say about Ariana Grande?
Davidson said he did not like people trolling Grande over her appearance and described her as a strong person who would be able to handle the criticism.
When did Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande date?
Davidson and Grande dated for about five months in 2018 and ended their engagement in October of that year.
What is Pete Davidson’s “big **** energy” controversy?
The controversy began after Grande speculated on X in 2018 that Davidson’s penis was “like 10 inches”. Davidson later said the resulting attention overshadowed discussion of his work on SNL.
