Overview
Pete Davidson’s Saturday Night Live tenure (2014-2022) redefined cast member stardom — youngest hire (20), most tabloid-covered, most polarizing. His open discussions of mental health, borderline personality disorder, and high-profile relationships made him cultural phenomenon beyond sketch comedy.
SNL Career (2014-2022)
Hired at 20: Youngest cast member since Eddie Murphy era — Lorne Michaels bet on potential over experience.
Update Appearances: Davidson’s Weekend Update commentaries (often about himself, Staten Island, marijuana) became signature — self-deprecation weaponized.
Limited Sketch Work: Never strong impressionist or character actor — used as “himself” in most sketches.
Reputation Guy: “Career Update” recurring bit mocked his tabloid life, turned gossip into material.
Mental Health Advocacy
Borderline Personality Disorder: Diagnosed, discussed openly on SNL/interviews — destigmatized BPD when few celebrities acknowledged it.
Suicidal Ideation: Posted concerning Instagram message (2018) — Ariana Grande, MGK, others checked on him publicly.
Trauma: Father died in 9/11 (FDNY firefighter) — shaped Davidson’s dark humor and mental health struggles.
Therapy Transparency: Normalized medication, therapy, rehab for young male audience resistant to seeking help.
High-Profile Relationships
Ariana Grande (2018):
- Whirlwind engagement after weeks
- “Big Dick Energy” phrase originated
- Breakup inspired Thank U, Next
- Davidson made jokes on SNL (Ariana responded with music)
Other Relationships:
- Kate Beckinsale (20-year age gap, memes)
- Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton)
- Kim Kardashian (2021-2022, highest-profile)
Meme Status: “How does Pete Davidson date X?” became recurring question — unconventional attractiveness, vulnerability, humor cited.
Film Career
King of Staten Island (2020): Semi-autobiographical Judd Apatow film about 9/11 grief, directionlessness — critical success.
Other Roles:
- The Suicide Squad (2021)
- Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
- Various comedies (Big Time Adolescence, Set It Up)
SNL Exit (2022)
Eight Seasons: Announced departure May 2022 — pursued film career, outgrown format.
Legacy: Didn’t revolutionize sketch comedy but changed celebrity-cast member paradigm — fame for being famous, not characters.
Cultural Impact
Representation: Young men seeing mental health struggles discussed without shame — Davidson showed you could be funny and fucked up openly.
Post-SNL Model: Using SNL as launch pad, not destination — fewer cast members staying 10+ years.
BDE Coinage: “Big Dick Energy” entered lexicon — confidence without arrogance, humor over machismo.
Controversies
- Dan Crenshaw joke backlash (mocked eye patch, later apologized on SNL)
- Ariana Grande breakup messiness
- Accessibility critiques (does marginally funny white guy with connections deserve fame?)
Sources:
- SNL tenure: September 27, 2014 - May 21, 2022
- BPD diagnosis: 2017 (discussed on WTF with Marc Maron)
- King of Staten Island: June 12, 2020
- Kim Kardashian relationship: October 2021 - August 2022