Pete Davidson has recently opened up about how he feels regarding the personal jokes fellow comedians made at his expense. The Saturday Night Live comedian stated that he felt like a “loser” as a result of the teasing.
Davidson made an appearance on the podcast Real Ones, where he revealed that he was comfortable with most roasting but was not okay when the jokes became personal. The comedian shared that the public’s fascination with his dating life affected his perception.
“In 12 years, I’ve dated 10 people. I don’t think that’s that crazy, but to some people, that’s very interesting. That became all anyone would talk about,” he said. “Suddenly you’re in this zeitgeist, and that has nothing to do with the work, and that’s a really expletive feeling. I became more known before the work was there, but I was always working.”
Davidson also explained how he felt when Saturday Night Live began making fun of his personal life. He shared that it was particularly challenging when he was in the show and had to perform right after being teased.
“When your own show [pokes fun at you],” Davidson said. “I’d be sitting in the back watching the cold open, and then making fun of you. Then you’ve gotta walk out and do a sketch next and hit your mark, and the show just made fun of you. So, why are they gonna laugh at you? Like, they just dogged you in front of everyone… And you’re like, ‘I’m a expletive loser, man.'”
Despite the difficult situation, Davidson is grateful for his colleagues’ support, particularly Lorne Michaels, the creator of Saturday Night Live. The comedian revealed that Michaels showed him the most “leeway and grace” and helped him through the most challenging moments of his life.
“At the end of the day, that’s what it is. This was a really difficult thing to do. You feel small. You feel super insecure,” Davidson said.
Davidson’s revelations about his struggles with personal jokes shed light on the impact of the entertainment industry’s nature on people’s mental health. Hopefully, his openness will encourage more discussions about the issue and lead to positive changes.
