Pete Davidson is opening up about the unexpected downside of becoming the internet’s favorite punchline.
During a candid sit-down on The Breakfast Club, the 31-year-old comedian didn’t hold back when discussing how the widespread fascination with his private life—specifically his penis size—left a lasting sting. And yes, it all traces back to his whirlwind romance with pop superstar Ariana Grande.
“They Were Just Like, ‘Oh, That’s the F**k Stick’”
Reflecting on his early years on Saturday Night Live, Davidson told Charlamagne tha God, DJ Envy, and Jess Hilarious: “I brought a lot of pop culture into the show, like I made it [a] sort of tabloidly, trendy thing unintentionally.”
But he wasn’t exactly thrilled with how the tabloids responded.
“Also, I was embarrassed by it because … no one talked about any work I was doing. They were just like, ‘Oh, that’s the f**k stick.’ And that hurt so much,” Davidson admitted.
His SNL castmates, friends, and even family saw the toll the gossip took on him. “No one was outrightly mean by any means,” he added, but the jokes clearly hit hard.
The Grande Effect and a Viral Rumor
When asked when the rumors about his “big d**k energy” first started, Davidson pointed the finger toward his relationship with Grande.
“I think it was like, the New York Times or something when I started dating someone that I guess they considered out of my league, which I think everyone is out of my league,” he said.
“But you know, they were like, ‘This guy must have big d**k energy.’ And then someone confirmed it.”
That “someone” was none other than Grande herself. In response to a fan’s tweet asking, “how long is Pete ???,” the singer cheekily replied:
“Like 10 inches? …oh f**k…i mean…like a lil over a minute.”
The '7 Rings' singer and Davidson had announced their relationship in May 2018, got engaged weeks later, and broke it off by October the same year.
“It’s Traumatic to Live in Your Own Cr*p All the Time”
Though Charlamagne tried to lighten the mood by joking, “You was banging a lot of hot chicks and you had a 10-inch penis,” Davidson stayed serious about how invasive it all became.
“It’s Hollywood. Everybody f**ks everyone. Why are they focusing on me?” he asked, before quipping, “I’m just like this dude that tells d**k jokes and is a drug addict.”
But the media storm had a real impact. “It just got to a point where I was … I got really tired of my whole career just being like my personal life,” he said.
“And living through that is sort of traumatic. Like, not to be lame, but it’s traumatic to live in your own crap all the time.”
Davidson also made a striking point about double standards in the industry: “I don’t want to victimize 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 d**k all day.”
Where They Are Now
Grande, now 32, is currently dating her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater. Davidson, on the other hand, is expecting his first child with girlfriend Elsie Hewitt.
While his personal life has often dominated headlines, Davidson’s latest interview makes it clear—he's more than the internet's favorite meme.