Pete Davidson on Sunday publicly praised Machine Gun Kelly as a “great dad” and a longtime friend while introducing the musician-actor at the Daily Front Row Fashion Media Awards in New York.
Machine Gun Kelly, born Colson Baker, received the event’s Style Icon Award. Davidson, who said Kelly is “my oldest best friend in this tough biz,” told a crowd that included fashion figures such as Iman, Zac Posen and Tommy Hilfiger that Kelly is one of the most talented people he has met and noted his versatility across rap, rock and acting.
“He always leads by example,” Davidson said, adding that he values having someone he can call to “shoot the s–t, or talk about what the hell is going on in our careers or how the world works.” Davidson, 31, also referenced his growing family; he and girlfriend Elsie Hewitt are expecting a child. Kelly, 35, brought members of his family to the event, including his daughter Cassie, 16, and has a newborn with actress Megan Fox.
Kelly used his acceptance remarks to emphasize authenticity in his approach to fashion and music. “My style can be unconventional. To some my name is unfamiliar, but I am completely unapologetic in my authenticity with what I sing and what I wear,” he said, and joked about the Met Gala and his own persona: “I am 6-foot-4 and smoke an insane amount of cigarettes, so I check a lot of those boxes.” Kelly also referred to himself as the “embodiment of the American dream.”
Davidson praised Kelly’s longevity and resilience in a career spanning roughly two decades. He said Kelly’s continued presence in music and entertainment is “a crazy accomplishment. And he’s not going anywhere.” Kelly has a new album, “Lost Americana,” and told the audience the Style Icon distinction signals a desire to expand into design, campaign work and modeling.
The awards event honored a number of industry figures. Iman received recognition with an introduction by model Anok Yai. Other attendees included Tiffany Haddish, Christy Turlington and photographer Pamela Hanson. Additional honorees at the ceremony included Mary Alice Stephenson, Cultured’s Sarah Harrelson and designers Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim of Oscar de la Renta and Monse.
The Daily Front Row Fashion Media Awards bring together talent from music, film and fashion to celebrate style and influence. Organizers and honorees frequently use the platform to highlight crossovers between creative fields; Kelly’s remarks and Davidson’s introduction underscored the interplay between celebrity, personal branding and family life that many recipients referenced during the ceremony.