Pete Davidson, whose father was a New York City firefighter who died on September 11, 2001, stated that the 25th anniversary of the attacks is more challenging due to his own recent experience with fatherhood.
Davidson's father, Scott, was 33 years old and part of a unit that responded to the World Trade Center attack when he perished. Davidson was seven at the time.
"Honestly, this year is way harder than it’s been in a really long time because I have Scottie, and now I’m the age that my dad was when he died. So I’m just kind of like: ‘Holy s***,’" Davidson told the New York Post. He will also turn 33 in November.
He and his former girlfriend Elsie Hewitt welcomed their daughter, Scottie, in December. The child's name is a dual tribute to Davidson's late father and their time spent in Scotland when she was conceived.
"I thought: ‘Oh, he was an old guy. He’s 33.’ But now I’m there, and I have a kid, and that would be like my kid not having her dad," Davidson reflected. "So this year is extra tough, but also extra beautiful because I get to spend the day with Scottie. It’ll be very healing and special."
Davidson expressed a desire to share memories of his father with his daughter. "I have old videos and pictures and stuff, and I’m excited to share the classic stories I have of him with her." He noted instances where his daughter seemed to react to his father's presence.
He also praised Hewitt for her willingness to name their daughter Scottie. "It was really cool that Elsie also wanted to name her Scottie. My dad’s name was Scott, but his nickname was Scotty," he said. "When she arrived, we both looked at her and were like: ‘She looks like a Scottie.’ It’s nice to keep that name alive."
Davidson has previously spoken about how his father's death influenced his desire to have children. In an appearance on Kevin Hart's talk show in 2022, while he was involved with Kim Kardashian, Davidson said, "Since my dad died, I was like: ‘Oh, I can’t wait to have a kid.’ ... I don't want a kid to ever feel like how I feel right now."
He elaborated that while his father's passing was not his fault, he aimed to be a present father for his own child to prevent them from experiencing that same sense of absence. "I hoped just to be there so that someone doesn't have to feel like that." He added that he was excited to give a child the experience of having a parent present that he missed out on.
Davidson's personal life has seen shifts, including a $200,000 effort to remove many of his tattoos as he embraced fatherhood. He and Hewitt welcomed their baby in December, but their relationship reportedly ended in May 2026.
Before Hewitt, Davidson had a public dating history with several celebrities, including Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Kate Beckinsale, and Kaia Gerber.
