The internet is rife with rumors, and sometimes, those rumors can take a morbid turn. One such rumor that occasionally surfaces is the question: “Did Pete Davidson Die?” To be clear, Pete Davidson is alive and well. This query, however, likely stems from a misunderstanding or perhaps a morbid curiosity, intertwined with the very real tragedy that profoundly impacted his life – the death of his father.
This article will address the question directly and delve into the true story of loss and resilience that Pete Davidson has navigated since childhood. It’s not Pete Davidson who passed away, but his father, Scott Davidson, a New York City firefighter who tragically lost his life during the September 11th terrorist attacks. Understanding this crucial distinction is key to comprehending the depth of Pete Davidson’s personal narrative and the experiences that have shaped his public persona.
Pete Davidson was just seven years old when his father, Scott, a first responder with FDNY, died on 9/11. In a recent episode of the “Real Ones” podcast with Jon Bernthal, Davidson recounted the heartbreaking way he learned about his father’s fate. His father, who was supposed to pick him up from school that day, never arrived. Instead, his mother, Amy, collected him, shielding him from the unfolding horror for days.
“My dad told me he was going to pick me up from school on 9/11. I got picked up by my mom. She didn’t tell me what was going on for like three days,” Davidson shared. His mother initially kept the devastating news from him, telling him his father was “at work” and “coming home.” Young Pete was kept away from television, likely in an attempt to protect him from the graphic news coverage of the World Trade Center attacks.
However, the truth eventually surfaced in a way no child should ever experience. “Then one night, I turned on the TV and I just saw my dad on the TV,” Davidson explained. He saw images of firefighters, and the stark reality of the situation became chillingly clear. “I was like, ‘Oh, OK.’ And they were like, these are all the firemen that are, like, dead.”
Pete Davidson at a premiere, smiling slightly and wearing a casual outfit.
Pete Davidson attends a premiere. The comedian and actor has openly discussed the impact of his father’s death on his life.
The uncertainty surrounding his father’s death in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 added another layer of trauma. “It was weird because we didn’t know he was dead for, like, three weeks,” Davidson said. The agonizing wait, the hope amidst devastation as rescue workers searched for survivors, and the eventual confirmation of his loss created a deeply confusing and painful experience for the young boy. “They were finding people, you know? They were pulling people out of s—, and there was just some sort of hope. Like, it was just up and down and nobody knew how to deal with it.”
This early trauma has had a lasting impact on Davidson’s life, contributing to his struggles with mental health. He has been diagnosed with both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), conditions he openly discusses and manages with the help of therapy. The loss of his father at such a formative age instilled in him deep-seated abandonment issues. “You know, Dad says he’s coming to pick you up and he doesn’t,” he reflected. “For life, I’m like, I don’t believe anyone, and I’m trying to learn how to believe people — and Hollywood isn’t exactly the greatest place to learn that skill.”
Despite these challenges, Davidson has demonstrated remarkable resilience. He has channeled his experiences into his comedy and acting, finding a way to process his pain and connect with audiences through his vulnerability and honesty. He speaks candidly about his mental health journey, contributing to a broader conversation about the importance of seeking help and destigmatizing mental illness.
As he matures, Davidson is also gaining a deeper appreciation for his mother’s strength in the face of unimaginable grief. “My mom was f——, like, 30 … I’m about to be — I wouldn’t know what the f— to do,” he acknowledged. This growing empathy underscores the profound impact of 9/11, not just on individual lives like Pete’s, but on entire families and communities.
Pete Davidson did not die. He is a survivor, not only of personal tragedy but also of the enduring aftermath of a national trauma. His story is a testament to the complexities of grief, the importance of mental health support, and the long shadow that 9/11 continues to cast on those who were directly and indirectly affected by it. The rumors surrounding his death are unfounded, but the real story of his father’s sacrifice and Pete’s journey since then is one worth understanding and remembering.
