Pete Davidson, the actor and comedian known for his roles on “Saturday Night Live” and “The King of Staten Island,” has openly discussed the profound impact of losing his father, Scott Davidson, a New York City firefighter, in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The way young Pete learned about this tragic event is a poignant reminder of the personal stories behind national tragedies. This article delves into the details of how Pete Davidson’s father passed away and the lasting effects it had on his life.
Scott Davidson was a dedicated firefighter who served with Ladder Company 118 in Brooklyn Heights. On September 11, 2001, he bravely responded to the call at the World Trade Center. Like many first responders that day, Scott Davidson made the ultimate sacrifice. However, the immediate aftermath was shrouded in uncertainty, especially for his young family.
Pete Davidson, who was only seven years old at the time, recounted in an episode of Jon Bernthal’s “Real Ones” podcast the confusing and emotionally challenging days following the attacks. His father had promised to pick him up from school that day, a promise that would tragically remain unfulfilled. Instead, his mother, Amy, arrived, and shielded him from the unfolding horror for several 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, in an attempt to protect her young son, told him that his father was simply “at work” and would be “coming home.” Unaware of the magnitude of the situation, Pete was kept from watching television, further isolating him from the reality of the events.
Pete Davidson attends the premiere of
It was by chance that young Pete stumbled upon the devastating truth. One evening, defying his mother’s restrictions, he turned on the television. What he saw was not a typical program, but news coverage displaying images of fallen firefighters. Among them, he recognized his father.
“Then one night, I turned on the TV and I just saw my dad on the TV,” Davidson explained. “I was like, ‘Oh, OK.’ And they were like, these are all the firemen that are, like, dead.” The news report starkly revealed the grim reality: his father was among the firefighters who perished in the line of duty at the World Trade Center.
The weeks following 9/11 were a period of agonizing uncertainty for many families, including the Davidsons. The scale of the devastation and the ongoing search and rescue efforts meant that official confirmation of fatalities was delayed. Pete Davidson recalled the prolonged period of not knowing, a time of mixed hope and despair.
“It was weird because we didn’t know he was dead for, like, three weeks,” Davidson said. “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 prolonged ambiguity added another layer of trauma to the already devastating loss.
The impact of his father’s death on 9/11 has been profound and long-lasting for Pete Davidson. He has openly discussed struggling with PTSD and borderline personality disorder, conditions he believes are linked to the trauma he experienced as a child. The sudden absence of his father created deep-seated abandonment issues that have affected his relationships and his ability to trust.
“You know, Dad says he’s coming to pick you up and he doesn’t. For life, I’m like, I don’t believe anyone,” Davidson confessed. He has been in therapy to address these issues, learning to “fact-check” his emotional responses and challenge his ingrained insecurities.
Despite the immense pain and trauma, Davidson has also found strength and resilience. He expresses deep admiration for his mother’s strength in the face of unimaginable loss. He has also learned coping mechanisms to manage his mental health challenges, moving away from self-harming behaviors towards healthier ways of processing difficult emotions.
Pete Davidson’s story is a powerful testament to the enduring impact of loss and trauma, particularly on children. Learning how Pete Davidson’s father passed away is not just understanding a celebrity’s personal tragedy, but also gaining insight into the ripple effects of 9/11 and the importance of mental health awareness and support in the aftermath of traumatic events. His willingness to share his story helps to destigmatize mental health struggles and offers hope to others who have experienced similar traumas.
