Pete Davidson discusses sobriety, fatherhood, exes and fame in Variety interview
In a Variety interview tied to his film "How to Rob a Bank", Pete Davidson spoke about getting sober, being a father, and his past relationships. The Evening Standard focused on his comments about Ariana Grande and Kanye West.
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The story, neutrally told
Pete Davidson gave a wide-ranging interview to Variety ahead of his film "How to Rob a Bank", which is due in theaters on Nov. 13. VarietyLC “hitting theaters Nov. 13” Read at Variety ↗ Variety describes him playing a war veteran who robs banks to provide for his family, and says he added 15 pounds of muscle for the role. VarietyLC “playing a wounded war veteran who turns to robbing banks to provide for his family” Read at Variety ↗ He told Variety he hit rock bottom in summer 2023 and used drugs to numb the pain. He checked into rehab, walked away from the TV series "Bupkis", and says he is now sober apart from about "four beers a year". VarietyLC “He says he’s sober now, save around “four beers a year.”” Read at Variety ↗
He said having a child makes staying sober easier, and that he is having most of his nearly 200 tattoos removed but will keep one of Hillary Clinton. VarietyLC “And now it’s easy because I have a kid.”“getting most of his nearly 200 tattoos removed” Read at Variety ↗ On his ex-fiancée Ariana Grande, Variety quotes him calling her "cool and immensely talented" and saying they are not in touch but are on good terms. VarietyLC “We’re not texting or whatever, but we’re cool.” Read at Variety ↗ The Evening Standard led with his separate remarks on the scrutiny of Grande's appearance, which he said he does not like and does not understand, adding that she "knows how to handle this stuff". Evening StandardN “She knows how to handle this stuff though.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
He also said his work is overlooked because of focus on his dating history, saying "everyone else is doing it". Evening StandardN “My work and my relevance is super-overlooked, and it’s confusing to me” Read at Evening Standard ↗ On his nine-month relationship with Kim Kardashian, he said the lifestyle was "a little too much" given his mental health and drug problems at the time, and called her "super respectful". Evening StandardN “was a little too much for me” Read at Evening Standard ↗ He sympathised with Kanye West, saying he has dealt with a fraction of what West has faced publicly; the Standard notes West's controversies and his apology letter citing a manic episode. Evening StandardN “I have dealt with a fraction of what he’s had to deal with public-wise.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Variety runs a long profile with a redemption arc: a maturing Davidson, sober, a father, and ready to be taken seriously as an actor.
- Emphasis
- Sobriety, fatherhood, his father's death on 9/11, the new film, tattoo removal, and praise from collaborators.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Its Grande remarks are brief; it does not cover the appearance scrutiny or the Kanye West comments in the text read.
- Charged language
- “Pete Davidson Grows Up”
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- The Evening Standard takes a celebrity-news angle, using Davidson's interview quotes to comment on Ariana Grande's treatment by media.
- Emphasis
- Grande, Kardashian and Kanye West; Grande's recent break from the spotlight and Wicked scrutiny.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the sobriety, fatherhood, film and leaving-SNL material that makes up most of the Variety piece.
- Charged language
- “f***** up”
- For example
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“Pete Davidson does ‘not understand’ scrutiny ex Ariana Grande has been facing” — Evening Standard
“also sympathised with Kardashian’s ex-husband Kanye West” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Davidson gave the interview to Variety.
- He said he is not in a hostile place with Ariana Grande and speaks well of her.
- He says media focus on his love life overshadows his work.
- He described past mental health and drug struggles.
Pete Davidson person
Presents himself as sober, a devoted father, and an actor whose work is overshadowed by his dating history.
“I don’t fuck with drugs anymore.” — Variety
“For some reason it’s zeroed in on me” — Evening Standard
Ariana Grande person
Not interviewed. Davidson says she is strong and will be fine. The Standard notes she has previously asked people not to comment on others' bodies.
“a reminder not to comment on other people’s bodies” — Evening Standard
Left2 articles
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Sympathetic A profile of Davidson's recovery and growth as a father and actor.
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Centre1 article
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Pete Davidson does ‘not understand’ scrutiny ex Ariana Grande has been facing
Neutral A news item recasting interview quotes around Grande, Kardashian and West.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 30 Sep 16:00 First VarietyLC Pete Davidson Grows Up: On Leaving ‘SNL,’ Famous Exes, the Joys of Fatherhood and Why He’s Keeping His Hillary Clinton Tattoo
- 30 Sep 18:07 +2h 7m Evening StandardN Pete Davidson does ‘not understand’ scrutiny ex Ariana Grande has been facing
- 30 Sep 18:54 +2h 54m The Hollywood ReporterLC Pete Davidson Slams Body Shaming of Ex-Fiancée Ariana Grande
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.