Lena Rivera
Pete Davidson is an American comedian, actor, and writer, best known for his work on *Saturday Night Live* (SNL). In February 2021, Davidson made a joke on the show about having to steal another one of Lorne Michaels' paintings. Lorne Michaels is the creator and executive producer of SNL, and he and Davidson have had a close relationship, with Davidson describing Michaels as a father figure. While the comment was likely made in jest, it sparked discussions about Davidson's tenure on the show and his sometimes tumultuous relationship with the program.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | February 21, 2021 |
| Incident | Pete Davidson made a joke about stealing another one of Lorne Michaels' paintings |
| Background | Davidson made the joke during Weekend Update on SNL, where he often jokes at his own expense |
| Reason | Davidson said he needed money to afford a new house |
| Relationship | Davidson has a great relationship with Michaels, who he considers a father figure |
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What You'll Learn
Pete Davidson's Instagram post about Kanye West
In 2018, Pete Davidson posted a message on Instagram in defence of Kanye West, who had made some comments about his mental health struggles. Davidson's post said:
> "I really don't want to be on this earth anymore. I'm doing my best to stay here for you but I actually don't know how much longer I can last."
The post sparked concern among Davidson's friends, fans, and ex-fiancé Ariana Grande, who showed up at the SNL studios to check on him. Davidson's post also caused the NYPD to perform a wellness check. Following the post, Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, cut Davidson's sketches from that evening's broadcast, reportedly to give Davidson a break from the pressures of performing and to prioritise his health.
Davidson has since spoken about his desire to leave SNL, feeling that he has outgrown the show and that he is portrayed as a "big dumb idiot". In an interview with Charlamagne Tha God, Davidson said:
> "I personally think I should be done with that show because they make fun of me on it... I have a weird feeling in that building where I don’t know whose team they’re playing for, really — If I’m the joke or I’m in on the joke."
Davidson also joked about SNL being "really old and noticeably fatigued" and said that he would have to "steal another one of Lorne's paintings" to afford a new house. Despite his feelings of being outgrown, Davidson stated that he would continue working on the show as long as Lorne Michaels liked him.
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Lorne Michaels' response to Pete Davidson's post
Lorne Michaels is the creator and executive producer of Saturday Night Live (SNL), on which Pete Davidson is a cast member. In 2018, Davidson posted on Instagram that he "really didn't want to be on this earth anymore", prompting Michaels to cut Davidson's sketches from the show's broadcast that evening. Michaels reportedly wanted to give Davidson "a break from his current mental fatigue by taking away the pressures of performing". A source close to Michaels said that "Lorne has pledged to help all he can, including sending Pete to get help".
Davidson has also made jokes at the expense of Michaels, saying that he and his mother bought the house they live in together, so "for me to afford somewhere new, I’m gonna have to either like fight Jake Paul or like steal another one of Lorne’s paintings".
Davidson has also expressed feeling outgrown on SNL, saying that he is "painted out to be like this big dumb idiot" and that "everyone's trying to get their st on". Despite this, Davidson has said that he has a great relationship with Michaels, who is "like a father figure to me", and that he will continue working on the show as long as Lorne likes me.
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Pete Davidson's relationship with Lorne Michaels
Pete Davidson and Lorne Michaels have had a somewhat complex relationship over the years. Michaels is the creator and executive producer of Saturday Night Live (SNL), which Davidson joined in 2014.
Davidson has been open about his mental health struggles, and in 2018, he posted a message on Instagram that caused concern among his friends, fans, and colleagues. The post, in defence of Kanye West, said:
> 'I really don't want to be on this earth anymore. I'm doing my best to stay here for you but I actually don't know how much longer I can last.'
Michaels responded to this post by pulling Davidson's SNL sketches from the upcoming episode, reportedly to give Davidson a break and to prioritise his health. Davidson still appeared in the episode, but only to introduce a performance from Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson.
Davidson has also been vocal about his feelings towards SNL, saying that he feels he has outgrown the show and that he is portrayed as a ''big dumb idiot'. In an interview with Charlamagne Tha God, he said:
> 'I personally think I should be done with that show because they make fun of me on it.'
Despite these criticisms, Davidson has stated that he will continue to work on SNL as long as Michaels likes him, referring to the creator as a father figure. He has also joked about Michaels, saying that to afford a new house, he would have to 'steal another one of Lorne's paintings'.
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Pete Davidson's jokes about SNL and Lorne Michaels
In an interview with Charlamagne Tha God, Davidson revealed his desire to leave SNL, feeling that he was portrayed as a "big dumb idiot" and that the show was cutthroat. He explained that he felt the other cast members were playing for a different team and that he was the butt of their jokes. Davidson also shared that he had a great relationship with Michaels, who he considered a father figure, but ultimately felt like he didn't belong on the show.
Davidson's feelings of imposter syndrome led him to ask Michaels to fire him after his first year on the show. Michaels, however, encouraged him to stay, telling him that it takes a few years to find your footing. Davidson ultimately stayed for eight seasons, later reflecting on his time on the show with gratitude and calling it his "home".
Davidson's mental health struggles also led to his reduced appearances on the show. In 2018, following an alarming Instagram post, Lorne Michaels personally cut Davidson's sketches from the episode, prioritising his health. Davidson's Instagram post was in defence of Kanye West, and it sparked concern from fans and friends, including his ex-fiancé, Ariana Grande.
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Pete Davidson's future on SNL
Pete Davidson joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 2014, making him one of the youngest cast members ever. Davidson's eight-season stint on the show saw him star in several sketches, collaborate with other cast members, and even perform live on camera. However, his time on SNL was not without controversy, as he often found himself in the spotlight due to his personal life and social media activity.
In 2018, Davidson's Instagram post sparked concern among fans and friends, leading to an NYPD wellness check and Lorne Michaels, the creator of SNL, cutting Davidson's sketches from that evening's broadcast. Despite this, Michaels reportedly prioritised Davidson's health and wanted to give him a break from the pressures of performing. Davidson himself acknowledged the support he received from his colleagues at SNL, specifically mentioning Colin Jost and Michael Che from "Weekend Update".
Davidson's future on SNL came into question in 2020 when he shared in an interview that he felt he was being portrayed as a "big dumb idiot" on the show. He expressed his desire to leave, stating that he felt he had outgrown it and done all he could with his character. Davidson's contract was reportedly up after seven years, and in 2021, he hinted that he was ready to say goodbye to the show. During the season 46 finale, he delivered a heartfelt monologue, suggesting that he might not return for the next season.
While Davidson's future on SNL was uncertain, he continued to pursue other projects. In 2019, he toured with fellow comedian John Mulaney and starred in several films, including "Big Time Adolescence" and "The King of Staten Island" in 2020, which he also co-wrote. Davidson also released comedy specials and continued to act in films like "The Suicide Squad" and "Bodies Bodies Bodies".
As of 2022, Davidson has officially left SNL, having starred in eight seasons of the show. He has moved on to other endeavours, including starring in the Peacock series "Bupkis" in 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Pete Davidson did not steal a painting from Lorne Michaels. Davidson made a joke about stealing one of Lorne's paintings during Weekend Update on SNL.
Pete Davidson and Lorne Michaels have a good relationship. Davidson has referred to Michaels as a father figure.
Yes, in 2018 Lorne Michaels cut Pete Davidson's SNL sketches following a concerning Instagram post. Michaels reportedly wanted to give Davidson a break from his mental fatigue.
Davidson has expressed his desire to leave SNL, however, it is unclear whether he has officially left the show.
Davidson's Instagram post included the message: "I really don't want to be on this earth anymore. I'm doing my best to stay here for you but I actually don't know how much longer I can last."
