Pete Davidson may have become one of Saturday Night Live’s most recognizable breakout stars, but not everyone at 30 Rock was clapping for him behind the scenes. While he’s been opening up about feeling like an “outsider” during his eight seasons on the sketch show, sources say the real story is far messier.
According to insiders, plenty of his co-stars were over Pete Davidson well before he finally exited in 2022. “He was a brat — moody, unpredictable, and never as prepared as the rest,” one source dished to ShuterScoop, making it clear that the funnyman’s laid-back, sometimes chaotic energy didn’t always translate well to the high-pressure environment of live comedy.
Another sore subject was that Pete’s personal life often overshadowed his actual work. “He was more famous for who he dated — Ariana, Kate, Kim — than for anything on the show. It brought tabloid chaos into a place that’s supposed to be about the comedy,” another insider revealed. And let’s be real — Davidson’s dating history has practically been its own sketch at this point, with headlines sometimes outshining his onstage performances.
Pete Davidson’s Saturday Night Live Co-Stars Weren’t Impressed
To be fair, Pete himself has never said anyone was outright cruel to him. In fact, he’s given veteran cast member Kenan Thompson credit for taking him under his wing during those early years. But that didn’t stop resentment from bubbling up as his fame skyrocketed outside of SNL.
Several co-stars reportedly grew frustrated with what they saw as Pete’s “limited sketch chops” and his reliance on buzzy press over consistently strong material. Fans loved Davidson’s goofy personality on TV, but his struggles off-screen have been well-documented.
Pete Remains A Favorite Among SNL Fans
“It’s SNL — everyone’s fighting for airtime,” explained one longtime staffer. “You can’t survive on headlines alone.” And in a cutthroat environment where even comedic heavyweights like Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, and Tina Fey had to hustle for screen time, it’s easy to see how Davidson’s off-camera fame might have rubbed some people the wrong way.
Still, whether you loved him or loathed him, there’s no denying Pete Davidson made his mark on the show. From his “Weekend Update” stoner persona to the viral buzz around his love life, his tenure was anything but boring. Love him or hate him, Pete’s time at SNL remains one of the most polarizing chapters in the show’s nearly 50-year history.