Pete Davidson experienced a profound loss at the tender age of seven when his father perished in the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Centre.
It has been over two decades since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, unfolded, leaving a lasting impact on the world.
These attacks, the deadliest in American history, were orchestrated by Al-Qaeda, who hijacked planes to target major landmarks, including the Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon.
Another aircraft intended for Washington D.C. crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew bravely intervened. The Twin Towers, engulfed in flames, ultimately succumbed and collapsed.
The attacks resulted in nearly 3,000 fatalities, including Pete Davidson’s father, Scott.
The former Saturday Night Live cast member has spoken candidly about the harrowing experience of losing his father on that tragic day.
Scott Davidson, a firefighter, was last seen heading into the Marriott World Trade Center moments before its collapse.
During an appearance on the Real Ones with Jon Bernthal podcast, Pete shared how his father had promised to pick him up that day but never returned.
“I got picked up by my mom. She didn’t tell me what was going on for like three days. She kept telling me dad’s at work, I had no idea. My mom’s like, ‘You’re just grounded, you’re not allowed to watch TV’,” he said.
“I was like, ‘What? I didn’t do anything.’ And then one night I turn on the TV and I saw my dad on TV.”
Pete recounted that he learned of his father’s passing through a television broadcast announcing the deaths of firefighters, though for a time, the family held onto hope amid ongoing search and rescue efforts.
“There was just some sort of hope, and it was just up and down and nobody knew the right way to deal with it,” he added.
Now 31, Pete acknowledges the ongoing struggle with PTSD stemming from his father’s death and the therapy he has sought, alongside trust issues.
“Dad says he’s going to pick you up, he doesn’t, so for life I don’t believe anyone,” the comedian said. “I’m trying to learn how to believe people, and Hollywood isn’t the best place to learn that skill. I went from traumatic life to high school traumatic life, because Hollywood’s like high school.”
He honors his father’s memory by sharing humorous anecdotes about him, noting, “My dad was a great dude.”
Pete also expressed admiration for his mother, reflecting on her resilience during that difficult time when she was just 30.
“That’s why, as I get older, I’m like, ‘Man, my mom was awesome,” Pete said.