Pete Davidson expresses his joy and newfound stability as he eagerly anticipates the arrival of his first child with girlfriend Elsie Hewitt.
“Thank God I’m sober,” exclaimed the 31-year-old comedian during the September 23 episode of Theo Von‘s This Past Weekend podcast. He articulated a desire for more sobriety time, acknowledging it has been a little over a year since he turned his life around.
While reflecting on his past struggles, Davidson shared that he is deeply grateful for his sobriety during this pivotal period in his life with Hewitt, 29. He candidly admitted that previously, his motivations for wanting children stemmed from unhealthy impulses, practically rooted in his tumultuous past.
“In past relationships or during my battle with drug addiction, I thought, ‘I need to have a kid and get married,’ as if that would fill a void – a goal driven by the traditional narratives I witnessed growing up,” Davidson elaborated. “I watched my relatives marry young and have children early, but I was far from ready.”
Davidson, who has been candid about his journey through drug addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, revealed that during his darkest times, he struggled with self-identity and is still on a path of self-discovery.
“At that time, being a parent was an impossibility for me. I think the pressure I placed on myself to fulfill societal norms was a significant reason it didn’t happen sooner. I had to step back, stop dating, and focus on my recovery,” shared Davidson, the star of King of Staten Island. “I knew I had to heal before I could even think of bringing a child into the world.”
Recognizing the importance of healthy relationships, Davidson expressed relief and gratitude that his path intersected with Hewitt’s in a way that allowed their family planning to unfold organically, rather than through societal expectations. “I am genuinely excited about this new chapter in my life,” he said. “It’s beyond awesome.”
“I genuinely wasn’t seeking a relationship or planning for a baby, yet here we are,” Davidson reminisced. “And I couldn’t have hoped for it to be with anyone else but her.”
Hewitt announced her pregnancy and their impending parenthood via Instagram on July 16, lightheartedly captioning, “Welp now everyone knows we had sex,” alongside a series of ultrasound images and clips from their doctor’s visit.
Davidson publicly addressed the pregnancy during a July 22 sit-down with Entertainment Tonight.
“Honestly, I couldn’t be more stoked. Becoming a parent has always been a dream of mine,” he expressed, praising Hewitt as “one of the greatest people ever,” confident she will excel as a mother. Davidson also revealed sentimental thoughts about his late father, Scott Davidson, who lost his life in the September 11 attacks, hoping to embody the kind of father he wished he had. “I aim to be the dad I always hoped I would have,” he concluded.
