Pete Davidson Reflects on Fatherhood and 9/11 Legacy 25 Years After Attacks
Pete Davidson opens up about his first 9/11 as a father, honoring his late firefighter dad while navigating the emotional weight of the anniversary.
POLICY WIRE — New York, USA — As the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, Pete Davidson is navigating a poignant milestone: his first year observing the day as a father. The comedian, whose father Scott Matthew Davidson was a New York City firefighter who perished at the World Trade Center, described the upcoming anniversary as both uniquely difficult and deeply meaningful.
Davidson, who was seven years old when his father died at age 33, noted that reaching his current age has brought a new perspective to his loss. In a recent interview with The New York Post, he remarked, “I thought, ‘Oh, he was an old guy. He’s 33. But now I’m there, and I have a kid, and that would be like my kid not having her dad.”
The former Saturday Night Live star welcomed his daughter, Scottie Rose Hewitt Davidson, in December with his former partner, model Elsie Hewitt. The pair chose the name to honor the late firefighter, with Davidson noting that the decision felt natural once they saw their daughter. He expressed that he is looking forward to sharing stories, photographs, and videos of his father with her as she grows older, though he admits he has not yet determined how to explain the circumstances of his father’s death.
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Reflecting on his own childhood, Davidson previously shared on the Real Ones podcast that he initially learned of his father’s death through a television broadcast. He recalled the confusion of being grounded by his mother, only to later see his father’s image on the news among the list of fallen first responders. The family endured a harrowing three-week period of uncertainty before his father’s death was confirmed.
To mark the anniversary, Davidson is set to join Jon Stewart at Madison Square Garden on September 10 for the “NYC Still Rising After 25 Years: A 9/11 Comedy Benefit.” The event aims to generate funds for organizations that provide support to first responders and their families impacted by the tragedy.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
