Davidson appears to subtly criticize ex-fiancé Grande for sparking the "BDE" debate, confessing feelings of embarrassment over public scrutiny of his sex life.
In the early years of his career, comedian Pete Davidson found himself at the centre of a media frenzy surrounding his alleged "Big Dick Energy," a label that emerged during his high-profile relationship with Ariana Grande in 2018. This fixation, which overshadowed discussions of his professional work, led to widespread media sexualization of Davidson.
The origin of the "BDE" label can be traced back to a joke Ariana Grande made in a now-deleted tweet, referencing a fan’s question about a song named after Davidson on her 2018 album Sweetener. This label quickly overshadowed discussions of his professional work, leading to widespread media sexualization of Davidson.
Pete Davidson himself has expressed embarrassment and frustration about this fixation. He felt it detracted from recognition of his talent and comedic work, stating that people only talked about "that f— stick" rather than his career achievements, which hurt him emotionally. Despite his dating high-profile celebrities and the seemingly glamorous image, Davidson felt isolated and even alienated within his professional circles, describing that the persona assigned to him created social separations and misunderstandings on the Saturday Night Live cast.
Regarding the impact on his personal life and career, Davidson explained that such sexualization complicated his relationships and dating life. In Hollywood's highly interconnected social scene, he felt unfairly singled out and overly scrutinized, which led to discomfort in navigating his identity beyond the media's narrow focus. He highlighted a gendered double standard, pointing out that if a woman were subject to similar treatment, it would likely provoke public backlash and advocacy, implying the discourse contributed to his emotional distress and professional invisibility.
Davidson's stand-up comedy special was a place where he expressed his displeasure about Ariana Grande's comments about his penis. He compared the sexualization of him to a hypothetical situation of a girl, suggesting that there would be a march if the same happened to her.
Pete Davidson's appearance on The Breakfast Club podcast was a recent event where he discussed his feelings about the public discourse surrounding his "BDE." He admitted during the interview that he was "embarrassed" and "hurt" by the discourse. Charlamagne tha God expressed confusion about Pete's discomfort, stating "You was banging a lot of hot chicks and you had a 10-inch penis." However, Davidson maintained that the attention was unwanted and intrusive.
The full interview can be found on The Breakfast Club's podcast. Pete Davidson is reflecting on the public obsession with his "Big Dick Energy" and the impact it had on his personal and professional life. His experiences serve as a reminder of the need for a more nuanced and respectful approach to celebrity culture and the individuals within it.
[1] New York Times, "Pete Davidson, the Comedian Who's Always Getting Engaged," 2018. [2] The Guardian, "Pete Davidson: 'I'm not a celebrity, I'm just a guy who's been in the news a lot'," 2019.
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