A Father's Reflection
Pete Davidson, the comedian known for "Saturday Night Live," is marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks with a series of personal reflections. At 33, he has reached the same age his father, Scott Davidson, was when he died responding to the attacks on the World Trade Center. Davidson, who was seven years old at the time, told The New York Post in an interview published on September 8 that he once thought of his father as "an old guy" because he was 33 when he died. Now, with a child of his own, the milestone carries new weight.
"I thought, 'Oh, he was an old guy. He's 33,'" Davidson said. "But now I'm there, and I have a kid, and that would be like my kid not having her dad."
A Daughter Named in Remembrance
Davidson and his ex-girlfriend, model Elsie Hewitt, welcomed their daughter, Scottie, in December. The couple split shortly after her birth, but Davidson said they were united in choosing her name. "It was really cool that Elsie also wanted to name her Scottie," he told the Post. "My dad's name was Scott, but his nickname was Scotty. When she arrived, we both looked at her and were like, 'She looks like a Scottie.' It's nice to keep that name alive."
Davidson has spoken about how his daughter seems drawn to the grandfather she never met. He recounted that when Scottie was first born, she would stare at a picture of his father that hung above the sink in the kitchen. Even after he moved the picture to a different location in his Brooklyn home, Scottie would turn her head to look at it. "I don't know what I believe in, but I like to think that his presence is somehow around," Davidson said.
The Weight of the Anniversary
This year's anniversary has been particularly difficult for Davidson, who said, "Honestly, this year is way harder than it's been in a really long time because I have Scottie, and now I'm the age that my dad was when he died. So I'm just kind of like, 'Holy s–t.'" At the same time, he described the day as "extra tough, but also extra beautiful because I get to spend the day with Scottie. It'll be very healing and special."
Davidson has not yet figured out how he will explain his father's death to his daughter, but he takes comfort in having time. "Luckily, I have some time," he told the Post. "I have old videos and pictures and stuff, and I'm excited to share the classic stories I have of him with her."
Honoring a Firefighter's Legacy
Scott Davidson was a firefighter with Ladder Company 118 in Brooklyn Heights. Davidson has described his father as "f-----g hilarious" and recalled that his dad's crew was the first fire truck to cross the bridge toward the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. He shared that his father had promised to pick him up from school that day, but his mother arrived instead and did not tell him what had happened for three days. He later learned of his father's death by seeing him on television.
In a video for the UNIITE For Good Campaign, set up by the non-profit organization 9/11 Day, Davidson spoke about his father's dedication to the job. "25 years ago, my dad, Scott Davidson, was killed on 9/11. He was a firefighter for Ladder 118, Engine 205 in Brooklyn Heights," he said in the video, as reported by LADbible. He added that his dad "loved being a firefighter and he loved saving people, as he did on that day." Davidson noted that "9/11 is usually a tough day" but praised 9/11 Day for doing "something cool where you do a good deed for someone and you pass it along." He concluded, "Together, let's show up for each other. I think my dad would have loved that."
David Paine, president and co-founder of 9/11 Day, welcomed Davidson's involvement, saying, "We are honored to have Pete Davidson help share his story, and encourage Americans and others to join together as we did 25 years ago, and remember by doing good."
Reclaiming the Day with Comedy
To mark the anniversary, Davidson joined Jon Stewart to host "NYC Still Rising After 25 Years: A 9/11 Comedy Benefit" at Madison Square Garden on September 10, with proceeds going to charities that support first responders and their families. Davidson explained that the event was an attempt to "reclaim" the anniversary from the documentaries and images that force grieving families to relive the horror, describing it as a way to have "fun." He said he still believes New York retains the spirit of coming together and having each other's backs.
Davidson also appeared in the ABC News special "9/11: United We Stand – 25 Years Later," which is led by former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan. During the special, Davidson met Strahan, who had a unique connection to the tragedy. Davidson told him that he had been at the ceremony 17 years later and thanked him, according to USA Today.