Nobody saw it coming. Not even Kris Jenner. When Kim Kardashian stepped onto the Saturday Night Live stage in October 2021, the world expected a few jokes about her sisters and maybe a jab at her divorce. They didn't expect a romantic earthquake.
That "Aladdin" sketch changed everything.
Kim and Pete sat on a prop magic carpet, exchanged some scripted banter about Jasmine and her "lowly street rat," and then they kissed. It wasn't just for the cameras. Kim later confessed on her Hulu show that she felt a "vibe." She didn't want a soulmate; she wanted to see what all the fuss was about regarding Pete’s legendary "BDE."
She got his number from a producer. The rest is internet history.
The Staten Island Era
The relationship wasn't just red carpets and Met Gala steps. It started in the most un-Kardashian place imaginable: Staten Island.
Pete took the most famous woman in the world to Campania, a local Italian joint in his home borough. They ate on the rooftop. No glitz. No glam. Just pasta and privacy. This was the hallmark of the Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson era—a billionaire mogul trying to live a "normal" life with a guy who still lived with his mom at the time.
Fans were obsessed. They were the ultimate "odd couple."
You had Kim, the queen of curated aesthetics, and Pete, the king of "scumbro" style. He wore hoodies; she wore Balenciaga. It worked because he made her laugh. After years of the intense, often erratic energy of her marriage to Kanye West, Pete was a breath of fresh, albeit cigarette-scented, air.
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Branding and Tattoos
Pete doesn't just date; he commits with ink.
During their nine months together, Pete didn't just get a tattoo for Kim. He got several. The most famous one wasn't even ink—it was a literal branding. He had "KIM" seared into his chest with a hot iron because he wanted something he couldn't just laser off.
Then there were the others:
- "My girl is a lawyer" on his collarbone.
- The initials of Kim’s four children (North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm).
- A "Jasmine and Aladdin" tribute to their first kiss.
Kim loved it. She told Ellen DeGeneres it was "so cute." But looking back, the speed of it all was dizzying. It’s a classic Pete Davidson move—total immersion. When you’re in, you’re all the way in.
Why It Hit a Wall
By August 2022, the fever dream broke.
Distance was the official culprit. Pete was in Australia filming Wizards!, and Kim was in L.A. managing four kids and a multi-billion dollar empire. You can’t run SKIMS and Skkn from a rainforest in Cairns.
But there was more to it.
The age gap actually mattered. Pete was 28; Kim was 41. Insiders told Page Six that Pete was impulsive. He’d want Kim to fly to New York on a whim. Kim, however, has a schedule choreographed down to the minute. You don't just "pop over" to the East Coast when you have a parenting schedule and a legal career to manage.
The exhaustion was real.
The Kanye Factor
We can't talk about Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson without talking about "Skete."
Kanye West didn't take the relationship well. He released the "Eazy" music video, which featured a claymation Pete being kidnapped and buried alive. He posted endless Instagram rants.
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It wasn't just "celebrity drama." It was heavy. Reports later surfaced that the harassment took a toll on Pete's mental health. He reportedly sought trauma therapy because of the relentless scrutiny and threats. Kim felt immense guilt. She wanted a "fun fling" to move on from her marriage, but it turned into a battlefield.
The Legacy of the Relationship
So, why do we still care?
Honestly, it changed Kim’s brand. It proved she could be "attainable" again. For Pete, it solidified him as the ultimate Hollywood "it-boy." He’s the guy who gets the girl everyone thinks is out of his league.
They met again at the SNL50 anniversary event in early 2025. It wasn't awkward. They chatted in line like two people who shared a very intense, very weird summer camp romance. No sparks, just respect.
If you're looking to apply the "Pete Davidson Effect" to your own life—or just understand the chaos—here is the reality:
- Laughter is a Tier-1 Asset: Kim repeatedly said Pete was the funniest person she’d ever met. Humor breaks down the walls of even the most guarded celebrities.
- Rebounds serve a purpose: Kim admitted she used the relationship to "run from things." It’s okay to have a transition period, as long as you're honest about it.
- The "Ink" Rule: Maybe don't brand someone's name onto your skin in the first six months. Just a thought.
The relationship was a moment in time that defined the post-pandemic celebrity landscape. It was messy, it was high-fashion, and it was deeply human.
Keep an eye on the "Jasmine and Aladdin" tattoo. Last we saw, it was fading under a laser. Just like the relationship, the marks are disappearing, leaving only the stories behind.
Next Steps for Pop Culture Fans:
If you want to track how this relationship changed Kim’s dating trajectory, watch the "rebound" episodes in Season 3 of The Kardashians. It's a masterclass in how A-listers process public breakups. You can also follow Pete’s recent stand-up specials, where he occasionally (and carefully) references the "lawyer" era of his life.