Pete Davidson Says He Felt ‘Used’ After Ariana Grande Relationship – ‘No One Saw Me as a Person

Emotional Impact of the “Big Dick Energy” Narrative

Pete Davidson, best known for his time on Saturday Night Live, has candidly addressed the emotional toll and public scrutiny that followed his high-profile engagement to pop star Ariana Grande in 2018.

In a recent episode of The Breakfast Club, Davidson revealed how he felt reduced to a sexual object by the nickname “Big Dick Energy” (BDE), a media narrative that overshadowed his creative work.

“I was embarrassed. No one talked about me as an artist—just a part of my body,” Davidson shared, expressing how demoralizing it was to be defined by physical attributes rather than his craft.

From Embarrassment to Trauma

Although the BDE label initially may have sounded flattering, Davidson explained how deeply hurtful the public attention became. He described the experience as “somewhat traumatic,” reflecting how sexualization in the media can take a heavy emotional toll.

“If that had happened to a woman, there’d be protests in the streets,” he remarked, highlighting the double standard in how society treats men and women under similar sexual scrutiny.

His Work Overshadowed

Davidson lamented that the media’s obsession with his personal life eclipsed his professional accomplishments:

“No one talked about my work—only about my body. And that hurt so much.”

Despite the mainstream narrative focusing on gossip and sensationalism, Davidson underscored how deeply that attention affected his sense of self and career identity.

Summary: Pete Davidson’s honest reflections shine a light on the emotional havoc wrought by media sensationalism. What could have been perceived as flattering attention instead left him feeling vulnerable, objectified, and disconnected from his artistry.

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