Pete Davidson is thinking about how to explain…
For Pete Davidson, the twenty fifth anniversary of 9/11 is wrapped in layers of grief and emotion — and even optimism.
The “Saturday Night Live” alum was just 7 years previous when he misplaced his father, Scott, a New York City firefighter with Ladder Company 118 in Brooklyn Heights.
“I thought, ‘Oh, he was an old guy. He’s 33,’ ” Davidson told The Post. “But now I’m there, and I’ve a child, and that could be like my child not having her dad.
“So this year is extra tough, but also extra beautiful because I get to spend the day with Scottie. It’ll be very healing and special.”
Pete Davidson, seen right here as a toddler with his dad, was 7 when Scott Davidson, a New York City firefighter, was killed in the 9/11 terror assaults. Instagram/Pete Davidson
Comedian Davidson (pictured above) named his daughter, born last December, Scottie after his dad. Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images
Davidson, who turns 33 in November, welcomed Scottie, his daughter with model Elsie Hewitt, in December. Although the couple cut up shortly after her delivery, Davidson said they have been united over their daughter’s identify.
“It was really cool that Elsie also wanted to name her Scottie,” he said. “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.”
And his daughter already appears drawn to the grandfather she’s going to never meet.
“When Scottie was first born, we’d give her a bath in the sink, and there’s a picture of my dad above the sink. She would always stare at it,” Davidson revealed.
“You’re like, ‘I don’t know if that’s because that’s the only image there and she’s model new and just observing issues.’ But then I moved back to Brooklyn and put the image in a different location. When I stroll around, Scottie always turns her head and seems at him.
“I don’t know what I believe in, but I like to think that his presence is somehow around.”
Davidson has not yet labored out how he’ll explain his father’s death to his daughter.
Pete Davidson donned his father Scott’s fireman jacket at his fifth birthday celebration.
“Luckily, I have some time,” the Staten Island native 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.’ ”
But he can not wait to inform her about her namesake. “I have old videos and pictures and stuff, and I’m excited to share the classic stories I have of him with her,” he said.
Davidson is teaming up with his longtime pal Jon Stewart to host “NYC Still Rising After 25 Years: A 9/11 Comedy Benefit” at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 10, with proceeds going to a number of charities that help first responders from that day and their households.
Davidson is teaming up with pal Jon Stewart to host “NYC Still Rising After 25 Years: A 9/11 Comedy Benefit” at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 10, to benefit charities that help first responders and their households. Getty Images
“Jon Stewart’s my guy,” Davidson said. “Talk about somebody who’s so New York and represents the tristate space — and is just the barometer of goodwill. We’re buddies. We did the twentieth anniversary at the Garden, and we had every great comedian. It was such a particular evening.
“Benefits are tricky, and 9/11 is such a sad thing. So to be able to check that at the door and have a good time for a great cause is one of my favorite things. This is fun for us because all the firefighters, first responders, police and EMTs come, and we’re fans of them,” he added. “A lot of those guys are my dad’s friends and colleagues.”
He and Stewart have visited firehouses and the Port Authority to mark earlier 9/11 anniversaries.
“We look up to those guys,” Davidson said. “We think they’re so cool.”
Stewart turned a passionate advocate for rescue and recovery employees after many developed extreme respiratory diseases and cancers from the poisonous mud at Ground Zero. Working for years with campaigners including John Feal, a demolition supervisor at the positioning who misplaced his foot after a metal beam fell on him, Stewart helped stress Congress to present long-term medical care and compensation through the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. It was finally signed into law in 2019 and is funded through 2092.
“He was also personally affected by 9/11, and it’s just nice to have a brother in that,” Davidson said of Stewart.
Joe Zadroga — father of NYPD Detective James Zadroga, who died of 9/11-related sickness — and Jon Stewart (together above) fought for years to secure authorities help for 9/11 first responders. AFP via Getty Images
“I like to honor my dad and keep that memory alive,” Davidson said of supporting 9/11 survivors. NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
For Davidson, persevering with to honor surviving first responders is both personal and half of what it means to be a New Yorker.
“You honor those people and always appreciate those guys. Those are real-life heroes,” he said. “If there’s anything I could ever do for anyone, I would do it. I really enjoy it, and I like to honor my dad and keep that memory alive.”
Davidson is also giving back to the group that helped care for him after his father’s death. Both he and his sister, Casey, 28, attended America’s Camp, a therapeutic summer time camp outdoors Boston for youngsters affected by 9/11.
Casey Davidson, Pete’s sister, shared this picture of their father, Scott, on her Instagram in 2020. Instagram/@caseydavidson
“I went for six or seven years,” he said. “My sister and I went every summer for a week, and it was awesome. We had counselors from all over the world, like Wales and Australia, who volunteered their time. It was a free camp. People worked there just for the love.”
Taylor Swift even carried out at the camp one yr.
“I ran into Taylor at ‘SNL’ a couple of years ago and thanked her for performing at America’s Camp — and she remembered,” said Davidson, who has remained related with his fellow campers.
“We all love each other,” he said. “There are people from Boston and New Hampshire. It wasn’t just firefighters and police we misplaced. It was people on the flights and people who have been in the town that day.
“It was people from all over. They stopped doing the camp because we all grew up, but whenever we see each other, we’re immediately thrown back to really good times. It was nice to have a camp full of people who got it. We all shared this thing.”
Joseph Zadroga (above) turned an advocate for first responders who developed health issues in the aftermath of 9/11 after his son James died of 9/11-related sickness. Getty Images
One factor Davidson does need to stop is what he sees as the “memefication” of 9/11.
“It’s this weird thing that happens in our country where a tragedy over time becomes a holiday. And then sometimes I know the youth on the internet uses 9/11 memes as jokes. Someone will be like, ‘This song’s fire,’ and then they’ll post the towers … and we’re the ones that have to see that s–t all the time,” he said.
“And it’s very nice that people that have nothing to do with it post a photo on that day and they’ll never forget. But it’s also like, you guys have no f–king idea, actually.”
The comedy benefit is, in half, an attempt to take back the anniversary from the documentaries and pictures that power grieving households to relive the horror every yr, Davidson said.
“We want to reclaim the day and just have fun,” he said, “and not be in the middle of 12 documentaries that are so sad and rehash it.”
For all that has modified, Davidson still believes New York retains the spirit that carried it through its darkest day.
“The one thing I know our city and our state are really good at is coming together and having other people’s backs when the chips are down,” he said. “New York has modified since I used to be a child. It’s rattling close to unrecognizable.
“But we show up for each other. At the end of the day, that’s what New York is.”
We present you with the trending topics. Get the best latest Entertainment news and content on our web site daily.
