Pete Davidson on how fatherhood forces a new look at the 9/11 loss that shaped his life

Pete Davidson is confronting the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks from a perspective he could not have imagined when he was a child grieving the loss of his father.

The comedian was 7 years old when his father, New York City firefighter Scott Davidson, died while responding to the terrorist attacks in 2001. Now, as Davidson approaches his 33rd birthday and raises an 8-month-old daughter of his own, he says becoming a father has changed the way he understands the loss.

This year’s anniversary is especially difficult because Davidson is now the same age his father was when he died.

At the same time, the arrival of his daughter, Scottie, has given the anniversary a deeply personal dimension — and a way for him to keep his father’s memory alive.

Pete Davidson Says Fatherhood Changed How He Sees 9/11

Davidson recently reflected on his father’s death and the experience of becoming a parent in an interview published ahead of the 25th anniversary of September 11.

As a child, Davidson understood that his father was young when he died. But having a daughter has changed the way he thinks about what his father’s death meant for the child he left behind.

Davidson has said that he once viewed his father as an older man because he was 33. Now that Davidson is reaching the same age, the comparison has become much more personal.

He is also thinking about what it would mean for his own daughter to grow up without her father.

That shift has added another emotional layer to an anniversary Davidson has lived with since childhood.

Who Was Pete Davidson’s Father?

Scott Davidson was a New York City firefighter who died while responding to the September 11 attacks.

His death became one of the defining events of Pete Davidson’s childhood.

The future comedian was only 7 at the time, and he has spoken publicly over the years about the effect his father’s death had on his life and career.

For Davidson, September 11 is therefore not simply a historical anniversary. It is the date that permanently changed his family.

His father was among the first responders who rushed toward danger as others were trying to escape the World Trade Center attacks.

More than two decades later, Davidson continues to carry that connection through his work and public reflections.

Pete Davidson Named His Daughter Scottie After His Father

One of the most personal ways Davidson has honored his father is through his daughter’s name.

Davidson shares his daughter with former girlfriend Elsie Hewitt. Their daughter, Scottie, is 8 months old.

The name is a tribute to Scott Davidson, whose nickname was Scotty.

Davidson said he and Hewitt agreed on the name and felt it suited their daughter when she was born.

For Davidson, the name provides a connection between his father and the next generation of his family.

He has also said he plans to tell Scottie about the grandfather she never had the opportunity to meet.

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Davidson Wants to Share His Father’s Stories With His Daughter

Davidson has kept photographs and old videos of his father and hopes to share them with Scottie as she gets older.

That is particularly meaningful because Scottie will never know her grandfather personally.

Davidson can instead introduce her to him through family stories, photographs and memories.

The comedian has described having time to tell those stories as one of the things that gives him hope during an especially difficult anniversary year.

The experience also changes the meaning of the loss. Davidson is no longer looking at September 11 solely through the eyes of a child who lost a parent. He is now looking at it as a father thinking about the relationship between his own child and her dad.

Why 2026 Is an Especially Difficult Year for Davidson

The 25th anniversary of September 11 comes at a significant point in Davidson’s life.

He is approaching the age his father was when he died, while simultaneously raising a child who is still a baby.

That combination has made the anniversary particularly emotional.

Davidson has described this year as harder than it has been in a long time, but he has also found something meaningful in being able to spend the anniversary with Scottie.

His daughter gives him an opportunity to mark the day while also looking forward rather than only backward.

Pete Davidson Takes Part in 9/11 Anniversary Events

Davidson has remained involved in public commemorations surrounding the 25th anniversary.

On September 10, he hosted the “NYC Still Rising After 25 Years: A 9/11 Comedy Benefit” at Madison Square Garden alongside comedian and 9/11 advocate Jon Stewart.

He is also featured in an ABC News special examining the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

His involvement reflects a long connection to 9/11 remembrance that began when he was a child and continued into his career as a comedian and actor.

Pete Davidson and Michael Strahan Share a 9/11 Connection

Davidson’s relationship with 9/11 remembrance also connects him with former New York Giants star Michael Strahan.

The two first met at a Giants Stadium ceremony on September 30, 2001, when first responders who died in the attacks and their families were honored.

Davidson was there as a child who had recently lost his father.

Years later, the two reconnected, and Strahan has spoken about the bond created by their shared connection to the tragedy.

Strahan has described Davidson as someone he is proud of and considers a younger brother.

That relationship has become another thread linking Davidson’s childhood experience of 9/11 to his adult life.

A Different Way of Remembering Scott Davidson

For Davidson, the 25th anniversary is not only about remembering how his father died.

It is also about remembering who Scott Davidson was.

By preserving photographs and stories for his daughter, Davidson is creating a family history that can continue even though his father died before she was born.

Naming his daughter Scottie gives that effort an even more visible connection.

The anniversary arrives with grief, but Davidson’s experience of fatherhood has given him a new understanding of the person his father was and what his absence meant.

At 33, Davidson is now old enough to look at his father’s life from the perspective of an adult, and young enough to understand just how much his father still missed.

For him, September 11 remains a day marked by loss. But with Scottie beside him, it is also becoming a day about memory, family and the stories that survive across generations.

 

FAQs About Pete Davidson, His Father and 9/11

Who was Pete Davidson’s father?

Pete Davidson’s father was Scott Davidson, a New York City firefighter who died while responding to the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

How old was Pete Davidson when his father died?

Pete Davidson was 7 years old when his father died on September 11, 2001.

How old was Pete Davidson’s father when he died?

Scott Davidson was 33 years old when he died while responding to the September 11 attacks.

How old is Pete Davidson now?

Pete Davidson turns 33 in November 2026, meaning he is reaching the same age his father was when he died.

Does Pete Davidson have a child?

Yes. Davidson has an 8-month-old daughter named Scottie, whom he shares with former girlfriend Elsie Hewitt.

Why did Pete Davidson name his daughter Scottie?

Scottie was named in honor of Davidson’s father, Scott Davidson, whose nickname was Scotty. Davidson and Hewitt agreed on the name.

What has Pete Davidson said about becoming a father?

Davidson has said fatherhood changed how he views his own father’s death because he can now understand what it would mean for a child to lose a father at such a young age.

Is Pete Davidson attending 9/11 anniversary events?

Davidson has taken part in events marking the 25th anniversary of September 11, including hosting a comedy benefit at Madison Square Garden with Jon Stewart.

Who is Pete Davidson’s daughter?

Davidson’s daughter is named Scottie. She was born to Davidson and model Elsie Hewitt.

What is Pete Davidson’s connection to September 11?

Davidson’s father, Scott Davidson, was a New York City firefighter who died responding to the September 11 attacks. Pete was 7 at the time.

Who is Michael Strahan to Pete Davidson?

Michael Strahan is a former New York Giants player who met Davidson at a 2001 ceremony honoring first responders killed in the September 11 attacks. The two later developed a close friendship.

Why is the 25th anniversary of 9/11 especially significant for Pete Davidson?

The anniversary comes as Davidson reaches the age his father was when he died and as Davidson raises a young daughter of his own. That has given him a new perspective on his childhood loss.