Pete Davidson recently opened up about his early years on Saturday Night Live, revealing that he actually asked creator Lorne Michaels to fire him after his first season. At the age of 20, Davidson became one of the youngest cast members in the show’s history when he joined in 2014, staying on until 2022.
In an interview for Peacock’s SNL:50 Beyond Saturday Night, Davidson shared how he grappled with imposter syndrome during his initial time on the show. Feeling like he didn’t fit in and struggling to connect with his fellow cast members, he made an emotional plea to Lorne Michaels to be let go.
Michaels was taken aback by Davidson’s request, prompting the comedian to explain his feelings. “I don’t belong here. Everybody’s so talented and they don’t want to be my friend,” Davidson confessed. Despite these feelings, Michaels reassured him that it takes time, telling him, “You don’t figure it out until your third or fourth year.”
Davidson acknowledged that this advice helped him push through and continue his career at SNL for many more years.
