Pete Davidson is remembering his late father, Scott Davidson, as the United States marks 25 years since the September 11 attacks.
The comedian was only a child when Scott, a New York City firefighter, died while responding to an attack. More than two decades later, he continues to honor his dad while acknowledging how difficult the anniversary is for him.
This year, however, Pete Davidson is channeling that grief into something positive by encouraging Americans to perform acts of kindness in remembrance of those who lost their lives.
Pete was only seven years old when his father lost his life responding to the September 11 attacks. Now, 25 years later, he is reflecting on Scott not only as his dad but also as a firefighter who devoted himself to helping others.
“He was a firefighter for Ladder 118, Engine 205 in Brooklyn Heights,” Pete recalled in a video for 9/11 Day, per E! News. “My dad loved being a fireman, and he loved saving people, as he did on that day.”
The anniversary remains deeply personal for the former “Saturday Night Live” star. While millions of Americans remember the lives lost during the attacks, September 11 also represents the day Pete’s own life changed forever.
Rather than allowing the milestone to center entirely on grief, Pete has chosen to remember the qualities that defined his father. Scott’s dedication to serving others has become particularly important to how the comedian wants his legacy honored decades later.
As the 25th anniversary approached, Pete began thinking about a tribute that reflected the kind of person his father was. He ultimately partnered with 9/11 Day and its UNIITE For Good campaign, an initiative encouraging people across the country to perform acts of service.
“9/11 is usually a tough day, but this organization, 9/11 Day, does something cool where you do a good deed for someone and you pass it along,” Pete explained. “You try to make the day a little bit lighter.”
Participants can pledge their own act of kindness or receive an idea through the organization. Those gestures can range from reaching out to someone they care about and supporting charities to donating blood or expressing gratitude to first responders.
For Pete, the initiative provides an opportunity to turn an anniversary associated with immense personal loss into something that reflects Scott’s dedication to helping people. “I think my dad would have loved that,” he said.
Pete Davidson Urges Americans To Turn 9/11 Into A Day of Kindness
Pete’s involvement also carries a broader message about how Americans can remember September 11. Beyond honoring those who died, he wants people to recall the unity and compassion that emerged across the country immediately after the attacks.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, people put aside their differences and found ways to support strangers and communities in need. The 9/11 Day campaign hopes to revive that spirit through simple gestures that can make a difference in someone else’s life.
Those wanting to do more can also volunteer within their communities, allowing the anniversary to become an opportunity for service rather than solely a day of mourning.
Pete hopes enough people will participate to create a nationwide display of generosity. His message ultimately comes down to showing up for others in the same spirit that first responders, like his father, did.
“Together, let’s show up for each other. Let’s unite for good,” Pete said, adding, “I think my dad would have loved that.”
The Former ‘SNL’ Star Continues To Keep His Father’s Memory Alive Through His Daughter
Becoming a father has given Pete another deeply personal connection to Scott’s memory. His daughter, Scottie, who was born last December, was named in honor of the firefighter.
Pete explained that Scott was his father’s name while “Scotty” was his nickname. When his daughter arrived, he and her mother, Elsie Hewitt, agreed that Scottie suited her. “It’s nice to keep that name alive,” he said.
Fatherhood has also made this year’s anniversary more emotional, especially because Pete is now 33, the same age his father was when he died.
He admitted in a chat with the New York Post that the milestone feels “extra tough, but also extra beautiful” because he gets to spend the day with his daughter.
Pete Davidson Is Still Figuring Out How Best To Explain The 9/11 Death Of His Dad To His Daughter
Pete has not yet figured out exactly how he will explain Scottie’s grandfather’s death to her, but he knows he has time.
“Luckily, I have some time,” he told The Post. “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 sh-t.’”
For now, Scottie’s name serves as a lasting connection between the father Pete lost as a child and the daughter he is now raising himself.
