The Appeal of Dating Pete Davidson

Everything I know about Pete Davidson’s love life, I know against my will.

First, it was the viral meme of him holding hands with his then-fiancé Ariana Grande in 2018. Throughout the better half of 2022, his ten-month-long relationship with Kim Kardashian was a constant fixture on my social media feeds. Each time the 29-year-old comedian enters another rumoured romance, the internet can’t quite shut up about it. His latest reported love affair, with model Emily Ratajkowski, is no different.

The relationship rumours began on November 13, after celebrity gossip watchdog DeuxMoi shared an anonymous tip claiming the pair were out on a date in Brooklyn, New York. Us Weekly then ran its own story on the couple, quoting sources who said the pair have been in the “talking” stages of their relationship for months. On Wednesday, November 16, rumours were all but confirmed after a (pretty invasive) paparazzi video showed the two hugging — and wearing matching outfits — in a residential building in New York. It would seem Pete Davidson and Emily Ratajkowski really are dating, and of course, social media is in a complete tailspin.

At this point, Pete Davidson dating a new beautiful megastar every few months is as natural as the changing of the seasons. Along with his high-profile relationships with Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande, he has, in recent years, been romantically linked to a myriad of gorgeous celebs like Kaia Gerber, Phoebe Dynevor, Margaret Qualley and Kate Beckinsale. But even with this romantic track record, Pete Davidson’s lure is still largely seen as an unsolved mystery. Each time he has a new girlfriend, unflattering photos of him flood social media, conspiracy theories are formed and there’s a general sense of bewilderment as to how, exactly, the couple came to be.

All things considered, his ambiguous appeal is not that hard to figure out. For starters, he is famous, wealthy and really tall — each generally enticing qualities. But what really makes him attractive is that, despite these traditional markers of male attractiveness, he’s still decidedly uncool. As someone who was bullied growing up and who still struggles with mental health, he has an underdog energy that’s pretty rare in Hollywood. On top of all that, he’s a nice guy. Just ask Kim Kardashian.

During his fling with the reality star earlier this year, she gushed about him on her show, The Kardashians. “Pete has got to be literally the best human being I have ever met. Like, the best heart,” she said. “He is really, really thoughtful, humble and so genuine. I would say the perfect word to describe Pete is genuine.”

Perhaps it’s as simple as that. With his self-deprecating humour and lanky, awkward demeanour, Pete Davidson doesn’t take himself too seriously. He can go from looking a little dishevelled in baggy pants, hoodies and baseball caps to wearing a dress on the Met Gala red carpet. In an image-obsessed industry, Davidson’s adorkable, humble image goes a long way. And though he’s often made fun of for not being “attractive” enough for his romantic conquests, he proves the world wrong each time he enters a new high-profile relationship.

Emily Ratajkowski may have put it best. In November 2021, long before their rumoured coupling began, the model opened up about Davidson’s perceived attractiveness on Late Night with Seth Meyers. “He seems super charming, he’s vulnerable, he’s lovely, his fingernail polish is awesome,” she said. “Like, he looks good.”

With A-listers of the world basically lining up to date him, there’s an undeniable magnetism about Pete Davidson. And I’d argue he even serves a higher purpose for each girlfriend. Often dating women right after they leave long-term partnerships (see: Kim Kardashian after she divorced Kanye West and Emily Ratajkowski after she split from her husband, Sebastian Bear-McClard), a Pete Davidson fling is always fun, exciting and reliably short-lived. That, I think, is the point.

Time and time again, he goes out with women who are independent, powerful and who notably don’t actually need a man. Some even suggest he serves as a perpetual “rebound” boyfriend, empowering those he dates to flourish on their own when they’re done with him. When you think of it that way, dating Pete Davidson is kinda like an act of self-care. Maybe it’s even a step on the journey to self-actualization. Next up, may I suggest Julia Fox?

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