In a startling new interview, comedian Pete Davidson opened up about the years of physical and emotional abuse he endured at the hands of his maternal grandfather. “He was a monster in my life,” Davidson admitted to GQ’s May cover story. “I’m actually thrilled to see him wasting away now—he deserves every moment of this reckoning.”
Davidson, 30, described memories of his grandfather, Ronald “Ron” Williams, dating back to early childhood visits at the family’s Staten Island home. “At eight years old,” he told CNN Entertainment, “I learned fear is something you wear like a second skin. He’d snap his fingers and expect me to jump—even jail time would’ve been more humane.”
@PeteDavidson “Surviving my childhood meant surviving him—now I’m free, and watching his health crumble feels like justice.” Davidson’s raw confession
According to court documents obtained by Reuters, Williams was arrested in 2010 on assault charges after neighbors reported hearing terrified screams. Though the charges were later dropped, Davidson says the incident fractured his trust in authority. “They let him go,” he told Vulture. “The system failed me, just like he did.”
Davidson’s mother, Amy Williams, has declined to comment, but close friends tell People magazine she has quietly supported her son’s decision to speak out. “She’s relieved he’s no longer carrying secrets,” a family friend said. “This interview is his liberation.”
@People “Amy Williams stands by Pete—‘He’s breaking cycles of silence.’” Family reaction
Davidson described Williams’s recent stroke and hospital stay as a moment of poetic justice. “When I heard he was in ICU, I didn’t cry,” Davidson admitted in a candid TikTok post that has since gone viral. “I felt… relieved. Like my childhood chains were finally snapping.”
Psychologists warn, however, that celebrating someone’s decline can have lasting emotional consequences. Dr. Elaine Roberts of the American Psychological Association tells NBC News Health that “while anger is valid, long-term healing often requires forgiveness or at least compassion for one’s abusers, no matter how undeserving.”
@APAPublic “Survivors must balance validation of anger with pathways to inner peace.” Mental-health insight
Davidson insists his stance is about empowerment, not cruelty. “I’m not satan-worshipping,” he emphasized to Entertainment Tonight. “I’m reclaiming my story. If he suffers, it’s only fair after all those years of my suffering.”
Fans have poured in their support under the hashtag #StandWithPete, sharing their own tales of abuse and resilience. @SurvivorStories wrote, “Hearing Pete say the truth gave me courage to confront my own abuser.” Meanwhile, some critics argue the public airing of family trauma can reopen old wounds for relatives. “Not everything needs to be a headline,” opined @PrivacyAdvocate on X.
@SurvivorStories “Pete’s honesty saved my silence.” Fan testimony
Industry peers also weighed in. Fellow comedian John Mulaney tweeted, “Brother, your story matters. Proud of your bravery.” Rachel Feinstein commented on Instagram, “Pete, you remind us we all have a right to peace.”
@MulaneyLaughs “Pete’s courage shines—abuse survivors, you’re not alone.” Comedic solidarity
Davidson’s revelations arrive amid a broader reckoning in Hollywood over abuse and accountability. As more survivors share their experiences, the industry faces renewed pressure to provide support, therapy grants, and safe reporting channels. The Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund recently announced a new initiative for family-abuse survivors in the entertainment business, pledging $2 million in free legal services.
Reflecting on his journey, Davidson told GQ, “Comedy was my shield, my way to survive. Now, I don’t need the shield anymore. I just need the truth.” As his grandfather remains hospitalized, Davidson plans to visit—not out of mercy, but to close the final chapter on a painful past and step fully into his future.
