During a candid appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Pete Davidson didn’t hold back when recalling the audience at the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary special. The comedian described the crowd as “terrible,” arguing that it was filled with celebrities who “only like themselves.”
Despite finding the star-studded room underwhelming, Davidson walked away with a highlight—sharing a seat next to acting legend Meryl Streep during the historic February 16, 2025 event.
Why Pete Davidson Found the Audience “Terrible”
On Late Night with Seth Meyers on August 7, 2025, Davidson explained why he thought SNL50’s crowd was disappointing:
“As you know from SNL40—terrible audience. It’s a terrible audience ’cause it’s just famous people, and famous people only like themselves.”
As the Late Night audience laughed, Davidson doubled down, admitting, “It’s true! I’m guilty of this!” Seth Meyers teased him about being “the only one laughing” during a pre-taped sketch that he appeared in at SNL50. The King of Staten Island star confirmed it, saying the celebrity-packed audience simply didn’t react the way a typical live crowd would.
The SNL50 taping on February 16, 2025, was loaded with big names—Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, and Kim Kardashian among them. While undeniably impressive on paper, Davidson argued that performing for other famous people can be intimidating and less rewarding because they tend to be more focused on themselves than the show.
A Seat Next to Meryl Streep Became the Night’s Highlight
Despite his disappointment with the overall vibe, Davidson did have one unforgettable moment. When he arrived at SNL50, he discovered his seatmate was none other than Meryl Streep.
“Meryl rules. … In typical SNL fashion, they don’t tell you anything. You don’t even know what’s going on. I get to my seat and I just look and I’m like, ‘This can’t be right.’ And it was Meryl Streep.”
The 31-year-old continued, “I just sat down and I was like, ‘I’m so sorry that I’m sitting next to you. You’re the best.’” Streep, ever gracious, replied, “No, no, no.”
His reflections on the special come during an exciting personal chapter—Davidson and his girlfriend, Elsie Hewitt, recently announced they’re expecting their first child.
Speaking to E! News, he said he’s looking forward to “being able to take care of something and show it the childhood I didn’t have. I assume you just try to give them what you didn’t have, and what you didn’t like, not do it.”