Pete Davidson’s Complex Feelings on Cazzie David’s Breakup Memoir and Ariana Grande Romance

The intricate world of celebrity relationships often unfolds under the intense scrutiny of the public eye, and few narratives have captivated audiences quite like the intertwined stories of Pete Davidson, Cazzie David, and Ariana Grande. What began as a seemingly private breakup between Davidson and David quickly spiraled into a whirlwind romance for Davidson and Grande, leaving behind a trail of public discussion and personal reflection. Years later, Cazzie David’s candid memoir, No One Asked For This, brought their 2018 split back into the spotlight, detailing her raw emotions and perspective on the swift end of her relationship and Davidson’s subsequent high-profile engagement.

UPDATE: (December 24, 2020) — In a revealing interview with Insider published on December 21, Pete Davidson finally addressed Cazzie David’s collection of essays. Responding to the insights shared in No One Asked For This, Davidson conveyed a sense of genuine warmth and support for his ex-girlfriend. “I’m really happy for her. It did well, and, you know, we’re cool. I wish her nothing but the best,” he told the outlet, reflecting on the book’s success and their current amicable relationship. He added, “I think she wrote a really funny book and I hope it stays on the chart,” underscoring his positive sentiment towards David’s literary endeavor and her personal growth.

Pete Davidson’s “Mixed Emotions” Regarding Cazzie David’s Revelations

ORIGINAL REPORT: While Pete Davidson, who was 27 at the time of these initial reports, publicly expressed happiness for Cazzie David, sources close to the comedian previously indicated his internal struggle with the revelations in her book and accompanying interviews. Davidson reportedly harbored “mixed emotions” concerning what his ex, Cazzie David, “said about him” in her new book and the bombshell interview regarding their breakup and his subsequent romance with Ariana Grande. These insights, exclusively shared with HollywoodLife by an insider close to Davidson, highlight the complexities of navigating a public breakup, especially when one party’s narrative receives widespread attention.

Cazzie David, daughter of comedian Larry David, made significant headlines with her interview in The Los Angeles Times. She recounted her profound distress upon learning that Pete Davidson had moved on with Ariana Grande just a single day after he had ended their own relationship definitively via text message – a detail that left many readers empathetic to her plight. Her powerful admission of “shaking uncontrollably” painted a vivid picture of the emotional turmoil she experienced. While Davidson was reportedly upset to learn of her intense pain, particularly since his romance with Grande was never intended as a form of “breakup revenge,” he maintains a somewhat “different” perspective on the conclusion of their two-and-a-half-year relationship.

Differing Perspectives on the End of a Relationship

The way individuals perceive the end of a relationship can vary dramatically, and this proved true for Davidson and David. A source explained Davidson’s viewpoint: “[Pete] sees the relationship he had with Cazzie as something he enjoyed, but sees how it ended differently than she does. And when Ariana came into the picture, that was such a breath of fresh air for him that he went on that journey fast and furious because it felt so right.” This perspective suggests that while Davidson valued his time with David, the arrival of Ariana Grande represented a new, compelling chapter that felt instinctively correct for him to pursue with intensity. The source further elaborated on the challenging nature of breakups, acknowledging that emotional pain is often an unavoidable consequence: “He doesn’t want people to feel bad, but with breakups, someone is going to feel pretty bad. Hearts were broken but Pete had to move on. He accepts that Cazzie is saying what she is saying, but he can’t pay too much attention to it and has to move on, which he has.” This highlights Davidson’s acceptance of David’s narrative while simultaneously emphasizing his need to prioritize his own emotional progress.

No Intent to Cause Hurt: Pete Davidson’s Stance

Despite the painful outcome, it was never Pete Davidson’s intention to inflict the distress that Cazzie David so vividly described. A second source, also close to the stand-up comedian, exclusively informed HollywoodLife: “The last thing Pete ever wanted was for Cazzie to get hurt because of anything that happened between them.” This underlines a sense of regret on Davidson’s part regarding David’s suffering, even if the events unfolded from different motivations. The source added further context to Davidson’s state of mind during that period: “Pete was also figuring out his own stuff at the time and needed to decide what he wanted in terms of going back to what he had with Cazzie or starting a new chapter with Ariana.” This suggests that Davidson was undergoing a significant personal transition, grappling with the direction of his romantic life and his own evolving needs. The decision to move forward with Ariana Grande was, from his perspective, a personal choice for a new beginning rather than a deliberate act of malice towards Cazzie David.

The Complicated Timing of the Breakup and New Romance

The situation was undoubtedly complicated by the timing of events, a factor that Cazzie David herself acknowledged. In her interview with The Los Angeles Times, the creator of the Eighty-Sixed web series confessed that she had initially initiated the breakup. This decision stemmed from her struggles “to convince [Pete] that she really loved him,” a heartbreaking admission that speaks to the emotional challenges within their relationship. However, when she subsequently attempted to reconcile and win him back, it was unfortunately too late. Pete Davidson had already made the decisive move to pursue new love with Ariana Grande in May of 2018. This pivotal shift occurred merely a few days after Cazzie had requested a break from their relationship, creating a narrow window of time that led to significant emotional fallout. A third source, also close to Davidson, exclusively confirmed to HollywoodLife that “Cazzie broke up with Pete, she just didn’t expect him to move on so fast.” This insider further clarified Davidson’s motivations, stating, “He didn’t start dating Ariana to hurt Cazzie. It just happened very fast and he went with it. He hates that it hurt Cazzie, but fortunately they have been able to talk about it and move past it and they’re great friends now. And they really are better as friends.” This narrative emphasizes the rapid, almost accidental nature of Davidson’s new romance, rather than a premeditated action to cause pain.

From Exes to Enduring Friends: A Mature Resolution

Crucially, both sources underscore the strong friendship that has emerged between Pete Davidson and Cazzie David in the aftermath of their tumultuous split. Our second source highlighted this mature resolution, stating, “Pete’s glad that he and Cazzie could get to the point they’re at now and can be friendly after all this time, despite everything that went down and he has nothing but respect for her.” This testament to their evolved relationship speaks volumes about their ability to navigate past heartbreak and forge a new, supportive bond. As further evidence of their enduring connection and mutual respect, Cazzie David chose to share her raw and personal essay about their breakup with Pete Davidson before its publication. Moreover, her new book, tellingly titled No One Asked For This: Essays, which was released on November 17, includes a touching dedication to Davidson: “Pete. I love you … Your bravery inspires me and your friendship means the world to me.” This powerful dedication serves as a public declaration of their profound bond, illustrating a rare and admirable example of former romantic partners evolving into cherished friends who continue to support and inspire one another, despite their complicated history.

The Whirlwind Romance of Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande

The breakup between Pete Davidson and Cazzie David in May of 2018 almost immediately ushered in a highly sensationalized chapter in Davidson’s life: his whirlwind romance with pop superstar Ariana Grande. After dating for a relatively brief period of just weeks, Davidson proposed to the then 27-year-old Grande, thrusting their relationship further into the celebrity spotlight. Their engagement and relationship, however, proved to be equally fleeting, ultimately coming to an end in October of that same year. This split occurred shortly after the devastating and heartbreaking death of Ariana’s ex-boyfriend, rapper Mac Miller, a tragedy that undoubtedly cast a long shadow over her personal life. Ariana Grande later shed more light on the nature of their connection, clarifying in an interview on The Zach Sang Show in February 2019 that it wasn’t the first time she and Pete had broken up, and candidly describing their relationship as “on and off.” This retrospect offered a more nuanced view of a relationship that, from the outside, appeared to be an intense, uninterrupted trajectory, but in reality, faced its own set of internal challenges before its final conclusion.

Conclusion: Navigating Love, Loss, and Public Scrutiny

The public narratives surrounding celebrity relationships, especially breakups and new romances, are often complex and multifaceted. The story of Pete Davidson, Cazzie David, and Ariana Grande serves as a poignant example of how personal emotional journeys unfold under intense media scrutiny. While Cazzie David bravely shared her pain and perspective, allowing many to empathize with her experience, Pete Davidson’s subsequent reflections reveal a man who, while moving on, grappled with the unintended emotional impact on someone he once cared for deeply. His recent positive comments about David’s book and their established friendship underscore a mature resolution, suggesting that even in the aftermath of a highly publicized and emotionally charged breakup, it is possible for individuals to find respect, understanding, and a new form of connection. The intertwined lives of these public figures continue to offer lessons in navigating love, loss, and the often-unforgiving glare of public attention, ultimately highlighting the resilience required to move forward and redefine relationships on one’s own terms.