What started as a playful comment quickly became a viral pop culture moment. Comedian Pete Davidson has finally addressed Ariana Grande’s infamous remark about the size of his penis — and his response, in typical Pete fashion, was both savage and hilarious.
The whole saga began back in 2018 when Grande, then newly engaged to Davidson, responded to a fan on social media asking about their relationship. In what instantly became a headline-making moment, she cheekily hinted at his “size,” sparking endless memes, late-night jokes, and an entire online obsession. The comment spread across X like wildfire, setting off what fans jokingly called the “BDE era.”
Years later, Davidson addressed the remark head-on during a live comedy set, revealing that he wasn’t exactly thrilled about how it played out. “She did that so every woman I date after has insane expectations,” he said on stage, according to Entertainment Tonight. “It’s all downhill from here.”
“She did that so every woman I date after has insane expectations.” — Pete Davidson on Ariana’s viral size comment @enews
Audience members reportedly erupted in laughter, but Davidson’s delivery carried a touch of the blunt honesty that made him famous. He added, “Why would she do that to me? That’s so unfair. It’s like setting me up for failure.”
Back when the comment first went viral, fans turned it into a cultural event. The term “BDE” — short for “big d*** energy” — became a fixture of pop culture overnight. It wasn’t just about the joke; it became shorthand for confidence, swagger, and the very specific brand of chaotic charm Davidson embodied during his high-profile relationship with Grande. One pop culture columnist at Rolling Stone described it at the time as “the birth of an internet legend.”
Grande never elaborated on her comment again, but the damage — or in Pete’s case, the myth — was already done. Even years after their breakup, new girlfriends and tabloids continued to reference the remark. “I swear I walk into a date and it’s like there’s a giant flashing sign above my head,” Davidson joked during the show, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Pete Davidson jokes about Ariana Grande’s infamous comment: “It’s like a flashing sign above my head.” @THR
Grande’s tweet has long since been deleted, but it became a pop culture touchstone almost instantly. Late-night hosts, memes, and fan accounts turned the phrase into a running joke that followed Davidson from red carpets to talk show appearances. Even he admitted the whole thing was “kind of brilliant” — though not exactly helpful.
“I get it, it was funny. It’s a great bit,” he told the audience, according to Vulture. “But also… now I have to live with it forever.”
Fans on social media were quick to react to his comeback, with some calling it “peak Pete” — that blend of self-deprecation, sarcasm, and absurd humor that made him a comedy favorite. One user wrote, “Only Pete Davidson can get roasted for something most guys would be proud of and still make it funny.” Another said, “The man turned a global meme into a punchline. Legend.”
“Only Pete Davidson can get roasted for something most guys would brag about and make it funny.” @popbase
Davidson has often spoken candidly about how his personal life collides with his comedy career, turning tabloid moments into material for his stand-up. His breakup with Grande was heavily publicized, and their whirlwind romance — including matching tattoos and a surprise engagement — remains one of the most talked-about celebrity relationships of the decade.
In past interviews, Grande has described Davidson as “funny, kind, and a little chaotic,” while he has referred to their relationship as “a wild ride” during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show. But it was that one offhand size comment that outlived the love story itself.
“She basically gave me a nickname for life,” Davidson said with a grin. “I didn’t ask for it, but hey, at least it’s a good one.” The joke, once again, landed perfectly.
“She basically gave me a nickname for life. I didn’t ask for it, but hey, at least it’s a good one.” — Pete Davidson @HowardStern
Online, fans continue to reference the viral moment years later, proving that some celebrity quotes simply never die. As one commenter wrote on X, “That tweet might go down as one of the most accidentally iconic moments in pop culture history.”
