Pete Davidson Wants to Leave 'Saturday Night Live' Because 'They Make Fun of Me on It'

Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson wants to leave the NBC sketch show because he's tired of being the butt of so many jokes.

In what is billed as "an honest conversation" with radio DJ Charlamagne Tha God, released on YouTube Monday, Davidson said: "I personally think I should be done with that show because they make fun of me on it."

When pressed by Charlamagne that "that's the point, it's a comedy sketch show," Davidson expanded: "I'm, like, cold open political punchlines. I'm, like, Weekend Update jokes. When I'm not there, they'll be like, 'Ha, ha, ha, Pete's a f***ing jerk-face.' And you're like, 'Whose side are you on?'"

Davidson continued: "I have a weird feeling in that building where I don't know whose team they're playing for ... if I'm the joke, or if I'm in on the joke."

The comedian joined SNL in its 40th season in 2014. Aged just 20 at the time, he was one of the youngest ever cast members to join the series.

However, speaking to Charlamagne, Davidson, now 26, admitted he wanted Season 44—which aired through May last year—to be his last season of the sketch show.

"I really wanted last year to be my last year," he said, "but I'm still around and still trying..."

Davidson praised SNL creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels, however, saying, "he's the best and he's treated me with nothing but love."

Davidson said Michaels is like a "father figure" to him, "but as far as everyone else, it's a cutthroat f***ing show, everyone's trying to get their s**t on, everyone wants to be the next thing. So it's not like a loving, caring ... like, you're not going to get coddled over there. They don't give a f**k at the end of the day."

Davidson, whose highly publicized relationship with Ariana Grande in 2018 dominated tabloid headlines, was also involved in some controversial jokes during the 44th season of SNL, which aired around the same time, too.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn demanded an apology from SNL and NBC after Davidson made a joke comparing supporters of the Catholic Church to R. Kelly.

"If you support the Catholic Church, isn't that, like, the same thing as being a R. Kelly fan? I don't really see a difference, only, like, one's music is significantly better," said Davidson.

The Diocese of Brooklyn called the joke "disgraceful and offensive," adding: "Apparently, the only acceptable bias these days is against the Catholic Church."

Davidson was also criticized for joking that Representative Dan Crenshaw, who suffered an eye injury serving as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan and wears an eye patch, looks like a "hit man in a porno movie."

Crenshaw appeared with Davidson on SNL the following week and accepted the comedian's apology.

NBC did not respond to a request for comment.