Kenan Thompson had to keep ‘SNL’ pal Pete Davidson’s baby news secret

Kenan Thompson knew that Pete Davidson was going to be a dad before most of us.

The Saturday Night Live veteran, who costarred with Davidson on the comedy sketch series from 2014 to 2022, learned that Davidson and his girlfriend Elsie Hewitt are expecting their first child four days before Hewitt made an announcement on social media.

“I spoke to him,” Thompson told Parade in an interview published Wednesday, “and I’m glad that I don’t have to keep the secret anymore.”

The Good Burger star had kind words for his friend.

“I hope that they have a wonderful, bonded parenting experience,” Thompson said. “I think he’s going to be a hyper-dedicated dad because he has such an affinity towards his dad. I think his dad being taken from him at such a young age has really stuck with him. So, I think he’ll be an ever-present father. I really do.”

Davidson, whose acting credits also include The King of Staten Island and Bodies Bodies Bodies, has spoken candidly about the death of his father, a New York City firefighter, in the 9/11 attacks. He’s also paid tribute to him on social media, as he did in a heart-wrenching post in September 2016: “There’s not a day that goes by where I dont think of u. Ur my hero. Cant wait to see u again someday.”

He’s also been open about how much he’s looking forward to his new role as a parent.

“Everybody’s just been super excited for me, because they know it’s been my dream,” Davidson told E! News last month. “I’m very lucky and very, very happy.”

Davidson noted then that he’s had a lot of support from his inner circle, and that Adam Sandler, a fellow SNL alum and dad, had already shared some advice.

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Thompson, too, is the father of two daughters, 11-year-old Georgia and Gianna, 7, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Christina Evangeline.

For Thompson, the best thing about being a dad is “the unconditional love of it all, on both sides,” he told Ebony in June 2024. “I would literally do anything and everything for these people. I felt like that about a lot of people, but more so a theory as opposed to the definite when it’s your child. That’s a great feeling to have.”