PETE Davidson decided to take on Kanye West in their ugly feud over Kim Kardashian because he’s “tired of being a pushover for bullies,” claim childhood friends of the comedian.
The SNL star, 28, has begun hitting back after being subjected to jealous and increasingly violent slurs by rapper, who is enraged that his ex-wife is dating the younger man.
In a shocking music video for Ye’s new song, released just hours after Kim, 41, was declared legally single in court, a Claymation replica of Kanye kidnaps a Pete-like character then displays his decapitated head.
It was just one of a series of savage insults and stunts that culminated in the rapper, 44, eventually being booted off Instagram for 24 hours.
Acquaintances of Pete’s told The Sun in exclusive interviews that it was no surprise when the star initially shrugged off the rants.
“Kanye cursed him out and he just turned the other cheek. It was no surprise. Poor Pete’s been bullied ever since he was a kid,” said one longtime pal.
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But on March 14, a shocked Ye complained that he had received a text from “the boyfriend” bragging “about being in bed with my wife”.
Johnny Potenza provided The Sun with pictures of Pete at age 16 on a TV show, Late Night with Johnny P, that he hosts in the New York borough of Staten Island where the SNL funnyman grew up.
Johnny, 50, said: “Pete’s never been a fighter but it’s like he doesn’t want to look like a wimp.
“Kanye has just been picking fights and calling him names and it’s childish – a pathetic love drama.
“I became friends with Pete back in February 2010, when he appeared twice on my show. I was the first guy to ever interview him. A guy who was mentoring him introduced us.
“He was very humble but he never let on that he was being bullied and in those days when he was around older guys like me at comedy clubs, no one bothered him.
“I learned later about the bullying he’d gone through.
“Honestly, it seems like he’s overcome it and he’s probably had it with Kanye. He’s defending his woman, stepping up for her.”
Others told The Sun that they believe the comedian’s own candid revelations about his tragic childhood made him seem an easy target for Kanye.
He was just seven when his father Scott – a New York City firefighter — died on 9/11 after rushing heroically into the collapsing World Trade Center and he has said he worried that he was getting work because people felt sorry for him.
“It was sad how sad he was growing up,” his mom, Amy, told the New York Times, confiding that he became a “lab rat” for medical experts studying the effects of the terror attacks on victims’ children.
He started to experience mental health problems after the loss of his father, ripping out his hair until he was bald and fighting suicidal thoughts.
“I tried to drown myself in the pool when I was in the fourth or fifth grade,” he said. “I was trying to get my head stuck in the ladder in the deep end, so I would not be able to get up.”
In a heartbreaking radio interview with Peter Rosenberg, he blamed himself when bullies started to be “mean” to him.
“I was in school having a rough time grieving so I was acting out a little bit,” he said. “I didn’t have any friends.”
He says he was treated like an outcast by classmates. One of them invited him to a birthday party – but said that the only reason was that he felt sorry for him because he was an orphan.
He reportedly bounced between three high schools because of “behavioral issues.”
According to court papers reviewed by The Sun, one prestigious Catholic private school he attended was ruled over by a priest who was accused of orchestrating a “reign of terror.”
The principal of St Joseph by the Sea, Father Michael Reilly, is slammed in an ongoing New York Supreme Court case by three employees who claim he harassed gay, black, disabled and elderly staff and pupils with “a nearly constant stream” of foul-mouthed insults.
Father Reilly has strongly denied all the allegations in a letter to parents, contending they are “absurd.”
The insider recalled that Pete is among the suit’s supporters.
The comedian aired his comments in an Instagram tirade, writing: “I went to this high school and I’m glad something is finally being done about Father Reilly.
“He is an absolute monster and has ruined that high school. He should have been fired years ago. F**k this dude. He’s an epic piece of s**t and an ultimate jerk off.”
The taunts Kanye is slinging at Pete have highlighted the stints that Kim’s beau has spent in rehab.
“[I’m] really concerned that SKETE will get my kids’ mom hooked on drugs,” he raged on Instagram, using the nickname he’s adopted for Pete. “He’s in rehab every 2 months.”
The comedian says, however, that he used weed to cope with the pain of a chronic illness, Crohn’s disease.
One of the shrinks who treated him has diagnosed him as suffering from bipolar disorder – the same mental illness that afflicts Kanye, he allegedly pointed out in a text to the rapper.
He sniped: “Let me help you man. I struggle with mental stuff too.
“It’s not an easy journey, you don’t have to feel this way anymore. There’s no shame in having a little help. You’ll be so happy and at peace.
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“I have your back even though you treat me like s**t because I want everything to be smooth.
“But if you continue to press me like you have for the past 6 months I’m gonna stop being so nice.”
