The comedian responded in his 2020 standup special, Pete Davidson: Alive From New York. He claimed that he had no prior intention of speaking about his relationship with Grande or the breakup, but after a friend told him about the Vogue interview, he felt he would share his side of the story.
“She has her songs and stuff, and this is what I have. You’re like, ‘Pete, this isn’t fair. You’re airing out dirty laundry. How could you do that? Where did she say this stuff? To her friends in the confidence of her own home?’” he said. “No, she said it on the cover of Vogue magazine. Can you imagine if I did that?” he continued. “My career would be over tomorrow if I spray painted myself brown and hopped on the cover of Vogue magazine and just started shitting on my ex.”
Davidson reiterated, “Can you imagine if I did that shit? Like, ‘Yeah, I was just f*cking her because I was bored, and then Fortnite came out.’ Sometimes life is a little unfair.”