The Truth Revealed: Did Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson’s 2022 Romance Spark for Real or PR?

Last Updated on April 2, 2025

Let’s stop pretending we didn’t all squint in confusion the first time Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson were seen together, because they are definitely the perfect match.

It was giving rebound energy, PR gold, and a chaotic plot twist. Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson made zero sense on paper, just like when Pete dated Ariana Grande — and yet, they made headlines like no other couple in recent memory.

Was it love? Was it lust? Or was it a well-oiled Kris Jenner™ marketing campaign masked as romance?

Let’s get into this celebrity news. And spoiler alert: this wasn’t just a casual fling, or that kim had a soft spot. It was a cultural moment — and possibly one of the slickest celebrity rebrands of the decade.

It All Started With a Kiss

October 2021. Kim hosts Saturday Night Live. It’s her big post-divorce, solo era debut. She’s nervous. She’s hilarious. She’s trying to reintroduce herself.

Enter: Pete. He plays Aladdin. She plays Jasmine. They share a kiss on a fake flying carpet — and boom. Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson suddenly became… a thing.

Was it just a scene between business partners? Or was that kiss the soft launch of Hollywood’s oddest (and most internet-breaking) couple?

According to Kim herself, there was a “little zing.” during the comedy film. But what came next? Oh, it was pure spectacle between the business partners.

The Photo Ops Begin

Just days later, Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson (or advertising partners) are spotted holding hands on a rollercoaster at Knott’s Scary Farm.

And listen — Kim doesn’t do rollercoasters. Or public hand-holding. Not unless it’s strategic.

Then came the Staten Island dinner. The matching SKIMS pajamas with Kris Jenner and Flavor Flav. The Bahamas getaway. Paparazzi were somehow always right on time. The coverage? Nonstop.

It wasn’t just a fling — it was a narrative between the advertising partnerts. And Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson were both riding that storyline like a film company, where their last ride was at Disneyland.

A Convenient Contrast

Let’s be honest: Kim had just exited a nightmare of a marriage with Kanye West, who was already spiraling on social media. She needed a reset, and who better than Pete Davidson, a guy known for his self-deprecating humor and chill, normcore vibes as one of the most well-known American stand-up comedians?

@voguemagazine @Kim Kardashian didn’t let #PeteDavidson wear his “propeller hat” to the #MetGala ♬ original sound – Vogue

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson were the exact opposite of her past, including Ariana Grande too.

He was low-effort. She was high-glam. He was “I live with my mom” energy. She was private jets and Paris Fashion Week. The mismatch made it magnetic or at least that’s what it seems for the American People.

And also, insanely memeable.

The Hulu Integration (aka The Plot Thickens)

Oh, and right in the middle of all this? The Kardashians launched on Hulu. A new era. A new format. And guess who just happened to be woven into the storyline?

That’s right. Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson became part of the plot. We heard about their texting. We saw BTS footage. Even if Pete refused to appear on camera, his presence was felt.

Coincidence? Or did Hulu just land the juiciest subplot of the season?

Fans started asking: Is this romance, or is this a rollout?

Pete’s Dating Resume Doesn’t Lie

Let’s talk about it: Pete Davidson has dated everyone.

@rarebored.star Pete Davidson’s dating history ##usa #us #celebrities #fyp #foryou #petedavidson #feelings ♬ original sound – Rare.star

Ariana Grande. Kate Beckinsale. Kaia Gerber. Phoebe Dynevor. Emily Ratajkowski. Now rumored to be dating Madelyn Cline. The man’s type? Famous.

So when Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson became a pair, it wasn’t that shocking. But it was extremely well-timed for both of their careers.

He was transitioning from SNL to movie star. She was entering her billionaire single-girl boss era. Both needed a distraction from their exes. Both got it — and then some.

Nine Months of Headlines

For nearly a year, Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson were everywhere.

@pagesix #KimKardashian and #PeteDavidson ♬ Mrs.Sunny.Ko – 🌸 𝐌𝐫𝐬.𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐲 🌸

They kissed in parking garages. Walked red carpets. Got tattoos (well, he did). They made the Met Gala their playground. And the internet? Couldn’t look away.

It was like the media couldn’t resist the weirdness. And that’s exactly why it worked. They were so mismatched, they made sense.

But just as quickly as it started, it ended.

The Cleanest Break in Kardashian History

In August 2022, the couple called it quits.

@realityashley They’re both gems.. just different worlds❤️ #kimkardashian #petedavidson #thekardashians #thekardashianshulu #thekardashiansseason2 ♬ original sound – REALITY ASHLEY || Reality TV

No drama. No cheating scandals. No subtweets. No “sources close to the situation” feeding tabloids ugly details.

The official line? Busy schedules. Long-distance. Still friends.

And just like that, Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson were done. Poof. Disappeared from each other’s feeds from the front pages.

Which only made the whole thing feel even more orchestrated.

PR Stunt or Genuine Flirtation?

So let’s ask it straight:

Did Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson actually date? Or did they play into the fantasy of a relationship that served both of their brands?

Maybe it was real. Maybe they did Netflix and chill, eat dinner in sweatpants, and laugh at each other’s texts. But if you think Kris Jenner didn’t optimize the heck out of every moment for public consumption — girl, be serious.

@shameless_podcast This is a PR relo and you can’t change our minds #kimkardashian #petedavidson #popculture #podcast ♬ original sound – Shameless Podcast

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson were perfectly packaged, heavily publicized, and completely consumed by the internet.

And when it was done? So were we.

Final Word: The PR Romance That Shook the Internet

Real or not, one thing’s certain — Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson were the moment.

For nine months, they dominated headlines, distracted us from scandals, and made Hollywood romance weirdly fun again.

If it was love, it burned fast and bright. If it was PR? It was masterfully executed.

Either way, they gave us the content we didn’t know we needed — and we ate it up like SKIMS restock day.