Pete Davidson told Aretha Franklin's family he was 'paying his R-E-S-P-E-C-Ts' while high on ketamine at her funeral

Pete Davidson has opened up about his ketamine addiction leading him to being high at Aretha Franklin's funeral.

The 30-year-old comedian has previously spoken out about his journey with being drug addiction, revealing to a crowd late last year at one of his shows in Atlantic City, New Jersey he took ketamine every day for multiple years in a row.

And in his Netflix comedy special Turbo Fonzerelli, Davidson has since revealed he even took ket the day of the 'Respect' singer's funeral which took place in Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple in August 2018.

Davidson explains he was 'on a drug for the past two-and-a-half, three years called ketamine'.

According to the United States Drug Enforcement and Administration, ketamine is 'a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects'.

"Ketamine distorts the perception of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control. It is referred to as a 'dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen' because it makes patients feel detached from their pain and environment," the description on its website continues.

While illegal to abuse the drug, ketamine is also used to help treat depression.

In his Netflix special, Davidson reflects he's 'embarrassed' he took the drug and went out in public while high, including when he rocked up to Aretha Franklin's funeral with then-partner Ariana Grande - with Grande performing at the event.

Getty Images/ Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

The comedian continues: "That’s not cool, you know? I was at funerals like that. That’s f**** up, right?

"I was at Aretha Franklin’s funeral like that. Yeah, I have to live with that. You know what I mean? She’ll never know, but still, that’s not the point. You know what I mean?

"If she was there, she would probably be like, ‘Hey, who are you? And what the f*** are you doing at my funeral?’ It’s embarrassing."

And the embarrassment didn't end there either, with Davidson even going so far as to go up to Franklin's grieving family and say: "Hey, I’m just here to pay my R-E-S-P-E-C-T…S."

Netflix

Later in the special, Davidson reflects: "I had to stop doing hard drugs because [you] can’t be a drug addict in your thirties, you know?”

"Doing drugs in your twenties is fine. It’s like an excuse. You’re like: ‘I’m finding myself.’ It’s cute, you know?"

After taking ketamine for so many years, Davidson ultimately checked himself into rehab in the summer of 2023.

If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can call American Addiction Centers on (888) 830-7624 24 hours, seven days a week, or contact them through their website.

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