How Pete Davidson's Chance Meeting With a Young Fan Led to a $20,000 Donation

A day on a Brooklyn film set turned into something bigger for Pete Davidson, when a chance meeting with a young comic named Liam led the actor to make a $20,000 donation toward research for a rare disease.

Pete Davidson turned a moment on set into a meaningful gift for a community struggling with a rare disease.

Davidson was filming “Tommy Karate” in Brooklyn when he met a young boy, Liam, an aspiring comic living with 5p- syndrome, also known as Cri du Chat syndrome (“cry of the cat” in French).

Pete Davidson is seen on the set of "Tommy Karate" in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn on August 25, 2026 | Source: Getty Images

The rare genetic disorder, which affects just 50 to 60 babies each year, gets its name from one of its distinct symptoms, a high-pitched cry resembling a cat's meow.

After the chance encounter, Davidson made a $20,000 donation to the Cri du Chat Research Foundation, according to a representative who confirmed the gift to People.

The foundation also shared the news in a Facebook post featuring a photo of Davidson with Liam, whom they fondly called Liam the Lion, and Liam’s mother. The foundation thanked the actor for his "genuine willingness to listen, learn, and shine a light" on the disorder.

Pete Davidson attends "Netflix Is A Joke Festival Presents: The Roast of Kevin Hart" at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026 | Source: Getty Images

The post went further than just thanking Davidson for the donation. It used the moment to highlight a larger issue facing the rare disease community. While scientific breakthroughs like gene and RNA therapies already exist, there is not enough funding to get these to the patients who need them.

“Families like ours are increasingly being asked to lead research and raise millions of dollars simply to create a path toward the treatments our children desperately need,” the post stated, adding, “For children like Liam, disease-modifying therapies could potentially change the trajectory of their lives — not simply manage their symptoms.”