Scarlett Johansson Caught in the Crossfire: Colin Jost's SNL Joke Sparks Backstage Reactions
Scarlett JohanssonIn a holiday episode of Saturday Night Live that will be remembered for its mix of humor and discomfort, Scarlett Johansson found herself at the center of an on-air joke exchange between her husband, Colin Jost, and his co-anchor Michael Che. The annual Christmas joke swap, a beloved segment on SNL's Weekend Update, traditionally sees Jost and Che writing jokes for one another, only to read them live without prior review.
During the final episode of 2024, Jost faced the uncomfortable task of delivering a particularly personal punchline while his wife watched him nervously from backstage. As the camera cut to Johansson, visibly bracing herself, Jost introduced a joke dedicated to her: "Hey boo, y'all know Scarlett just celebrated her 40th birthday, which means I'm about to get up out of there".
The laughter continued, but with a hint of tension, as Che prompted Jost to reveal more. The follow-up joke escalated the raunchiness: "Costco has removed their roast beef sandwich from its menu", Jost stated, "but I ain’t tripping. I've been eating roast beef every night since my wife had the kid". Scarlett, visibly shocked, mouthed "Oh my God!" as she appeared on screen.
The playful banter didn't stop there as Jost concluded with, "Nah, nah, I’m just playin’, baby. You know I don’t go downtown… That’s gay as hell!" The segment ended with the audience's mixed reactions of laughter and gasps.
Johansson, who is no stranger to being part of the SNL family, having herself been a host and joining the Five-Timers Club, took the jokes in stride. However, the segment underscored the unique blend of humor and personal vulnerability that characterizes SNL's live comedy, particularly when family members are involved.
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