Colin Jost’ Awkward ‘SNL’ Joke About Wife Scarlett Johansson’s Body Leaves Viewers Cringing
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SNL/NBC
Colin Jost, the popular “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) star, might find himself in hot water at home after making a controversial joke about his wife, Scarlett Johansson, during the “Weekend Update” segment of the Season 49 finale of NBC’s acclaimed late-night comedy show.
The incident occurred during a segment where Colin Jost and his co-host, Michael Che, exchange offensive jokes written for each other, which they read live without prior knowledge of the content. Jost, giggling, began the setup: “ChatGBT has released a new voice assistant feature inspired by Scarlett Johansson’s AI character in Her.” He then delivered the punchline: “Which I’ve never bothered to watch, because without that body, what’s the point of listening?”
The audience reacted with shock to the joke, which was aimed at Johansson’s character in the 2013 film “Her,” where she voices an AI system. The humor was in line with the segment’s tradition but was particularly notable due to its personal nature.
This isn’t the first time Colin Jost has made Johansson the butt of his jokes. In fact, he has a history of poking fun at his wife, who he married in 2020. Just last month, at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Jost humorously referenced Johansson while critiquing the Biden-Harris administration. He thanked her for “agreeing to individually meet everyone in this room” after the dinner and encouraged the crowd to “come right up” to her, which was received with laughter.
In January, Jost shared a playful video where he tested out Johansson’s skincare products in a women’s bathroom. The clip, titled “In the Women’s Bathroom with Colin Jost,” saw him humorously promoting his wife’s skincare brand, The Outset. He jested about being “in the office building where my wife allegedly works,” while trying out various products and making jokes.
Scarlett Johansson after seeing Colin Jost roasting her on Weekend Update #SNL pic.twitter.com/yVYkjJZ4bS
— Cartoon Mastermind #FuckYouZaslav🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱🇵🇸 (@TomHamill2) May 19, 2024
Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson have been married since 2020 and welcomed a son together in 2021. Their relationship has been characterized by mutual support and a shared sense of humor, with Jost often integrating light-hearted references to Johansson in his public appearances and sketches.
The public reaction to Jost’s latest joke has been mixed, with some finding it in poor taste and others seeing it as harmless humor typical of the “Weekend Update” style. Given the context of the segment, it’s clear that the joke was intended to be in good fun, though its reception was predictably divided.
Whether Jost will face any repercussions at home remains to be seen, but given the couple’s playful dynamic and Johansson’s understanding of the comedic context, it’s likely that this too will be taken in stride. However, as with any joke that hits close to home, Jost might want to prepare for some playful ribbing of his own from Johansson.
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
