Colin Jost’s R-Rated SNL Jokes About Scarlett Johansson Spark Backstage Shock

NEW YORK — Colin Jost found himself in hot water after delivering a series of R-rated jokes about his wife, Scarlett Johansson, during the Christmas episode of “Saturday Night Live.” The 42-year-old comedian, who co-hosts the show’s Weekend Update segment, revealed the fallout during a Jan. 20 appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

During the Dec. 21, 2024, episode of SNL, Jost participated in a traditional joke swap with co-host Michael Che, where each writes jokes for the other to read live. Che’s jokes targeted Johansson, 40, who watched from backstage as her husband delivered quips about her, including a graphic roast beef sandwich reference that left her stunned.

“I’m in trouble, I think, with a lot of people,” Jost told Fallon, 50. “Scarlett was genuinely so shocked.” He explained that while the SNL team had given Johansson a heads-up about the jokes, neither he nor his wife knew the full extent of the material. “They were like, ‘Hey, would you be okay if Michael made a little, like, kind of vagina joke at some point?’” Jost recalled. “She was like, ‘Sure, whatever, I’m open to it.’ I didn’t know where it was going.”

The moment reached its peak when a graphic of a roast beef sandwich from Costco appeared on screen, prompting Johansson to exclaim backstage, “Oh my god, that’s what it is!” Jost admitted his reaction was genuine, saying, “I can’t act that well.”

Among the jokes Jost read was one referencing their son, Cosmo, born in August 2021. “We just had a kid together and y’all ain’t see no pictures of him yet ’cause he Black as hell,” Jost said in a “Black voice,” as the screen showed a photo of a Black child. Johansson, sipping water backstage, shook her head in disbelief.

The couple, who married in 2020 after meeting in 2017 when Johansson hosted SNL, have navigated the challenges of balancing their personal and professional lives. Johansson, who also shares a daughter, Rose, with ex-husband Romain Dauriac, has previously praised Jost for his humor and thoughtfulness. “He’s a kind person and he’s hilarious and thoughtful and loving and he’s a great dad,” she said during a 2021 appearance on “Live with Kelly and Mark.”

Despite the on-air antics, Jost and Johansson remain a beloved Hollywood couple, with their playful dynamic often making headlines. The SNL joke swap tradition, while risky, continues to be a fan-favorite segment, showcasing the show’s live, unpredictable nature.