In the latest episode of “Saturday Night Live,” the annual Christmas tradition of the “Weekend Update” joke swap between co-hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che took an unexpectedly personal turn. During the segment, Jost was compelled to read a series of risqué and controversial jokes written by Che, with the twist that this year, his wife, Scarlett Johansson, was watching backstage.
The episode, which aired on December 22, 2024, was hosted by Martin Short, and Johansson made a cameo during the cold open, celebrating Short’s induction into the “Five-Timers Club.” However, the real shock came during “Weekend Update.” Jost, aware that Johansson was watching, prefaced his reading by saying, “I’m going to read all the jokes in ‘Black voice’ so I don’t get in trouble,” which set the stage for the edgy humor to follow.
One of the most talked-about moments was when Jost had to dedicate a particularly off-color joke to Johansson, saying, “I want to dedicate this next joke to my boo, Scarlett Johansson.” The camera then cut to Johansson, who was visibly taken aback and appeared genuinely concerned about what was about to be said. Jost exclaimed, “Oh my gosh, she’s so genuinely worried!” before delivering the punchline which involved a crude reference to Johansson’s age and their personal life.
This wasn’t the only jab at Johansson; Jost was also forced to make a lewd comment about their child, which drew a mix of laughter and gasps from the audience. The segment ended with Jost clarifying, “You know I don’t go down like that! Shiz! That’s gay as hell!” in an attempt to lighten the mood after his wife’s visibly shocked reaction.
The segment, while full of laughter from both Jost and Che, was met with mixed reactions online. Some praised the daring nature of the humor and the chemistry between Jost and Che, while others criticized it for crossing lines, particularly in how it involved Johansson, who was seen sipping water in a mix of amusement and disbelief backstage.
