‘I Felt Like It Was To Catch A Predator’: Scarlett Johansson Recalls Being Prepped For Colin Jost And Michael Che’s Latest Joke Swap And What Really Happened In The Moment

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For fans of Saturday Night Live, the humor exchange between Michael Che and Colin Jost has turned into a highly-anticipated segment. It’s often raw, bawdy, and tackles adult themes that leave both comedians chuckling and blushing. In this season, Scarlett Johansson found herself in the spotlight, joking about being prepared for it and feeling like she was on the 2000s TV show, “To Catch a Predator”.

In its 50th season, SNL is still going strong with an impressive lineup of hosts and musicians scheduled for the 2025 TV calendar. Although the show often entertains by satirizing celebrities like Chloe Fineman’s portrayal of Timothée Chalamet, some viewers felt that the 2024 joke swap crossed a line in reference to Johansson. Consequently, the Marvel Cinematic Universe actress addressed the controversial episode on TODAY with Jenna & Friends. She revealed that she had flexible boundaries for the jokes, explaining that she didn’t want to face cancellation or divorce due to them and agreed to film her responses, stating:

It seems we’re repeating the joke-sharing session, but something feels off about it… It’s inappropriate, honestly. I must admit, I wasn’t prepared for the explicit content. They asked if I’d like to join in, and I declined, stating my boundaries: I don’t want any potential backlash or complications, like getting canceled or divorced. And then they suggested just recording me listening to the jokes instead. I agreed, finding that suggestion less intimidating… somewhat tame.

Initially, the actress appeared ready for the situation before the show, yet remained cautious. I believe her predefined boundaries were shrewd, and despite the co-anchors occasionally exceeding limits, it’s all been in a friendly spirit. Therefore, it’s understandable that Scarlett Johansson was apprehensive entering the scene.

Later, the ‘Lucy’ star proceeded to relay the events live and how things unfolded as the program progressed. She mentioned that she felt trapped and extremely anxious on an awkward temporary stage, growing more startled with each joke. The actress from ‘Lost in Translation’, who is also a 5-Timer, was grateful for a strong drink and another 5-Timer who disapproved of the humor close by, as she stated: “I found solace in my stiff cocktail and a fellow 5-Timer who didn’t appreciate the jokes.

In a genuine state of surprise, Jenna, it felt as if I’d walked into an undercover sting operation, like To Catch a Predator, when the lights unexpectedly brightened and a whole audience appeared, leaving me standing there rather awkwardly with a fortunately rigid drink. Emma Stone, who was also present because we were collaborating with Martin Short on a five-timer’s project, turned to me and exclaimed, “That wasn’t right. That wasn’t right.” My heart pounded, my eyes teared up, and my hands trembled uncontrollably.

Johansson’s response wasn’t unexpected at all; her tense feelings were palpable even through the screen. Whenever the camera returned to her, viewers such as myself felt just as stunned, if not more so than her. The segment on That Weekend Update predictably sparked a lot of conversation, and Jost’s part in the jarring joke swap quickly spread online afterwards. To sum it up, while there were moments of humor, the overall experience was intense, and I must admit, I understand why the actress reacted as she did.

In this New Year, Johansson isn’t still dwelling on the Jost-Che joke switchover. Instead, she’s got a busy 2025 movie lineup to focus on, with the July 2nd premiere of Jurassic World: Rebirth. There’s much to look forward to from her, and perhaps it could lead to another stint hosting SNL, but without the outlandish jokes similar to those from the swap.

On Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), you can catch Saturday Night Live on NBC. If streaming is more convenient for you, you can access this show, as well as the episode mentioned previously, by subscribing to Peacock.

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2025-01-28 23:37