Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost first crossed paths in January 2006 when she hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, and Jost had just started as a writer on the show. Reflecting on that moment, Jost told Entertainment Tonight that they had known each other since then and described Johansson as “the best.”
In his memoir A Very Punchable Face, he elaborated that he found her “beautiful, smart, sweet, and intimidatingly sophisticated,” noting that although she was only 20 and he was 23, she seemed much more mature.
He joked about writing a controversial line for a sketch she starred in, calling it his “Shakespearean sonnet” for the woman he’d fall in love with. Johansson, on the other hand, recalls meeting Jost in 2010 when she hosted SNL again. She remembered him directing a sketch parody of 16 and Pregnant and noted his confidence, saying that in the SNL environment, confidence was crucial to get your material produced.
At the time of their 2010 meeting, Johansson was married to Ryan Reynolds, but they divorced later that year. She later married journalist Romain Dauriac, with whom she shares a daughter, Rose. By March 2017, Johansson had filed for divorce from Dauriac. She hosted SNL again shortly after the separation, and both she and Jost were single. While sources indicated she wasn’t ready to date yet, sparks soon began to fly.
In May 2017, after appearing on the show’s season finale, Johansson and Jost were spotted making out at the afterparty at 30 Rock, and sources confirmed they had been seeing each other casually before that night.
Over the next few months, their connection deepened. They were seen dining together in June 2017, spent July 4th weekend in Montauk with Jost’s family, and by September 2017, Jost confirmed the relationship on the Emmys red carpet, describing Johansson as “wonderful” and “awesome.”
Their romance blossomed throughout the rest of the year. In October 2017, they were seen holding hands on a dinner date in Long Island. By November, they had met each other’s families, with friends confirming the relationship was serious and supportive. They made their public debut at a gala at the American Museum of Natural History later that month.
In December, they were seen embracing during the closing credits of another SNL episode. By April 2018, they walked the red carpet at the Avengers: Infinity War premiere, and in May, Jost referred to Johansson as his “girlfriend” during a Weekend Update segment. The couple also made their Met Gala debut together in May 2018, where Johansson wore a Marchesa gown.
The pair’s public appearances continued into late 2018. In September, while promoting the Emmys, Jost’s co-host Michael Che joked about feeling ditched since Jost started dating Johansson. The couple walked the Emmys red carpet together, and in November, they attended the same museum gala as the year before.
By February 2019, they were reportedly living together and very much in love. Sources described Jost as “head over heels” and devoted, even bonding with Johansson’s daughter. They were spotted together again at the Avengers: Endgame premiere in April, and in May 2019, they announced their engagement. A source told People that they shared a love for sarcasm, wit, and social issues, bonding over their acerbic humor.
By July 2019, Jost mentioned the engagement during a comedy set in the Hamptons, admitting he had once feared marriage but felt differently with Johansson. Their relationship, which started casually, had become deeply committed, grounded in mutual respect, shared values, and genuine affection.
While many Hollywood relationships are often fleeting, Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost have become one of the rare celebrity couples who manage to balance love, fame, family, and humor in a grounded and authentic way. Their relationship, though private in many ways, has grown in the public eye with a surprising charm and stability. As their love story continued post-marriage, fans and media couldn’t help but admire how natural and real their connection seemed — built on mutual admiration, humor, and shared values.
One of the most admirable aspects of Scarlett and Colin’s relationship is how they bring out the best in each other. Scarlett, a two-time Oscar nominee and one of the highest-grossing actresses of all time, has always been known for her fierce independence, charisma, and professionalism.
Colin, on the other hand, is beloved for his sharp wit, low-key personality, and long-standing role as the co-anchor of Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live. Despite their different worlds — Hollywood films and late-night sketch comedy — they complement each other with ease. Johansson has mentioned in interviews that Colin brings calmness into her life and helps her slow down to enjoy the moment, while Jost has shared how Scarlett inspires him to be more ambitious and focused.
Their sense of humor also plays a huge role in keeping their relationship fun and strong. On several occasions, Jost has poked fun at himself in relation to Scarlett. During his stand-up sets and in his book, he openly jokes about being surprised that someone like Scarlett would ever fall for someone like him — which only makes fans love them more. He embraces the humility and leans into the comedy, while Johansson often praises Colin’s intelligence and kindness, which she says made her fall for him deeply.
Post-marriage, they’ve kept a relatively low profile while enjoying married life and raising their son, Cosmo. Interestingly, when their son was born, the couple revealed that it took some time for their family members to get used to the name.
Jost shared humorously on Late Night with Seth Meyers that his mother initially didn’t quite understand or approve of the name “Cosmo,” asking if it was just short for something like Cosimo or Costello. However, as time passed, even the skeptical relatives warmed up to the unique name, and it became a lighthearted story in their parenting journey.
Despite being celebrities, Scarlett and Colin value their privacy immensely. They are rarely seen flaunting their relationship online or giving frequent interviews about each other. Instead, they focus on quality time, shared causes, and supporting each other’s careers from behind the scenes. During award seasons, Scarlett often walked the red carpet solo or only occasionally with Colin, which many interpreted as a sign of how they preferred to keep their love sacred and away from the media spotlight.
In terms of philanthropic efforts, the couple has also used their platform for causes they care about. Their wedding announcement, done via the Meals on Wheels Instagram account, is a great example of this. Rather than selling exclusive wedding photos or giving a flashy statement, they encouraged fans to contribute to feeding the elderly during the pandemic — showing how aligned they are in values and community-mindedness.
