Scarlett Johansson got her revenge on Michael Che during the May 17th episode of Saturday Night Live that she hosted. In a previous episode, Che had written a crude joke about Johansson that was delivered by her husband, Colin Jost, during the “Weekend Update” segment. The joke referenced a Costco roast beef sandwich and made a vulgar comparison to Johansson.
Johansson was shocked by the joke at the time. In a March 2025 interview, she said, “It was so vulgar. I just can’t believe they went there.
I was like — it was so gross. It was really gross.” She added, laughing, “And, like, old-school gross.”
She further explained, “My experience of it was so funny. Producers loosely warned about a vagina joke.
I was like, ‘I mean, it’s a vagina joke, how bad could it be?’ And then as soon as the Costco photo came up, I was like, ‘No! No, Michael!'”
In a May 2025 profile, Johansson indicated she felt a sense of duty to retaliate. “I had all these cameras on me. I didn’t expect the setup to be like that.
I was like, ‘Wow, you really are seventh-, eighth-grade boys…’ I feel like it’s almost my responsibility to come up with some way to burn Michael back.
Scarlett’s comedic retaliation on SNL
Retaliation, I’d say, should be expected.”
During the May 17th episode, Johansson got her payback.
Che was set up with an embarrassing apology scripted by Jost. “Before I tell another joke, I wanna take this opportunity to apologize to someone I hurt, Scarlett, can you come out here?” Che said. After apologizing, the Jost-written joke had Che explain he was acting out.
“The fact is I was just lashing out because I’m jealous. I’ve never even seen a human vagina,” he said. “And notice I said ‘human,’ because I once spent the summer on a farm.”
The segment continued with Che jokingly apologizing to Jost, saying, “I owe you everything.” Johansson’s participation and her interaction with Jost and Che had the internet in stitches.
Fans loved the segment, with comments like:
– “I’ve never laughed harder in my entire life!!!! The greatest duo in the history of TV! SNL legends!”
– “Scar Jo just shaking her head, amazed at the boyish banter is hilarious.”
– “I think this is the craziest one I’ve ever seen tbh. My jaw was dropped the entire time. Absolutely incredible.”
– “Nothing on SNL will ever beat the joke swaps.”
– “Classic to have Scarlett be part of the segment.
The way Colin made sure to enunciate that Golden State joke. Lol. and the way Scarlett was sitting there trying her best not to laugh. Lol. Classic man.”
– “Scarlett trying to hold it together is priceless.”
The internet especially loved the joke apology that Jost wrote for Che to read.
One fan commented, “This is Colin’s best material he’s written for Che no question.”
