Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost's love story: How did the Marvel icon's world collide with comedy's quiet genius?

When it comes to Hollywood romances, most stories are written in neon lights, fueled by tabloids. But every now and then, a love story comes along that feels weirdly… grounded. Enter Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost—a pairing no one really saw coming until it just made sense. And somehow, in a world of over-the-top Instagram announcements and red carpet theatrics, theirs unfolded in the most SNL way possible—smart, silly, and surprisingly sincere.

From celebrity crush to co-workers
Let’s rewind. Scarlett Johansson, global superstar, Oscar-nominated actor, and a Marvel icon , has long been a Hollywood fixture. Colin Jost , meanwhile, was that smart, self-deprecating guy behind the scenes at Saturday Night Live, a writer since 2005 and co-anchor of Weekend Update since 2014. He wasn’t the guy you’d see in front of flashing cameras at the Met Gala—he was the one making jokes about the Met Gala. So how did their worlds collide?

Scarlett had actually hosted SNL multiple times before sparks flew. Her first appearance was back in 2006, but it wasn’t until her 2017 hosting gig, her fifth time on the show, that things started to shift. That night, Jost was front and center with his usual dry wit on Weekend Update, and rumor has it he was also pretty smitten backstage. And to be fair, who wouldn't be?

Later that year, they were spotted getting cozy at an SNL after-party, and boom—the whispers started. But for a while, it was all low-key. No joint interviews, no showy PDA, just a slow simmer of “Are they…?” And yeah, they were.

Love blooms in Studio 8H
There’s something about SNL that breeds relationships. Maybe it’s the late nights. Maybe it’s the weirdly intimate pressure of making America laugh in real-time. Or maybe it’s just that comedy is a hell of a bonding agent. Colin has admitted that his work on SNL helped him connect with Scarlett.

In his 2020 memoir "A Very Punchable Face”, Jost talks openly about their relationship, calling Scarlett the “smartest, most beautiful person.” (And let’s be honest, that’s about as un-jokey and sincere as Colin Jost gets.) He also mentions being terrified when meeting her friends, normal stuff like, you know, Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr.

Scarlett, for her part, has said that Colin’s intelligence and “charm on camera” really won her over. She even joked that he was “the cute news guy” on SNL before they started dating.

In 2019, after two years of dating and a healthy amount of public eye-dodging, Colin popped the question. And in true Jost fashion, he didn’t go flashy. Just a classic, sweet, get-down-on-one-knee moment that Scarlett described as “a beautiful surprise.” She later admitted it was one of the “most special moments” of her life.

And can we talk about the ring for a second? An 11-carat, light brown diamond!

Final take: From Studio 8H to “I Do”
Like many couples in 2020, ScarJo and Colin had to pivot their plans. They didn’t go the celebrity wedding route with helicopters and beachside vows. Instead, they tied the knot in October 2020 in an intimate ceremony, with only close family and friends in attendance.

In true stealth mode, the couple welcomed their first child together in August 2021, a baby boy adorably named Cosmo. Yes, Cosmo. Colin announced it in a delightfully awkward Instagram post that simply said, “We got a baby. His name is Cosmo. We love him very much.” Classic Jost delivery.

Scarlett already had a daughter, Rose, from her previous marriage, and according to friends, the blended family is doing just fine. And yes, Colin’s mom reportedly needed a moment to adjust to the name “Cosmo.”

Colin still holds down the fort on SNL, anchoring Weekend Update alongside Michael Che and occasionally making headlines for his sharp, sarcastic takes. Scarlett, meanwhile, has stayed relatively low-key since becoming a mom again, though she’s got plenty in the works behind the scenes, including her production company and skincare line.

But every once in a while, they pop up together—on red carpets, at awards shows, or just in little glimpses on social media—and remind us that even in the high-drama world of Hollywood, love stories can be both real and refreshingly normal.

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost may have met under the flickering lights of a live comedy stage, but their story isn’t some flashy sketch. It’s slow-burn, sweet, and kind of sneakily perfect. Proof that sometimes, the best romances are the ones that play out quietly—between sketches, between scenes, between laughs.