When Scarlett Johansson kissed her co-star Jonathan Bailey unexpectedly during the premieres of Jurassic World Rebirth on two countries, the internet went crazy. But the true story wasn't the kisses; it was Colin Jost's funny, down-to-earth reaction. The Saturday Night Live star's reaction shows everything you need to know about why this Hollywood couple is different from the rest in a world that loves to pick apart celebrity marriages. I've always liked couples who deal with fame with comedy and grace, but the Jost-Johansson relationship? It's a lesson in how to love in the current world.
The "Jurassic World Rebirth" Kiss That Went Viral
How a nice kiss made headlines around the world
It all started in London when Johansson, who was glowing in silver sequins, kissed Bridgerton breakout Jonathan Bailey on the lips without thinking about it on the red carpet arrivals for Jurassic World Rebirth. In New York six days later, history repeated itself: another smile and another comfortable kiss between co-stars. Cameras ate it up. People on social media quickly turned the moments into love conspiracy theories, ignoring the fact that Bailey is an out gay guy and that the two of them were clearly platonic friends. This was the most ridiculous thing ever to happen in Hollywood, but Johansson's nonchalant "we're friendly people" shrug on the Today show only made things worse.
Colin Jost's Signature Humor: A Masterclass on Being Chill
Why his comparison to "Jurassic Park" was spot on
Last week, when Entertainment Tonight asked Jost about the viral kisses, he used the kind of self-deprecating humor that has made his time on SNL famous: "I think in Jurassic Park terminology, the attack always comes from the dinosaur you never expected... When someone kisses their pal hello, people really blow it out of proportion. His follow-up made it clear: "Jonathan is an openly gay man." It didn't seem like the most dangerous thing... Jonathan and I were thinking, "I guess we have to kiss now?" This wasn't just damage control; it was a public show of how strong their marriage is. In the past, celebrity couples might have given hard denials, but Jost used a quip to stop the rumors.
A timeline of Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost's love story in Hollywood
How they met: SNL sparked a relationship that would last forever
In 2017, Johansson hosted SNL for the sixth time. This time, something more than sketch humor happened between her and head writer Jost. After she broke up with Romain Dauriac, their relationship went on with surprising discretion, which is unusual for a star of Johansson's level. Instead of paparazzi antics, they had low-key coffee dates. In 2020, they had a covert ceremony in the woods with Johansson barefoot and just under 100 guests. They choose to keep their love out of the spotlight on purpose, which makes times like his kiss commentary so real.
Their secret wedding and family life
Colbert joked that the venue of their little wedding in October 2020 looked "like a hostage situation video." Cosmo, Johansson's son, was born in 2021. He joined Johansson's daughter Rose, who was born in her first marriage. Even though they live in the public eye all the time, they have fiercely protected their kids. Family life involves getting up early to take care of the kids before Jost goes to 30 Rock and Johansson juggles billion-dollar enterprises. Their common "normal"—school runs, bagel runs, and calm nights in Queens—gives them the strength to deal with the "drama" that comes with being famous.
Scarlett's Career and Family Life: What You Don't See in the News
Scarlett's new ventures and changing focus
Johansson isn't simply getting through the tabloids; she's changing her career. After Black Widow, she's switching to producing through her firm These Pictures and supporting roles that are hard to do. Kristin Scott Thomas' first time directing a movie and maybe Wes Anderson's next ensemble effort are some of the projects. This change in strategy is similar to how she treats her family: with purpose, consideration, and a strong focus on creative pleasure versus superhero overload. Jurassic World Rebirth broke records with its $323 million opening weekend, but it also marks the end of one chapter for Johansson and the beginning of another, more personal one.
Looking into why people are so interested
What is it about this duo that interests us? Because they go against the rules of Hollywood. She's been in the MCU for a long time and has been nominated for two Oscars. He's a Harvard-educated comic genius who has been making fun of things for decades. Their relationship is a new form of celebrity: very famous but very private, and their romance is strong even while people are watching. Most importantly, they stay away from the social media relationship theater that younger stars are often in. "We keep our relationship pretty sacred," Johansson told Parade. Ironically, the fact that they rarely meet in public makes those times even more interesting.
The Internet Responds: Fan Theories and Buzz on Social Media
A look at how people reacted on Twitter and Reddit
Memes and comments on the kissing went crazy on social media:
The beauty of the platonic kiss on the red carpet
There are a lot of platonic show kisses in Hollywood history, such Madonna and Britney at the VMAs, Jennifer Lawrence and Jack Nicholson at the Oscars, and Johnny Depp greeting fans. When singers kiss on the red carpet while drinking champagne, it's not scandalous; it's just a way for them to network and hug each other. The internet's forced backdrop of Bailey's sexuality made Johansson/Bailey stand out. It turned friendly affection into clickbait. "We needed conflict where there wasn't any," a gossip editor told me. Colin did a great job of exposing that.
Jonathan Bailey is a co-star, a friend, and a viral star.
In the middle of all the noise, Jonathan Bailey stood out as the perfect, charming center. After Bridgerton, he starred in Wicked with Ariana Grande. People who work in the industry say the Tony winner is "impossibly charming but thoroughly professional." This is exactly why he works so well with big names like Johansson. His public, self-aware response—"life's too short not to kiss your friends"—made him the funny sidekick to Johansson's indifference. Bailey's ability to ignore any fake tension (while riding the box office tsunami of Jurassic World Rebirth) shows why he's the next leading man in Hollywood.
Why Colin and Scarlett's relationship is better than the viral moment
In the end, what makes this pair special isn't their viral kisses or their billion-dollar grosses; it's their ability to use humor as emotional armor. Jost didn't "host a defense" because he knows that strong confidence always wins over reactive envy. They talk candidly about the rules for dating and parenting mistakes. Jost told Howard Stern, "We both had revolving-door dating histories." When Johansson won the American Cinematheque Award in 2021, Jost's presentation was a mix of heartfelt honesty and a dick joke. Their real power move is being able to deal with Hollywood's attention as partners, not personalities.
The kisses fade and the headlines repeat, but what stays is a startlingly unusual reality about Hollywood: two individuals making real love in a fake world. And that, unlike T-Rex roars or raptor kisses? It will always be better than the hype.