Michael Che Sparks Debate with Controversial Joke About Scarlett Johansson on SNL

December 21, 2025
Michael Che Sparks Debate with Controversial Joke About Scarlett Johansson on SNL
  • Johansson, married to Jost since 2017, has long been a frequent target of SNL jokes, reinforcing her role as a regular and provocative subject of the show’s humor.

  • In a controversial holiday-season bit, Michael Che writes and delivers a brutal line about Scarlett Johansson, joking she’s on a ‘gravy train’ due to menopause, prompting a wry reaction from Colin Jost and Johansson off-screen.

  • Che confirms he authored the jokes this time, leaving Jost defenseless as punchlines escalate from provocative to personal.

  • The segment closes with viewer prompts and a link to watch the exchange, underscoring SNL’s tradition of playful, biting humor and audience engagement.

  • The episode also marked Bowen Yang’s emotional farewell after seven seasons and included a tribute to the late Rob Reiner.

  • Overall, the sketch highlights the ongoing, provocative dynamic between Jost and Che, with audiences reacting to the shocks and punchlines.

  • Season 51 was slated to resume with new episodes in January 2026, including Finn Wolfhard hosting and A$AP Rocky as the musical guest.

  • Johansson and Jost have previously signaled the ongoing tension and dark-humor edge of SNL’s live-broadcast comedy.

  • online viewers rapidly circulated clips, sparking debates about boundaries while praising SNL’s chaotic, cringe-worthy punchlines.

  • The segment showcased Che’s solo joke-writing, continuing a long-running payback tradition in which he delivers lines as if Jost had nothing to do with them.

  • Historically, the Jost-Che joke swap has featured payback exchanges, including later moments where Che read apologies for tasteless jokes, echoing a playful rivalry.

  • The routine involves cold reads of offensive jokes written for each other, with Che’s subtler deception adding a twist when he pretends they would skip the tradition.

Summary based on 7 sources


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