SNL’s Jost Endures Offensive Joke Barrage in Annual Christmas Tradition with Che
A long-standing tradition of playfully antagonistic humor on Saturday Night Live took a surprising turn this weekend as Colin Jost was subjected to a series of deliberately provocative jokes written by Michael Che,with the added twist that Jost was the sole deliverer of the material. the annual “joke swap” between the Weekend Update anchors unfolded with Che feigning disinterest,much to the amusement of the audience and his co-host.
For years, Colin Jost and Michael Che have engaged in a Christmas-time ritual of crafting intentionally harsh jokes for the other to read on air. This year, however, Che reportedly misled Jost into believing the exchange wouldn’t occur, yet still prepared a set of biting material. This resulted in a segment where Jost reluctantly delivered the jokes, while Che openly enjoyed the discomfort. The dynamic builds on a history of playful jabs, including last year’s jokes targeting Jost’s wife, Scarlett Johansson, who was present backstage.
The jokes themselves covered a range of sensitive topics, delivered with the characteristic edge of SNL’s satire. One joke referenced criticism of a new series of U.S. mint coins, stating, “Critics say a new series of coins from the U.S.Mint celebrating great moments in the country’s history ignore civil rights. But what about the coin that celebrates where Black people actually come from – ships.” Jost reportedly read the line “reluctantly as Che laughed.”
Another joke touched on the Catholic Church’s response to sexual abuse allegations, with Jost quipping, “The archdiocese of New York will set up a fund for victims of church sexual abuse. Yet I get nothing for keeping my mouth shut and taking it like a champ?” the audience’s reaction was a mix of gasps and laughter.
The humor didn’t stop there. A joke referencing research on menopause and its impact on the workforce included a photo of Johansson, prompting a visible grimace from Jost. He delivered the line, “My girl already be like, ‘Colin, I’m warm. Colin,I’m sweating.’ Bitch, you having a hot flash.” The segment concluded with a reference to Jenna Ortega’s character, Wednesday Addams, and a playful suggestion of choice romantic interests.
Why did this happen? The incident is part of an annual tradition where Jost and Che write deliberately offensive jokes for each other to deliver. Who was involved? Colin Jost and Michael Che were the primary participants, with Scarlett Johansson and Jenna Ortega referenced in the jokes. What occurred? Che wrote provocative jokes that Jost reluctantly read on air, while Che appeared amused. How did it end? The segment concluded with a joke referencing Jenna Ortega’s character, Wednesday Addams, bringing the exchange to a close.
