The Shocking Truth Behind Scarlett Johansson’s Viral ‘Roast Beef’ SNL Controversy

The phrase "Scarlett Johansson roast beef" is not a recipe or a movie title; it is a direct reference to one of the most shocking and controversial jokes ever delivered on Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update" segment. This crude, viral moment, which occurred during the annual Christmas Joke Swap, instantly became a major talking point in late December 2024, leaving the actress visibly stunned and sparking a massive online debate about comedy boundaries, especially those involving postpartum motherhood and celebrity privacy. The fallout was immediate, leading to an apology from one of the show's biggest stars and a highly anticipated act of comedic retaliation from Johansson herself.

The incident centered on a joke that her husband, SNL head writer and "Weekend Update" co-host Colin Jost, was forced to read live on air, a tradition where he and co-host Michael Che write offensive jokes for each other without prior knowledge. This particular punchline crossed a line for many, cementing its place in the history of controversial live television moments and permanently linking the Hollywood superstar to a bizarre culinary comparison.

Scarlett Johansson: A Brief Biography and Career Profile

Scarlett Ingrid Johansson is a globally recognized American actress and singer, renowned for her versatile roles across independent films and blockbuster franchises. She has consistently been one of the world's highest-paid actresses, earning two Academy Award nominations for her work.

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• Born: November 22, 1984, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
• Early Career: Began acting professionally as a child, with her breakout role coming in The Horse Whisperer (1998).
• Major Films/Franchises: Gained global stardom for her portrayal of Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in eight films, culminating in her solo feature Black Widow (2021). Other notable films include Lost in Translation (2003), Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), Her (2013), and Oscar-nominated roles in Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit (both 2019).
• Personal Life: Married to SNL star Colin Jost. They have one child together, a son named Cosmo.
• Recent Projects: She is set to appear in the 2025 spy comedy The Phoenician Scheme, her third collaboration with director Wes Anderson.

The Infamous 'Costco Roast Beef' Joke and Colin Jost's Agony

The notorious "roast beef" joke was delivered during the annual "Weekend Update" Joke Swap, a segment where Colin Jost and Michael Che exchange cue cards and read jokes sight-unseen, often targeting each other or their personal lives. The joke in question was written by Che and was dedicated by Jost "to my boo, Scarlett Johansson," who was watching backstage.

The setup was a seemingly innocuous news item about a popular warehouse club. Jost read the line: "Costco has removed the roast beef sandwich from its menu." The punchline, however, was a shocking and vulgar comparison: "But I ain’t mad, because I’ve been eating roast beef every night since my wife had the kid."

The comparison was a direct and crude reference to the appearance of female genitalia after childbirth, specifically targeting his wife, Scarlett Johansson, who had given birth to their son, Cosmo, a few years prior. The joke instantly drew gasps from the live audience.

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Jost's reaction was priceless and immediately went viral. He recoiled in visible horror and embarrassment, bowing his head and trying to stifle a laugh of disbelief. He later admitted that his "soul left his body" for a split second, and he was genuinely shocked by the joke's brutal nature.

Scarlett Johansson’s Shock and Michael Che’s Apology

The camera cut away to Scarlett Johansson watching from backstage, and her reaction was one of genuine, horrified shock. While she had been given a vague warning that a "vulgar" joke was coming, she was reportedly unaware of the specific, highly personal content. The actress later recounted that she was "shocked" and "horrified" by the line.

The joke immediately ignited a firestorm of discussion online. While some defended it as typical "Joke Swap" boundary-pushing humor, many others criticized it as misogynistic and an unnecessary public invasion of her privacy, especially for a postpartum joke. The use of the "Costco roast beef sandwich" as the central entity made the specific imagery even more bizarre and memorable, turning it into an instant meme and a shorthand for the controversial moment.

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The controversy was significant enough that Michael Che, the joke's writer, felt compelled to apologize to Johansson. He reportedly reached out to her privately to express regret for the tasteless nature of the personal joke.

The Epic Retaliation: Scarlett Johansson’s Revenge on Michael Che

The story did not end with the apology. The controversy provided a perfect setup for a return to the Joke Swap stage, and in a later appearance on SNL, Scarlett Johansson got her long-awaited revenge on Michael Che.

Johansson appeared on "Weekend Update" alongside her husband, Colin Jost, and confronted Che directly about the previous joke, stating that "retaliation should be expected." She then participated in a "Revenge Joke Swap," where she was given the opportunity to write a joke for Che to read.

The joke, delivered by Che, was a brutal and hilarious takedown of Che’s own personal life, referencing his supposed inability to commit and his perpetual bachelor status. The line was a sharp, direct response to the personal nature of the roast beef joke, turning the comedic tables on the writer who had initially targeted her.

This act of comedic retaliation was widely praised by fans and critics alike, who saw it as the perfect way to close the chapter on the controversial moment. Johansson proved that she could take a joke—even a highly vulgar one—and deliver a powerful punchline of her own, ensuring that the "Scarlett Johansson roast beef" incident became a legendary, albeit crude, part of SNL Joke Swap history. The entire sequence demonstrated the complex dynamics of celebrity marriage, comedy boundaries, and the viral power of a single, shocking punchline.

The saga remains a fascinating case study in topical authority and viral content, with search interest spiking every time the annual Joke Swap airs. It highlights how even a fleeting moment of crude humor on a late-night show can become a permanent, searchable entity tied to a major celebrity’s name, ensuring that the "Costco roast beef" sandwich will forever be linked to the Black Widow star.