Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost were happily married since 2020but their relationship was almost unsuccessful.
On December 1, while co-hosting TODAY with Jenna and Friends, Johansson told Jenna Bush Hager that she ended up turning down the Saturday Night Live star on their first date.
While discussing awkward dating stories, Jenna asked what Johansson's first date with Jost was like. The actor admitted that he was not used to dating because he was a “serial monogamist.”
“I just never heard the traditional phrases like, 'Hey, do you want to go out to dinner sometime?' – she explained.
Before meeting Jost, Johansson was married to actor Ryan Reynolds. from 2008 to 2011. After her divorce, she was married to journalist Romain Dauriac from 2014 to 2017. The former couple welcomed a daughter named Rose in 2014.
Recalling her first date with Jost, Johansson said they went to an Italian restaurant in the East Village.
“It was a great date. We were having dinner at like 8 p.m. or something like that, and then he said, 'I'd really like to, you know, meet some friends.' Let’s go have a drink,” she said.
Johansson didn't know how to react, but she followed her instincts and ended the date immediately.
“I’d hardly ever dated, and so I just thought, ‘I’ve got to go. I need to leave.” And I got home to change the sitter, and it was like 9:36 p.m., and she was like, “Why are you home?” – she said.
“And you're like, 'I don't even know,'” Jenna teased.
Johansson told her nanny that she was “really excited” when Jost suggested continuing the date. Luckily, he gave her another chance.
“Later he said: “I thought that was it. You were acting so strange.” I panicked. I don't know,” she said.
Jenna was amused by the story, but agreed that there could be “quite a lot” of first dates.
“It's high expectations or something like that,” Johansson said.
The actor was curious to know if Jenna had ever pursued anyone or ended a first date early, even though her date wanted to keep the night going.
“When I dated ghosts, it wasn't anything special,” Jenna said.
“Did you leave in French? Did you disappear at some point?” Johansson asked.
Jenna said she's done this before and asked the actor if she's done this type of behavior on dates.
“It happened to me on the only other date I've been on, a blind date, and a lot of weird things happened, and we went to another party and I just kind of disappeared,” she said.
“Yeah, because it's easier to go home and you're like, 'What am I doing?' – Jenna said.
Johansson likes to think that her ex-partner may have met his “future wife” at a party he went to without her.
“He’s okay,” Jenna reassured her.
