As part of the long-running tradition, Jost and Michael Che usually write offensive jokes for each other to read live on air. But this time, Che secretly changed the rules. He told Jost they were skipping the joke swap, while quietly preparing his own jokes anyway. That meant Jost was the only one left reading shocking punchlines, much to Che’s amusement and the audience’s shock.
Throughout the segment, Jost visibly struggled as he read a series of harsh and controversial jokes written by Che. One joke involved a fictional U.S. Mint coin tied to slavery, while another referenced the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse settlement fund. Each line was met with loud gasps and nervous laughter from the crowd.
The jokes escalated further when Jost was made to read comments involving his wife, Scarlett Johansson, who was reportedly backstage watching. A joke about menopause flashed Johansson’s photo on the screen, leaving Jost clearly uncomfortable. Che laughed while Jost powered through the lines, drawing a strong reaction from the audience.
The final punchline pushed things even further, with a joke referencing Netflix’s Wednesday character, accompanied by a photo of Jenna Ortega’s character appearing onscreen. Jost finished the segment looking stunned, while Che jokingly complained that Jost hadn’t written any jokes for him in return.
The segment quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the episode, with viewers reacting strongly on social media. While uncomfortable, the joke swap once again delivered the kind of edgy, awkward comedy that has become a signature of Weekend Update’s Christmas tradition.
Tags:
News
