Scarlett Johansson admits to ‘bizarre’ behavior that almost destroyed romance with Colin Jost: Inside the disastrous first date that left him thinking ‘that was it’

The Date That Almost Didn't Happen: ScarJo's "Panic" Attack

If you think A-list romances are all candlelit dinners and smooth conversation, Scarlett Johansson just shattered that illusion into a million awkward pieces. The Jurassic World Rebirth star, 41, went on national television and admitted that her fairytale romance with Colin Jost started with a train wreck of a first date that left the SNL star convinced he had been rejected. In a candid and slightly chaotic confession on Today with Jenna & Friends, Johansson revealed that she acted so "weird" during their initial 2017 outing that she literally fled the scene before the night had even really begun.

The actress dropped the details of the East Village disaster, explaining that things started well enough at an Italian restaurant. But the moment Jost, 43, tried to extend the evening like a normal human being, Johansson’s "serial monogamist" brain short-circuited. When he suggested meeting up with friends for a drink after dinner, Scarlett didn't just say no; she hit the eject button.

“I panicked. I don’t know,” she confessed, admitting that the mere thought of socializing or extending the date sent her spiraling. “I was like, ‘I have to go now. I need to leave.’” This isn't the poised Black Widow we are used to seeing on screen; this is a woman in a full-blown social anxiety meltdown. Leaving a date immediately after the check comes? That is usually the universal sign for "I hate you, lose my number."

Imagine being Colin Jost and having the hottest woman in the world literally run away from you before 10 PM. I would have deleted her number immediately.

The "9:36 PM" Walk of Shame

The most hilarious—and telling—detail of the entire saga is the timestamp. Johansson didn't stumble home at 2 AM after a wild night. She was back in her living room before the late news even started. She recalled returning home to relieve her babysitter, who was rightfully confused by the actress’s sudden reappearance.

“I got home to relieve my babysitter and it was like 9:36, and she was like, ‘Why are you home?!’” Johansson recalled. “I was like, ‘I went on this date, and it was.…’ I just felt so flustered.”

Let’s break this down. She left the date early enough to be home, in her pajamas, by 9:36 PM. That means she probably bolted from the restaurant around 9:15. For a first date in New York City, that is offensively early. It screams "disaster." The babysitter’s reaction says it all: even the help knew that Scarlett had fumbled the bag. This wasn't just an early night; it was a retreat.

9:36 PM?! That’s not a date, that’s a business meeting that ended early. Colin must have been so confused standing on the sidewalk alone.

"Serial Monogamist": The Truth About Her Dating History

In an effort to explain her bizarre behavior, Johansson dropped a phrase that has relationship psychologists and gossip columnists buzzing: “Serial Monogamist.” The actress claimed that despite being one of the most desirable women on the planet, she has absolutely no game because she’s never really "dated."

“Honestly, nobody ever really asked me out before,” she claimed, a statement that seems statistically impossible. “I’m telling you. People say that, but it’s true. I was a serial monogamist and I just never got the traditional, ‘Hey, would you like to have dinner sometime?’”

This "woe is me" narrative is fascinating when you look at her timeline. She was married to Ryan Reynolds from 2008 to 2011 (a marriage that remains shrouded in mystery and NDAs). Then she married French journalist Romain Dauriac from 2014 to 2017. She essentially hopped from husband to husband with barely a breath in between. Her "panic" with Jost likely stemmed from the fact that for the first time in a decade, she was trying to date like a regular person instead of just locking down a husband immediately.

Is "serial monogamist" just Hollywood code for "codependent"? Johansson’s inability to handle a casual drink with friends suggests she prefers the intensity of a committed relationship over the uncertainty of the dating scene. She doesn't want to meet your buddies; she wants to sign a marriage license.

Colin's Reaction: "You Were Acting So Weird"

While Scarlett was home hyperventilating at 9:36 PM, Colin Jost was apparently left reeling. The Weekend Update anchor, known for his dry wit and poker face, was completely blindsided by her exit. Johansson admitted that he later told her he thought the relationship was dead in the water before it even started.

“Later on he was like, ‘I totally thought that was it. You were acting so weird,’” Johansson shared. "Weird" is not the adjective you want your future spouse to use to describe your first impression. It speaks to Jost’s persistence (or perhaps his confusion) that he even bothered to call her back. Most men, especially famous ones with options, would have taken the hint and moved on to someone who didn't treat them like a contagious disease.

This revelation adds a layer of awkward charm to their origin story. We often view celebrity couples as perfectly matched robots, but knowing that Colin Jost thought Scarlett Johansson was a "weirdo" who hated him makes them surprisingly relatable. It also hints that Jost might be the patient saint in this relationship, willing to overlook a massive red flag because, well, it’s Scarlett Johansson.

Colin definitely called his friends that night and said 'She hates me, it's over.' The fact that he pursued her after she fled is the real love story here.

From 2006 to Forever: The Long Game

The timeline of their romance is another piece of the puzzle. The couple first met way back in 2006 when Johansson hosted SNL, but sparks didn't fly until she returned to host again years later. They didn't start dating until 2017—fresh off her split from Dauriac. This 11-year gap suggests they were circling each other for a decade, waiting for the timing to align.

But when the timing finally did align, Scarlett almost blew it with her panic attack. It raises the question: Was she intimidated by him? Or was she just burnt out from her previous failed marriages? Johansson is now a mother of two—daughter Rose, 11, with Dauriac, and son Cosmo, 4, with Jost. The stakes were high. She wasn't just looking for a fling; she was looking for a stepdad.

Their 2020 intimate wedding ceremony was the happy ending, but this new story proves the beginning was anything but smooth. It wasn't love at first sight; it was anxiety at first dinner.

The "Jurassic" Distraction

Why is Scarlett spilling all this tea now? She’s currently co-hosting Today and promoting her upcoming blockbuster, Jurassic World Rebirth. In the celebrity playbook, the best way to sell a movie is to make yourself look human, vulnerable, and a little bit messy. By sharing this embarrassing story, she’s stripping away the "untouchable superstar" veneer.

It’s a smart PR move. Instead of talking about dinosaurs or CGI budgets, we are talking about her social anxiety and her awkward dating life. It makes her seem like "one of us"—even though "one of us" doesn't usually get to ghost Colin Jost and still marry him three years later.

Is this story also a way to deflect from any current marriage rumors? In Hollywood, over-sharing about the "early days" is often a tactic used to reaffirm that the current days are solid. "Look how far we've come!" they say, while the tabloids hunt for cracks.

Cliffhanger: Is the "Weirdness" Gone?

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost have survived the "weird" first date, two chaotic careers, and the pressure of the SNL 50th season. But hearing Johansson admit to her "panic" and "flustered" nature makes you wonder: does that anxiety still flare up?

Is Colin still dealing with a wife who wants to bail on social events at 9:36 PM? Or has he tamed the "serial monogamist" into a social butterfly? Marriage is a long road, and if the start was this rocky, the journey must be interesting.

One thing is for sure: Next time you see them on a red carpet, check the time. If it’s past 9:30 PM, you know Scarlett is probably checking her watch.