Colin Jost is never one to shy away from a hot topic.
Jost, 42, took the stage at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on Thursday, December 6, for the American Museum of Natural History Gala, which includes an auction to raise funds to support the museum’s educational and scientific programming.
Jost was poking fun at the allegations made against Sean “Diddy” Combs in recent months. In September, the music mogul was arrested for sex trafficking and racketeering charges. In the bombshell 14-page indictment, Diddy was accused of orchestrating “freak offs,” which are alleged “elaborate and produced sex performances” that reportedly took place in various hotel rooms
Diddy has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty. He remains in jail after being denied bail four times. Diddy’s trial is scheduled for May 2025.
Diddy’s arrest has been a hot topic in media — especially on SNL via Jost and his cohost Michael Che during their Weekend Update segment.
In addition to making fun of Diddy at the Thursday event, Jost also had plenty of jokes at his own expense, including quips involving his hometown of Staten Island.
“I do not appreciate the fact that in the hall of primates, there was a diorama of the old guys from Staten Island,” Jost said to the audience. “That’s not nice. And it was just two trash bags. Why?… Guys from Staten Island have the scientific name ‘no homo sapien.’”
Jost also poked fun at what it was like to call New York City home.
“Living in New York, we’ve just accepted the fact that everyday life is going to be a horrible experience,” he shared. “Everyone has bought into that. Haven’t you genuinely thought to yourself, ‘Well, three crazy people cursed me out in the street today — but! — none of them hit me in the head!’”
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Jost attended the event with wife Scarlet Johansson. The couple walked the red carpet together in coordinating ensembles. Johansson, 39, wore a stunning black V-neck gown, which she paired with a pearl choker necklace and diamond-encrusted drop earrings. The comedian, for his part, opted for a classic tuxedo with a bowtie.
The museum’s fundraising goal was reached quickly. While Jost’s fictional Diddy-themed item was not up for grabs, one item auctioned off was a dinner under the stars with acclaimed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
With reporting by Antonio Ferme
