Staten Island has long been known for its unique charm,
but recently, it became the setting for a bit of drama involving none other than Hollywood power couple Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost.
The two stars found themselves in an unexpected and humorous debate over the fate of a ferry—a purchase that has kept both of them talking since its acquisition.
The ferry in question is no ordinary vessel.
In 2022, Jost, along with his friend and fellow Staten Island native Pete Davidson, made a rather unconventional purchase when they bought a retired Staten Island ferry at auction for $280,000.
The duo, with the help of architect Ron Castellano and comedy club owner Paul Italia, had plans to convert the ferry into a $34 million entertainment venue, but this idea has sparked quite a bit of controversy, particularly at home.
During a guest appearance on *TODAY with Jenna & Friends* on Wednesday, Johansson, who was co-hosting the show alongside Jenna Bush Hager, made it clear that she wasn’t on board with keeping the ferry. In her usual comedic style, she jokingly suggested starting a GoFundMe campaign for the ferry, quipping, “If anybody out there would like to start a GoFundMe for the Staten Island ferry, please be my guest.”
Her comments were met with laughs from the studio audience and her co-hosts, but Johansson’s playful stance quickly turned into a passionate plea against the ferry’s continued existence. “I don’t know if I’m speaking for the Staten Island ferry or against it, but help our family, okay? This has now become a telethon for ‘Support the Staten Island ferry.’”
While Johansson advocated for selling the ferry or repurposing it for scrap metal, Jost wasn’t ready to give up on their bold investment just yet. With a grin, he defended the ferry, saying, “I hope you have a good thick pair of gloves at home, because someday you’re going to be getting so many paper cuts from all the checks that start rolling in from this ferry. It’s going to put food on our table, finally.”
Adding humor to the mix, the *Saturday Night Live* star continued, “I believe in this ferry. If anyone out there believes in it, please go to the GoFundMe.” Jost’s defense of the ferry was lighthearted, but his belief in the potential of the project remained strong.
Despite his efforts to sway her, Johansson wasn’t convinced. She continued to argue that it might be better to sell the ferry off for scrap, suggesting that they could “actually maybe” make some money in that way. However, Jost quickly retorted, “That’s what you need the gloves for? Handling the scrap metal?”
In the middle of their banter, Jenna Bush Hager posed a question about whether the ferry could be “taken away from the dock,” to which Johansson seemed uncertain. Jost, ever the defender of his purchase, confidently responded, “I mean, could it be let loose to just drift? Yeah. 100%. It’s actually one of the things our insurers are worried about.”
After hearing both sides, Bush Hager humorously sided with Johansson, agreeing that her argument was stronger. Jost, though a bit dejected, responded, “We’ll see. You’ll all see!” It was clear that, while the ferry debate was a lighthearted discussion, the future of the vessel remained up in the air.
For those unfamiliar with the ferry’s backstory, Jost and Davidson’s purchase has raised plenty of eyebrows. The retired vessel was acquired for a modest sum, but the grand plans to transform it into a massive entertainment venue with a $34 million price tag has been a source of much amusement and skepticism. Jost himself described the purchase as “absolutely the dumbest and least thought-through purchase I’ve ever made in my life” during an interview with *People*.
Page Six reported that Jost and Davidson allegedly made the purchase while “very stoned,” adding an extra layer of humor to an already bizarre story. Jost later explained that, when looking at the ferry’s sheer size—65,000 square feet—he justified the purchase as a good deal when considering the price per square foot for real estate in New York.
While it remains to be seen whether the Staten Island ferry will be repurposed or scrapped, one thing is for sure: the drama surrounding the purchase has provided some entertainment for both Jost and Johansson, as well as for their fans. As the couple continues to navigate their life together—complete with their fair share of debates over unique purchases—this ferry saga is likely to keep both them and their audiences entertained for a while longer.
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