Colin Jost (43) Shares Scarlett Johansson’s (41) Surprising Reaction to His Staten Island Ferry Purchase With Pete Davidson

Colin Jost has opened up about the reactions he got from his family, including Scarlett Johansson, after he made a surprising purchase of a Staten Island Ferry with Pete Davidson.

The Saturday Night Live star discussed the story on the upcoming May 4 episode of the SmartLess podcast, hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes. He explained how he informed his family after buying the decommissioned ferry in 2022 for about $280,000, according to earlier reports from The New York Times.

Jost said he first told his father, who works as a teacher in Staten Island. His dad responded in a very typical way for a teacher, asking him, “Did you do your homework?” Jost joked that he was just informing him out of courtesy and had already completed the purchase.

He then reached out to Johansson. Jost said he texted her saying, “Guess what? We own a ferry now.” Her response was simple and direct: “We?”

Jost explained that the idea behind buying the ferry came from a real estate mindset. Since it can be docked in Manhattan, he saw it as a large waterfront space that could be used in different ways rather than just a boat.

He also addressed claims that the ferry was a poor investment, saying that it has already been used for events and helped recover some of the money spent on it.

According to Jost, the goal is to turn the ferry into a flexible venue. He described it as a possible event space with regular parties, and even suggested ideas like a casual swim club-style location open to more people, not just exclusive members.

The ferry was purchased together with Pete Davidson and comedy club owner Paul Italia. Since then, it has already hosted events, including a fashion show during New York Fashion Week while docked in the city.

Jost has previously admitted that the purchase was unusual for him, calling it one of his most questionable financial decisions. Still, he has defended it by saying the value comes from its size and potential use in New York real estate terms.

Pete Davidson has also spoken about the project, saying they are still developing plans for it and learning how to manage it. He has mentioned working with maritime experts and navigating new challenges in the process.

The story comes from Jost’s appearance on SmartLess, where he shared both personal reactions from his family and updates on what the ferry project has become.

It is interesting to see celebrities investing in something so unusual and trying to turn it into a business space. Some people might see it as risky, while others might think it is creative and fun. What do you think about this kind of investment? Share your thoughts in the comments.