Scarlett Johansson has opened up about her lighthearted bond with Jurassic World: Rebirth co-star Jonathan Bailey, a friendship that has sparked plenty of chatter thanks to their public displays of affection.
The 40-year-old actress, who has been married to Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost since 2020, has shared more than a few smooches with Bailey on red carpets and during press events in recent months.
Far from hiding it, the two seem to lean into the playful energy, often posing cheek-to-cheek for cameras.
Bailey, 37, even posted a tongue-in-cheek photo to Instagram of himself pretending to bite Johansson’s neck while she posed in sunglasses; an image that quickly went viral.
For some fans, the close friendship raised eyebrows.
But Johansson’s husband has made it clear there’s nothing scandalous behind the snapshots.
Jost has dismissed the speculation, noting that Bailey (best known for his role in Bridgerton) is openly gay.
“People really blow it out of proportion when someone kisses their friend hello,” Jost said.
“It’s pretty nuts. Jonathan is an out gay man; he didn’t seem like the biggest threat.
"Jonathan and I were like, ‘I guess we have to kiss now, to close the loop.’”
Bailey himself has echoed that sentiment, telling Entertainment Tonight he sees no issue with expressing affection among friends.
“I believe in being able to show love in all different ways,” he said.
“And if you can’t kiss your friends… life’s too short not to.”
Johansson, for her part, addressed the topic during a June appearance on NBC’s Today.
Host Craig Melvin couldn’t resist bringing up what he called “this kissing thing that you and Jonathan have been doing all over the world.”
Acknowledging Bailey’s charm, Johansson laughed and replied: “Yeah, you said it!”
When asked if his good looks explained the repeated kisses, she playfully shrugged it off: “He’s a lovable guy, what can I say? I don’t know… we’re just friendly people.”
Johansson also expressed surprise at how much attention the kisses have generated online.
“Nothing surprises me, you know what I mean?” she said, adding with a grin, “People are really… they got some time.”
Between Johansson’s candid remarks, Bailey’s good-humored perspective, and Jost’s easygoing response, the trio appear unfazed by the viral speculation.
What some fans have interpreted as romantic tension, they insist, is simply a case of friends being affectionate in public.