Before there was the high-profile marriage to an Avenger or the glitzy red-carpet appearances that dominate the tabloids now, there was a quieter, multi-year relationship that many comedy fans have completely scrubbed from their memory. We're talking about the time Colin Jost and Rashida Jones were one of the coolest—and most under-the-radar—couples in Manhattan. Honestly, if you look at the timeline of the early 2010s, it’s wild how well they kept it on the low.
It’s easy to forget. People move on. Relationships become footnotes in a Wikipedia entry. But for about three years, the head writer of Saturday Night Live and the star of Parks and Recreation were a legitimate thing.
How it actually started (No, it wasn't on set)
Most people assume that because they both worked for NBC, they met in some hallway at 30 Rock. Kinda makes sense, right? Wrong. They actually hit it off at Seth Meyers’ wedding back in September 2013. Seth’s wedding on Martha’s Vineyard was basically a "who’s who" of the comedy world. While everyone else was probably busy celebrating Seth and Alexi, Jost and Jones were reportedly hitting it off during the festivities.
Soon after, the paparazzi started catching them. They were spotted in the West Village, arms linked, looking like every other couple trying to find a decent brunch spot.
Back then, Colin wasn't the "Scarlett Johansson’s husband" version of himself. He was the guy behind the scenes at SNL, just beginning his transition into the Weekend Update chair. Rashida, meanwhile, was already a massive star, wrapping up her iconic run as Ann Perkins.
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The Harvard Connection
If you want to understand why they clicked, look at the diplomas. Both of them are Harvard grads. Colin was the president of the Harvard Lampoon, while Rashida was active in the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. That shared intellectual-comedy background usually creates a very specific kind of shorthand. It’s that dry, slightly nerdy, hyper-verbal energy.
They weren't exactly a "loud" couple. You didn’t see them doing joint magazine covers or gushing about each other on late-night talk shows. In fact, Rashida has always been notoriously private about her dating life. She once told Glamour that she was an "expert" at keeping things quiet, and she wasn't lying.
Why did Colin Jost and Rashida Jones break up?
Here is the thing: there was no massive scandal. No cheating rumors, no dramatic "sources" telling TMZ about a blowout fight in a restaurant.
They split around 2016. It was a three-year run, which in Hollywood years is basically a silver anniversary. By the time they called it quits, Jost was becoming a household name on Weekend Update alongside Michael Che. Rashida was pivoting into more producing and writing roles.
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Basically, life happened.
Shortly after the split, both moved into the relationships they are known for today. Rashida started dating Ezra Koenig, the frontman of Vampire Weekend, with whom she eventually had a son. Colin, of course, met (or re-met) Scarlett Johansson when she hosted the SNL season finale in 2017. The rest is history.
The "Local Pervert" Meme and Legacy
It’s hilarious to look back at Reddit threads from that era. Hardcore SNL fans often joke about Colin’s "dating resume," which includes Rashida Jones and Nasim Pedrad before he eventually married Scarlett. There’s a running gag on Weekend Update where Che paints Colin as this "local pervert" or a bland villain, but his actual dating history suggests he’s just a guy who really likes talented, funny women.
What’s interesting about Colin Jost and Rashida Jones is that they represent a specific era of New York comedy royalty. It was a time before the influencer era took over everything. They were just two very smart, very funny people who liked each other for a while.
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Looking Ahead: Where are they now?
As of 2026, both have moved into entirely different chapters. Colin is still the anchor of Weekend Update, now a veteran of the desk. He's also busy with his weirdly fascinating project of turning a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry into a floating hotel with Pete Davidson. Yes, that is a real thing that is actually happening.
Rashida is continuing to dominate the production space while staying selective about her acting roles. She’s built a career that is entirely her own, separate from the legacy of her father, Quincy Jones.
What you can learn from their relationship
- Privacy is possible: Even at the height of their fame, they managed to keep the details of their three-year relationship out of the tabloids.
- Shared backgrounds matter: That Harvard-to-NBC pipeline is real, and it creates a specific bond that’s hard to replicate.
- Clean breaks are better: You never hear them bad-mouthing each other. It’s a masterclass in the "adult" breakup.
If you’re looking to deep-dive into this era of comedy, your best bet is to look at the SNL credits from 2013-2016. You can see the overlap of their creative worlds in real-time. For more on how they've evolved, check out Colin's memoir, A Very Punchable Face, where he talks about his life (though he keeps the specific details of his exes pretty close to the vest). You could also revisit old episodes of Parks and Recreation to see Rashida at her peak before she moved into the world of directing and high-level producing.