Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey have become the talk of the town with their playful and affectionate displays during the promotional tour for the latest Jurassic Park installment, Jurassic World Rebirth. Their lighthearted red carpet kisses, first captured at the film’s London premiere on June 17, 2025, and again at the New York City premiere on June 23, 2025, quickly went viral, sparking a wave of social media buzz and widespread public curiosity.
In a recent interview on the June 25 episode of Today, Johansson addressed the viral moments with a warm and candid demeanor. When host Craig Melvin commented on Bailey’s attractiveness, she responded with a smile, “Yeah, you said it.” She further described Bailey as “a lovable guy” and shrugged off the attention by adding, “I don’t know, we’re friendly people.”
Asked whether she was surprised by the internet’s reaction, Johansson laughed and said, “Nothing surprises me, you know what I mean? Nothing surprises me these days. But yeah, I’ve got a lot of love to give, what can I say?” Her relaxed and humorous take on the viral kisses reflects a genuine camaraderie between the two actors, who seem to enjoy each other’s company both on and off the screen.
Jonathan Bailey, who publicly came out as gay in 2018, also spoke about the kisses during the New York premiere. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, he emphasized that the moments were a natural expression of friendship. “I believe in being able to show love in all different ways,” Bailey said. “And if you can’t kiss your friends… life’s too short not to.” This sentiment underscores the genuine warmth behind their public displays, which were not orchestrated for publicity but rather a reflection of their close bond.
The buzz surrounding their affectionate interactions was heightened by the presence of Johansson’s husband, Colin Jost, who attended the New York premiere. Despite the public’s fascination, Johansson has maintained a grounded perspective on the matter, treating the kisses as friendly gestures rather than anything sensational.
Beyond the red carpet, Johansson has expressed deep enthusiasm for her involvement in the Jurassic franchise, a dream she’s harbored for over a decade. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she described the experience as “unbelievable,” recalling how she had been “trying to get into a Jurassic movie for, I don’t know, 15 years or something.”
She shared that when she first heard about the new film, it was particularly surreal because it featured a female lead around her age and was scheduled to be filmed during a time she could commit to. “I was actually in the middle of making Eleanor the Great at the time,” Johansson said. “There was a lot happening, and I had to compartmentalize my nervous excitement for the job in front of me while also focusing on making it work. I would have these really geeked out, fangirl moments and then be, like, ‘OK, put that away for a second.’”
Johansson’s affection for the franchise is rooted in childhood memories. She recalled seeing the original Jurassic Park movie at the age of 10, which left a profound impact on her. “I was, like the entire audience, completely transfixed, mesmerized, carried away, terrified. All of that stuff,” she said. The Spielbergian roots of the series add a layer of significance for Johansson, making her role in Jurassic World Rebirth all the more meaningful.
The film itself, directed by Gareth Edwards, follows Johansson’s character, Zora Bennett, a skilled covert operations soldier. Zora leads a team including combat expert Duncan Kincaid (played by Mahershala Ali) and paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) on a top-secret mission to a remote island that houses some of the last surviving dinosaurs. Their objective is to collect genetic material that could hold the key to life-saving medical breakthroughs.
However, the mission takes an unexpected turn when a holidaying family becomes trapped in the chaos of the dinosaur zone, turning what was meant to be a scientific expedition into a tense rescue operation. The film also features performances by Rupert Friend, Ed Skrein, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, adding depth to the ensemble cast.
Throughout the press tour, Johansson’s playful spirit has shone through, including a memorable segment on Today where she brought out a baby dinosaur animatronic named Delores and cheekily asked host Craig Melvin to give it a kiss. This moment symbolized not just her affection for the film but also her joy in being part of the Jurassic universe.
As anticipation builds for the film’s release on July 4, 2025, fans are eager to see the chemistry that Johansson and Bailey have so openly displayed off-screen translate into their on-screen performances. Their friendship and mutual respect add a genuine warmth to the promotional tour, reminding audiences that behind the spectacle of Hollywood premieres, real connections often flourish.
In a world where celebrity moments can quickly spiral into controversy, Scarlett Johansson’s grounded and affectionate responses serve as a refreshing reminder that sometimes, a kiss is just a kiss—a simple, friendly gesture between two people who share a lot of love to give.
