Pete Davidson and Colin Jost are two Guy(s) Who Just Bought a Boat. The Saturday Night Live stars and proud Staten Island natives are now proud owners of a Staten Island ferry boat, The New York Post reported. They purchased the decommissioned vessel at auction for $280,100 with real estate agent Paul Italia, who is also co-founder of Manhattan’s The Stand comedy club, he confirmed to the outlet.
“The idea is to turn the space into a live entertainment event space, with comedy, music, art, et cetera,” Italia told The Post on Thursday. “We’re in the early stages, but everybody involved had the same ambition—not to see this thing go to the scrapyard.” The trio bid on the John F. Kennedy, which had been decommissioned due to mechanical issues, in an auction that began on Jan. 12 and ended Wednesday. Jost and Davidson now have 10 days to retrieve the boat from St. George Ferry, an NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services spokesperson said.
Prior to their joint nautical venture, Davidson and Jost have both expressed pride in their birthplace. Davidson starred in the semi-autobiographical Judd Apatow film The King of Staten Island in 2020 and recently appeared in an SNL sketch called, “Walking in Staten.” Jost has also referenced the borough as co-host of “Weekend Update” and in his 2020 memoir, A Very Punchable Face.
It’s unclear whether or not Jost’s wife, Scarlett Johansson, or Davidson’s jet-setting girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, will be boarding the public transit any time soon. But each has embraced Shoalin. Jost and Johansson announced their 2020 wedding via a Staten Island Ferry that read “Jost Married.” And Kim K was spotted in Staten last month for dinner and a movie with Davidson.
If the pair’s borough credentials weren’t enough, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has given his superfluous seal of approval. “I love this idea,” Adams tweeted about Davidson and Jost’s purchase on Friday. “What a great way to give an NYC icon a second life. Let us know how we can help and we’ll be there for the maiden voyage.” A sight to behold, we’re sure.
More Great Stories From Vanity Fair
— TV Star Sarah Wynter’s Battle With Postpartum Psychosis
— Caitríona Balfe’s Celtic Conquest, From Outlander to Belfast
— The Best Movies and Shows Streaming on Netflix This Month
— 21 Wardrobe Winners Inspired by And Just Like That…
— What Vivian Vance Didn’t Love About I Love Lucy
— The Life and Death of Rosanne Boyland, a Capitol Rioter
— Insecure’s Natasha Rothwell Can Do It All
— From the Archive: Joan Didion, Our Lady of L.A.
— Sign up for the “HWD Daily” newsletter for must-read industry and awards coverage—plus a special weekly edition of “Awards Insider.”