“Man Arrested for Threatening to Bomb SNL Studio Over Obsession with Scarlett Johansson”
A man named Michael Joseph Branham, 48, has been arrested for threatening to bomb the studio of “Saturday Night Live,” where Scarlett Johansson’s husband, Colin Jost, works as a staff writer and co-host of the “Weekend Update” segment. Branham, who has a tattoo of the word “Scarlett” with a heart on his torso, was taken into custody in Manhattan after allegedly sending menacing text messages. The messages included a threat to explode a bomb in the “Saturday Night Live” audience, according to court filings.
An investigator for NBC Universal reported the threatening texts to the police, leading to Branham’s arrest. He was charged with false reporting of an incident and making a threat of mass harm, among other charges, and was held on bail. The judge issued orders of protection for both Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost at his arraignment hearing.
Branham, who has a history of harassment towards Scarlett Johansson, claimed he had been scammed by individuals posing as the actress online. His defense attorney argued for lower bail, suggesting that Branham may have been set up by these scammers. However, the judge emphasized the seriousness of the threat and maintained the bail amount.
Despite previous incidents involving Branham’s obsession with Johansson, his lawyer argued against an order of protection for the actress, stating that she was not directly involved in the recent threat. Johansson had previously attempted to obtain a restraining order against Branham due to his persistent harassment.
This case highlights the dangers of celebrity obsession and the lengths some individuals may go to in pursuit of their fixations.
According to The Blast, in April 2024, there was a report of a celebrity seeking protection because her lawyer had failed to deliver court documents to an individual. The incident took place at 30 Rock, the location where a popular sketch comedy show is filmed. The individual, identified as Branham, was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats at the Midtown North Precinct on Tuesday. Branham, a seemingly delusional fan and father of two daughters aged 18 and 5, has a provocative online presence where he claims the actress is his “fiancée,” expresses love for her, and even acknowledges receiving a car from her. Despite claims of fidelity, Branham tweeted in November 2023, assuring the actress that he has not cheated and is eagerly awaiting her in Hollywood. It is worth noting that Johansson married Jost, a writer for the show since 2005, in October 2020 after a three-year courtship.
