Ryan Gosling wishing Mikey Day “Happy Palentine’s Day” is the bromance we didn’t know we needed
Somehow, the most charming moment for Valentine’s Day came from two grown men accidentally inventing a friendship holiday.
Valentine’s Day is usually reserved for romance, but every now and then, it makes room for something just as entertaining. Ryan Gosling publicly wishing Mikey Day a “Happy Palentine’s Day” stole the spotlight, especially as it came wrapped in effortless charm and unexpected humor.
Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day
Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day are both well-known entertainers, but they’re famous for different reasons. Ryan Gosling is an actor who rose to fame in the early 2000s and became a major Hollywood star through films like The Notebook, La La Land, Drive, and Barbie. He’s known for dramatic roles, but he’s also built a reputation for dry humor and surprising comedic timing.
Mikey Day is a comedian and actor best known for his work on Saturday Night Live. He has been a cast member and writer on the show for years, often playing a straight-faced character who reacts to absurd situations.
Their connection comes from overlapping comedy and entertainment circles, which is why a lighthearted “Palentine’s Day” moment between them felt funny and unexpectedly charming rather than random.
The video
A video shared by Eva Mendes (Gosling’s wife) shows Ryan Gosling, who does not use social media, wishing Mikey Day a “Happy Palentine’s Day,” and the confusion and comedy ensue. Ryan video called Mikey to say, “I’m actually calling not to talk about work, but to say Happy Palentine’s Day. I love you.” Mikey stares at the screen for a bit and then says, “Okay. Did you say Palentine’s Day?” Ryan explained, “Yeah. You know. There’s like Galentine’s Day, and then there’s Palentine’s Day, and it’s like, for pals. It’s a day where guys can be emotionally honest with each other and say I love you.”
Ryan then plugs his latest movie, Project Hail Mary, and starts talking about the friendship between him and an alien. He shows Palentine cards on the screen that he would gift to his alien friend, and the look of realization slowly crossed Mikey’s face. He then says, “Sorry, what is this? Is this like a marketing thing for your movie or something?” To which Ryan replied, “Yeah, you were saying it comes out on March 20th.” Mikey replied with, “I did not say that.”
Ryan then said, “Weren’t you saying it’s like Interstellar meets E.T.?” Mikey goes off on a tirade about how he hoped this call wasn’t a market thing, and Ryan just laughed in the background the entire time.
The reactions
People loved the comedic timing and the new “Palentine” idea. One person said, “You are the cutest.
I love how you love your people, women and your man ! Happy Galentine’s, Palentine’s and Valentine’s day.” Another wrote, “This is brill. I am still laughing. This is the content we need.”
Other comments included, “Beavis and Butthead part 2 would be hilarious!!!!” and “These 2 together are hilarious!!!!”
Another comment said, “Ryan is definitely top 3 funniest SNL hosts! My fam is excited to see him again.”
Speaking of SNL hosting, be sure to catch Ryan Gosling as the host of SNL on Saturday, March 7, 2026. This will be his fourth time hosting the show.
Why this matters
The joke works because it taps into something people don’t see enough of: men being openly affectionate with their friends without turning it into a punchline. “Palentine’s Day” lands because it flips the usual script. Instead of awkward deflection or forced irony, it shows two guys saying “I love you” out loud, then letting the humor come naturally from the situation, not the sentiment itself.
That’s part of why the video feels so fun and shareable. It’s not loud or try-hard. It’s a slightly uncomfortable, very human moment that spirals into comedy. Mikey’s suspicion and Ryan’s calm commitment to the bit, and the slow realization that this might be a movie plug, all mirror how real conversations between friends actually go.
It also happens to be smart marketing. Instead of a polished trailer or a heavy-handed promo, the movie gets introduced through humor and friendship. By the time Project Hail Mary comes up, people are already invested in the dynamic, which makes the promotion feel less like an ad and more like an inside joke.
