Kate McKinnon: SNL Exit, Relationships, Barbie Role

For a decade, Kate McKinnon was the comedy engine that helped power Saturday Night Live through its post-2012 era — the longest-running female cast member in the show’s history. But since leaving SNL in 2022, she has largely stepped out of the weekly spotlight, choosing film roles and private life over the relentless news cycle. Here’s what’s actually known about McKinnon’s career pivot, her relationships, and the rumors that persist online.

Born: January 6, 1984 ·
Height: 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) ·
SNL Tenure: 2012–2022 ·
Emmy Awards: 2 wins ·
Notable 2023 Film: Barbie

Who is Kate McKinnon in a relationship with?

Current relationship status

• McKinnon has never publicly confirmed a current partner as of 2024. She told Cosmopolitan (entertainment magazine) she rarely discusses her personal life in interviews.
• She was linked to photographer and actress Jackie Abbott between 2016 and 2019, according to Wikipedia and Cosmopolitan.
• No public statements indicate a breakup, but no joint appearances have been reported since 2019.

The implication: Any claim about McKinnon’s current relationship comes from inference, not from McKinnon herself. Readers should treat such reports as unconfirmed.

Past relationships

• While attending Columbia University, McKinnon dated future journalist Bari Weiss, as reported by Wikipedia.
• From 2016 to 2019, she was in a relationship with photographer and actress Jackie Abbott (Cosmopolitan).

What was Kate McKinnon diagnosed with?

Public statements on health

There is no credible source — no interview, no medical record, no verified report — indicating that McKinnon has received any specific medical diagnosis. Rumors circulating on social media platforms remain entirely unsubstantiated. Wikipedia contains no mention of any health condition.

The pattern: When a high-profile performer leaves a show without a dramatic reason, online speculation often invents a health narrative. In McKinnon’s case, the only public explanation for her SNL exit was fatigue — nothing more.

Why did SNL get rid of Kate McKinnon?

Departure from SNL

McKinnon was not fired. She left after the 2022 season — season 47 — along with several other longtime cast members including Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, and Kyle Mooney (NPR).

Reasons for leaving

• Variety (industry trade): McKinnon said her body was tired after a decade of weekly live comedy.
• Los Angeles Times (major daily): She described her departure as difficult after 10 years on the show.
• At the time of her exit, she held the record as the longest-running female cast member in SNL history (Los Angeles Times).

What this means: McKinnon’s departure was voluntary and career-driven, not punitive. The narrative that “SNL got rid of her” is false.

What is Kate McKinnon doing today?

Post-SNL projects

• Appeared as Weird Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie (2023), the highest-grossing film of that year (Wikipedia).
• Voice roles in animated projects; specific titles remain under wraps.
• Developing original content through her production company.

Why this matters: The post-SNL portfolio — one blockbuster film plus voice work — signals a shift away from sketch comedy toward character-driven film work, not a retirement.

Are Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon friends?

Friendship origin

They co-starred in The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018), an action-comedy directed by Susanna Fogel. In a TIME (news magazine) interview, Kunis described McKinnon as “incredibly funny” and noted their on-set chemistry translated into a genuine off-screen rapport.

Public statements

Kunis said in the same TIME interview: “She’s one of those people who is exactly who you think she is — lovely, smart, and unbelievably talented.” McKinnon similarly praised Kunis’s comedic timing. They have not publicly collaborated since.

The pattern: A positive working relationship that both actors described as friendship in promotional interviews. Whether they remain close outside the press cycle is unverifiable — but neither has contradicted the friendship claim.

Kate McKinnon’s timeline

“I just was so tired. My body was tired. I felt like it was time.”

— Kate McKinnon, explaining her SNL exit to Variety (industry trade)

“She’s one of those people who is exactly who you think she is — lovely, smart, and unbelievably talented.”

— Mila Kunis, on McKinnon, to TIME (news magazine)

For readers following Kate McKinnon’s career, the distinction is simple: confirmed facts — her SNL run, her voluntary exit, her Barbie role — sit alongside unconfirmed speculation about her private life. The trade-off for her guarded personal privacy is that gossip sites fill the gap. For fans and journalists, the choice is clear: cite only what McKinnon herself or tier-1/tier-2 sources have verified, or acknowledge the rumor as speculation.

Frequently asked questions