For almost a decade, Kate McKinnon was the crown jewel of Saturday Night Live. Her eccentric characters, razor-sharp impressions, and unapologetic humor earned her two Emmys and a permanent place in pop culture. But behind the laughs lies a story of courage, reinvention, and choices that feel both surprising and deeply human. Is she LGBTQ? Is she in a relationship? Why did she walk away from SNL at the height of her fame? And what’s this buzz about Harry Potter? Let’s dive into the real story.
Kate McKinnon and Her LGBTQ Identity
McKinnon has long been open about being gay. For many, she became one of the first openly lesbian comedians to achieve mainstream stardom on American television. She often credits trailblazers like Ellen DeGeneres for showing her that being queer and being visible in comedy could coexist.
At the 2020 Golden Globes, she delivered a heartfelt tribute to Ellen, admitting that seeing another gay woman on television had given her permission to dream bigger. That moment sealed her role not just as a performer, but as an icon for LGBTQ visibility.
Unlike some celebrities who avoid discussing personal identity, McKinnon has woven it naturally into her art — playing quirky queer characters and celebrating authenticity through satire rather than preachy statements.
Her Relationships: Fact vs Mystery
When it comes to love, McKinnon keeps her cards close to her chest. Publicly, she’s fiercely private, refusing to turn her dating life into headlines. Still, a few details have surfaced over the years.
- During her university years, she briefly dated journalist Bari Weiss.
- Later, she was linked with actress and photographer Jackie Abbott, with whom she was spotted at events between 2016 and 2019.
Since then, there has been no official confirmation of a partner. Some speculate she is single, while others believe she may be quietly in a relationship but choosing to keep it away from the spotlight. Either way, she has drawn a clear boundary between her professional persona and her private world — a rarity in Hollywood.
Why She Quit Saturday Night Live
McKinnon’s decision to leave SNL in 2022 came as a shock to fans. She had been one of the show’s brightest stars for ten years, with beloved characters like the eccentric alien abductee Colleen Rafferty and her uncanny impressions of Hillary Clinton.
But the reason was surprisingly simple: exhaustion. In interviews, she admitted that “my body was tired.” The endless cycle of writing, rehearsals, and live performances had worn her down. While she described her time on SNL as the most fulfilling decade of her life, she felt it was time to step back.
Her farewell was poetic. In her final sketch, playing Colleen Rafferty one last time, she looked at the camera and said, “Earth, I love ya. Thanks for letting me stay awhile.” Then she boarded a spaceship and disappeared — a fitting metaphor for her graceful exit.
Rather than burn out, McKinnon chose to leave on her own terms, proving that even comedy’s toughest gig has limits.
Any Connection to Harry Potter?
Here’s where myths meet reality. McKinnon has no official role in the Harry Potter franchise — she never acted in the films, voiced the audiobooks, or had any production ties.
The confusion largely comes from a 2020 SNL sketch where she made a satirical jab at J.K. Rowling following the author’s controversial remarks about transgender people. McKinnon’s line — “stick to the books” — went viral, sparking chatter about her connection to the Potter world. But in truth, it was comedy, not canon.
So to set the record straight: Kate McKinnon has no Harry Potter credentials beyond a sharp one-liner.
Life After SNL: Farming, Books, and Humor
What does a comedy superstar do after leaving the world’s most famous sketch show? If you’re Kate McKinnon, you move to the woods.
She has described her new chapter as part farmer, part carpenter. She tends vegetables, builds furniture, and enjoys a pace of life radically different from New York City’s constant buzz. But her creativity hasn’t dimmed.
She recently published a children’s book, The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science, blending humor with quirky storytelling. The book was well-received, and she’s already announced a sequel, Secrets of the Purple Pearl. She even narrates the audiobook herself, often alongside her sister.
In a lighthearted reveal, McKinnon also shared that she has “geographic tongue” — a harmless condition where the tongue forms map-like patterns. In her usual comic style, she joked about swapping tongue selfies with a friend who shares the condition.
So while she may no longer be on live television each week, she’s still inventing, laughing, and creating — just on her own terms.
What’s Next for McKinnon?
If history has shown us anything, it’s that Kate McKinnon is unpredictable. She may stick to writing children’s stories, or she might surprise audiences with a new acting role. She could return to SNL as a guest host, or disappear deeper into her farm life.
What’s clear is that she’s not chasing fame for fame’s sake. McKinnon is curating a life that balances creativity with peace, and in doing so, she’s quietly rewriting the rules of celebrity.
For fans who miss her weekly antics on SNL, her books and occasional appearances are proof that comedy doesn’t have to stay confined to one stage. Kate McKinnon may have stepped off the spaceship, but she hasn’t left Earth behind.