Most people know Kate McKinnon not as Kate but as Hillary Clinton, Justin Beiber, or Rudy Giuliani. But who everyone should be focusing on is the real Kate McKinnon. She’s the “soft-spoken and pensive” (Variety) and openly gay comedian who, through her spot-on impressions, hilarious sketches, and excellent acting, criticizes the flaws in society. She began her career on The Big Gay Sketch Show but, up until recently, was a cast member on Saturday Night Live for 11 seasons. During her time at SNL, she won two Emmy awards. Some of her most notable roles include Weird Barbie in Barbie (2023), Debra Hammer in Yesterday, Morgan Freeman in The Spy Who Dumped Me, and Jillian Holtzman in Ghostbusters (2016).
Celebrities are real people, too; they struggle with problems that affect everyone. McKinnon is outspoken about her struggles with anxiety; as a young child, she found it made her anxious when speaking with others, so she would use funny voices to relieve her nerves. She loved how it brought joy and laughter to the people around her. With an estimated 31.1% of people in the United States living with anxiety, it is comforting to hear such an outspoken comedian struggles with something similar to so many. It reassures people that they can do anything they set their mind to despite their anxiety.
McKinnon uses her prominent role in society to criticize the flaws she sees. As the first openly gay female cast member on SNL, she used her position to express her disgust on certain current events. For example, when Florida passed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, McKinnon shared her thoughts on this controversial legislation. She uses comedy to discuss how this law could have dangerous implications for LGBTQ+ youth. Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an openly gay Democrat in Florida, says that this bill “ends a terrible message to our youth that there is something so wrong, so inappropriate, so dangerous about this topic that we have to censor it from classroom instruction,” with which McKinnon agrees. Additionally, she has swiped at JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, when she made controversial anti-trans remarks. McKinnon jokes about how Rowling should “stick to the books” instead of making transphobic comments on social media.
McKinnon’s comedic style pushes boundaries and social norms, so she is expected to face some backlash. Due to her prominent role in the LGBTQ community and the criticisms she makes, her comments and sketches often spark debate and controversy on issues related to gender. Additionally, with any satire, there are bound to be differing opinions, and people criticize her for these opinions. McKinnon should be an inspiration to all. She uses her position in the spotlight to shed the limelight on social injustices. McKinnon should be appreciated not just during Women’s History Month but every month throughout the year.
