‘SNL’ Star Reveals ‘Gross’ Health Condition

Kate McKinnon is opening up like never before — and her latest confession has fans both fascinated and slightly grossed out.

The Saturday Night Live alum, 41, revealed that she has a rare tongue condition called geographic tongue, which causes her tongue to shed “in patches.” The revelation came when McKinnon was asked about the last photo she snapped on her phone — and her answer was anything but ordinary.

“I took a photo of my tongue and sent it to an actor friend of mine,” McKinnon shared. “We both have the same medical condition. It’s called geographic tongue.”

McKinnon didn’t hold back when describing the condition, jokingly calling it “gross.” According to the Cleveland Clinic, geographic tongue — medically known as benign migratory glossitis — causes smooth, reddish patches to form on the tongue’s surface. These spots often shift and change, giving the tongue a map-like appearance.

“We brag about how geographic we are on any given day,” the Barbie star admitted with a laugh. “Maybe I shouldn’t be saying this in a magazine.”

While the condition might sound alarming, doctors say it’s harmless and noncancerous. But for McKinnon, it’s become a quirky part of her daily life — one she can’t help but joke about.

McKinnon, who lit up the Saturday Night Live stage from 2012 to 2022, hasn’t slowed down since leaving the legendary sketch show. She recently released her second children’s book, Secrets of the Purple Pearl, the newest addition to her whimsical Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science series.

And she’s just as busy on the big screen. In August 2025, McKinnon starred in The Roses, a dark comedy that’s already generating buzz among critics and fans alike.

Between juggling acting, writing, and her candid sense of humor, McKinnon continues to prove why audiences love her — even when she’s sharing unexpected details about her health.