Kate McKinnon โrevealed she once worried herโข satirical portrayal of Hillary โClinton on “Saturday Night Live” could negatively impact โฃthe former Secretary of State’s political standing.Theโ comedian discussed her approach to political impersonations during a โrecent appearance on Amy โPoehler’sโค “Goodโค Hang” podcast, admitting the potential for real-world consequences crossed her mind.
McKinnon, who spentโ aโ decade on “SNL“โฃ and frequently โขimpersonated โprominent figures including Rudy โฃGiuliani, explained she โฃgrappled with theโค ethical considerations of her work.โ While believing satire doesn’t truly sway public opinion, sheโฃ confessed โขto being shaken byโ an article questioning whether her Clintonโข impression would damage โฃthe candidate’s image. “I remember there was one article โฃthat was like, ‘Will she hurt Hillary Clinton?’ Andโค I was like, ‘God, y’all,'” McKinnon said, โadding, “Should notโ have read, should never have looked, but thatโ notion just broke my brain.”
Theโ actress described her work asโ a form ofโ engagement with “culture, โขin history,” โeven if โคfrom “the sidelines, putting onโค a wig.” โShe felt she โwasโข “really doing โขsomething with my life,โค something meaningful,” through comedy.โข though, McKinnon also acknowledged the need for balance, stating, “I still didn’t want to hurt โคanyone’s feelingsโฆThere was some balancing to do there.”
Despite her concerns,McKinnon maintained sheโ never intended to cause harm,”even people Iโค vehementlyโค disagreed with politically.” She viewed political satire asโ a “double-edged sword,” โbut ultimately believed herโ role was to โchronicle events through humor, not to dictate outcomes.
