The Truth About Leslie Jones And Kate McKinnon's Relationship
These ladies of "Saturday Night Live" are fan favorites for a reason. Kate McKinnon joined the "SNL" family in 2012 (via IMDb) as the first openly gay female cast member and won audiences over for her spot-on impressions of Hillary Clinton, Justin Bieber and, most recently, Rudy Giuliani. McKinnon's secret to imitating the political and Hollywood elite? In a 2021 interview with Variety she explained,"You've got to find something you admire in them and that you like. I try to do that." McKinnon's comedy skills are so sharp, she famously made Bill Hader laugh during her "SNL" audition (via YouTube).
Leslie Jones' journey to the front of the camera was less conventional. After auditioning in 2013, Jones was hired to strictly write for the series (via Biography), but after scoring a hilarious guest spot on "Weekend Update" where she ranted about her dating life, Jones was quickly bumped up to featured player, becoming the oldest person to ever join the cast (via LA Times).
Both McKinnon and Jones have acted in a number of sketches together and even co-starred in feature film "Ghostbusters." But what is their relationship like off-screen?
Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon are BFFs
In a 2016 interview with Refinery 29, Kate McKinnon said of her former "SNL" co-star that they became "sisters for life" after filming "Ghostbusters." "Leslie and I have worked together for two years at 'SNL,'" McKinnon stated. "We were very close by the time we got there to film and got so much closer, pathologically closer, over the course of the summer in fact." We're glad to hear it!
The ladies' friendship has gotten so tight that there was even a rumor circulating in January 2021 that the two were married! According to Snopes, a deceiving online ad showed Jones and McKinnon embracing along with the caption "[Pics] Celeb Couples We Totally Forgot Were Married." Adding to the confusion, a second advertisement popped up online with the same picture and click bait title, "17 LGBTQ Celebs that Overcome Many Challenges and Eventually Became Couples."
While its a romance we'd totally ship, McKinnon and Jones are strictly platonic best friends.
SNL's Jones and McKinnon support one another's accomplishments
The two comediennes take friendship to a new level in a number of ways, such as showing genuine joy for each other's achievements. When McKinnon won Best Supporting Actress at the 2016 Emmy Awards for her work on "Saturday Night Live," Jones sent out a supportive tweet, cheering her BFF on, stating "IM SCREAMING ... SHE WON YALL!!" (via Bustle).
In fact, Jones only agreed to sign on to the 2016 "Ghostbusters" remake after hearing that McKinnon would be involved. Jones revealed to Refinery 29, "I had some doubts in the beginning, but after I saw who was cast and who was directing, I didn't have any."
And when Jones left the "SNL" family in 2019, she made sure to personally thank a number of her hilarious co-stars, including McKinnon (via Deadline). Jones took to her Twitter account and stated, "To the incredible cast members: I will miss working, creating and laughing with you ... I will miss Kate's loving hugs and talks when I needed."
Both Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon rebel against Hollywood's impossible standards for women
While both women are successful in their own right, the fame hasn't come without its challenges. Both Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones dealt with harsh feedback and sexist remarks when filming 2016's "Ghostbusters" remake (via IMDb). The ladies chose to shut out any haters in a similar manner. McKinnon told Refinery 29, "It's disappointing. It was surprising to me that people think that in this decade or century. There are legitimate concerns whenever something is being redone, but some of it was just pure, misogynistic vitriol." Jones agreed with her co-star stating, "At least see the movie before you start something."
The women's strong friendship extends all the way to a shared stance on body hair removal. In a joint interview with Entertainment Weekly, both Jones and McKinnon bonded over a hatred of shaving their legs. McKinnon earnestly asked, "Why are we getting rid of the stuff?" with Jones nodding in agreement, "I never shave my legs."
Hopefully, Jones and McKinnon's best friendship follows the trajectory of another famous "SNL" duo, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. If the 2022 Golden Globes are looking for hosts, we know who to call.