The Private Life Of Comedy's Queen: 5 Surprising Facts About Kate McKinnon And Partner Jackie Abbott's Enduring Relationship

Kate McKinnon and Jackie Abbott continue to be one of Hollywood’s most intriguing and private celebrity pairings as of December 12, 2025. While the *Saturday Night Live* (SNL) icon is celebrated for her brilliant, over-the-top characters and public persona, her personal life, particularly her long-term relationship with artist and actress Jackie Abbott, remains fiercely guarded.

This commitment to privacy has fueled constant speculation, yet the latest reports confirm the couple remains together, maintaining a quiet life away from the Hollywood spotlight. Their enduring partnership offers a fascinating counterpoint to the often-public relationships of other stars, making the few known details about their life together all the more significant.

Complete Profile: Kate McKinnon and Jackie Abbott

The relationship between Kate McKinnon and Jackie Abbott is defined by mutual support and an extreme level of discretion. Here is a detailed look at the two individuals who form this notable, yet elusive, couple.

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Kate McKinnon Profile

• Full Name: Kathryn McKinnon Berthold
• Date of Birth: January 6, 1984
• Place of Birth: Sea Cliff, New York, US
• Occupation: Actress, Comedian, Writer
• Known For: Her eleven-season tenure on *Saturday Night Live* (SNL), where she won multiple Emmy Awards for her work.
• Iconic SNL Characters: Colleen Rafferty (The Alien Abductee), Debette Goldry, Olya Povlatsky, and political impressions like Hillary Clinton.
• Major Filmography: *Ghostbusters* (2016), *Yesterday* (2019), *Bombshell* (2019), *Barbie* (2023).
• Sexual Orientation: Lesbian (Openly Gay)

Jackie Abbott Profile

• Full Name: Jackie Abbott
• Date of Birth: March 4, 1992 (Approximate)
• Place of Birth: Stamford, Connecticut, US
• Occupation: Actress, Writer, Artist, Photographer
• Education: Graduated from New York University (NYU) with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama in 2014.
• Creative Work: Her work as a photographer is featured under the moniker 'JMA Photography'. She is also credited as a writer.
• Select Filmography: Short films like *Thirst*, *Afterdeath*, and *The Contract*. She also appeared in the TV series *American Horror Stories: Daphne*.
• Relationship Status: Long-term partner of Kate McKinnon.

The Story of Two Private Lives: How McKinnon and Abbott Began

The timeline of Kate McKinnon and Jackie Abbott’s relationship is deliberately hazy, a testament to their desire for a normal life outside the media’s glare. The couple is believed to have started dating around 2016, a period when McKinnon’s star power at SNL was at its peak. Their initial connection is rumored to have been forged within the close-knit New York City creative community, where Abbott works as an actor and photographer.

Unlike many celebrity couples who use social media or red carpets to announce their status, McKinnon and Abbott chose to keep their bond entirely shielded. This decision aligns perfectly with McKinnon’s long-standing policy of separating her public, comedic persona from her deeply private personal affairs.

The decision to maintain such a high degree of privacy often leads to baseless rumors, including past suggestions of a split. However, the most consistent and recent reports in 2025 indicate that the two are still very much together, simply choosing a life of quiet commitment over public spectacle. Their relationship is a powerful example of celebrity couples successfully navigating fame while protecting their private sphere.

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The Rare Public Moment: The 2017 Emmy Awards

In a relationship defined by its absence from the public eye, their appearance at the 2017 Emmy Awards stands out as a singular, unforgettable moment. This event served as their de facto public debut, confirming their relationship to the world without a single spoken word from either partner.

McKinnon, who was nominated for her phenomenal work on SNL, brought Abbott as her date. When McKinnon won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, cameras captured a brief, touching embrace between the two before McKinnon took the stage. This small, intimate gesture was the most significant public confirmation of their romance to date.

The moment was especially meaningful to fans, as McKinnon has been a prominent and groundbreaking figure for the LGBTQ+ community in mainstream comedy. While she did not mention Abbott in her acceptance speech, the shared moment of joy was enough to solidify their status as a committed couple in the eyes of the public. This remains the most detailed piece of evidence regarding the depth of their long-term commitment.

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McKinnon’s Stance on Privacy and the LSI Entity of "The Cat"

Kate McKinnon has consistently articulated her belief in maintaining a strict boundary between her career and her personal life. In various interviews, she has made it clear that her work is for the public, but her private world is not. This philosophy is the foundation of her and Abbott's low-key existence.

Interestingly, the entity she is most willing to discuss is not her partner, but her beloved cat, Nino. McKinnon has often affectionately referred to herself as a "cat-lady" and has shared anecdotes and videos of Nino, a humorous deflection that further protects her human relationships. This focus on her pets serves as a lighthearted shield, allowing her to be personable while keeping the most important aspects of her life—like her relationship with Jackie Abbott—securely out of the tabloids.

This deliberate choice for extreme celebrity couples privacy has helped them avoid the constant scrutiny that often plagues high-profile pairings. It allows Abbott, who is an accomplished artist, photographer, and actor in her own right, to pursue her career without being solely defined as "Kate McKinnon's partner." Abbott’s credits in projects like *American Horror Stories* and her work in JMA Photography showcase her independent creative endeavors.

Future Endeavors and the Enduring Partnership

As of late 2025, Kate McKinnon's career continues to soar following her departure from SNL. She is involved in numerous high-profile film projects, including the drama *The Roses* with Andy Samberg and Benedict Cumberbatch, and continues to voice characters in animation. Jackie Abbott is also actively pursuing her acting and photography career in New York City.

The future for Kate McKinnon and Jackie Abbott will likely look much like their present: a highly successful, visible career for McKinnon, a flourishing, independent career for Abbott, and a shared private life that remains firmly out of the public domain. Their relationship, which has reportedly endured since 2016, stands as a quiet, powerful testament to the fact that celebrity and commitment can coexist, even if the details are kept behind a closed door.

The curiosity surrounding this couple is a natural byproduct of McKinnon’s immense popularity, but their choice to prioritize their personal happiness and long-term relationship over media attention is a refreshing and increasingly rare phenomenon in Hollywood.