Kenan Thompson Opens Up About His GERD Diagnosis, And How it Impacts His Career (EXCLUSIVE)
The SNL star shares his health journey—and why he’s urging others not to suffer in silence
With the longest tenure in Saturday Night Live history and a comedy career spanning over three decades, Kenan Thompson has solidified his status as a household name. Now, he’s getting candid about a more personal topic: his recent diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). By sharing his symptoms, his decision to take Voquezna and his partnership with Phathom Pharmaceuticals for the GERD is No Joke Campaign, Thompson hopes his experience will help others who are suffering get the medical attention they need.
To shed more light on his journey, Kenan Thompsan recently sat down with First For Women to discuss his GERD, the campaign, as well as some favorite moments from SNL and how his comedy has evolved over the years.
Kenan Thompson’s recent diagnosis of GERD
Thompson has made people laugh for decades, but he’s not joking around when it comes to his health. He was recently diagnosed with GERD, and until now, he hasn’t spoken publicly about his experience.
“I was burping up acid in my sleep and wasn’t able to rest well,” Thompson shared. “It was a lot of acid in the throat, stomach discomfort and chronic pains that were in and out.”
Common symptoms of GERD include heartburn, regurgitation, upper chest or belly pain and trouble swallowing.
He knew he needed more than a quick fix to help alleviate his discomfort. “It had gotten to such a point where it actually required a prescription, kind of medicine. That’s when my doctor’s visit got serious,” he said. His doctors were glad he asked and he joked that they said, “Ta-da, here’s Voquezna.”
Why Voquezna was the right choice for Kenan Thompson
As for other treatments, “They weren’t complete fixes, and it was more like patches as opposed to an actual new tire,” he told First. “I got on the Voquezna train, and I’ve felt better ever since.”
In addition to medication, Thompson also adapted his lifestyle habits. “I definitely have been on a healthier kick lately, which is always helpful. I’m making better decisions when ordering food or deciding what to eat, and I’m also balancing some exercise in there,” he said.
“I think the biggest surprise was that it actually worked once I took medicine, he added. “I don’t know if I’m going to be living with this for the rest of my life.” He even joked about being able to eat pizza ever again, but, “luckily it’s not that drastic.”
Kenan Thompson’s partnership with Phathom Pharmaceuticals
For the campaign, Thompson plays the role of a comedic chef in a “Kick Some Acid Cooking Show.” “Since I was able to overcome something that was giving me such discomfort, I wanted to share that, so the partnership was easy.”
The commercial will air on broadcast television and streaming platforms, including Prime Video, Hulu, and Peacock and will also be available on social media like Facebook or Instagram. “I thought it’d be funny if I were playing a chef, but I couldn’t eat any of the food,” Thompson said. “Something humorous to give me a backstory of why I’m doing these commercials kind of as opposed to just being a hired actor, because it is a personal journey for me.”
Thompson’s biggest piece of advice throughout the whole campaign? Don’t suffer in silence. “I want to get the word out because it was like silent suffering,” he said. “I don’t know if a lot of people might be going through that, or they might be scared to talk to their doctors but they definitely should because it helped me.”
How his diagnosis impacted his career
“I use my throat a lot, so when it’s sore, or something like that, or I haven’t been able to sleep because I’ve been up all night with discomfort, that definitely can affect my day,” he said. “I can get worse a lot easier than I used to, based on one yelling or song moment that can blow out my voice if I’m not in a healthy kind of situation.”
And humming the SNL theme song happens to be one of Thompson’s major gauges for how he’s feeling. “Once I sing that song fully out, am I able to do the rest of the show without my voice cracking?” he said.
Kenan Thompson on being the longest-running SNL cast member
It’s hard to think of SNL and not simultaneously think of Thompson. “It’s truly a blessing. It’s life-changing,” Thompson reflected. “I’m a big fan of the place and the people that work there because it’s a large movement.”
He’s had a lot of favorite memories during his career, but to him, the specials stand out. “The 40th and 50th were both insane and incredible things to witness,” the comedian shared. “I love having that front-row seat to those kinds of things, those moments that are just legendary, whether people realize it or not. I can feel it because I’m standing right there.”
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