Amy Schumer’s journey to discovering her Cushing syndrome diagnosis began in an unexpected place: the comment sections of social media. The Emmy-winning actress and comedian, known for her sharp wit and unapologetic humor, recently shared that online criticism about her “moon face” led her to seek medical attention, ultimately uncovering the condition.
Appearing on the podcast Call Her Daddy on Wednesday, Schumer opened up to host Alex Cooper about how the trolling she endured online helped her identify the health issue.
“A year ago, the Internet really came for me,” the 43-year-old recalled, referencing the viral comments about her swollen face. Initially dismissing the remarks as typical online cruelty, Schumer said she paid them little attention — until medical professionals began weighing in.
“Doctors were chiming in the comments and they were, like, ‘No, no, something’s really up. Your face looks so crazy,'” she said.
The unsolicited diagnoses led Schumer to research Cushing syndrome, a condition caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of the hormone cortisol. This can result from the body producing too much cortisol naturally or from extended steroid use, according to the Mayo clinic. Common symptoms include a rounded face, a fatty hump between the shoulders, and distinctive pink or purple stretch marks.
At first, Schumer admitted dismissing the speculations. But as the comments piled up, she began to connect the dots. The comedian revealed she had been receiving steroid injections to treat scars from her breast reduction surgery and Cesarean section after the birth of her son Gene in 2019.
“So I was getting these steroid injections, and it gave me this thing called Cushing syndrome — which I wouldn’t have known if the internet hadn’t come for me so hard,” she explained.
Schumer had previously addressed her health challenges in an interview last year with the News Not Noise newsletter, where she disclosed that her condition was exogenous Cushing syndrome, caused by external steroid treatments leading to excessive cortisol levels in her body.
The timing of her diagnosis coincided with her preparation for the Netflix comedy Kinda Pregnant, a project that added professional pressure to her already challenging personal journey.
