WNBA star Sophie Cunningham found herself at the center of a viral moment after an offhand joke on her podcast ignited a surprisingly wide-ranging internet debate about cold sores, stigma, and basic health literacy.
During the most recent episode of the Show Me Something podcast, which dropped on Saturday, January 17, Cunningham joked that a visible sore on her lip was “herpes,” attributing it to sharing ChapStick at a youth basketball tournament in Missouri.
She laughed as she told co-host West Wilson, “ChapStick and I got a herpy. I have herpes,” before jokingly adding, “So, don’t kiss me.”
Wilson appeared momentarily caught off guard by the blunt phrasing, reacting to how close Cunningham leaned toward the camera while pointing out the sore.
The exchange quickly turned into light banter, with Cunningham continuing to riff on the situation while acknowledging that the moment was likely landing very differently for viewers watching than for listeners tuning in by audio.
As the conversation went on, Cunningham clarified what she was actually dealing with: a common cold sore, medically known as herpes labialis.
According to the Mayo Clinic, cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a widespread virus that is typically transmitted through non-sexual contact, such as saliva, shared utensils, or lip products. HSV-1 is extremely common, affecting a significant portion of the U.S. population.
The clip circulated rapidly on social media, and reactions in the YouTube comments ranged from amused to critical. Some viewers praised Cunningham for joking openly about something many people experience but rarely talk about without embarrassment.
Others took issue with the casual framing or misunderstood the distinction between HSV-1 cold sores and sexually transmitted genital herpes.
The moment gained further traction when Cunningham later addressed the chatter directly, making it clear she was joking and did not have genital herpes. She explained that changes in climate, dry lips, and shared items often trigger cold sores for her—something she’s dealt with before.
In the process, she reiterated that the comment was never meant to be a medical confession, just humor that had come out wrong.