Aimee Lou Wood isn’t laughing. The breakout star of The White Lotus Season 3 has called out Saturday Night Live for its recent parody of her character, Chelsea, calling the sketch “mean and unfunny” in a series of Instagram Stories on Sunday 126.
What Happened in the ‘SNL’ Sketch?
The April 12 episode featured a pre-taped spoof titled “The White POTUS,” which reimagined Donald Trump’s inner circle vacationing at a White Lotus-style resort. While most of the satire targeted political figures, cast member Sarah Sherman played an exaggerated version of Wood’s character—complete with a bizarre British accent and oversized prosthetic teeth 34.
The scene drew particular ire when Jon Hamm (as RFK Jr.) mused, “What if we took all the fluoride out of the drinking water? What would that do to people’s teeth?” Sherman’s Chelsea replied, “Fluoride? What’s that?”—a jab seemingly aimed at Wood’s natural smile, which has been widely discussed since The White Lotus premiered 29.
Wood’s Response: ‘Punching Down’ on Appearance
Wood, who has previously expressed frustration over constant chatter about her teeth, didn’t hold back:
- “Such a shame cuz I had such a great time watching [SNL] a couple weeks ago.”
- “Yes, take the piss for sure… but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way?”
- “The rest of the skit was punching up, and I/Chelsea was the only one punched down on.” 16
She also noted Sherman’s accent was inaccurately “terrible” and reshaped fan DMs criticizing the sketch for mocking her looks rather than her acting 410.
Backlash and Apologies
The backlash was swift:
- Fans flooded Wood with support, calling the bit “horrid” and unnecessary 12.
- SNL reportedly apologized, though Wood didn’t specify who reached out 69.
- Co-star Walton Goggins sparked drama by praising the sketch as “AMAZZZING”—fans accused him of being “shady” given Wood’s distress 12.
Bigger Issue: When Does Parody Cross the Line?
Wood’s critique highlights a recurring debate in comedy:
- Political satire? Fair game.
- Mocking a woman’s appearance? Less so, especially when Wood has said the focus on her teeth overshadows her work 310.
“I don’t know if it was a man, would we be talking about it this much?” she told GQ earlier this month 9.
What’s Next?
While SNL hasn’t publicly commented, the incident underscores the fine line between satire and cruelty—and the power of calling it out.
