Actress Aimee Lou Wood criticized a Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketch that satirized her appearance, describing it as "mean and unfunny." She expressed her criticism in an Instagram post, referencing a skit from the television series The White Lotus. In the skit, SNL cast member Sarah Sherman impersonated Wood, using exaggerated prosthetic teeth.
Wood wrote, "Whilst in honest mode – I did find the SNL thing mean and unfunny." She later stated she might delete the post, adding that SNL had subsequently apologized for the sketch.
Wood portrays Chelsea in the third season of The White Lotus, which follows the lives of guests and staff at a luxury Thai resort. The sketch, titled "White Potus," satirized the series' characters by replacing them with depictions of Donald Trump and his inner circle.
In subsequent posts, Wood, known for her roles in Sex Education and Toxic Town, stated, "Such a shame cuz I had such a great time watching it a couple weeks ago. Yes, take the piss for sure – that’s what the show is about – but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way?"
Wood further clarified that she was not "thin-skinned" and understood that SNL's approach involved caricature. She emphasized that the joke centered on the portrayal of her gap teeth, not on a perceived flaw, and that the rest of the skit was satirical. She noted that she was the only character singled out for negative treatment in the sketch.
Wood expressed satisfaction with the positive response to her comments and stated that she was glad to have voiced her opinion instead of remaining silent.
In a recent interview with GQ Hype, Wood discussed how the conversation surrounding her appearance made her feel somewhat disheartened, as it diverted attention from her work. She clarified on Instagram that comments about feeling "ugly" were rooted in her personal insecurities and had no connection to statements made by HBO.
In the interview, Wood explained that the White Lotus creator, Mike White, had reportedly worked hard to cast her, which had contributed to her own anxieties. She described this as a personal, unfounded concern.
