HBO’s Aimee Lou Wood is done staying quiet about comedy that crosses the line. After Saturday Night Live’s parody of The White Lotus, with a side order of Trump family antics, Wood’s teeth became the punchline — and she’s not having it. In an April 2025 episode, Sarah Sherman slipped on prosthetic teeth to mimic Wood’s signature gap, exaggerating her appearance and slapping on a generic British accent for good measure. The skit, titled ‘The White Potus,’ didn’t just poke fun at her smile; it tied the joke to a plot point about fluoride in the water, suggesting that without it, people would wind up looking like Wood.
Wood took to Instagram with her response, making it clear she thought the sketch didn’t just miss the mark — it didn’t even try. She flat out called it ‘mean and unfunny,’ slamming the writers for going for the cheapest possible laugh. ‘The joke could have been cleverer, less cheap,’ she posted, shining a light on the way genuine features like a tooth gap often get weaponized for easy comedy. When a globally recognized show like SNL picks on something so personal, it drags old-fashioned, playground-style ridicule into viewers’ homes.
The backlash was instant — and loud. Big names like Cara Delevingne and Georgia May Jagger jumped into the comments section, tossing around words like ‘gorgeous’ and calling the sketch cold. Marisha Wallace spoke up, too, highlighting how someone’s looks shouldn’t be treated as an open invitation for mockery on national TV.
SNL didn’t wait long to respond. They sent Wood a direct apology, which she shared with her followers, but the conversation didn’t stop there. Bowen Yang, one of SNL’s stars, didn’t skirt responsibility. He agreed with Wood’s point, straightforwardly saying her criticism was ‘completely valid’ and admitting the gag just didn’t work. By acknowledging there was a misstep, Yang put SNL’s apology in plain view for everyone else.
But it’s not just about one joke or one sketch. This moment tapped into a larger debate about body positivity, cruelty disguised as humor, and the responsibility that comes with a massive platform. Celebs and fans alike are calling on comedy shows to get smarter and more thoughtful — to recognize the impact when someone’s real-life features become the butt of a joke. As the dust settles, it’s clear the days of easy, appearance-based laughs are numbered, at least if Aimee Lou Wood and her supporters have anything to say about it.
© 2025. All rights reserved.