Aimee Lou Wood Responds to SNL’s ‘White Lotus’ Teeth Sketch After Apology Dispute

SNL Faces Backlash Over ‘White Lotus’ Teeth Joke

Aimee Lou Wood, who plays Chelsea on HBO's The White Lotus, found herself at the center of a storm after a SNL sketch targeted her character's teeth. The April 12, 2025, episode rolled out a parody called ‘White POTUS’, mashing up U.S. politics with the luxury resort drama. Alongside Donald Trump and Marco Rubio impersonations, SNL cast member Sarah Sherman played Chelsea, showing off oversized prosthetic teeth and delivering a punchline about fluoride that hit a nerve for Wood.

The social media reaction was quick. Wood made it clear she wasn't upset with Sherman herself, but she thought the teeth gag was ‘mean and unfunny.’ Other bits in the sketch poked fun at Trump’s appearance and drew from public figures' real stories, but the teeth joke felt more like a personal dig to Wood. She laid it all out on Instagram Stories, saying that while she understood SNL’s satire, this time it veered into ‘personal’ and ‘unfair’ territory.

The situation escalated when Wood said she got apologies from SNL—not from the show as a whole, but at least from some of its people. Sources close to SNL, though, said there wasn’t any official apology issued. The network stuck to its guns, defending the skit by pointing out its long history of making fun of public figures’ looks, including Trump’s physique—something the same episode lampooned. Behind the scenes, some staff felt the joke was harmless and that any hurt feelings weren’t the intention at all. In fact, SNL creators reportedly claimed their caricature of Chelsea came from a place of affection for Wood’s role and the character’s quirks.

Debate Flares Over Satire and Mockery

The line between clever parody and outright ridicule is never clear-cut, but it definitely came back in focus after this dust-up. On social media and in entertainment circles, some argued that celebrities—especially actors on hit shows—are always fair game for satire. Others said there’s a difference between lampooning someone’s on-screen character and roasting their physical features, especially when those features mirror the person’s real-life appearance.

Adding another twist, Wood’s White Lotus co-star Walton Goggins publicly praised the SNL parody, calling it “amazzzingggg,” even though the two reportedly aren’t exactly close on set. Some observers saw Goggins’ post as a show of support for SNL’s tradition of edgy comedy. Others read it as a subtle swipe in the ongoing rumor mill about tensions between Wood and Goggins.

With the storm swirling, Wood eventually moved to clear the air. She said she accepts the informal apologies she received and emphasized that she still loves the show. Reflecting on the heated reaction online, she talked about wanting satire to punch ‘up’ at the powerful, not ‘down’ on individuals. She also spoke about her character’s fate in White Lotus Season 3, calling Chelsea’s death scene ‘perfect’—a nod to the complexity and dark humor that drew her to the role in the first place.

This SNL episode has started a fresh and candid conversation about when parody goes from sharp to mean-spirited, especially as comedians continue to walk the tightrope between poking fun and hurting feelings. For now, Wood seems to have found some closure, but the wider debate around satire’s boundaries isn’t cooling off anytime soon.