Aimee Lou Wood Slams SNL’s White Lotus Parody for 'Mean' Focus on Physical Appearance

Aimee Lou Wood Calls Out SNL Over 'White Lotus' Parody

When Aimee Lou Wood saw herself depicted on Saturday Night Live as part of their parody sketch “The White Potus,” she didn’t laugh. The SNL segment, intended as a comedic spin on HBO’s White Lotus Season 3, landed differently for the actress, whose portrayal was characterized by exaggerated prosthetic teeth and a lampooned British accent brought to life by comedian Sarah Sherman.

Wood vented her frustration directly on Instagram. The main thing that stung wasn’t so much the British accent or the misleading impression of her personality. It was the focus on her teeth — “big gap teeth, not bad teeth,” as she put it — that felt less like a joke and more like an unnecessary low blow. Unlike other targets of the SNL parody, who were political figures subject to pointed, often biting, satire, Wood’s main gripe was that her physical appearance became the centerpiece of mockery.

“I’m not thin-skinned,” Wood told her followers, clarifying she wasn’t targeting Sherman personally. Satire is a given in her world, but she drew the line at comedy that feels like it’s “punching down.” It didn’t help that the sketch compared her appearance directly with real-life flaws instead of behaviors or positions of power — a tone she called both 'mean and unfunny.'

Apologies, Reactions, and the Fight Over Comedic Boundaries

Any chill between the actress and her impersonator quickly thawed after Sherman messaged Wood privately to apologize – and even sent a bouquet of flowers. Wood shared this bit of reconciliation with fans, saying she respected Sherman’s gesture and didn’t believe there was any malicious intent behind the performance. Still, she wished the jokes hadn't taken aim at her teeth.

The story didn’t end there. Fellow SNL cast member Bowen Yang threw his support behind Wood, saying it’s fair for someone to speak up if they feel targeted, even in a comedy sketch. As the conversation rippled out, audiences weighed in on social media: Is it fair game for comedy to target the way someone looks? Or does it cross a line, especially when the subject is an actor — not a world leader or political lightning rod?

SNL has reportedly reached out to Wood privately to say sorry, but so far, the show hasn’t issued any official public statement. Fans of both the show and the actress are waiting to see if the public apology will match Sherman's personal one. In the meantime, this episode has become another flashpoint in the never-ending debate about how far parody can go and whether comedians should ever aim their punches at personal features — not just public personas.