SNL’s 'White Lotus' Parody Draws Fire from Aimee Lou Wood for Targeting Appearance

SNL’s ‘White POTUS’ Sketch Sparks Backlash from White Lotus Star

It doesn’t take much for modern comedy to cross a line, and that’s exactly what happened when SNL took a swing at Aimee Lou Wood’s The White Lotus character. In a pre-taped sketch called ‘The White POTUS,’ SNL attempted to mash up American politics with the glamorous Thailand backdrop of HBO’s hit show. Roles inspired by the original White Lotus cast were handed to impersonations of the likes of Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump. But it was the reimagining of Wood’s character Chelsea—played by Sarah Sherman with glaringly fake teeth and an over-the-top British accent—that really hit a sore spot.

Instead of clever satire, viewers got a caricature that leaned hard on physical mockery. Lines like “For eye what’s that?” and “Oh look a monkey” only made things cringier, and the gag’s focus on Chelsea’s smile struck a nerve with Wood. Jumping onto Instagram, she didn’t mince words: she called the sketch “mean and unfunny.” Her frustration zeroed in on the relentless jabs at her teeth, which she clarified were simply natural gaps, not a sign of poor dental care or a punchline for lazy writing.

Public Reaction Forces an Apology—And Raises Bigger Comedy Questions

Fans quickly rallied behind Wood, using social media to vent about SNL’s approach. Many agreed that the portrayal wasn’t just off—especially with Sherman’s butchered British accent—it felt like a punch down instead of a punchline. Wood made it clear she appreciates razor-sharp satire, but this, she said, missed the mark and came across as “cheap.” She emphasized that her issue was with the concept, not the cast member tasked with delivering the parody.

The fallout didn’t end with a single fiery Instagram story. When paparazzi shots of Wood in tears surfaced in London, media outlets jumped on the opportunity to link her emotions directly to the SNL drama. Wood set the record straight again—no, the tears weren’t about late-night TV. She had other personal stuff going on, which, she said, had nothing to do with ‘White POTUS’ or the weird focus on her teeth. Still, the incident cracked open a bigger debate. Where does satire end and mean-spirited mockery begin? Fans and comedians alike started weighing in, especially as SNL issued an apology—in their usual understated way—acknowledging the misstep.

The sketch has gone down as a recent flashpoint in the ongoing conversation about how far parody should go, especially when it feels more like targeting than teasing. For now, Wood appears ready to move on, but the online debate about comedy’s boundaries shows no signs of slowing down.