Aimee Lou Wood arrives at the season three premiere of "The White Lotus" on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, at Paramount Theater in Los Angeles. Arpita(AP Photo)
British actress Aimee Lou Wood has spoken out after being parodied in a recent "Saturday Night Live" sketch. Known for her breakout role in The White Lotus Season 3, Wood criticized the skit as “mean and unfunny” in a candid Instagram Story shared on Sunday.
She expressed disappointment in the attempt at humor, suggesting there were “cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap” ways to satirize the hit HBO show.
The Controversial Sketch: ‘White POTUS’
The sketch, titled White POTUS, was a parody of The White Lotus, reimagined with political figures vacationing in Thailand — the setting of Season 3. Featuring Jon Hamm as Robert F. Kennedy, the sketch poked fun at conspiracy theories and family drama within American politics.
But it was Sarah Sherman’s character — with exaggerated fake teeth and a pronounced overbite — that drew criticism for resembling Wood’s real-life appearance. In the scene, Sherman’s character responds to Hamm’s RFK talking about fluoride in water with a clueless, “Fluoride, what’s that?”
Aimee Lou Wood's Smile Under Scrutiny
Since Season 3 aired, Wood’s smile has drawn unwanted attention. She’s publicly addressed how focus on her teeth overshadows her work. In her Instagram post, she shared that such portrayals feel hurtful, especially when crafted for cheap laughs.
Fans were quick to agree. Many took to social media, noting that Sherman’s character wasn’t political like the rest, and that the sketch felt more like a personal jab than satire.
Support Pours In for Aimee Lou
In follow-up posts, Wood revealed she had received an outpouring of support. She said she got “thousands” of messages from people agreeing with her stance. Among those, she claimed to have received apologies from the SNL team — though she didn’t specify who reached out.
A Star-Studded Cast and Controversy
The sketch included several familiar faces. James Austin Johnson played Donald Trump in a storyline inspired by Jason Isaacs’ White Lotus character Timothy Ratliff — a man unraveling over looming legal trouble. Chloe Fineman portrayed Melania Trump with a Southern twang, while Beck Bennett and Alex Moffatt played Vladimir Putin and Eric Trump. Musical guest Lizzo made an appearance as Belinda, originally played by Natasha Rothwell in the HBO series.
No Official Response Yet
CNN has reportedly contacted SNL for a comment, but there has been no public response from the show's producers or writers at this time.
End of the Season, But Not the Drama
The third season of The White Lotus concluded last Sunday. While fans said goodbye to the series’ latest vacation drama, the conversation around SNL’s parody — and how celebrities are portrayed — is far from over.
