Maeve Bidonde, Staff Writer
Actress Aimee Lou Wood pushed back against Saturday Night Live for what she called, “a mean and unfunny” sketch that made fun of her teeth and accent. The sketch in question was called “White Potus” which was a mockery of Producer Mike White’s show “White Lotus,” featuring members of the Trump Family and other political figures.
According to The Glamour, Aimee Lou Wood in the skit was played by comedian Sarah Sherman, who wore large fake teeth and asked Robert F. Kennedy JR (played by John Hamm) about Fluoride, which is a chemical that is typically found in oral care products. Part of her Instagram clap-back read “Such a shame cuz I had such a great time watching it a couple weeks ago. Yes, take the piss for sure—that’s what the show is about—but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way?”
Wood left the posts up after receiving encouraging messages from her fans also condemning the skit. Some even pointed out the horrific attempt Sarah Sherman made at Wood’s Manchester accent and others pointed out how everyone else made fun of politicians and the only character from the show being made fun of was Wood’s character Chelsea.
Wood posted again a couple hours later letting fans know that she had received apologies from SNL, but she did not reveal who exactly apologized. Other SNL cast members including Bowen Yang have spoken up supporting Wood and her thoughts on the skit.
According to People Magazine, Bowen Yang said that he thought her reaction to the skit was “completely valid.” He went on to say that “parody can go too far sometimes” and mentioning that the skit and controversy surrounding it is a reminder of that fact.
Wood also posted a bouquet of flowers sent to her by Sarah Sherman, the comedian who made fun of her. According to The Independent, Wood’s natural teeth have been the source of praise recently since perfect appearing veneers have taken over both big and small screens.
Wood appreciates the positivity surrounding her appearance, but she feels like the positivity is overwhelming and she doesn’t get to talk about her work. The Independent quotes her as saying “The whole conversation is just about my teeth, and it makes me a bit sad because I’m not getting to talk about my work. They think it’s nice because they’re not criticising.”
The skit itself garnered mixed reactions across the board. Some condemned the skit and confirmed that it was the last sign for them to stop watching SNL. Others praised the hilarity of the skit and the hoard of impressive cameos including Scarlett Johansson and Jon Gries. While Aimee Lou Wood encourages parodies and teasing, she draws the line at appearance-based jokes and comedy. To many the skit lost its appeal with Sherman’s portrayal of Wood’s character Chelsea and the fun poked at her teeth and accent. Many fans disagreed with the skit and showed their support for Wood leaving the actress feeling loved and supported in her decision to call out SNL.
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