Aimee Lou Wood slams SNL’s ‘mean and unfunny’ ‘White Potus’ parody of her White Lotus character, says she received apologies from the show.
Aimee Lou Wood, the rising star who captivated audiences with her nuanced performance in HBO’s The White Lotus, has taken to social media to voice her displeasure with a recent Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketch that parodied the anthology series.
In a series of Instagram stories, Wood labeled the portrayal of her character, Chelsea, as “mean and unfunny,” offering a rare glimpse into the personal toll that satire can take on the actors behind the roles.
The sketch, titled “The White Potus,” aired as part of SNL’s ongoing season and boasted an A-list lineup including Jon Hamm, Scarlett Johansson, and Lizzo. With Sarah Sherman stepping into the role of Chelsea—Wood’s character from the most recent season of The White Lotus—the parody took aim at the show’s darkly comedic exploration of wealth, privilege, and familial dysfunction.
While The White Lotus, created by Mike White, has long been celebrated for its biting social commentary, Wood’s reaction suggests that SNL’s take may have veered too far into personal territory.
In her Instagram posts, Wood didn’t hold back. “Such a shame cuz I had such a great time watching it a couple of weeks ago,” she wrote, referencing her prior enjoyment of the long-running sketch comedy series.
“Yes, take the piss for sure – that’s what the show is about – but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way?” Her words reflect a nuanced stance: she’s not opposed to parody itself—after all, The White Lotus thrives on its own self-aware absurdity—but rather to what she perceived as a lazy or unkind execution.
Wood’s critique didn’t end there. In a follow-up story, she added, “Whilst in honest mode, I did find the SNL thing mean and unfunny xo,” before revealing a surprising twist: “I’ve heard apologies from SNL.” This acknowledgment hints at behind-the-scenes conversations between the actor and the SNL team, suggesting that the show’s producers or cast may have recognized that the sketch crossed a line.
Representatives for SNL and Wood did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving the nature of those apologies—and whether they came from executive producer Lorne Michaels or another member of the team—up to speculation.
The incident underscores the delicate balance that comedy must strike when targeting pop culture phenomena like The White Lotus. The HBO series has become a lightning rod for discussion since its debut, with its third season further cementing its status as a cultural touchstone.
Wood’s Chelsea, a character entangled in the season’s web of deceit and privilege, earned the actor widespread praise and positioned her as a breakout talent. That personal investment may explain why the SNL portrayal stung so deeply.
Parody is, of course, a cornerstone of SNL’s identity, and The White Lotus—with its over-the-top characters and operatic storytelling—offers fertile ground for satire. But Wood’s reaction raises questions about where the line lies between sharp-witted commentary and cheap shots, particularly when fictional characters are so closely tied to the actors who bring them to life. “Chelsea isn’t me, obviously,” Wood might argue, “but the way she was mocked felt personal.”
The mention of apologies from SNL is particularly intriguing. It’s not uncommon for the show to push boundaries—sometimes prompting public backlash—but direct outreach to a subject of their satire is less typical.
Could this signal a shift in how SNL navigates its relationship with the entertainment industry, especially as social media amplifies the voices of those on the receiving end? Or is it simply a one-off gesture to a rising star whose goodwill they’d prefer to keep intact?
For Wood, this moment arrives as her star continues to rise. Following her acclaimed turn in The White Lotus, she’s poised to become a fixture in Hollywood, with her blend of vulnerability and strength resonating with audiences and critics alike. Her willingness to call out SNL—politely but firmly—also showcases a confidence that could serve her well as she navigates the industry’s highs and lows.
As The White Lotus prepares for its next chapter (HBO has yet to announce details of a potential fourth season), this dust-up serves as a reminder of the show’s outsized influence. It’s a series that invites parody but also demands a certain reverence for its craft—something Wood clearly feels was absent from “The White Potus.”
Whether SNL adjusts its approach moving forward remains to be seen, but for now, Aimee Lou Wood has made one thing clear: she’s not afraid to speak her mind when the laughs come at too high a cost.
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