Aimee Lou Wood, the breakout star of HBO's acclaimed series The White Lotus, has publicly addressed the recent caricature of her featured on Saturday Night Live (SNL), performed by comedian Sarah Sherman. This situation sparked a wave of support from fans and fellow celebrities alike, who rallied around Wood after the sketch was perceived as disrespectful.

The controversial segment, titled "The White Potus," parodied figures from the political landscape, including a satirical take on former President Donald Trump and his family. The sketch attempted to humorously connect politics to the popular show, but some of the jokes crossed a line, particularly one involving a character played by Jon Hamm. Hamm's character, a spoof of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. serving as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, claimed he wanted to eliminate fluoride from drinking water, questioning its potential impact on dental health.

As the scene progressed, viewers were introduced to Sherman, who depicted Wood's character Chelsea wearing a brown wig and sporting fake teeth meant to emulate Wood's distinctive gap-toothed smile, all while mimicking a rather generic British accent. This moment was criticized for implying that Wood's appearance was somehow linked to the absence of fluoride, a joke that many felt was not only mean-spirited but also simplified a complex issue about health and beauty standards.

In a candid Instagram story, Wood shared her thoughts on the sketch, describing the joke as "mean and unfunny." She expressed that while she is open to humor, she believes SNL could have crafted a "cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap" joke instead. Notably, she shared messages from fans who echoed her sentiment and pointed out that Sherman's imitation of her accent could have been executed with more authenticity.

Prominent figures in the entertainment industry quickly came to Wood's defense. Among them was actress Jameela Jamil, who emphasized that Wood's appearance is the least notable aspect of her talent and charisma. Jamil asserted that the societal obsession with physical appearances often leads to unnecessary scrutiny of women's features, urging for a shift away from such narrow perspectives.

Others, including Georgia May Jagger and British actor Tori Allen-Martin, praised Wood's beauty and her impressive talent, expressing disbelief that a discussion about her appearance even arose after her stellar performances. Allen-Martin remarked, "It blows my mind that in 2025 @aimeelouwood is THAT talented and THAT beautiful and still having to school grown ups on misogyny and bullying."

In her Instagram post, Wood also noted that SNL had privately apologized to her for the sketch. She made it clear, however, that she does not condone any hateful messages directed toward Sarah Sherman and emphasized her understanding of caricature as part of SNL's comedic style. "I am not thin-skinned. I actually love being taken the piss out of when its clever and in good spirits," she explained. Yet, she felt the joke crossed a line, particularly as the rest of the skit targeted more powerful figures while she was the sole target of mockery.

Despite the controversy, Walton Goggins, who also stars in The White Lotus, chimed in positively about the sketch. He commented on SNL's Instagram post, calling it "Amazzzingggg," and even shared the post on his own story, humorously stating that he felt miscast in the role Hamm played.

As Aimee Lou Woods fame continues to rise, she has candidly discussed her journey towards self-acceptance, especially regarding her distinctive gap-toothed smile. In a recent interview with GQ, she expressed discomfort with the public's focus on her teeth and how it often overshadows her artistic work. "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," she shared, highlighting the challenges of navigating fame and public perception.