Aimee Lou Wood Slams 'Mean and Unfunny' SNL Parody of Her Character

The actress expresses her disappointment and frustration with how she was depicted on the comedy sketch show, highlighting issues of misogyny and body image.

Aimee Lou Wood, known for her role in *The White Lotus*, has publicly criticized a recent *Saturday Night Live* (SNL) sketch that portrayed her character using exaggerated prosthetic teeth, labeling it as "mean and unfunny." In a series of Instagram posts, the British actress asserted that the show's humor "punched down" on her and was steeped in misogynistic undertones.

While Wood maintained that she's open to humor at her expense when it is "clever and in good spirits," she felt that the SNL punchline took an unrefined approach that would have benefitted from more nuance. "There must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way,” she wrote.

The 31-year-old actress shared that she received "apologies from SNL" following her critique, and she emphasized her thoughts about the portrayal during the sketch, which featured former President Donald Trump and his inner circle at a fictional hotel. Cast member Sarah Sherman played Wood's character, Chelsea, with pronounced accents and fake teeth, including one line that mocked her dental gap: "Fluoride? What's that?"

Despite her frustrations, Wood pointed out that she doesn’t consider herself "thin-skinned" and recognizes that SNL's humor often relies on caricatures. However, she highlighted that while the rest of the skit was directed towards upper targets, her character was uniquely targeted in a derogatory way.

The actress made it clear that her criticism was not directed at Sherman personally but rather at the broader concept behind the sketch. She echoed sentiments from fans, noting that many found the skit "sharp and funny" until it veered into what she called "1970s misogyny."

Wood went on to express her feelings towards discussions about her appearance, stating that the conversation around her gap teeth is somewhat disheartening as it detracts from discussions about her work. Although she appreciates that her unique dental feature symbolizes rebellion and freedom, she questioned if such scrutiny would occur as intensely if she were male.

As a talented actress who rose to fame with Netflix's *Sex Education*, Wood's outspoken critique underscores the ongoing conversations about body image, representation, and misogyny in the entertainment industry.