Aimee Lou Wood, the British actress famed for her role in The White Lotus, has voiced her discontent over a recent sketch aired on Saturday Night Live (SNL), describing it as "mean and unfunny." The sketch took aim at her with exaggerated prosthetic teeth and a pronounced accent, leading Wood to express that the humor used was not just unkind, but also fundamentally misogynistic.
Taking to Instagram, she articulated that while she is open to playful jabs when they are clever, the SNL sketch missed the mark, stating there must be “a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way” to approach comedy. This critique came in light of the media attention surrounding her distinctive "big gap teeth", especially following her portrayal in the show’s latest series, which has caught significant public scrutiny.
The SNL sketch depicted US President Donald Trump and his team vacationing at a fictional resort and included Wood's character, Chelsea, portrayed by cast member Sarah Sherman. Part of the act mocked the actress's gap-toothed smile by including a line about fluoride, implying her dental situation as a joke.
In her commentary, Wood highlighted that while she isn’t "thin-skinned" and understands SNL's comedic style involves caricature, the punchline regarding her teeth fell flat since the humor was ostensibly directed at her appearance. She remarked that the rest of the skit involved humor aimed upwards, while she felt as though her character was subjected to ridicule instead.
Wood clarified she wasn’t targeting Sherman personally, but rather the overall premise of the sketch. She also shared feedback from a follower who described the sketch as clever until it devolved into what they deemed 1970s misogyny, echoing Wood’s sentiments.
With a surge of support flooding her social media, shared through “thousands of messages” from users resonating with her thoughts, Wood stated she’s glad to have voiced her perspective. During discussions with GQ magazine, she lamented that conversations around her gap teeth eclipsed discussions about her work and accomplishments. “It makes me really happy that it's symbolizing rebellion and freedom, but there's a limit," she stated. This situation brings to light ongoing societal scrutiny of women's appearances and raises questions regarding the boundaries of comedy and personal dignity.
