Aimee Lou Wood Critiques SNL Parody as 'Mean-Spirited and Misogynistic'

In a social media statement, Aimee Lou Wood denounced a recent SNL sketch that aimed to parody her character, deeming it unfunny and criticizing its misogynistic undertones.

Aimee Lou Wood, the star of The White Lotus, has publicly voiced her disapproval of a recent Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketch that mocked her appearance with exaggerated prosthetic teeth, labeling it "mean and unfunny." The British actress expressed her belief that the parody was a clear instance of "punching down" and was fundamentally rooted in misogyny.

Taking to Instagram, Wood explained that while she is open to being humorously portrayed "when it’s clever and in good spirits," she stressed that there should always be a "more nuanced, less cheap way" to engage in humor. The actress revealed that following her critique, she had received apologies from the SNL team. Although NBC had not yet responded to inquiries from the press, it was clear from her comments that Wood had strong feelings about the portrayal.

Wood, known for her breakout role in Netflix's Sex Education, garnered media attention for her distinct appearance, particularly her "big gap teeth." The controversial SNL sketch depicted a comedic scenario involving fictional guests at a hotel, where her character Chelsea was played by Sarah Sherman with exaggerated features, including artificial teeth, prompting the line, "Fluoride? What’s that?"

In her statement, Wood emphasized, "I have big gap teeth not bad teeth," arguing that the rest of the sketch's content was acceptable but that her character was unfairly targeted. She clarified that her critique was not directed at Sherman personally but rather at the overall concept of the sketch.

Wood also shared insights from a follower who characterized the sketch as "sharp and funny," only to falter into what she described as "1970s misogyny," aligning with her own thoughts on the matter. Additionally, she expressed discontent with the portrayal of her accent, asserting her appreciation for accuracy even amidst mistreatment.

Since posting her objections, Wood reported receiving a flood of supportive messages from fans who echoed her sentiments, affirming her decision to speak out. In a recent interview with GQ, she revealed that the intense focus on her appearance over the years has impacted her ability to discuss her work meaningfully. Wood mused, "I don’t know if it was a man, would we be talking about it this much?" highlighting her concerns about society's fixation on women's appearances versus their professional merits.