‘White Lotus’ Star Aimee Lou Wood Slams SNL Sketch as ‘Mean and Unfunny’: “Such a Shame”

Aimee Lou Wood isn’t laughing.

The White Lotus star took to Instagram to share her disappointment after Saturday Night Live aired a pre-taped sketch that parodied the hit HBO series — and specifically, her character, Chelsea. The April 12 episode featured Sarah Sherman playing a caricatured version of Wood’s role, complete with exaggerated teeth, a thick accent, and over-the-top mannerisms. While SNL is known for poking fun, Wood made it clear this one hit differently.

“Such a shame cuz I had such a great time watching it a couple of weeks ago,” she wrote in her Stories. “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 response wasn’t just a quick comment. It sparked thousands of supportive messages, many from fans who felt the sketch crossed the line from satire into something more mocking. According to Wood, she even received apologies from people connected to SNL — a rare public acknowledgment from a show that’s built its legacy on unapologetic comedy.

The sketch itself was a satire of The White Lotus merged with a political angle — James Austin Johnson as Trump, Chloe Fineman as Melania, and Jon Hamm as a version of RFK Jr., rambling about conspiracy theories. When Sherman’s version of Chelsea entered the scene, her lines leaned into an absurdist tone, but Wood felt the portrayal was cheap and lacking the cleverness that good satire demands.

This isn’t the first time SNL has been accused of missing the mark, but coming from an actress who’s known for humor and self-awareness, Wood’s words cut through. She wasn’t outraged — she was disappointed. And sometimes, that lands even harder.