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Aimee Lou Wood Critiques SNL’s “White Potus” Skit
White Lotus fans were met with a surprising twist this past weekend on Saturday Night Live, as the show unleashed a parody titled “The White Potus.” In this sketch, the wealthy Ratliff family mirrors the Trumps, with President Donald Trump lamenting the financial downturn while Don Jr. demonstrates milkshake-making skills to Eric.
While there has been no comment from Trump on the sketch, Aimee Lou Wood, known for her role as Chelsea in The White Lotus, has expressed her discontent. Though she featured briefly, her portrayal by cast member Sarah Sherman sparked significant backlash online.
In a memorable moment, Sherman’s character, echoing Jon Hamm‘s portrayal of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., posed a bizarre question about removing fluoride from drinking water, followed by a punchline that drew attention to Sherman-as-Chelsea’s exaggerated dental features. While Hamm’s delivery aligned with satirical wit, the focus shifted dramatically when the comedic intent turned towards body image stereotypes.
On Instagram, Wood shared her disappointment, labeling the skit as “mean and unfunny.” She clarified, “I am not thin-skinned. I love clever humor, but this joke mocks fluoride, and my gap teeth shouldn’t be the punchline. While I appreciate caricature, the rest of the skit felt like it was ‘punching up,’ while I/Chelsea was the only one experiencing a ‘punch down.’
Wood also noted her desire for accuracy in accents, adding, “At least get the accent right, seriously.” The British actress, who gained prominence from the Netflix series Sex Education, has since received an overwhelming number of supportive messages from fans, leading her to share some of these responses on her social media. One supporter commented that the skit was initially humorous before devolving into outdated misogyny, a critique that resonated with Wood.
In a surprising twist, she later mentioned receiving apologies from the SNL team, although she did not delve deeper into the specifics of their conversation.
For those who want to see the full parody, the “White Potus” sketch is available online.
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