SNL's 'White Potus' Skit Sparks Backlash from Aimee Lou Wood
In a recent Saturday Night Live episode, a sketch titled “The White Potus” spoofed HBO’s The White Lotus, merging political satire with pop culture. SNL cast member Sarah Sherman portrayed Aimee Lou Wood’s character, Chelsea, in a highly exaggerated and caricatured manner complete with oversized fake teeth and a thick Mancunian accent.
The sketch aired on April 12, 2025, and featured several parodied figures from Donald Trump’s circle. But unlike others in the skit, Wood’s character had no political background, making her inclusion and the mockery feel personal and out of place.
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Aimee Lou Wood Speaks Out
Shortly after the sketch aired, Wood took to Instagram to voice her disappointment. She called the portrayal “mean and unfunny,” questioning why her physical appearance and voice were the focus of the joke.
“It just felt cheap,” she wrote. “I can take a joke. But this? This wasn’t satire. It was just mocking a woman’s looks.”
She further noted that she received apologies from SNL insiders, though she didn’t name specific individuals. Importantly, she clarified that her frustration was not aimed at Sherman personally but at the tone-deaf concept of the sketch.
A Sketch That Went Viral — For the Wrong Reasons
While the skit racked up millions of views online and sparked widespread chatter, much of the reaction was negative. Social media users sided with Wood, calling the skit lazy, superficial, and unnecessarily cruel.
Despite SNL’s long history of parodying public figures, critics pointed out a key issue here: Wood was the only non-political person featured, and the sketch lacked any meaningful critique of her role or performance.
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Satire or Just a Cheap Shot?
This controversy has reignited ongoing debates about the boundaries of comedy and satire. When does parody cross the line from clever commentary to personal attack? And should real-life individuals with no political agenda be fair game?
In this case, it seems many agree with Wood: the joke missed the mark, and instead of punching up, it went for the easy laugh—at someone’s expense.
Conclusion
SNL has long walked the line between satire and slapstick, but in this case, it stepped squarely into mean-spirited territory. There’s a difference between smart parody and lazy mockery and mocking someone’s looks or accent, especially when they’re not a public political figure or part of the joke, feels more like bullying than comedy.
Aimee Lou Wood wasn’t there to defend herself. She wasn’t in on the joke. And frankly, she shouldn’t have to be. Comedy thrives when it challenges power or highlights absurdity—not when it punches down on someone who simply acted in a TV show.
