Why Did SNL’s ‘Joke’ About Aimee Lou Wood’s Smile Backfire So Hard?

When the Joke Turns Sour: SNL Sketch

British actress Aimee Lou Wood, who has won many hearts in HBO’s 'The White Lotus,' suddenly found herself at the center of an unexpected feud. Long-running comedy sketch show 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL) took a stab at Wood’s appearance in a sketch-and the backlash was immediate.  

Wood, who graced Season 3 of 'The White Lotus' as the endearing and free-spirited Chelsea, took to Instagram to call out the skit, calling it “mean and unfunny.” In the sketch titled “The White POTUS,” cast member Sarah Sherman impersonated Wood, complete with exaggerated prosthetic teeth and what many considered to be a very mean take on her natural smile.  

But here is the thing: Aimee Lou Wood is definitely not "thin-skinned." In fact, she has been praised for rocking her unique look in an industry where the pressures to conform to unrealistic expectations are paramount. What is it about SNL's joke that fell so flat? And why are so many people standing up for Wood?  

Let us take a closer look at the issue.  

What Had Happened in the SNL Sketch?

The sketch parodying 'The White Lotus' showed characters in Trumpanomics cabinet, Sarah Sherman now playing Chelsea but instead of a light impersonation, the sketch concentrated on mocking Wood's 'teeth and Mancunian accent.'  

This sort of thing would not fly under the radar; Wood took to her Instagram Stories:  

> “I am not thin-skinned. I love being joked about when it’s clever and in good spirits. But the joke was about fluoride. I have big gap teeth, not bad teeth.” 

After this, she stated that SNL had extended "apologies" (though she did not say who contacted her), while sharing messages from fans who felt that the episode had crossed a line. One supporter wrote:  

> “It was a sharp and funny skit until it suddenly took a screeching turn into 1970’s misogyny.”  

Yikes.  

Why This One Hurt  

Full confession-this is what SNL is all about-making fun out of poor souls in Hollywood-land, in the political arena, or anywhere in pop culture. But a fine line exists between smart satire and lazy mean-spirit-punchline-heronda-issues-pertaining-to-the-victims-appearance.  

Wood publicly spoke about her discomfort with the media's fascination about her smile. She told GQ:  

> “It makes me really happy that it’s symbolizing rebellion and freedom, but there’s a limit. The whole conversation is just about my teeth, and it makes me a bit sad because I’m not getting to talk about my work.”  

She also brought up a double standard:  

> “I don’t know if it was a man, would we be talking about it this much?”

Honestly, she is correct. Imagine how rare it would be for male actors to face such scrutiny about their natural features?  

The Bigger Problem: Mockery of Women's Looks Is for Laughs

This isn't just about Aimee Lou Wood; this is more about a wider pattern in this form of comedy where a woman's look becomes the easy target. To illustrate: 

Kristen Stewart is mocked continuously for her "resting face."

There are so many jokes about Sarah Jessica Parker looking like a "horse."

Adele's weight loss became a bigger topic than her music.

When a show with the powers of SNL finds women to punch down at, it just solidifies the idea that women's worth is linked to how they appear. Talking about looks in this way is especially obstinately ignorant in Wood's case since her smiling is seen as an emblem of self-acceptance in an industry obsessed with veneers and Photoshop.

The Support: Wood Became a Social Media Cause

Following Wood's comments, the floodgates opened with well-wishes. An avalanche of supportive messages rolled into her social media, with fans, as well as a few fellow actors, congratulating Aimee for the courage to call out pointless cruelty. Many noted that the sketch was not only unfunny but also just felt dated and cheap.

Then, one fan wrote:

"Mocking someone's natural features isn't comedy; it's just bullying."

And another said:

"People love Aimee for her realness. Why would anyone think it was cool to make fun of that?"

And critics note that, beyond endless commentaries on social media, in recent years some of SNL's sketches have been mostly hit or miss, with this one heavily missing the bull's-eye.

Did SNL Owe for their Mistakes?

So, Wood has received some apologies, but SNL and NBC have not condescended to make one remotely public. Not that this is surprising—they rarely ever respond to backlashes publicly. One wonders, however, was it an obligation to apologize?

There are those who say that comedy knows no boundaries and that satire must have no limits. Others feel this is pure laziness to take the jokes at someone's expense in this manner, further debating Wood's main argument.

In this case, Wood wasn't demanding censorship; she was requesting better jokes. And, frankly, SNL can do a hell of a lot better than that.

Wrap Up: Where's the Line Between Fun and Insult?

Well, the way Aimee Lou Wood handled this was nothing short of graceful. She didn't rage-post or call for any cancellations; she simply made a statement to the effect that it wasn't funny and explained why.

And that is the take-away from today: Comedy can be a great power, but it should never come at expense of any human dignity. There are numerous other ways to parody The White Lotus without resorting to cheap shots about an actor's looks.

Love to hear your take. Was it harmless fun, or did SNL's sketch go down the other way? Let me know.