Showbiz News
-
-
-
Loading
Loading
Actor Aimee Lou Wood has opened up once again about her decision to call out Saturday Night Live earlier this year, after the long-running US comedy show aired a spoof that mocked her appearance.
The sketch, which aired earlier in 2025, featured comedian Sarah Sherman portraying a version of Wood’s White Lotus character Chelsea, complete with exaggerated false teeth. While many saw it as playful parody, Aimee didn’t find it funny.
At the time, she shared a response via Instagram Stories, describing the bit as “mean and unfunny.” She added:
“Such a shame cuz I had such a great time watching it a couple of weeks ago. Yes, take the p**s for sure, that’s what the show is about, but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way?”
Following the backlash, SNL privately reached out to apologise to the star.
Wood stars alongside Suranne Jones in upcoming drama Film Club, co-written by Wood and Ralph Davis – Credit: BBC/Gaumont/Ben Blackall
“I don’t regret saying it”
Now, in a new interview with BBC News, Wood has doubled down, explaining that she doesn’t regret speaking out, even if it sparked debate online.
“I don’t regret saying it because it was breaking a pattern, which is what I would usually do, what I did when I was younger and got bullied.”
She continued:
“When I saw the sketch, I thought: ‘I have a choice here to go in and be embarrassed about it and just say I didn’t like that. It was mean.’ And that’s what I did.”
For Wood, the decision to push back wasn’t just about the joke itself, but about reclaiming her own voice and setting boundaries in an industry where appearance-based criticism is common.
A moment of self-empowerment
The Sex Education and White Lotus star also admitted that speaking out was part of her personal growth journey:
“No matter what chaos came from it, I’m still happy for me and my personal journey that I said something.”
Her honesty resonated with many fans, who praised her for challenging a comedy institution and for highlighting how humour doesn’t have to come at the expense of someone’s insecurities.
Changing conversations in comedy
The incident also adds to a larger ongoing conversation about the ethics of parody and the responsibility of major platforms like Saturday Night Live. While satire has long been central to SNL’s DNA, audiences are increasingly questioning whether jokes about personal appearance cross a line, particularly when they reinforce old stereotypes or target someone’s natural features.
For Aimee Lou Wood, the matter seems closed, but her words continue to spark discussion about where comedy ends and cruelty begins.
