Why Aimee Lou Wood’s SNL Clapback Was Totally Justified, According to This SNL Cast Member

Saturday Night Live definitely has its moments, but when Sarah Sherman clomped onto the “White Potus” set on April 12 outfitted in painfully oversized teeth to caricature Aimee Lou Wood’s The White Lotus character, Chelsea, it crossed from sharp send-up into a low blow that fans and Wood herself called “mean and unfunny.”

And in a moment of cast accountability, Bowen Yang — a man who understands both that comedy doesn’t mean punching down  — agreed.

“However she reacted to that sketch is completely valid,” Yang told Extra on April 17 at the premiere of his new film The Wedding Banquet. “You kind of forget the sort of human, emotional cost that it sort of extols on someone.” 

He added, “You need those reminders every now and then that parody can go too far sometimes, and that we as comedians can take account for that instead of banging our foot and saying that, like, we should be allowed to say whatever we want because that’s just the culture,” he said, per Us Weekly.

In case you missed it, the controversial SNL sketch in question mashed up The White Lotus with political satire — hence the title “The White Potus.” While every other character was a recognizable political figure, Sherman’s Chelsea was the only fictional one — and apparently the only one worthy of mockery via garish prosthetic teeth and a cartoonishly exaggerated accent. It didn’t land (except for with her White Lotus co-star Walter Goggins, which is a whole other story.) Not with fans, and definitely not with Wood.

“I did find the SNL thing mean and unfunny,” Wood, 31, wrote in her Instagram Stories on April 13. “Such a shame ‘cuz I had such a great time watching it a couple weeks ago. Yes, take the piss for sure — that’s what the show is about — but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way?” She later shared that she’d received an apology from SNL and even got flowers from Sherman — so clearly, at least one person got the message.

And this isn’t the first time Yang has played a diplomatic role following one of the show’s more controversial sketches. Back in late 2024, fans thought Yang was throwing subtle shade at musical guest Chappell Roan during a “Weekend Update” segment where he played a viral Thai meatball-loving creature named Moo Deng. Some viewers thought the sketch mirrored Roan’s public comments about burnout and boundaries, and it didn’t take long for stan Twitter to spiral.

But instead of leaning into defensiveness, Yang took to social media to clarify that not only was he not mocking Roan, he fully supported her — and then doubled down by posting sparkly, Y2K-coded pics of them hugging with captions like “I LOVE U.” Later that season, the two were seen holding hands during the credits of an episode.

Yang may not have been in the “White Potus” sketch, but his response to the backlash proves something even more valuable: you can be funny without being mean, and you can acknowledge harm without doubling down. Aimee Lou Wood’s teeth didn’t need to be a punchline, but her grace in calling it out — and Yang’s support in backing her up — sure did deliver the kind of comedic timing we can all get behind.

Before you go, click here to see celebrity co-stars who allegedly hated each other in real life.