The April 12 episode of “Saturday Night Live” featured a pretty amazing pre-recorded sketch, “The White Potus.” This skit was a funny but effective way to poke fun at real-life Trump administration policies. The skit has received some positive responses and a lot of negative responses. Cast member Aimee Lou Wood and fellow actor Walton Goggins, associated with HBO’s dark comedy “The White Lotus,” have made their feelings known.
In “The White Potus,” Sarah Sherman as Chelsea as campy bland British Chelsea This character, called Tanya McQuoid, was infamously first introduced to audiences by Wood in HBO’s “The White Lotus.” To further heighten the audience’s perception, Sherman chose to wear prosthetic teeth, which helped to emphasize Wood’s actual teeth. This decision led to uproar from fans who called the short sketch “mean and not funny.” Even Wood herself, who starred in the ill-fated pilot, posted to her Instagram about how much she disliked it.
“I don’t mind caricature — I understand that’s what SNL is. But the rest of the skit was punching up and I/Chelsea was the only one punched down on.” – Aimee Lou Wood
The digital short highlighted guest host Jon Hamm, of course. He played an even more maniacal version of the real life Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the currently controversial United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. This blend of political satire and personal mockery turned the schtick into a highly divisive affair.
Criticism of the sketch quickly boiled down to the argument that it went too far by putting specific focus on Wood. One commenter noted, “Brilliant sketch, except they really didn’t have to make fun of Aimee Lou Wood, it’s just being horrid to a lovely actress for no reason.”
The tension surrounding the sketch is further complicated by an ongoing feud between Wood and Goggins, who played love interests in the third season of “The White Lotus.” Speculation grew about a rift when fans saw the two actors weren’t following each other on Instagram anymore. Goggins further fanned those flames of speculation by posting a rather favorable reaction to the SNL parody. Most took his reaction to mean that he was taking a shot at Wood.
Additional commentary on the situation included a remark from another viewer who stated, “You could have done it without mocking Amy, my luvs,” highlighting the sentiment that the sketch could have achieved its comedic goals without targeting Wood’s character.
The public controversy surrounding “The White Potus” continues to be hotly debated. It points to the thin line comedy walks between exposing power through satire versus targeting an individual through personal insult. Wood and Goggins have written a great service to that effect. They illuminate the way these portrayals can affect home lives and careers in Hollywood.