SNL comedian Sarah Sherman recently opened up about the backlash she received for impersonating Aimee Lou Wood in a parody sketch of The White Lotus. While Sarah had been thrilled to take on the role, things didn’t go as planned—especially after Aimee publicly said she didn’t find the sketch funny.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Sarah said she was genuinely excited to play Aimee’s character, calling it “iconic.” She made it clear that hurting anyone’s feelings was the last thing on her mind. “I obviously never meant to upset anyone,” she said. “That’s not why I got into comedy. I feel awful if anyone felt bad because of it.”
The drama began after the April 12 Saturday Night Live episode aired. Aimee Lou Wood, best known for her role in Sex Education, took to Instagram to express her disappointment. Sharing a clip of the sketch, she wrote, “I did find the SNL thing mean and unfunny.” She wasn’t against satire itself, but felt the joke lacked depth and cleverness. “Yes, take the p–s, that’s what the show is for,” she added, “but surely there’s a smarter, more thoughtful way to do it?”
After the episode, many fans and celebrities rallied behind Aimee, praising her talent and beauty—essentially reminding her that one sketch doesn’t define her worth.
Back in her interview, Sarah also reflected on the tricky nature of being on a show like SNL. She explained that actors often don’t have full control over what roles they’re assigned or how certain sketches come across. “You’re constantly juggling different characters, and sometimes it’s not entirely in your hands,” she shared. “Part of the job is staying present and doing your best.”
While some celebs criticized Sarah for the portrayal, actor Walton Goggins actually praised her performance and supported the cast despite the growing tension between Aimee Lou Wood and SNL.