It’s never easy being in the public eye, especially when humor crosses into hurtful territory.
White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood was recently seen visibly emotional while walking through London — marking her first public appearance since the Saturday Night Live sketch that mocked her teeth caused a stir online.
A Tough Moment in London
On Monday, the 31-year-old actress appeared to be wiping away tears as she strolled through the city, keeping her head down beneath a baseball cap.
Dressed in a long burgundy leather coat and jeans, she was accompanied by friend and Film Club co-creator Ralph Davis, who offered her a comforting hug before the pair headed to a nearby café.
The sighting comes after SNL aired a controversial sketch in which comedian Sarah Sherman portrayed Aimee Lou’s White Lotus character with exaggerated fake teeth — a moment many viewers slammed as offensive and “cheap.”
A Divisive Sketch and a Deleted Reaction
Adding fuel to the fire, Aimee Lou’s White Lotus co-star Walton Goggins initially praised the SNL skit on Instagram, calling it a “SMASHING” success and even laughing in the comments.
The post, which has since been deleted, included a shoutout to Jon Hamm, who played Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the parody.
While some fans brushed off the moment, others couldn’t ignore the tension that seemed to surface between the two actors.
Rumors of a falling-out started circulating, especially after eagle-eyed fans noticed the two had unfollowed each other on Instagram.
Social Media Clues Spark Feud Speculation
Online sleuths have been piecing together the social media breadcrumbs.
Goggins, once openly complimentary of Aimee Lou, noticeably excluded her from several behind-the-scenes posts celebrating White Lotus.
He even shared a series of tribute stories that featured her—but still didn’t tag her.
Fans on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) were baffled. One user questioned why they unfollowed each other, despite once speaking so positively about one another in interviews.
Others were shocked by Goggins’ decision to post a full Instagram story dedicated to Aimee Lou—set to Fleetwood Mac’s “Silver Springs”—without acknowledging her directly.
Still, some commentators suggested the drama may be overblown.
Music critic Carl Wilson chimed in, saying this could just be typical actor behavior: intense bonds on set that quickly fade when the cameras stop rolling.
SNL’s Apology and Aimee’s Candid Response
Following the backlash, Aimee Lou took to Instagram to call out the sketch, describing it as “mean and unfunny.”
She clarified that while she’s no stranger to satire and doesn’t mind being the butt of a joke when it’s clever, this particular jab felt like it crossed a line.
She posted a distorted selfie and wrote, “I’ve had apologies from SNL.”
Her frustration centered on how the sketch mocked her appearance rather than her character, while the rest of the parody focused on political satire.
“Everyone else in the skit was a political figure — I was the only one being mocked for how I look,” she explained, adding that the joke felt less like clever comedy and more like outdated misogyny.
Support From Fans and Her Sister
In the wake of the controversy, Aimee Lou has been flooded with support — including touching messages from her sister Emily and countless fans.
Many praised her for speaking up and for embracing her natural smile in a world obsessed with perfect veneers.
One supporter shared how Aimee Lou inspired them to embrace their own gap teeth, writing: “I was going to spend thousands to fix them, but now I look at you and think—why not love myself the way I am?”
Another pointed out the glaring difference in the SNL sketch, stating: “All the other characters were political — but Chelsea was clearly there just to mock Aimee’s appearance and accent.”
Clearing Up the HBO Rumor
In one of her Instagram posts, Aimee Lou also addressed a separate issue that had been misinterpreted. She clarified that no one at HBO had ever called her “ugly” — that was a fear rooted in her own insecurities, not something anyone actually said.
“My point in that interview was about how our mind plays tricks on us,” she explained.
“HBO has been nothing but kind and supportive. Please leave them out of this.”
Aimee Lou Opens Up About Her Insecurities
In a recent British GQ interview, Aimee Lou got candid about her struggles with self-image and imposter syndrome.
She shared that White Lotus creator Mike White had to “fight” to cast her, which led her to spiral with thoughts like, “HBO didn’t want me because I’m ugly.”
While she acknowledged those were just intrusive thoughts, she admitted they fed into her insecurities — especially around the attention her teeth get.
“My overbite and gap teeth are being talked about more than my acting,” she said, noting that while it’s great to be seen as a symbol of rebellion against beauty norms, it’s disheartening when her work gets overshadowed.
“Would This Be Happening If I Were a Man?”
Aimee Lou also questioned whether the obsession with her appearance would exist if she were male.
“It’s still all about a woman’s looks,” she noted, pointing out how often women in the spotlight are reduced to physical traits.
Still, many have celebrated her decision to embrace her natural look in an industry where cosmetic enhancements are often expected.
During a recent appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, she reflected: “I can’t believe the impact my teeth are having. Americans just can’t get over them.”