Bowen Yang, a cast member of Saturday Night Live (SNL), has voiced his support for actress Aimee Lou Wood following her criticism of a recent SNL sketch. The sketch, titled “The White POTUS,” aired on April 12 and parodied characters from The White Lotus, including Wood’s character, Chelsea. In the parody, SNL’s Sarah Sherman portrayed Chelsea with exaggerated features, including oversized prosthetic teeth and an amplified British accent.
Wood responded to the sketch on Instagram, describing it as “mean and unfunny,” and questioned the necessity of such a portrayal. She expressed disappointment over the focus on her appearance rather than her performance. In response, Sherman sent Wood a bouquet of flowers as a personal apology.
Yang addressed the situation in an interview with Extra, stating, “However she reacted to that sketch is completely valid.” He acknowledged that parody can sometimes overlook the emotional impact on individuals and emphasized the importance of comedians taking accountability when humor crosses the line. Yang added, “You need those reminders every now and then that parody can go too far sometimes.”
The incident has sparked discussions about the boundaries of satire and the responsibility of comedians to balance humor with sensitivity.
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