“The White Lotus” Season 3 Stars Split Over Controversial “SNL” Sketch—One Actor Loves It, The Other Hates It
Tensions may be simmering offscreen for “The White Lotus” stars Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood after a “Saturday Night Live” parody stirred up unexpected drama.
During the April 12 episode of “SNL”, a pre-taped skit titled “White POTUS” gave the HBO hit The White Lotus a political twist—complete with celebrity impressions, biting commentary, and a portrayal of Aimee Lou Wood’s character that didn’t land well with everyone. Especially not with Wood herself.
“The White Lotus” SNL Sketch Reactions
The 31-year-old actress didn’t hold back after the sketch aired, calling it “mean and unfunny” on Instagram Stories. Her biggest gripe? The skit appeared to mock her teeth—something she’s addressed publicly before.
“Yes, take the piss for sure — that’s what the show is about — but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way?” Wood wrote, adding that she received support from “thousands” of fans who felt the same. She later said that SNL had issued her apologies, though she didn’t provide further details.
But while Wood was asking for more thoughtful satire, Goggins was giving the sketch a standing ovation—digitally, at least.
The 53-year-old actor, who plays Rick in the most recent season of The White Lotus, commented on SNL’s Instagram post with an enthusiastic: “Hahahahahhahaha Amazzzingggg.” He didn’t stop there—he also reposted the sketch to his Instagram Stories, calling it “Smashing” and giving a playful nod to guest host Jon Hamm, who played a parody version of Rick. “Jon… I knew I was miscast,” Goggins joked.
“The White Lotus” Cast Feud Rumors Bubble Up
The split reactions from the two stars have only added fuel to fan speculation that something’s amiss between them. Viewers were quick to point out that Wood and Goggins don’t follow each other on social media and didn’t tag one another in their respective post-finale reflections. The rumors of a rift have sparked whispers of behind-the-scenes tension, especially after a season that saw their characters sharing major screen time.
Wood made sure to publicly absolve SNL cast member Sarah Sherman, who played her in the sketch: “Not @sarahsquirm’s fault,” she clarified. “Not hating on her, hating on the concept.”
Despite all the speculation, co-star Jason Isaacs insists fans are reading way too much into things. Speaking on SiriusXM’s The Happy Hour, Isaacs shrugged off the drama: “Nobody has the slightest clue what they’re talking about,” he said, likening the cast dynamic to a typical summer away with friends—full of shifting cliques, laughs, and disagreements.
Whether the buzz is based on fact or just fanfiction, it’s clear the “White POTUS” sketch hit a nerve—and highlighted some very real differences between two of The White Lotus’ biggest stars. “The White Lotus” is streaming on Max.
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