Walton Goggins’ new interview with The Times of London is going viral after his U.S. publicist shut it down because writer Ed Potton insisted on asking about the actor’s “White Lotus” co-star Aimee Lou Wood. Rumors of an apparent feud between the two performers have percolated on social media in the wake of last month’s “The White Lotus” Season 3 finale. Goggins starred in the season as Rick Hatchett, with Wood playing his free-spirited girlfriend Chelsea.
A sketch on “Saturday Night Live” that parodied “The White Lotus” Season 3 went viral after Wood called out the show’s “mean” and “unfunny” impersonation of her as Chelsea. The sketch featured “SNL” cast member Sarah Sherman sporting two enlarged front teeth. Wood criticized the bit, while Goggins left a positive comment on “SNL’s” Instagram that read: “Hahahahahhahaha amazzzingggg.” The comment was later deleted. The incident further boosted speculation about a Goggins-Wood feud, although it was never clear if Goggins was aware of Wood’s criticisms of the sketch.
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When asked by The Times of London about Wood, Goggins’ British publicist stepped in and asked: “Shall we talk about ‘The Uninvited’ a bit more?” Goggins was being profiled by the publication for the release of “The Uninvited,” a new movie directed by the actor’s wife, Nadia Conners. The two have been married since 2011.
“Thinly veiled, my friend,” Goggins then told the interviewer before saying that “The Uninvited” is “the thing you’re least interested in.” Potton writes in the profile: “Frankly, yes. ‘The Uninvited’ is a decent movie but the more interesting stuff lies elsewhere.”
Potton tried to bring up Wood again, prompting Goggins to say: “There is no conversation to be had about that. Sharing politics on social media — it’s in a vacuum.”
When the interviewer tried one last attempt and talking about Wood, Goggins replied: “What the fuck, Ed! Come on, buddy. Wow.”
“We’re going to end it there,” Goggins’ U.S. publicist then said as the interview came to an end.
Goggins and Wood are both expected to be Emmy contenders this TV awards season for their work in “The White Lotus” Season 2. Wood originally called out the “SNL” sketch on Instagram for being “mean and unfunny” and later clarified: “I am not thin skinned. I actually love being taken the piss out of when it’s clever and in good spirits. But the joke was about fluoride. I have big gap teeth not bad teeth. 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.”
Wood added in a follow-up post: “Actually one last thing. Not [Sarah Sherman’s] fault. Not hating on her. Hating on the concept.” Sherman sent Wood flowers amid the controversy.
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