“Saturday Night Live” star Sarah Sherman is breaking her silence about her controversial impression of Aimee Lou Wood.
The comedian, 32, told Vanity Fair she feels badly that the “White Lotus” actress was offended by a recent “SNL” sketch that made fun of her teeth.
“I was excited to play her because she’s so iconic, her character is so iconic,” Sherman said, adding that she “obviously never meant to hurt anyone’s feelings.” She continued, “Never in a million years did I get into comedy to make anyone upset. I feel terrible that anyone would feel bad.”
In April, Sherman played Wood’s “White Lotus” character, Chelsea, in an “SNL” parody of the HBO show that slotted President Donald Trump and his allies into the lead roles. Jon Hamm portrayed Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who said he wanted to remove fluoride from drinking water and asked, “What would that do to people’s teeth?” The sketch then cut to Sherman, who wore fake teeth and spoke in an exaggerated accent to portray Wood’s “White Lotus” character.
Aimee Lou Wood slams ‘SNL’ for ‘mean and unfunny’ parody of ‘The White Lotus’
After the episode aired, Wood, 31, slammed the sketch as “mean and unfunny” and wrote on Instagram, “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 also criticized the accent that Sherman used. “At least get the accent right seriously. I respect accuracy even if it’s mean,” she said on Instagram. But Wood clarified she was “not hating on” Sherman and instead “hating on the concept” of the sketch.
Aimee Lou Wood receives flowers from ‘SNL’ star Sarah Sherman after slamming ‘mean’ sketch
The “Sex Education” actress later revealed that Sherman sent her a bouquet of “beautiful flowers.” Wood also said she received “apologies from ‘SNL,'” without providing details.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight on May 5, Wood said she decided to speak out about the sketch and “just have it be said, and then I won’t spiral inwardly and feel terrible about myself,” though she was surprised at how much attention her comments received.
“It all got quite out of control,” Wood told ET.
Weeks after the sketch aired, Wood’s “White Lotus” co-star Walton Goggins hosted “SNL” on May 10. His episode did not address the controversy.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘SNL’ star Sarah Sherman on Aimee Lou Wood ‘White Lotus’ sketch
