SNL mocked Aimee Lou Wood’s appearance – a reminder that women in Hollywood are still punished for simply existing.
Aimee Lou Wood has become subject to a misogynistic and cruel ‘joke’, performed on Saturday Night Live (SNL) which she has since called ‘mean and unfunny’. Aimee Lou Wood is not the first woman who has been a victim of bullying disguised as comedy and definitely won’t be the last – coming for a woman’s looks is a jibe that is known all too well in Hollywood.
The SNL skit, saw cast member Sarah Sherman impersonate Wood’s character from White Lotus (Chelsea) using prosthetic teeth that were extremely unflattering. Later in the sketch, she asks “Fluoride? What’s that?” in reference to her teeth. This comes after Wood has been recognised for her unique teeth, often praised for her authenticity and beauty.
Wood responded on Instagram and said that she is “not thin-skinned”, however, the rest of her castmates were punched up by the skit, and she was the only one “punched down on”.
At 31, she has risen to great success due to her role in Sex Education and recently, White Lotus. Following these, she has reportedly been cast in Sam Mendes’ new film about The Beatles. Her net worth is currently reportedly $2 million and with her continual growth; she is on track to be an extremely successful actress. Furthermore, Wood already won the BAFTA for Best Female Comedy Performance, for her role in Sex Education. Her success makes the SNL skit all the more telling – no amount of money, acclaim or awards protects women from being reduced to a punchline.
In a GQ Hype interview, Wood said that the conversation about her appearance made her sad, as she was not getting to talk about her work. There is a damaging rhetoric that has been highlighted by the SNL skit; that women are valued based on their looks, and that features they have must be perfect to avoid drawing attention to them. This rhetoric is continually regurgitated by ‘comedy’ or ‘jokes’ made about women.
She also highlighted that the joke was ‘cheap’ and not even accurate. “I have big gap teeth, not bad teeth” Wood commented, again highlighting that these jokes are used to pull women down, with no concern for the accuracy behind the ‘joke’. Since then, she was spotted in London yesterday and was seen crying as she walked with a fellow actor. While we don’t know the reason, the emotional toll of the past few days may have been a factor.
Wood expressed that it makes her upset that she can’t speak about her work because the focus is on her teeth. She highlights that it makes her happy “that it’s symbolising rebellion and freedom, but there’s a limit”. In the current day and age of veneers and Invisalign, it is refreshing to see someone with real teeth, however, the fixation and discourse on them highlights a disparity in the way men and women actors are treated in the industry.
Ironically, the role that I first saw Aimee Lou Wood in, was her role of ‘Aimee’ in Sex Education. In the show, the character is a victim of sexual assault, and the show did such a good job of the portrayal of the situation, and empowering the character while also dealing with it sensitively. Wood’s acting in these scenes in particular was impeccable, and she embodied the role so well, dealing with such a sensitive subject. The level of storytelling and acting in the show highlights the strengths of Wood’s acting and just how good of an actress she really is. The irony is not lost on me that the skit made on SNL positions women as a commodity; the same issue that her character in Sex Education attempts to shed light on.
This situation is just one of many where women, particularly young women, are made the punchline of a joke. Many fail to understand that these ‘jokes’ are reinforcing the patriarchal structures which women continue to fight against, just to be seen as equal to their male counterparts. Wood recognised this as she shared a comment that said the sketch took a “screeching turn into 1970s misogyny”. The truth is, although this skit can be portrayed as ‘comedy’, making fun of women’s looks reinforces the narrative that women are simply objects for the male gaze, without our own agency, thoughts and feelings.
Although many are shocked and calling out the behaviour of SNL; as well as the show issuing her an apology, the damage has been done. Comments and jibes such as this one stick, not only to the individual but to viewers as a collective, who will always remember the joke made about her teeth. It enables similar comments to be made in the future, and under the guise of a ‘joke’ it’s hard to challenge and question these behaviours. Societal standards for women become increasingly harsher, with perceived imperfections continually marketed and highlighted to women globally.
We know that Wood isn’t short on money, and the fact she has chosen to leave her teeth as they are displays a level of acceptance and authenticity; there is nothing wrong with the way that she looks. Rather than obsessively focusing on the way women look, there is a great need to focus on the substance of women and celebrate them and their success. Societal expectations have done no good for women or men, and in a day and age where we can positively speak and share important situations at the click of a button, it’s time we stop using looks to define successful women.
