Walton Goggins, star of The White Lotus, will host Saturday Night Live for the first time on May 10, NBC announced Thursday. Arcade Fire will join as the musical guest as the iconic sketch comedy show nears the end of its 50th season.
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The news follows a firestorm over a recent SNL skit that mocked Goggins' co-star Aimee Lou Wood, sparking debate among fans and the actors themselves.
On April 12, SNL aired a parody of The White Lotus, featuring comedian Sarah Sherman as Wood's character, Chelsea, with exaggerated fake teeth and a caricatured British accent. The skit placed political figures, including the Trump family, at the fictional resort, recasting Goggins' character Rick as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ranted about removing fluoride from water. Sherman's Chelsea responded with a puzzled, "Fluoride? What's that?"
The satire drew sharp criticism from Wood, 31, who called it "mean and unfunny" on Instagram Stories. "I'm not thin-skinned," she wrote. "I love clever parody, but this felt cheap. The joke was about fluoride. I have gap teeth, not bad teeth." Wood noted the skit "punched up" at others but "punched down" at her character, a rare misstep for the show.
Goggins, 53, took a different stance. He praised the sketch as "smashing," fueling speculation of a rift with Wood. Fans noticed the on-screen love interests don't follow each other on Instagram, and Goggins omitted Wood from a recent social media tribute to the White Lotus cast.
Goggins' SNL Debut
Goggins' hosting gig marks a high point in SNL's milestone season. Known for his roles in Justified and Fallout, the actor brings charisma and versatility to the Studio 8H stage. His appearance precedes the season finale on May 17, hosted by Scarlett Johansson with musical guest Bad Bunny.
Wood's critique highlighted her openness to humor when done "in good spirits." She expressed disappointment, having enjoyed SNL weeks earlier. "There must be a cleverer, more nuanced way," she said, urging the show to elevate its satire.
As Goggins prepares to host, all eyes will be on whether the show addresses the backlash or leans into its signature boundary-pushing humor.
