During his stint as host of "Saturday Night Live," Walton Goggins elected to brush aside whispers of a rift with his "White Lotus" co-star, Aimee Lou Wood. Throughout his appearances on the comedy sketch show, the seasoned actor from "Vice Principals" refrained from mentioning Wood's name. However, he couldn't resist dropping a reference to their joint HBO hit series. "Many of you know me from 'The White Lotus.' No spoilers, but let's just say, my character doesn't make it out alive," he joked.
Goggins then delved into how his "brooding" character had inexplicably garnered internet adoration, saying, "Some of my mates have even quizzed me, 'What's it like becoming a sex symbol at 53?' And I'll tell you what, if I'm being brutally honest, it feels bloody marvelous." He continued, "At least, it did until I Googled myself and stumbled upon headlines talking about my 'bulging' eyes and 'receding hairline.'"
Talk of a feud between the 53-year-old Goggins and the 31-year-old Wood first cropped up in April, when eagle-eyed fans noticed they weren't following each other on Instagram. Some were even convinced that the pair, who portrayed love interests on the hit show, had mutually blocked each other. Their co-star Jason Isaacs further stoked these rumors by hinting at on-set squabbles without naming names during an appearance on SiriusXM's "The Happy Hour" on April 9. "Folks need to remember, it's a melting pot of actors, crew, and everyone else under immense pressure," he noted. "Like any summer destination, friendships blossom, romances ignite, arguments flare up, cliques form and dissipate, only to reform again."
Earlier this month, Goggins abruptly ended an interview with the London Times when questioned about the alleged spat. "What the hell, Ed! Come on, mate. Seriously?" he responded, bringing the conversation to an abrupt halt.
At the 2025 Met Gala on Monday, Goggins and Wood meticulously avoided each other on the red carpet. However, Wood put an end to the speculation by assuring reporters at the gala that she "absolutely loved working" with Goggins. "It was the most wonderful experience ever," she enthused to "Entertainment Tonight," adding, "I'm thrilled about his upcoming 'SNL' gig. He's going to be phenomenal. It's the perfect platform for him. It's going to be hilarious. I can't wait to see it."
Wood's kind words about the show came shortly after she lambasted "SNL" for mocking her teeth in a sketch based on "The White Lotus" the previous month. Ironically, Goggins had earlier praised the spoof in a since-deleted post.
