Madonna has had enough.
The star called out the internet trolls who made fun of her appearance after she went to the 65th Grammy Awards.
On Sunday night, the 64-year-old legend went on stage at the Grammys to introduce Sam Smith and Kim Petras before they sang “Unholy.”
When Madonna made her announcement, it didn’t take long for people to start talking about how she looked.
Some people talked about how toxic beauty standards have hurt the “Material Girl” singer, while others just told her what they thought about her “new face.”
Me attempting to ignore the fact that Madonna has a whole new face,
said one user, while another cruelly added:
@Madonna I am shocked by how ugly you are. You are the most revolting, disgusting old lady I’ve ever seen in my life. I have NEVER seen a senior citizen who repulses me in the ways you do. As you near your elderly death, I hope decomposition fixes what’s wrong with your face.
A third person said she looked like a Muppet and asked,
What in the fudge has Madonna done to her face?
Me attempting to ignore the fact that Madonna has a whole new face. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/ZsNJzfRNdK
— Petty Pablo (@electricsoul123) February 6, 2023
@Madonna I am shocked by how ugly you are. You are the most revolting, disgusting old lady I’ve ever seen in my life. I have NEVER seen a senior citizen who repulses me in the ways you do.
As you near your elderly death, I hope decomposition fixes what’s wrong with your face. pic.twitter.com/1KT8HvfLk9
— totallyreasonable (@ttly_reasonable) February 8, 2023
What in the fudge has Madonna done to her face 🤔 pic.twitter.com/OdZZxKgAYZ
— Scozzy (@Nowt_Specialxx) February 7, 2023
But some people came to Madonna’s defense and said that the changes we see in her are caused by harmful beauty standards in an industry that idolizes “youth”, especially in women.
To the people who judge Madonna’s appearance, saying she has destroyed her face — or their mum looks better at age 64 — are perfectly proving why women feel the need to have cosmetic surgery in the first place,
Dr. Charlotte Proudman wrote.
And another Twitter user agreed with the point of view, saying:
I feel sorry for women whose careers were tied to their youth and beauty. Madonna’s face looks like a mess to us, but I can only imagine what happened to her emotionally when she started to age. We don’t really let famous women— known for their youth, sexuality or beauty— age.
To the people who judge Madonna’s appearance, saying she has destroyed her face — or their mum looks better at age 64 — are perfectly proving why women feel the need to have cosmetic surgery in the first place.
— Dr Charlotte Proudman (@DrProudman) February 6, 2023
I feel sorry for women whose careers were tied to their youth and beauty. Madonna’s face looks like a mess to us, but I can only imagine what happened to her emotionally when she started to age. We don’t really let famous women— known for their youth, sexuality or beauty— age.
— Bassey Ikpi (@Basseyworld) February 7, 2023
Now, Madonna herself has said something about the situation.
The 64-year-old woman wrote a long, passionate post on Instagram in which she said that she wouldn’t let anyone “break her soul.”
She started her caption by saying how proud she was to “present the first trans-woman performing at the Grammys.” Then she got more serious.
Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim- Many people chose to only talk about Close-up photos of me Taken with a long lens camera By a press photographer that Would distort anyone’s face!!
She continued:
Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny That permeates the world we live in.
A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45 And feels the need to punish her If she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous.
Madonna then said that she’s never “had to apologize” for any of the creative choices she’s made in her career, and she’s not going to start now.
I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come.
In the words of Beyonce ‘You-won’t break my soul.’
The star ended her post by saying that she will continue to push boundaries and stand up to the patriarchy, but that she will be most focused on “enjoying her life.”
And she’s not Madonna if she doesn’t end with “bow down, b******,” right?
That would have been the time for her to drop the mic if she had one.
