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Madonna was one of the guests at the Grammys on Sunday evening. The singer introduced Sam Smith and Kim Petras. She praised creative “rebels” who are pushing boundaries.
However, subsequent coverage in some parts of the media concentrated less on what Madonna had to say. Instead, it focussed more on how she looked and her changing appearance over the decades.
Madonna is 64. It’s likely she’s had several cosmetic procedures over the years, given how youthful she looks, and that’s totally 100% fine. To each their own! However, the relentless comments about her appearance have clearly started to irk her.
Related: Madonna dances to Lady Gaga on TikTok… Could a collab be next?
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Yesterday she posted an Instagram reel of herself. Backstage at the Grammys, she cozies up with Sam Smith, Cardi B, Honey Dijon and others. In a caption, she responded to the fascination with her looks.
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“Ageism and misogyny”
“It was an honor for me to Introduce Kim Petras and Sam Smith at the Grammys,” the pop queen said.
“I wanted to give the last award which was Album of the year, but I thought it was more important that I present the first trans-woman performing at the Grammys— a History making moment!! And on top of that she won a Grammy!! ♥️
“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!!”
“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.”
“I have never apologized for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress and I’m not going to start.”
“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 Beyoncé, ‘You won’t break my soul’.”
“I look forward to many more years of subversive behavior, pushing boundaries, standing up to the patriarchy, and most of all enjoying my life.”
“Bow down bitches! 💃🏼🪩🎤💄🎼👠”
“Madonna forever”
The post has had over 350,000 likes at the time of writing. Kim Petras, who gave fulsome praise to Madonna when accepting her Grammy for Best Pop Duo Performance, responded with a string of love hearts.
Honey Dijon said, “What an honor and a blessing it is to be in your presence. You are such a force and I have so much love and respect for you. 🥰”
Billy Eichner posted, “Madonna Forever. 🖤”
Madonna is currently planning her first greatest hits tour. The Celebration Tour will kick off in Vancouver on July 15, followed by dates in North America and Europe.
Related: Madonna fans share hilarious reactions to buying seats to her Celebration Tour on Ticketmaster
Ronbo
Nice to see that talent is recognized and honored. Without Madonna the world would be less fun.
gloglgog
@Ronbo Don’t worry, she won’t be around forever. Looks like Madonna got away with human trafficking in Africa, but her time will come. Madonna = nonce.
SDR94103
I agree.
Ronbo
Then we get Gloglogog passing negative rumors and misinformation. Geeze guy, Madonna adopting children seems different from “human trafficking”. Trump want’s you back on his team – your parade of hate and lies is only part of the Republican circus. The elephant paddock needs cleaning really, Really, REALLY bad. Grab your spoon and start consuming and spewing.
ZzBomb
I literally do not care about people’s brows or non-existent brows. People have been penciling in their brows since forever.
What I’m hearing more about from people is how she is utterly unrecognizable.
sfv1971
When compared to my 18 year old self, I’m utterly unrecognizable as well…,
gloglgog
@ZzBomb You may not care, but everyone else does. She looks like an Alien. You are just one person, then again you mega-Madonna fans are all the same, you all have no personality or brains of your own to see how scary or crazy Madonna looks. Then again, didn’t she tell you all to bow down? Because those of us who can see her for the monster she is, WE ARE NOT going to bow down! YOU HEAR ME? Madonna is a n-o-n-c-e by the way.
Ronbo
I hope Queerty checks out and reveals this gloglgog – sure seems like some of the comments match our usual hater-brigade (whom rumor has it that they were banned). Does the glog think that demeaning people, hate and deception is his/her path to compassion, acceptance and understanding?
I’d much prefer that censorship remain in the mind of individual posters – not from being blocked by editors. We learn MORE from people with whom we disagree – especially when they focus on truths. Dissent encourages thought.
My love of irony triggers me to play the Devil’s Advocate – unholy to the brittle-minded extremists on the left and right; but, a secret passage into logic, reason and balance.
Jack
As Cher famously said, “If I want to put my tits on my back, it’s nobody’s business but my own”. Facial plastic surgery takes awhile to settle. Or not. If all of these trolls got attacked on their social media by thousands of people, they would feel very hurt. Good for her for calling it out and addressing it head on. I mean. She’s f*cking Madonna. Bow the f*ck down for sure.
gloglgog
Cher and Madonna are both n-o-n-c-e-s. Cher slept with Red Hot Chilli Peppers member Anthony Kiedis when he was 13 and Madonna slept with pretty much everyone underage and vulnerable.
dbmcvey
Hey glogglog, you’re an idiot.
DuMaurier
When I was a kid watching the Oscars, etc, my family would absolutely rip to shreds every star we saw—their clothes, weight, bad toupee, etc etc. Once I said, “God, you guys are mean!” and my mom said, “It’s not like they can HEAR us.”
True; but now they can, and nobody cares or thinks how it’d feel if they were on the receiving end of such meanness. I seem to recall a time when someone would post something nasty and insulting about a famous person and other posters would call them on it. That’s long gone; everyone’s just awful now.
sfv1971
People on here love to bash Madonna and Cher for being “has beens”. If selling over half a million tickets to a sold out tour makes you a has been, sign me up!
gloglgog
People don’t bash Madonna for being a has-been, people bash her for being a n-o-n-c-e.
Agility
Go pound sand glog. You’re a repetitive bore.
Gabby
She’s got a billion in the bank, success that most can’t even dream of, 6 very happy kids who she loves and adores and after 40 years a new tour that is selling out. If I am not as passionate, creative, curious and silly as Madonna at 65 then I don’t ever want to be 65.
gloglgog
@Gabby Are you a lezzer? You know Madonna’s a n-o-n-c-e right?
gloglgog
I’m not bowing down to Madonna, she’s a n-o-n-c-e.
LumpyPillows
Go away troll.
Gabby
I don’t know you but I have come to feel sad for people like you who don’t realize that you get exactly what you put out – good luck with your internet trolling. Ewwww.
gloglgog
By the way, did anyone see Madonna’s new music videos? She put the word “n-o-n-c-e” on her background wall. Indicating that she’s a n-o-n-c-e. Remember when she was singing about pasta and fish and pizza? What a FrEaK!
Mack
We get it you don’t like Madonna, but you sound like an idiot.
Paulie P
Seems like The Material Girl is concerned about material things.
Jim
No fool like an old fool
bachy
I recall reading that Madonna has always been a fan/collector of fellow NY artist Cindy Sherman, whom she describes as inspiring her career-long passion for the many “reinventions” of her persona. The older Madonna gets, the more I can see Sherman’s influence.
humble charlie
great observation
Rambeaux
If I bow down, b**tch, I can stand up straight again without help.
You, with your Betty-the-balloon face and head, I am not so sure.
I will take a bet that she will flake out half way through her new tour.
mastik8
Loves me some Madonna, hate what she’s done to her face.
craigbrew2
She’s a washed up has been and should just go away.
LumpyPillows
Lol. Reality is calling saying you’re lost in a dark, self-important cave.
dbmcvey
She’s fine. You can just stay where you are so we never have to see you.
dbmcvey
glogglog learned a new word and is going to make sure we all get sick of hearing it.
LumpyPillows
I don’t know what it means. Don’t really want to even Google it.
BrokebackBob
Madge: Bow down bitches!
World: Bend over Material Girl!
dbmcvey
Like she cares what your “world” thinks.
Jack Meoff
In the video, the only thing on her face that moves is her lips. How much botox and fillers does it take to make your face inanimate?
Doug
Ageism? This woman is pretty much disfiguring herself to try to look like she’s twenty again and she’s accusing others of ageism?
FreddieW
I’ve never been a fan and watched only a fragment of the Grammys (cut it off after Rufus du Sol lost to Beyonce), but I didn’t think Madonna looked bad in the pictures. Of course, I couldn’t see her teeth, and if she had that stupid mouth grill on like she did on Fallon, I’m sure she looked awful when smiling.
Max
no one necessarily minds the “no eyebrows” look or the red hair or the outfit. she’s been a style chameleon her entire life. if she wants to keep wearing lingerie as outerwear, no big deal.
I think folks are keying into the cosmetic fillers that appear either over injected or not done well. this isn’t ageism. maybe she has dysmorphia if it gets any more puffy. we just don’t want her to become another Jocelyn Wildenstein.
ScottOnEarth
I’ll always love Madonna but it’s not easy to look at her these days. Countless celebs have cosmetic surgery and other procedures but I’m not sure why Madonna had to go to such an extreme that she looks completely unnatural. It’s her face, her choice, and she’ll always be the OG global pop superstar and gay icon but she’s simply giving oxygen to the pressure that women put on themselves to look young and “sexy.”
Ronbo
Looks to me like she is human like most of us (who don’t wear makeup as a mask).
Your face will not look the same when you are no longer youthful, THIN, covered in makeup, lifts, hair extensions, fake eyelashes, painted on eyebrows, etc…. Bodies changes as we mature and naturally gain weight – especially when people go from her normal impossibel 8% (!) bodyfat to even a low of 14%. Most Americans can see this in the mirror.
Don’t be jealous that some can afford surgery. We understand, you like her “natural” when she was youthful, ultra-THIN, covered in makeup, sparkles, hair extensions, fake eyelashes, painted on eyebrows, etc….
I’m betting that every single negative commenter here is beautiful and young and glows with vibrant talent that has kept them on top for decades. Maybe not. Body shaming is a red-flag – keep waving it, so others can recognize your social deficits.
LumpyPillows
Stars are under a lot of pressure to look good. There is that. Especially ones with such an iconic image and brand. She went too far. A little kindness would not hurt. I mean, a lot of you know you are being purposely cruel, right?
Ronbo
Seems right lumpy. Youthful exuberance is often exciting; but, has been spoiled by judge Judy (superiority and condemnation), Ronald Reagan (don’t need to pay attention to all the facts) and tRump (hate and derision to all whom you have a different opinion). It’s been a bad start to a new century. At least Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz are now gone; what was Oprah thinking? ($$$?)
Some here have navigated the media and avoided the negative political and media influences. Congratulations! Your gay perspective has allowed you to rise above a society steeped in division and hate. If your gay perspective has NOT allowed you to understand different perspectives, listen more and dictate less. Compassion and understanding come quicker when you are empathetic with the plight of others.
BrownFriedRice
She’s a hot mess and I love her for it.