Females Unite In Support of the Oscar-Winning Actor Following Age-Shaming Comments

Females are uniting in defence of Oscar-winning actor Zeta-Jones following she was targeted by criticism across platforms about her appearance at a recent high-profile function.

She appeared at a Netflix event in Los Angeles recently where a TikTok interview featuring her character in the new series of Wednesday became dominated by remarks about her appearance.

Voices of Support

Aged 58, Laura White, labelled the backlash "absolute rubbish", adding that "males escape this sell-by/use-by date imposed on women".

"Men are free from this sell-by/use-by date imposed on women," stated Ms White.

Author Sali Hughes, 50, said differently from men, females are subject to unfair scrutiny as they age and she ought to be free to look in any way she chooses.

Digital Backlash

During the interview, which was also posted on Facebook and attracted more than 2.5m views, Zeta-Jones, hailing from Swansea, discussed how much she enjoyed exploring her character, the Addams Family matriarch, in the new episodes.

However a significant number of the online responses focused on her years and were negative about her looks.

This criticism triggered significant support of Zeta-Jones, including a viral video from one Facebook user which declared: "There is criticism for females for having cosmetic procedures and criticize them if they avoid enough work."

Commenters also came to her defence, with one writing: "She is growing older naturally and she appears gorgeous."

Some called her as "gorgeous" and "so pretty", and one comment read that "she looks her age - that is life."

A Statement Arrival

Ms White arrived on air earlier without any makeup to "prove a point" and to show there was no set "mold" of how a woman in her 50s ought to appear.

As with others her age, she explained she "looks after herself" not to appear younger but so she feels "well" and appear "healthy".

"Growing older is an honour and if we can do it gracefully, this is what truly counts," she added.

Ms White stated that males are not held to equivalent appearance ideals, stating "people don't ask the age of certain male celebrities are - they only look 'wonderful'."

She explained it was one of the reasons she entered the pageant's division for over-45s, in order to demonstrate that females of a certain age are still here" and "still have it".

A Fundamental Problem

The author, a journalist of Welsh origin, said that although the actor is "gorgeous" this is "not the point", stating further she deserves to be able to appear as she wishes absent her age coming under examination.

She stated the social media vitriol proved no woman was "exempt" and that females should not face the "ongoing theme" suggesting they are lacking or of the right age - a problem that is "galling, irrespective of who the victim is".

Asked if men face identical criticism, she said "absolutely not", noting females are criticized merely for demonstrating the "nerve" to live online while growing older.

A No-Win Situation

Despite the wellness sector advocating for "age-defiance", Hughes said women were still face criticism whether they aged gracefully or chose interventions like plastic surgery or injectables.

"If you age without intervention, commenters state you ought to try harder; if you undergo procedures, people say you failing to age well," she remarked further.